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blamed for anarchists attacks in Bristol, but this is a media portrayal of the punk scene that is now almost 40 years out of date.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

A gristly Blowout x Shitty Futures collab of stateside punk grind’n’more. Flower’s mutant metallic crust and Nø Man’s aggy screamo catharsis oozes across the pond to meet crossover street thrash locals Docile and rising queercore Londoners Wetnurse on the sweat-slick Croft floor. No brainer FFO: Nausea, Sacrilege, Transistor Transistor, Rudimentary Peni, Aus Rotten. Flower, Nø Man, Wet Nurse, and Docile at The Croft.

Sell out warning! Night In Athens’ twisted gothic synth-punk and cinematic coldwave meets OWLS’ pulsating EBM for a Bristol double debut of darkwave seduction. Completed by Strange Futures’ glacial electro-punk, this is an essential one FFO: Boy Harsher, Molchat Doma, Lebanon Hanover, Drab Majesty. Night In Athens + OWLS + Strange Futures at Zed Alley.

The ugliest weekend of the year or your ears back. Monochrome rises from the human cesspit, dragging 18 acts to shore for the freak metal cyberdance cvlt. Dare you miss the first visitation in 7 years from transcendent DMT death juggernauts Grave Miasma + Maurice de Jong donning industrial keller synth AND devotional dark ambient masks ++ Nerve Peel’s deadly digital hardcore x Darkthrone fusion? Nope. Monochrome Festival of Ugly Music at The Cube.

A triple threat of gothic ferocity! Black Dahlia conjure bubbling, obsidian mascara-pop full of windswept vocals, Kelan pounds martial rhythms beneath cynical, lupine growls + Shoun Shoun whip up a hardcore frenzy with their live wire intensity and slash-and-burn guitar work. Delirious nocturnal glamour FFO: Nine Inch Nails, Savages, Lykke Li, Chromatics. Black Dahlia + Kelan + More TBA at Cafe Kino.

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What our editors say

“Those who are down and out will hopefully get back on their feet again at some point. But where exactly does the point begin where things start to get better? Is it that clear-cut? Is the worst still ahead of you—or are you already well on the road to recovery? SHORELINE also ask themselves this question and dedicate an entire album to it: Is This The Low Point Or The Moment After? Their new songs undoubtedly propel the band from Münster to the peak of their creative powers: emo and hardcore meet a newfound passion for alternative rock, smart songwriting, and lyrics that go where it hurts.”
From: Shoreline

“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

“Get ready for some screamo @ Cafe Kino. London's miserable emo screamo punks INCASEYOULEAVE are coming down to Bristol, bringing twinkly guitars and panicked screaming. A regular headliner in London's screamo & post-hardcore scene, incaseyouleave have been on a meteoric trajectory following the release of their debut album 'Dedications to a Devoted Past'. Catch one of the hottest names in UK screamo in a 70 cap room.”
From: Incaseyouleave, Mountain Peaks & Gilded Cage

“never easy return to the UK & head into Europe for their first headline tour around their second album, 'I Still Care’. Bringing their biggest live show yet, they have spent the last year on the road making a name for themselves; high-energy sets which blend 2000s emo-inspired guitars, a combination of etheric & aggressive vocals, and hard-hitting drums. The Montreal band turns every show into a loud, cathartic release. This run sees them in their biggest rooms so far, with a production that pushes their raw dynamics & every cathartic moment up to a whole new level”
From: NEVER EASY

“"Putting the “pop” in pop punk, Royals are dosing the genre with an extra shot of energy. Seriously, we challenge you to stream any of their upbeat, catchy tracks without compulsively bopping along. The bands latest single “Fair-Weather Friend' is essential for any modern pop-punk playlist." - Alt Press”
From: Royals