Rock Gigs in Bristol

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Bristol's Rock Scene

With so many artists jumping ship in favour of more fashionable genre name, it's always amazing to see how much falls under the 'rock' umbrella. Classic rock venues in Bristol include The O2 Academy and The Fleece.

Have Idles put Bristol rock music back on the map?

Idles have put Bristol rock music back on everyone’s mind, but they’re just one of the talented Bristol rock bands who have the nation’s attention. While more retro rock gigs like Let’s Rock Bristol festival and rock and metal cover bands at the Fleece and Beerkeller (RIP), make Bristol’s rock scene look 80s focused, the List of current bands in Bristol is long. Bands like Heavy Lungs, Stolen Body record their own brand of psychedelic rock (including the popular yearl Bristol Psych Fest). For those who love to rock: Bristol’s live music scene salutes you.

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Our recent rock recommendations

Another year, another audiovisual Halloween spectacular from Cellar Door, with twisted rockabilly punks Honk helming the hoedown – a prime slab of swampy, country-fried Mancunian garage FFO: The Gun Club, Country Teasers, early Jay Reatard etc. Loaded with support from new synth-addled psych oddities Ya Hablo, Brighton glam punks Austen Showers and moody indie folkers Dogsbody. HAUNTED HONKY TONK

Reverb-drenched riders of the apocalyptic haze, London-based five-piece The Confederate Dead summon drone-laced guitar voyages out of of pulsing waves and elliptical loops. Step into the silken heat! FFO: Galaxie 500, Spiritualized, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, staring into the void. Confederate Dead, Lamears + Barbican

Seismic Bristol debut for these incendiary garage-punk / prog-jazz / heavy psych disciples. From LA they came, riding heady clouds of sax squall into stoner fuzz pedal storms, screaming with proto-punk falsettos and afro-funk chops. This’ll be a serious third eye watering FFO: Osees, Ty Segall, King Gizzard, Bitches Brew, Witch, King Crimson. Notorious LA Psych / Punk / ROCK known for their high-energy and sweat-drenched shows

Rollicking double bass-slappin’ rockabilly and punkish r’n’r revival from two crucial underground acts seen supporting the titanic likes of the Meteors, Klingonz, OH! GUNQUIT and the Zipheads. Expect b-movie horror, UFOs, voodoo women, zombies and more than a lil leopard print FFO: Stray Cats, Eddie Cochran, Tiger Army, Matchbox, the Cramps. Kro-Magnon Klub presents THE DEAD SHOUT and PLANET STRANGE

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What our editors say

“With 13 releases — including the recent companion EPs Paradise Alone and Hell Together — the band continues to prove that the spirit of classic rock will never die. Now, thanks to their own label, Right On Records, they are masters of their own destiny. Their new single, “Nobody But You,” is the first taste of new music to come and proof that The Sheepdogs are charging full steam ahead into 2026 and beyond.”
From: The Sheepdogs

“The Chicago art rock 4-piece made a splash during 2020 with their sophomore album Just Look at That Sky, finding themselves included in best of lists from that year including Vice, Rolling Stone, Paste, and more. Through the pandemic, the band remotely collaborated with other artists for a remix EP including Andy Bell (Oasis, Ride), Sad13 (Speedy Ortiz), Adam Faulkner (Gilla Band), and Bartees Strange while communicating with listeners online waiting for the opportunity to play their mix of noisy post-punk with “surreal humor and dark playfulness” (Paste).”
From: Ganser

“Based in the Southwest of England, UK, Mt.Onsra are a multi-instrumentalist duo who create a unique blend of alternative rock. Celebrated by the BBC R1 Rock Show, the band just played an electrifying set at ArcTangent Festival.”
From: Abrasive Trees

“Passion Mango is Connor Wilkinson. Hailing from the rainy city of Vancouver, BC, Passion Mango’s sensitive, distinctly West Coast style reflects their Pacific Northwest hometown. Passion Mango’s sound finds influence from many genres (including grunge, shoegaze, punk, folk, hip-hop, etc.) but is mainly rooted in indie and alternative rock. Touching on themes of grief, addiction, mental health, disillusionment, and the optimistic hope of love, Connor's songwriting is not afraid to make you cry with one song and then get up and dance on the next track.”
From: Passion Mango

“Based in Brooklyn, The Antlers began as Peter Silberman’s solo project, gradually evolving into a larger ensemble with Michael Lerner and formerly Darby Cicci. Their music blends indie rock with elements of art rock, dream pop, chamber pop and ambient textures.”
From: The Antlers + special guests