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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

ICYMI: the radical community space and vegan mecca urgently needs Bristol’s support, having fought to keep its doors open through the pummellings of Covid + the cozzie livs crises. This is a no-brainer night of local faves inc Noods gem Radio Limbo, jazzbient oddball collective Improv’s Greatest Hits, plus folk, queer morris + more, with all profits to Kino’s fundraiser. 20 more years!!! Save Cafe Kino at Cafe Kino.

Delicious Bristolian four-biller! Mould are an unyielding eruption of sweaty post-hardcore catharsis, while MP3 Chainsaw recklessly mangle together everything from pop and garage to nu-metal and shoegaze – balanced beautifully by the melodic charm of Lifter’s twee-inflected indie rock and Hamburger’s lo-fi jangle pop. MOULD // MP3 Chainsaw // LIFTER // Hamburger at Strange Brew.

Free entry! Feverishly noisy glitch pop at The Louis for your fix of mid-week weirdness: local instrumental experimentalists Socks & Ballerinas are a two-person kaleidoscope of fractured beats, lush loops, and improvisational swerves. Captivating and chaotic FFO: Matmos, Autechre, Tortoise. Socks and Ballerinas + DJ at The Canteen.

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.