The Thunderbolt

The Thunderbolt

Small gig venue in Totterdown.


The Thunderbolt is an independent music & arts venue on the Bath Road, Totterdown. The intimate venue is a restored Grade 2 listed former 1830's tollhouse with a large, rear garden.

The Thunderbolt's music policy is broad and includes indie, folk, punk, country, roots, rock and ska. Local bands like Yes Rebels, John Vistic Experience, Archimedes, Phantom Limb, Annette Berlin, The Liftmen, Empty Pools, First Degree Burns, Ruckus Collective amongst many others have played gigs at the Thunderbolt.

The Thunderbolt has become established as a "circuit venue" on the live music scene, with previous touring bands including:

Nationally John Parish (PJ Harvey), Ian Mclagan (Faces/Small Faces), Hugh Cornwell, Miles Hunt, Will Self, Howe Gelb, John Cooper Clarke, Howard Marks, Jerry Dammers, Carleen Carter, Louisiana Red, Wilko Johnson, Wayne Hussey, The Pretty Things, Justin Sullivan, Jim Bob (Carter USM), The Christians, DJ Don Letts, Roy Bailey, Wreckless Eric, John Power (Cast/The La's), John Otway & Wild Willy Barrett, Zoot Money, Justin Townes Earle, Tom Hingley (Inspiral Carpets), John Hegley, Dr Feelgood, Blue Aeroplanes, Jim Bob (Carter USM) & Chris Difford.

What's On At The Thunderbolt

WATCHING FROM THE SIDELINES + TV Dinner + PVA Glue at The Thunderbolt
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alternative rock grunge pop punk rock
PUBLIC BURNING + JayetAI + Tricome at The Thunderbolt
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alternative rock electronic grunge shoegaze
BETTER DEAD + The Sunnies + Athelney at The Thunderbolt
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alternative rock indie rock rock
We Kissed A Girl at The Thunderbolt
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alternative pop disco house jungle uk funky lgbtq+
GRIMTOWN + Vertigo + Charmtype at The Thunderbolt
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alternative rock garage rock indie rock rock
HOT FRIDGE + Los Savages + PIlot Scheme at The Thunderbolt
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post-punk punk
The Spiritus Mundi with Folketronic and Acts of Resistance at The Thunderbolt
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folk garage rock psych punk
DEADLIGHT DANCE + Carniepunks + Starstruck at The Thunderbolt
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alternative rock post-punk punk
DWELLERS + Go Crow Go + Luh Band at The Thunderbolt
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alternative rock indie folk indie rock pop rock punk
Paul Quinn  + Adam and the Hellcats at The Thunderbolt
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alternative rock classic rock punk rock soft rock
CALLOUT + The Vineyard Vendetta + Mild West at The Thunderbolt
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alternative rock indie rock rock
CHAMFER + Ashvara + Rousakis Campbell at The Thunderbolt
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electronic indie pop indie rock pop punk
DISORDER/BOZOS/JED & THE MICROWAVE/VELOCETTE at The Thunderbolt
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goth post-punk punk rock rock-and-roll
HITMARKA + Fire Fight + Teabag at The Thunderbolt
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punk hardcore-punk
Toxic Melon - A Radioactive Lemon Network Event at The Thunderbolt
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art rock experimental rock progressive metal progressive rock psychedelic rock
BEAKER *AS HEARD ON RADIO 4+6* + Freakshow + TBC at The Thunderbolt
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alternative rock indie pop indie rock rock
POINTZERO + Wine on a Wednesday + Lennon Love at The Thunderbolt
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alternative rock indie rock rock
The Jam UK at The Thunderbolt
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tribute acts
SATANISER *FIRST SHOW* + Elk + Headplant + Captain Zero at The Thunderbolt
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post-punk punk rock rock-and-roll hardcore-punk
Dusk Brothers at The Thunderbolt
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blues blues-rock country country rock
STILL THE SMITHS at The Thunderbolt
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alternative rock indie pop indie rock
SPARKO'S GOING BACK HOME at The Thunderbolt
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blues pub rock punk rock R&B
THE EMPERIALS at The Thunderbolt
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ska
The Fallen Leaves + Carniepunks at The Thunderbolt
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garage rock punk rock

Get a feel for The Thunderbolt

Our recent recommendations for The Thunderbolt

Beaker are back! Reunited after 25 years in tribute to late bassist Kim Parsons, the cult indie rock quartet were a fixture of Oxford’s DIY scene in the 90s – their hook-heavy, harmony-laced sound still hits. Big find FFO: The Raincoats, The Breeders, Life Without Buildings, Bas Jan. BEAKER // The Freakshow//Sav Religion

Locals Pilot Whale Research apply cinematic grandeur and improvisational eclecticism to drizzly folk melodies and expansive, lyric-driven songwriting. Lush, conversational compositions with sing-song melodies and pastoral textures FFO: Iron & Wine, Fleet Foxes, José González, Calexico, Fence Collective. PILOT WHALE RESEARCH // DAY FLYING MOTH // THE GREAT UNFURLING

Three-pronged DIY pile-up helmed by the hefty doom/riot grrl/nu-metal collision of politipunk upstarts Hissy Fist, alongside local post-punk muscle from Limited Ltd and Dyke Mother's emerging experimental grunge. Biggun FFO: Witch Fever, Dream Nails, Couch Slut, Gouge Away, Cold Meat, Helms Alee. HISSY FIST // LIMITED LTD // DYKE MOTHER

Calling all degenerates! Assemble for a boozy garage/punk/psychobilly day fest with melodic power punk upstarts Los Pepes, high-octane punk-n-rollers Crooked Little Sons, The Loyal Cheaters’s glammed-up turbo blitz + 8 hours of snotty action FFO: Cheap Trick, The Hives, The Hellacopters, The Bronx, Dead Boys, The Runaways. Punk all dayer with live bands from the afternoon!

Mainstream recognition always eluded Man, but the cult Welsh psych-proggers’ 57 year marathon of frazzled pub-rock jams have made them an unparalleled cosmic Celtic institution. The most significant thing to come out of Merthyr since the Industrial Revolution? Essential history FFO: Quicksilver Messenger Service, Groundhogs, Hawkwind, Wishbone Ash, Nektar. MAN - WELSH ROCK LEGENDS + CULT OF THE VELVET RATLLESNAKE