Bristol's World Music Gigs

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Bristol's World Scene

Do we need the term World music in 2020?

World music has always been a problematic term, somewhere like Bristol is a key example of why. With 16% of the population being from ethnic minority groups and dedicated centres studying the impact of migration on citizenship, there seems little distinction between ‘local music’ and ‘world music’ anymore. Reggae is often classed as ‘world music’ given its Jamaican roots, but it has a strong UK heritage and for someone who is a 2nd or 3rd generation UK citizen with migrant parents, making music that’s classed as ‘world’ when they’ve never lived anywhere else but say, Bristol, seems an offensive categorisation. Its almost a cliche to say we live in a global society, so isn’t all music now world music?

Everyone knows that Bristol is a true melting pot of cultures and it comes as no surprise that the city has a healthy world music scene which manages to avoid the cliche. The on-trend big names in world music like William Onyeabor, Ebo Taylor or the Kuti family usually find themselves at home in Bristol’s Colston Hall. Occasional headliners can also be found at The Fleece and the Trinity Centre. St George’s hosts regular world music events covering more traditional music from Senegal, Mozambique and South Africa, where instruments like the kora and mbira are commonplace.

Locally, Bristol is home to some very talented ‘world music’ musicians. Afrobeat stalwarts like Mankala and No Stop Go (formerly Bristol Afrobeat Project) play smaller venues like The Canteen and The Old Market Assembly but also get the opportunity to support international bands at larger Bristol venues.

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Our recent world recommendations

Sell out warning! Sun-baked and sublime, São Paulo’s Sessa leads his full band through cosmic folk steeped in Afro-Brazilian styles and música popular brasileira. Sonorous crooning glides over lush rhythmic interplay in a surging samba fusion, breathing in everything from soul to psych rock. A masterclass in heat FFO: Elza Soares, Novos Baianos, Lo Borges, Sly & The Family Stone. Sessa at Strange Brew.

Sheffield’s knotty computer-music maestro Rian Treanor meets the wind-instrument minimalism of Japan’s Rai Tateishi, pairing Autechre-esque rhythmic workouts with stark, ancient harmonics. Their bizarro style is prodded further into the vortex by Eye Measure’s corrupted cyber-coding and Luigi Marino's deep explorations in Wuhan cymbals. Rian Treanor & Rai Tateishi + Eye Measure at The Cube.

Rooted in the myths and memories of the English revival tradition, Betty Blight’s years in Argentinian post-punk and cumbia scenes also add a global flavour to her curious, wintry freak-folk ballads. She’s a bona fide original, in masterly company with fellow Bristol folk scene talents Jon Hunt, Dan Weltman and Georgina King. Betty Blight album launch with Dan Weltman, Jon Hunt and Georgina King at Cafe Kino.

A bodily call-to-prayer at the Jam Jar with Birame Seck and the Senegalese soul collective Awale Jant Band. Dancing is not optional in their radiant vortex of jazzy, melodic Afrobeat ouroboros rhythms – these are dubby and dazzling flows, irresistible FFO: Bantu, Songhoy Blues, Groupe RTD, Nation Beat. ‘Senegalese Soul’, Afrobeat, Funk, Latin Jazz, Mbalax & Desert Blues

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What our editors say

“Having studied and played with musicians such as bluesmen Ian Siegal and afrobeat star Dele Sosimi, these experiences are now more than ever being channeled into Goodall’s own idiosyncratic music and performance style.”
From: Jack Goodall

“Expect ultra-tight musicianship and unstoppable energy as Nubiyan Twist bring their electrifying blend of jazz, afrobeat, soul, hip-hop and dance music to the stage with a brand new line-up and live show for 2026.”
From: Nubiyan Twist

“All day and night, you can expect all of the regular sounds you know and love from around the globe, including but not limited to Dub, Soukous, reggaeton, salsa, highlife & afrobeat. We’re pleased to welcome to the stage:”
From: Jam on the Horizon 2026

“Fusing DJ sets with live instruments, this event dives into a bold, relatively untapped sound that feels right. Expect genre-blurring performances featuring live guitar, saxophone, and trombone woven seamlessly into DJ sets, all under a vibrant world music theme.”
From: Merchant

“9-piece collective TC & The Groove Family are bringing their fiery, eclectic sound that flies through afrobeat, broken beat, jungle, jazz, and grime to Bristol's Strange Brew.”
From: TC & The Groove Family