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blamed for anarchists attacks in Bristol, but this is a media portrayal of the punk scene that is now almost 40 years out of date.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

Buy tickets for punk events in Bristol

Our recent punk recommendations

Post-PC music absurdism meets Baudrilliardian tomfoolery: Jazz Lambaux is a shrewd jester for our doomscrolling times. Joined by a merry band of smallpipes and megaphone artistes plus screamo-punk rascal 300SkullsandCounting, Tough Sell truly tests the limits of raucous unamplified sound FFO: Callahan & Witscher, Thy Slaughter, Julek Ploski, Gentle Stranger, The Femcels. Jazz Lambaux, 300SkullsAndCounting, Riley/Radley at The Cube.

Free entry! Degenerates to the front! Hotly tipped Liverpudlian five-piece Gen and The Degenerates lead Exchange on a swaggering dance against late-capitalist disillusionment, doomscroll dystopia and TikTok misogyny through pure garage-punk ecstasy. Wry queer anthems FFO: Amyl & the Sniffers, Lambrini Girls, Crawlers, Warmduscher. Gen and The Degenerates at Exchange.

Sell out warning! The Aussie egg punk empire just got a heck load eggier with this side-quest from chainmail-clad heavy metal helium honkers STERÖID. With Stone Barrow’s eldritch dungeon Oi, the sugar rush is on FFO: Gee Tee, Iron Maiden, Poison Ruïn, Alvin and the Chipmunks – never thought we’d lump those together but hey, this is something else. STERÖID + Desolator + Stone Barrow at The Dame.

UK emo revival standouts Mishikui hit the Croft with raw, reverb-drenched atmospherics – think MBV-style wall-of-sound moodiness meeting the muscular angst of Title Fight. This is full tilt catharsis FFO: Superheaven, Movements, Slow Crush, Nothing. Mishikui at The Croft.

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What our editors say

“After a successful first tour of the UK in 2022, the beloved Ohio based indie-emo quartet Remember Sports return in support of their new album The Refrigerator, their first album release since Like A Stone in 2021.”
From: Remember Sports

“The East Anglian based four-piece, known for their vivid lyricism and warm midwest emo tinged folk, follow 2023’s debut album The Great Overgrowth, with their most confessional work to date. An emotionally raw but confident collection of songs that have all of the great SUDS hallmarks: hope, charm, and a penchant for storytelling all while reflecting on personal challenges and the resilience of their friendship.”
From: Suds

“Funeral is a post-hardcore / emo band from Plymouth, they fuse melodic emo with hardcore and with their raw, high energy performances and deep cutting emotional lyrics, Funeral are bringing a fresh sound to the south west. They are also busy recording their debut ep which will be out in October.”
From: Mishikui

“They are joined by Atlas Theory, an emotionally charged outfit from Wales who weave together post-hardcore, metalcore and emo. After featuring on BBC Radio One Introducing, as well as the lineups of a number of festivals throughout 2025, Atlas Theory are not one to miss.”
From: Held under. + Smiling Politely + Atlas Theory + falselove

“A full-venue takeover across 3 floors with a special multi-media exhibition in the cellar. The night features Stratford Rise (noise-rock from Belfast), Pushbike (emo power pop), Why Horses? (post-punk/dance-punk), Newbuild (dream pop and noise-infused hyper-rock), and Bristol's sweethearts - The Scuttlers (art-rock).”
From: Cellar Door - Stratford Rise