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Reggae Nights in Bristol

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Bristol's Reggae & Dub Scene

Is Bristol the capital of reggae & dub in the UK?

With the return of the community led St Paul’s carnival (getting national coverage in the Guardian), Bristol has always had claim to be the capital of the Jamaican diaspora sound. Reggae and dub can be heard on the streets of St Paul’s and Stokes Croft, on the airwaves of Ujima and at venues like Cosies and community-centred nights at Kuumba Centre and the Malcolm X centre. While smoking bans and rapid gentrification have murdered the nightlife of London, Bristol has it’s own problems that are impacting the reggae and dub communities. The recent sale of the Rastafari Cultural centre poses a threat to the beating heart of this vibrant scene in Bristol.

While it's still possible to see reggae legends like Lee Perry and Horace Andy at Bristol's large venues (ie Colston Hall and the o2 Academy), live reggae in Bristol is fewer and farther between. Dub and 'soundsystem culture' on the other hand, are literally huge. For the big dub and roots soundclashes, keep an eye on whats on at the Trinity Centre in Bristol, most notably Unity in Dub who's guest soundsystems have included Irration Steppas and the mighty King Earthquake.

On a much smaller scale look at Cosies listings for their weekly roots and reggae night and check whats on at the Attic (attached to the Full Moon on Stokes Croft). Pure ragga, bashment or dancehall events in Bristol are pretty rare, instead a reggae room is a pretty common fixture at big nights at venues like Lakota.

The rapid growth of dubstep in Bristol has brought with it a rekindled interest in modern dub (aka digi-dub aka future dub) and has led to some unlikely dub bookings like Mad Professor at Shit the Bed in the Motion listings.

Buy tickets for reggae & dub events in Bristol

Our recent reggae & dub recommendations

Sell out warning! Distilling the live afrofunk jazz sermons of Fela Kuti with the JA / UK fusion of the Two Tone movement, Soothsayers have been making our hair stand on end for 25 years now. They’re finally taking their rightful place on the Jam Jar stage with killer brass chops and upful steppin’ anthems FFO: Steel Pulse, Hugh Masekela, Prince Fatty, Dele Sosimi, The Hempolics. Afrobeat, soul-jazz and deep dub - Soothsayers make vibrant, socially conscious music with a groove-driven sound that resonates across cultures and generations.

Kicking off EM2025 with a live quadruple threat ft, DJ Python’s subaqueous reggaeton and a highly-anticipated Bristol debut of expressionist Sufi poeticism from the truly stellar Abdullah Miniawy. For starters: Coby Sey's fresh full band take on avant-punk-dub and Mary Hurrell’s spectral sound art meditations. Only the daring brains at En Masse could dream this one up! Opening night, maximum impact

Afro Revolution curates a vibrant and unifying celebration of African culture coinciding with Black History Month. Catch GREAT’s soulful Afrobeats and emotive hip-hop – drawing influence from the likes of Highlife, Fela Kuti and Dr. Dre – alongside Afro-fusion rapper MoYah and DJ Sio on the decks bringing the amapiano and dancehall fire. A Black History Month celebration that blends music, culture, and community. Enjoy a night of live performances, spoken word, African drummers, authentic food, cultural artifacts, and a high-energy DJ afterparty. From roots to resistance to renaissance, this event is a movement of unity and liberation.

The praise heaped on the unstoppable Cimarons is long overdue. Their legacy is now secured as the first reggae band in the UK, the original exporters of roots to Africa and Japan, Bob Marely’s go-to backing band and the muscle behind countless (uncredited) studio sessions with every major Trojan artist. Seeing Cimarons live is your chance to dance with history, seize it! Cimarons - Pioneers of UK Reggae est. 1967, plus Talisman - The defining band of Bristol's golden era of roots rock Reggae.

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What our editors say

“Fresh from their 2025 tour, Toots and the Maytals feat. Leba Hibbert bring reggae’s true spirit back to the stage. Formed in the 1960s and famed for classics like 54-46 Was My Number, Monkey Man and Pressure Drop, the Maytals remain one of reggae’s most iconic groups. Now led by Toots’ daughter Leba, expect a powerful celebration of timeless hits and living legacy.”
From: Toots and the Maytals ft Leba Hibbert

“Infusing the soulful and mesmerising rhythms of reggae and dubwith the urban pulse of hip hop, Dub Catalyst ignites stages with an electrifying energy that captivates audiences. This dynamic ensemble, boasting a lineup of eleven talented musicians, delivers a fusion of genres that transcends boundaries and stirs the soul.”
From: Dub Catalyst + Ezme Dickens

“JAMU Ft. Binbags, Dur Brain, MĀDŁY, Speaka Da Devil, Bon Suis & The Horn Dogs. JAMU samples genres from around the world, with classic hip-hop tracks, to create a cleverly constructed showcase, which includes reggae, jazz, dub, swing, trip-hop, with nods to drum and bass and other bass driven music.”
From: Where it all Begins

“The album has been produced in collaboration with Nostalgia 77 (Ben Lamdin) and the psychedelic, dub aesthetic of the production deepens and enhances the atmosphere of the album and that's the experience we want to give the listener live!”
From: James Allsopp Group

“Rookie Numbers are a high-octane, 7-piece collective paving the way for a fourth generation of ska - 'ska-rave'. The band keeps the bravado pumping, their antics on stage a clear show of their youthfulness. Their originals are pumped full of energy, with influences from classic two-tone, as well as jungle, dub, and DnB, ensuring that Rookie Numbers will put on a show more intense than a nuclear power plant, something that people won't forget in a hurry.”
From: Rookie Numbers + For The Monks