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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

Free entry! Imploding destructo-rock double billing from two treasured local underground units. Riley/Radley take a desert-frazzled Sun City Girls-style detour into primitive guitar twang and impressionistic drums, while Carnivorous Plants marry found radio sound smudges with melodic dronegaze delight. A basement treasure FFO: Bill Orcutt, Dirty Three, Flying Saucer Attack, Manuel Mota. RILEY/RADLEY + CARNIVOROUS PLANTS at Cafe Kino.

Sell out warning! A veritable supergroup of DIY royalty from Tigercats, Martha, Onsind + more, Fortitude Valley CAN and WILL turn a frosty mid-January Exchange into a sun-kissed chamber of deliriously catchy, shimmering indie-pop-punk. Big-time winter blues buster if you love: The Beths, Alvvays, The Lucksmiths, Dressy Bessy, Diet Cig. Fortitude Valley at Exchange.

Fresh free improv combinations erupting from Matt Davis’ prepared trumpet, sparring with Rachel Musson’s tenor blasts and the delirious percussive strokes of Mark Sanders. A meeting of accomplished minds, reconstructing swing and skronk in unmissable, unrepeatable moments FFO: Pat Thomas, Peter Brotzmann, Evan Parker, Paul Dunmall. Field Concert Series

Look no further than this sweet Exchange matinee for family-friendly NYE joys: heartfelt acoustic guitar balladry from Washington punk-folker and ex-RVIVR frontperson Erica Freas, side-by-side with singer-songwriter duo Box Room. Free entry for under 16s + all over by 4pm = deeeeelightful. Olympia singer songwriter playing a rare one off Bristol gig