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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

The best label in the Middle East right now finally lands on these shores, strengthening their Avon connects with a scuzzy flush of outsider muzack for the disenfranchised. Saint Abdullah brings their warped experimental dreadscapes alongside Kinlaw & Franco Franco’s worldbuilding cybernetic trap, misunderstood lounge punk genius Abul-Loul and Palestinian Memphis rap jester DJ Gawad. Saint Abdullah, Al-Mutreb Abul-Loul, DJ GAWAD ++ at Moor Beer Co.

Sell out warning! Mesmerising cross-cultural conversations between harp and oud as UK folk traditions meld with the melodies of the Middle East. The dreamlike interplay between Tamsin Elliott & Tarek Elazhary needs to be witnessed in the flesh! Tamsin Elliott & Tarek Elazhary at Bristol Tree Craft CIC.

Sell out warning! Celestial music’s principal earthly acolyte, Laraaji’s astral ambient revelations, devotional drones and cosmic zither sermons cascade with inner light and zen laughter. It’s an iconic sound bath FFO: Brian Eno, Alice Coltrane, Beverly Glenn-Copeland, Arthur Russell, Mary Lattimore. Laraaji at Strange Brew.

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.