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Bristol's R&b Scene

Headfirst brings you the best R&B events in Bristol. Whatever kind of R&B you're into - from cheesy classics to contemporary tearjerkers - Bristol has everything you need. Many of the biggest R&B acts regularly tour the city, if you're looking for a live gig. Key venues like Colston Hall, Trinity Centre and the O2 Academy host concerts from larger international acts.

Or if you're a less discerning R&B head, clubs like Popworld and Bunker and nights like Bump N Grind at Thekla cater to locals and students who just want to hear the hits (think Destiny's Child, Blu Cantrell, Sisqo and all the classics). These places are heaving all week round so you need never go without your R&B fix (or listen alone in your room).

Bristol is a great city for all music so it's no surprise your R&B tasts will be well catered for.

Buy tickets for r&b events in Bristol

What our editors say

“Frost Children is the music of New York City-based siblings Angel and Lulu Prost, who make kinetic, shape-shifting pop sounds that draw from dozens of disparate styles at once. The duo create a blend of playful, mysterious, and ridiculous sounds and genre-transcending experiments. Their 2023 album, Speed Run, referenced '90s R&B one second and melodramatic mall punk the next, and companion piece Hearth Room was more organically produced but also moved quickly from sound to sound as Frost Children found new articulations of their surprisingly catchy pop. In 2025, the duo's third album Sister embraced EDM styles.”
From: Frost Children + Special Guests

“Drawing from an expansive palette of R&B, neo soul, contemporary jazz, and poetic songwriting, British-Nigerian award-winning singer-songwriter and musician Ego Ella May is creating music that resonates deeply across generations and cultures. Her work is united by her profound reverence for jazz; for Ego, it’s the “root of it all,” and a fearless commitment to emotional truth. Her genre-defying sound has cemented her as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary music.”
From: Ego Ella May

“Journey Through Life marks a new chapter, balancing sharp commentary with deeply personal reflections on family, growth, and resilience. From his beginnings in Fela’s Egypt ’80 to founding Positive Force in 1986, Femi has forged a unique Afrobeat style enriched with R&B, rock, and hip-hop, powered by his activism work.”
From: Femi Kuti & The Positive Force

“Amber Mark is an American singer, songwriter, and producer. Her multifaceted style implements sounds from hip hop, contemporary R&B, soul, and bossa nova. She released her first album, 3:33am, in May 2017, followed by her EP Conexão in 2018. Her second album, Three Dimensions Deep, was released in January 2022.”
From: Amber Mark

“Dream Motel (Instagram: dreammotelband) - Hailing from South Wales & Bristol, Dream Motel are a new female fronted alt rock band. Fusing catchy instrumentals reminiscent of 90s shoe gaze with soulful R&B vocals. FFO: Pixies, Warpaint and Mercury.”
From: Saskia + Rabbit Vision + Static Inc + Dream Motel