What's On / Bristol Gigs

Bristol Gigs

— All Bristol's Live Music

Buy tickets for Bristol's best gigs and live music.

Live music gig with great Bristol bands.

Bristol’s best gigs

Every week, the Headfirst editors trawl through all of the live music listings on the website and pick the best gigs for you to go to. Our event selections range from classical music concerts at St George’s Hall to smaller, local musician’s gigs at The Canteen or the Exchange.

Check out this week’s Bristol gig selections over on the Headfirst Facebook page and don’t forget to join our weekly email list for ticket alerts and announcements about interesting bands coming to Bristol including our biggest venues like SWX.

All tickets for this concert were sold through Headfirst Ticket Shop.

Tickets for Bristol gigs

In 2016, Headfirst Bristol launched an online ticket shop for live music events. Inspired by local cooperatives and community interest companies like the Bristol Cable and The Island, Headfirst provides an ethical and respectful place to buy tickets for gigs in Bristol. Our booking fees are low (usually 65p per ticket) and we strive to help support independent live music events as much as large concerts at venues like Bristol Beacon or Marble Factory.

Upcoming gigs in Bristol

Thu 25th September
The Wants at Rough Trade Bristol
— Rough Trade Bristol

The Wants in Bristol Tickets

Fri 11th July
SEEKER - Hidden Music Festival at Secret Location Isle Of Purbeck
— Secret Location Isle Of Purbeck

SEEKER - Hidden Music Festival in Bristol Tickets

Thu 14th August
Luke Haines & Peter Buck at Strange Brew
Thu 16th October
Somebody's Child at The Trinity Centre

Live music venues in Bristol

Bristol’s gig venues play an essential and often overlooked role in the city’s music scene. A spectrum of venues provides a ladder for new bands and musical talent to ascend. DIY spaces like Lost Horizon and Strangebrew provide a testbed for the screaming synthesisers and the guitars that will undoubtedly become part of Bristol’s future. Check out Headfirst’s Bristol venues page to discover which kind of performances and concerts you can expect from each gig venue.

First live gig for one of Bristol's best guitarists.

Our editor's top live music recommendation

Sell out warning! Like your favourite Madlib cuts come to life, Surprise Chef feel like you're trailing the most epic crate digging session ever. Marrying 70s funkxploitation grooves with instrumental stoner soul and dusky boombap kicks, they’re flooding the global consciousness with classic fills beamed from another era. Highly unmissable FFO: Khruangbin, 30/70, David Axelrod, Dilla, BadBadNotGood. Surprise Chef + Support at The Lantern.

Unmissable all-day misrule and crust/hxc/street punk pit heaven at the metal-working anarchist oasis aka Rockaway Park. 14 bands across 2 stages including Barcelona’s Riot City pogo punks Lux and the righteous return of blistering buzzsaw upstarts the Flex + shuttle bus from BRS, vegan cafe, info stalls, crowd-surfing kiddies. Bliss and leather! UNREST 2025 at Rockaway Park.

Sell out warning! Oh gosh! 90s dancehall legend incoming! Tanya rides ruffneck riddims with a royal sass, penning wicked ladies anthems that shine bright in a macho-posturing scene. She’s a true trailblazer, alongside Lady Saw, paving the road for the ragga queens of the future: Lila Iké, Koffee and more still to come. Trust us, Yuh Nuh Ready Fi Dis Yet! Tanya Stephens at The Jam Jar.

Sell out warning! Harsh joy, opulent noise, beloved punk-spirited pop. Are Deerhoof the most utterly distinctive yet impossible-to-pin-down band of the 21st century? WELL DUH. DEERHOOF at Strange Brew.

Recommended Gigs

Mon 28th April
Pictish Trail at Bristol Beacon
Sat 10th May
Friendly Festival at Lost And Grounded Brewers
— Lost And Grounded Brewers

Friendly Festival in Bristol Tickets

Sat 28th March
Ritual Union 2026 at Various Venues
Sat 18th October
EADES at Rough Trade Bristol
— Rough Trade Bristol

EADES in Bristol Tickets

Sun 15th June
Nick Mulvey at The Trinity Centre
— The Trinity Centre

Nick Mulvey in Bristol Tickets

Thu 30th October
Ozric Tentacles at The Trinity Centre
Fri 30th May
Balimaya Project at The Trinity Centre
Wed 12th November
Perfume Genius at The Trinity Centre
Thu 4th December
Stereo MC's at The Trinity Centre
— The Trinity Centre

Stereo MC's in Bristol Tickets

Gigs in Bristol today

Most of Headfirst’s visitors come to discover new bands and live music in Bristol. We’re proud to be Bristol’s most complete gig listings resource, complete with a full breakdown of gigs in Bristol today and tour dates for the next six months. A sterling selection of open mic nights (particularly along Gloucester Road), provide ample midweek entertainment for would-be talent scouts.

Sell out warning - buy tickets while you can!

Sell out warning! It's Melvins ...... what the hell else do you need to know? Melvins at Exchange.

Sell out warning! You’ve lost years of your life as Doomguy, saving the world repeatedly from Cyber Demons with absolutely no thanks from anyone. Now relive the trauma IRL with the UK’s only Doom tribute act playing those loading screen classics amid other franchise-friendly metal bands + gorey visuals and playable OG Doom machines. Video Game Tribute Band at Exchange.

Rapper announces our new Bristol gig guide on the microphone!
Sell out warning! Sonic ritualism and spiritual liberation through psych funk, hip-hop and Afro-punk legends-in-the-making BCUC. The Soweto seven-piece returns triumphantly to Bristol at the feverish demands of you, the people, after many many sell-out shows at their Jam Jar home. Do not miss this! BCUC at The Jam Jar.

Sell out warning! Get yer fill of scuzzy DIY punk across three days at Red Lion, Exchange and Moor Beer… the Punx return with Crass-approved anarcho legends Zounds alongside queercore heroes The Menstrual Cramps, Welsh skate-thrashers Pizzatramp, riot grrrl ragers Pussy Liquor + looooads more TBA. Bristol Punx Picnic 2025 - Saturday at Exchange.


Local bands and musicians

Local musicians are the lifeblood and new energy that constantly rejuvenates Bristol’s venues and performance spaces. Graduates from Bristol University’s Music course and BIMM provide regular injections of talent ranging from electronic music producers to classically trained pianists and orchestral musicians. Some of Bristol’s most successful bands are the first to point out that their inspiration comes from other local bands and gigs they’ve attended; with this in mind Headfirst is careful to include as much local talent as possible in it’s gig guide.

In addition to attending gigs you can also support Bristol’s musicians by buying their records from independent stores like Idle Hands Records, Shall Not Fade and Christmas Steps Records.