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Folk Nights & Acoustic Music in Bristol

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Bristol's Folk & Acoustic Scene

Like jazz, folk is an extremely broad genre. From Joan Baez and Joanna Newsom to Bon Iver and the Fleet Foxes to Sheelanegig and Beirut, the folk field is vast. Fortunately when it comes to catering for such a broad spectrum of live music, Bristol excels.

Was folk & acoustic born in the West Country?

With local venues like Bristol Folk House and Bristol University Folk society, folk and acoustic music has a strong foothold in Bristol. The romantic images of a farmer chewing grass sitting on a hay bale is a West Country classic, English folk music has always thrived in the countryside. While Bristol isn’t as rural as its surroundings, music people have always flocked to Bristol from the surrounding areas, bringing the folk sound with them. So while folk music wasn’t born in the west country, it sure does have a home in Bristol.

Folk venues in Bristol
For off-centre Twee and Anti-Folk, be sure to check out what's on at the Louisiana and check the Lost Horizon listings. Cafe Kino and The Arts House both on Stokes Croft also host occasional anti-folk bands and solo musicians.

For less lo-fi and more straight up folk, key venues include: Lost Horizon, The Lansdown in Clifton, The South Bank Centre and The Folk House.

For more feisty folk bands keep an eye on gigs at The Attic and check out our gypsy jazz listings.

The folk big-guns and pop-crossover 'stars' like Noah and The Whale, Seth Lakeman and Mumford and Sons will be found at the biggest Bristol Venues (Colston Hall, o2 Academy and St George's Hall). For these gigs, arrive early as big folk events (at St Georges Hall in particular) can come packaged with some great (and potentially better) support artists.

Buy tickets for folk & acoustic events in Bristol

Our recent folk & acoustic recommendations

Sell out warning! Activist, comedian and radical troubadour Grace Petrie brings her unique brand of fist-in-the-air protest folk to the Trinity, examining social and political issues of austerity-ravaged modern Britain with Bragg-approved anthems of solidarity and solace. Big FFO: Frank Turner, Laura Jane Grace, Kirsty MacColl, Onsind, Mischief Brew. Grace Petrie + The Maes at The Trinity Centre.

Nigel Chapman renders the world from the outside in, with a kind of absurd spiritual reverence. His literary sophisti-pop band, Nap Eyes, sprout lyrical imagery of animal spirits and phantoms and 13th century castles and if you’re into Breakfast Records this is a no-brainer. FFO: Destroyer, the propelling wind of the self development paradigm, David Berman. Nap Eyes at The Louisiana.

Sell out warning! Celestial music’s principal earthly acolyte, Laraaji’s astral ambient revelations, devotional drones and cosmic zither sermons cascade with inner light and zen laughter. It’s an iconic sound bath FFO: Brian Eno, Alice Coltrane, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Arthur Russell, Mary Lattimore. Laraaji + ãssia ghendir + Dan Thorman at Strange Brew.

Sell out warning! 2nd show added due to massive demand! Uplifting poetry melds with soul, spiritual jazz, dusty hiphop and rolling broken beat in the singular soundworld of Sons of Kemet wordsmith Joshua Idehen. Essential FFO: Calabashed, Infinity Knives, Daedelus, Neue Grafik Ensemble. Joshua Idehen + Shanaz Dorsett at The Jam Jar.

What our editors say

“Joining them in support are Scotland’s, Pupil Slicer, whose mathcore assault has become a staple on bills up and down the country following the release of their albums, ‘Mirrors’ (2021) and ‘Blossom’ (2023).”
From: LLNN

“A 48-strong a cappella folk choir, Heartwood sings songs whose murky origins stretch back centuries and centuries. They sing songs their grannies taught them. They sing songs of rebellion, of love, of war, of sex, of death, of the turning of the seasons.”
From: Slavic Voices Choir, with Heartwood Chorus

“One of the hardest working singer-songwriters in the game is named Katie Crutchfield. She was born in Alabama, grew up near Waxahatchee Creek. Skipped town and struck out on her own as Waxahatchee. That was over a decade ago. Crutchfield says she never knew the road would lead her here, but after six critically acclaimed albums, she’s never felt more confident in herself as an artist. While her sound has evolved from lo-fi folk to lush alt-tinged country, her voice has always remained the same. Honest and close, poetic with Southern lilting. Much like Carson McCullers’s Mick Kelly, determined in her desires and convictions, ready to tell whoever will listen.”
From: WAXAHATCHEE

“The Buffalo Gals are fast becoming the country's favourite old-time country string band. Firmly rooted in traditional Americana music, with an authentic sound driven by fiddle, banjo, percussive step dance, and soaring harmonies, they produce an irresistible show packed with all the excitement, passion and fun of Appalachian, Bluegrass, Blues and Cajun tunes and songs.”
From: TANGLED ROOTS FESTIVAL

“Tennessee-born guitarist, songwriter and producer William Tyler began his career in the early 2000s touring with acts such as Lambchop and Silver Jews before breaking away to focus on his unique brand of instrumental guitar music, often dubbed ‘cosmic country’.”
From: William Tyler