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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

Free entry! The Old E’s beloved Community Jam Collective get a SERIOUS upgrade, running riot in Ashton Court with a whole room of live electronic gear for your noodling delight + the best of local bands playing psych blues, tortured genius pop and everything in between. This could be the start of something truly beautiful….. MANSION ÉCLECTIQUE at Ashton Court.

Post-punk and Cossack folk meeting in a cosmic cultural collision, ft Leeds underground legend Len Liggins and The Wedding Present’s Peter Solowka. The Ukrainians join the Cube for acoustic performances, a Q&A and readings from a new book on the band’s 35 years in the scene. An evening of tales & acoustic songs from Wedding Present affiliate Peter Solowka

Last seen in town with Spanish guitar gaucho Victor Herrero, the majestic trad/not-trad fiddle of Mikey Kenney is a real treat from Ear Trumpet. Giddy strings steeped in 1,000 years of rich UK ballads, peppered with Mikey’s own urban Merseyside compositions and influences from bluegrass to Italian folk and beyond. Plaintive delights FFO: Tommy Peoples, Aidan O'Rourke, Aaron Catlow, Band of Burns. Mikey Kenney is an original. A passionate and well-respected advocate for traditional music.

Sell out warning! Fresh off solo album #20(!), uber-prolific ex-Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci frontman Euros Childs comes to enchant Exchange alongside a full band of avant-pop scene friends. Deliciously absurd, near-vaudevillian neo-psych-indie delivered with trademark joy and whimsy… there'll be no standing at the back with your arms folded for this one, rock dads. FFO: Super Furry Animals, Hen Ogledd, Hefner, Ween, Sweet Baboo Joined by long term collaborators Stephen Black (aka Sweet Baboo) Stuart Kidd (Kidd, The Wellgreen) and Selma French (Morgonrode, Frøkedal).

What our editors say

“Taking in soul, funk, country-rock and any other kinds of music they care to play, expect drama, improvisation, musical fireworks and Waterboys classics such as ‘The Whole Of The Moon’, ‘How Long Will I Love You’ and ‘This Is The Sea’.”
From: The Waterboys

“Fresh out of South Wales, Jess Marie picked up the ukulele during lockdown 2020 adding her melodic tones to a variety of rock, folk and indie covers. She stepped into the world of Open Mic nights and began gaining the confidence to perform publicly, whilst also writing her own folk style music inspired by artists such as First Aid Kit, Far From Saints and Frank Turner, then jumped in the deep end by gigging all over the country supporting bands such as Oxbowlake and Pet Needs as well as playing Festivals such as Barnstomper, Big Love, Chickenstock and Here For The Music, captivating audiences with her relatable songs and honest banter.”
From: Jake Martin

“Nashville-based singer-songwriter Andrew Combs uses his gifts for lyricism and wry observation to weave tales of love, sin and redemption in a style that brings together classic country and contemporary pop.”
From: Andrew Combs

“Rachel Newton (The Furrow Collective) and Lauren MacColl (Rant) are firmly established as two of the country’s most celebrated folk musicians. They collaborated on each other’s solo projects for many years before co-producing their award winning project Heal & Harrow, based on the Scottish Witch Trials. They are delighted to be offering a duo show that encompasses their vast back catalogue of shared material, both from their solo works from albums such as Haar, Landskein (Lauren), Sealladh and To the Awe (Rachel) and acoustic versions of music from the Heal & Harrow live show. ”
From: Heal & Harrow - Greenbank Folk Club

“Antwerp has, with its rich history and international port, always been a melting pot of cultures, a place where people from all over the world meet and exchange ideas. As amazing as their records may be, Antwerp Gipsy Ska Orkestra is first and foremost a stunning live band that has thrilled audiences throughout Europe, including Ukraine, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the UK, France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, The Netherlands and of course their home country Belgium. They have even played in Ulan-Ude, the capital of the Republic of Buryatia (Russia), probably the most Siberian part of Siberia.”
From: Antwerp Gipsy Ska Orkestra