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blamed for anarchists attacks in Bristol, but this is a media portrayal of the punk scene that is now almost 40 years out of date.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

Sell out warning! Pennsylvania’s Apes of the State worship the flickering flame of four-chord Americana at Loco Klub, spinning lyrical DIY folk punk tales of millennial malaise, temp jobs, and idle afternoons haunted by cosmic worries. Unmissable voice of a generation FFO: The Mountain Goats, Emperor X, Jeff Rosenstock, The Unicorns. Apes of the State at Loco Klub.

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! It’s a beachside burial for local twanging surf-xotica institution Los Dedos, bowing out in Jam Jar appropriate environs with one last wash-out of reverb-drenched tremolo shredding. With trashy garage-billy scuzzers The Mudd Club for starters, this is totally unmissable FFO: Link Wray, Duane Eddy, Tarantino, La Luz, The Cramps. Los Dedos - Farewell Gig & Party + The Mudd Club at The Jam Jar.

Celebrate IWD with a Trinity triple bill of local baddies! RED’s infectious, vocal-powered dance-pop meets sultry R&B / trap-hop from Badliana and Moxie Dolls’ shredding punk-rock anthems at this genre-expansive showcase of Bristol’s grassroots. Celebrating women in music at The Trinity Centre.

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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