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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

From Cairo to the Guildhall, Amena’s proved herself to be one of the finest jazz voices of her generation. Seamlessly fusing the power of Sayed Darwish and Umm Kulthum with the timeless torch songs of Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, this’ll be a sumptuous evening of East / West fusion in the Treecraft nature sanctuary. Amena at Bristol Tree Craft CIC.

Kasai Masai pulse with raw joy and cultural pride, spinning Congolese folkloric traditions into bright, rhythmic soukous and rumba. Rewire your brain with these UK ambassadors, then hit the 'floor with Vookoo serving electrifying highlife and afrofunk 'til late - unstoppable heat FFO: Madalitso Band, Santrofi, King Sunny Ade. Kasai Masai + VooKoo Collective Takeover at The Canteen.

Borderless sonic brilliance from Levantine psych-funk fusioneers Tashkezar, packing out The Canteen with a searing live set of bouzouki shredding, synth squiggles and Mariam Ali’s hypnotising vocal presence. A dizzying highlight from Erratic Batting’s big January birthday celebrations; fans of BaBa ZuLa and Altın Gün shouldn’t be anywhere else! Tashkezar + DJ Ru Robinson at The Canteen.

Noise newbies eat free at this super friendly yet REALLY FUCKING HARSH Eggy Tapes offering. Rattling the Shreddies glassware: Slow Murder’s pulsating pain industrial, Fuck Radio’s plunderphonic power electronics and Romxn x Puddle Brain’s exercise in noise drone excess, Lovers Remorse. Proper tinnitus tickler FFO: Knifedoutofexistence, Pedestrian Deposit, Puce Mary, CT scans. HARSH NOISE AT SHREDDIES at Shredenhams.