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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

Haunting post-rock laments full of bucolic imagery and eerie melancholy… The Declining Winter swoons with orchestral textures and Richard Adams' soft world-worn vocals. Like a folk tragedy soundtrack or The Leisure Society’s sinister sibling. Immense FFO: Red House Painters, The Microphones, Good Night & Good Morning. The Declining Winter + Pefkin + Coims at The Cube.

A welcome return for former Bill Callahan/Smog collaborator Sarabeth Tucek after a ten-year retreat from the music world. Brooding folk-flecked indie rock with soul-stirring Joni-style vocals – essential FFO: Cat Power, Lucinda Williams, PJ Harvey, The Velvet Underground, The Breeders, Tiny Ruins. Sarabeth Tucek at The Hen & Chicken.

Sell out warning! A double headliner of winking, witty art-pop at The Cube. War Against Sleep's Duncan Fleming wrestles Cave-esque dark crooning with irresistible psych-pop melodies, while Emily Breeze’s indie-noir is seductive yet melancholic, uncanny yet anthemic… Patti Smith meets Pulp in paradoxical femme fatale form. Two of Bristol’s best underground songwriters here for sure! Good Friday - Emily Breeze with War Against Sleep at The Cube.

Monochrome made a blood oath to extreme ugliness in all forms, and the hex has not been lifted! Another weekend splatterfest of pummeling deathgrind, cybernetic queercore and….noise accordion? Gruelling highlights include Black Curse’s ludicrously blackened death-magick, Gretchen Guttersnipe in solo anarcho-gabber psychodrama, graveyard-bating OSDM from Coffin Mulch + all the bands we’ve never heard of, yet can’t unhear ….. Saturday Only at Strange Brew.

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

“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

“The coffee-making, sing-along videos and Facebook Live Streams that got millions of people through the Covid-19 quarantine put Alexandra Kay on the map. Generating millions of plays weekly on her videos and chart-topping original music she commands the attention of country music fans. With a voice reminiscent of Dolly Parton, Alison Kraus and Lee Ann Womack, she brings country music back to its roots.”
From: Alexandra Kay