Punk Gigs in Bristol

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Bristol's Punk Scene

The longstanding, big-names in American punk have found home in many of Bristol’s large gig venues with The O2 Academy, The Fleece and Bristol Bierkeller catching the most footfall. The area around Old Market has undoubtedly built a renaissance of forward-thinking, British punk music. The Exchange and the Stag and Hounds are arguably leading the way with new, up and coming talent. Fans of the older punk scene can find tributes to bands like The Ramones and The Sex Pistols at The Tunnels, The Fleece and The Thunderbolt.

What is the link between punks and anarchism in bristol?

Bristol has a deep anarchist subculture with a local wing of the Anarchist Federation and world-famous bristol punk bands like the Pop Group. But what does an increase in local anarchist activity have to do with the Bristol punk scene? In truth, punks and anarchists might have had a closer link at the birth of the punk scene in 1977, but not all punks are anarchists and Vice versa. Many ‘punk’ looking people maybe be blamed for anarchists attacks in Bristol, but this is a media portrayal of the punk scene that is now almost 40 years out of date. Leave Bristol punks alone.

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Our recent punk recommendations

British folk iconoclast Chris Wood graces the candlelit hush of John Wesley’s New Room. His everyday epics sketch sharp-edged portraits of England’s many overlooked lives, from empty nests to minor league football teams to tragedies of industrial decay. Acute compassion ballads FFO: Martin Carthy, Karine Polwart, Billy Bragg, Richard Dawson. Chris Wood at John Wesley’s New Room.

Marauding Norsemen Agabas charge into town wielding their self-coined ‘deathjazz’: a pummeling uptempo rawk engine with a thrash gallop, horn blasts strafing through the noise, and shredding throat growls atop a storm of riffs and rhythms. A cataclysmic ruin ritual FFO: Kvelertak, Imperial Triumphant, Slipknot, Converge. AGABAS at Exchange.

Sell out warning! Crazed cumbia meets mutant surf, acid champeta and retro-future radiophonic SFX via Bogotá’s most notorious supergroup (ft. Meridian Brothers mastermind Eblis Alvarez). Astonishingly strange new instrumental worlds FFO: Romperayo, Dengue Dengue Dengue!, Ondatrópica, Frente Cumbiero, Fumaça Preta. Los Pirañas at The Jam Jar.

Sell out warning! A Halloween oldie revamped! Two heavyweight purveyors of the midnight mood live-score Nosferatu in a creaky proto-horror symphony of shadows and smoke. Industrial folk-sludge enigma Circuit des Yeux merges with slowcore legend Alan Sparhawk (of Low fame) for a meeting of slow-burning indie grandeur and silent-era nightmare fuel. Circuit des Yeux feat. Alan Sparhawk presents Nosferatu - Score at Strange Brew.

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What our editors say

“Shaking Hand Shaking Hand are a Manchester trio who construct long slowburning post-rock in multiple tunings and time signatures, taking inspiration from modernist architecture, 90s US alternative and midwestern emo. The band’s musical DNA runs through experimental guitar outfits like Women, Slint, Sonic Youth, Pavement, and Ulrika Spacek, balanced with the melodic sensibility of Big Thief and the dynamic intimacy of Yo La Tengo. Holly Head Manchester punk-groove noiseniks Normal Village 1000 Legs Bristol Bug Punk”
From: Shaking Hand

“Break out the black eyeliner & band tees Bristol’s second EMO DAY PARTY is coming for all our elder emos! We’re taking over Bristol’s for an all-day celebration of heartbreak anthems, summer angst, and nostalgic bangers from your favourite emo, pop-punk & alternative bands WHAT TO EXPECT Non-stop emo & pop-punk anthems day party with an emo twist Vans & Converse encouraged Scream-along singalongs & MUCH MORE! A unique daytime emo experience for all our 25+ elder emos! MUSIC Expect to cry-scream your heart out to My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, Avril Lavigne, Blink-182, Taking Back Sunday, All Time Low, Green Day & more!”
From: Elder Emo Day Party

“Indecision support from Lady Garden + Massive Smile £7 Adv 7pm doors Indecision bring the nostalgic grit of the 90’s and early 00’s emo into the modern era. With a sound that fuses raw emotion, heavy riffs, and anthemic hooks, they’ve made a lasting impact on Bristol’s music scene through their explosive live performances. Known for turning every stage into a full-throttle experience, Indecision are carving out their place with a sound that’s both familiar and fiercely their own. https://www.instagram.com/indecisionbanduk/?hl=en”
From: Indecision

“Harker (https://harker.bandcamp.com) Brighton Fuzzy Punk Rock George Gadd + The Aftermath (https://georgegadd.bandcamp.com) Nottingham folk/punk/emo Emilia and the Unknown (https://emilia-and-the-unknown.bandcamp.com) Bristol punk rock”
From: HARKER + GEORGE GADD + EMILIA AND THE UNKNOWN

“Downloaded are a high-energy tribute band celebrating Download Festival, with a setlist packed full of crowd favourite songs from the festival’s biggest acts. Downloaded cover everything from pop punk to nu-metal, from Green Day to Slipknot, and everything in between. Experience the rush of Download Festival without the tent and muddy fields Exchange has a small ramp entrance from the street.”
From: Downloaded - Download Festival Tribute