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Free Gigs in Bristol

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Bristol's Free Gigs Scene

Where to find free music in Bristol Free music's pretty easy to find in Bristol. Whilst most gigs outside of the big venues are usually only a few quid, it's always nice to see some bands for free or a couple of pounds in a bucket (if they're good!) For guaranteed free music with your pint, go to a venue which has a free entry policy.

The Old Duke, The Canteen and The Golden Lion (except fridays) should probably be your first port-of-call to check out Coronation Tap are also very reliable and popular for free gigs. Luckily free gigs can happen anywhere, this means you can keep things interesting and not get bored of rotating the same Bristol venues. Free live music can crop up anywhere from the Grain Barge and Lousianna to Colston Hall and even St Georges.

The economy of free gigs. Can it survive Covid?

Good news: gigs in Bristol are more likely to be free than anywhere else! General ticket prices seem to be more common between free and £5; the £20+ bracket is a rare one compared to the capital’s high-end arts and theatre gigs. Bristol’s pandemic response has opened up some extra local music funding. Will free gigs disappear with the added financial pressures of covid? Indoor gigs may soon be possible, but how many of them will remain free and accessible?

Free outdoor gigs and festivals in Bristol

From mid June to the beginning of September Bristol Council and independent organisations put on some great free music events. Best of all there's something different almost every weekend and they don't cost any money! Significant large events include St Werbergh's Fair, The Harbourside Festival and St Pauls Carnival. In addition there are some great smaller, open air gigs with free entry to be found in places like Queens Square, Stokes Croft and Castle Park.

Buy tickets for free gigs events in Bristol

Our recent free gigs recommendations

A quintuple bill of oddball ambient and experimental sounds, perfectly nestled within the haunting acoustics of Redcliffe's St Thomas the Martyr church. Featuring Alliyah Enyo’s stunning vocal-led sci-fi explorations, Dan Thorman’s spooling modular meditations + Jake Muir’s soft-focussed electro-concrète – pure atmosphere. SSP10 w/ Jake Muir, Fergus Clark, Llyn y Cwn, Alliyah Enyo & Dan Thorman at St. Thomas the Martyr.

Muscular sax improviser Paul Dunmall returns to town alongside the elastic brains of the Steve Swell Quartet. American trombonist Swell blurts ritual wreckage, anchored by James Owston’s double bass and Mark Sanders’ time stuttering drum shivers. A downright jazz revelation. PAUL DUNMALL / STEVE SWELL QUARTET at Bristol Music Club.

Sell out warning! Not jazz nor rock nor film music, fans just call it ‘Necks music’: that spine-tingling unwinding of instrumental textures and improvised magic. A once in a lifetime gig for those who’ve never witnessed; for those that have, you can never see the same set twice…. The Necks at Strange Brew.

Middle Eastern nay reed-flute master and global jazz flautist Faris Ishaq celebrates the spiritual, searching, unstoppable work of John Coltrane alongside the British European Jazz Ensemble. Inspired by the soul-baring style of the iconic saxophonist and infused with Ishaq’s Arabic folk and classical influences, this is one for seekers of true cosmic envelopment. FARIS ISHAQ X BEJE - CANCELLED at Cotham Parish Church, Cotham Road, Cotham, Bristol, BS6 6DR.