Jazz Gigs in Bristol

upcoming gig

Bristol's Jazz Scene

There are two distinct sides to Bristol's jazz scene and in the middle a line that's rarely crossed...

Jazz in Bristol's Large Venues
On one side are the (usually larger) international jazz events, typically at venues like Colston Hall and St Georges. These are great venues to see contemporary jazz in Bristol with recent (2009 - 2010) highlights including Portico Quartet, Cinematic Orchestra and the Neil Cowley Trio. Live jazz in these Bristol venues has more of a concert feel, almost always seated and usually around the £15 mark depending on the seats. Bristol is fortunate to be a key stop over in most UK jazz tours and it is always worth keeping an eye on who's playing when and where and get jazz tickets early for decent seats.

Jazz in Bristol's Small Venues
The otherside of Bristol's live jazz scene couldn't be more different. Bristol is home to some awesome jazz musicians, many of international standard playing international gigs. What's great about Bristol is you can often catch these artists while they're at home often for free. Notable examples include Daisy Palmer (drummer - Goldfrapp), James Bateman (sax - Badbone & Co, Ronnie Scotts) and James Morton (sax - Pee Wee Ellis, The Herbaliser). Unlike the large tours at the bigger venues jazz gigs in Bristol pubs are more organic and unpredictable. With so many quality musicians playing in so many different bands or improvising with different artists, live jazz in Bristol is constantly evolving. When looking for whats on jazz in Bristol it's often more important to consider which individual musicians are playing where, rather than browsing by band or headliner. At live music events in Bristol pubs for the best views you'll need to stand but sometimes tables if you're lucky enough to get one.. ***** Where to see live jazz in Bristol
The whats on listings to the left show all upcoming jazz gigs in Bristol but it's still worth mentioning some consistent venues. Always check whats on at the Coronation Tap on Tuesdays and Sundays, (usually jazz or blues, always free). Other key jazz venues in Bristol include the Old Duke (live music every night, always free) and the Grain Barge (gigs every Friday, around £3).

We also have whats on info and listings for gypsy jazz, which we have decided to keep separate.

Is there a new generation of jazz?

Many people who lived through the golden era of jazz will tell you it's dead. But many international publications say jazz is having a new dawn in the UK and that the genre is evolving because of multiculturalism. Some of this can be seen in the Bristol jazz scene, the non-purist outlook of Worm Disco Club and Bristol Jazz and Blues Fest. With a new generation of jazz fans, comes a new outlook on jazz - Bristol has always had young and adventurous music makers from it’s local community and insurgent student population. Will Bristol be the new centre of a new kind of jazz in the UK? Only time will tell.

Buy tickets for jazz events in Bristol

Our recent jazz recommendations

Sell out warning! Expect nothing, appreciate everything, bring earplugs, bring sunglasses, kill your idols to make way for the grand Japanoise architect and arch-mystic of live ritual mayhem. Anything we say about EYE will become irrelevant by the time he takes stage to unleash a glitching punk glyph hinting at the future of all sound. If you know, you know, but you still won’t know….until you go. ∈Y∋ + COLO +++ at Strange Brew.

Mood Hut’s in-house dub pop raconteur returns in live trio formation! Jack J’s evolution from boogie-down house revivalist to breezy balearic blue-eyed soulsmith neeeeeds to be witnessed in the flesh. Join the swoon with Laura Groves’ blissful shimmering sophisti-pop, sure to melt fans of: Mr Fingers, Arthur Russell, ML Buch, Kate Bush, OPN, Angel Olsen. Jack J , Laura Groves + ddwy at Strange Brew.

Cult live afro-house dance sensations Afriquoi charmed the world with their fusion of Gambian kora, Congolese guitar, Mandinka percussion and infectious electronics. 100% essential and uplifting experience for all human souls into Francis Bebey, Ata Kak / Awesome Tapes From Africa, UK Funky, The Busy Twist, Onipa, K.O.G. Afriquoi + Liz Ikamba at The Lantern.

Neo-classical adventurism from the brains behind the keys in Spindle Ensemble and Tezeta (as well as Cosmo Sheldrake and Alabaster dePlume). Inzani leads first his piano trio and then a 9 piece band with astonishing compositional breadth, from delicate chamber beauty to downtown cinematic drama and luscious cosmic exotica. A true wonder FFO: Keith Jarrett, Nils Frahm, Jóhann Jóhannsson, Einaudi. Daniel Inzani at The Forge.

What our editors say

“Chris is the first-call player for many UK bands and his resume reads like a who's who of British jazz, bringing his incredible and sympathetic guitar playing to performances with Courtney Pine (he was an original member of the hugely influential Black British big band, the Jazz Warriors), Afro-rock pioneers Osibisa, feisty funk-soul singer Sheila Ferguson (The Three Degrees), neo-soulman Omar, funk instrumental ensemble The JBs, 'Godfather Of Swing', singer and saxophonist Ray Gelato, and restaurant critic turned jazz pianist Jay Rayner.”
From: CHRIS COBBSON'S AFRICAN JAZZ QUARTET

“After a seven year hiatus to concentrate on their Universal Records-signed big band Bellowhead, Spiers & Boden returned in 2021 with the critically acclaimed album ‘Fallow Ground‘ and have been taking their brand of high octane, no nonsense acoustic folk song and music to packed UK venues ever since.”
From: Spiers and Boden

“Our resident house musicians the Midnight Creepers return for the last time in 2024 with a big band banger. Expect the usual raucous sheninigans from Jack Calloway and his crew of swingers (calm down dear), with an extra special pre-Christmas, last-one-of-the-year party atmosphere.”
From: Jack Calloway & The Midnight Creepers Xmas Special

“In 2004, Bellowhead burst onto the British folk scene like nothing before or since. Famously conjured up by duo Spiers & Boden whilst sitting in a traffic jam, they roped in friends, and friends of friends until the big band was born.”
From: Bellowhead + The Longest Johns

“"A robust and heavy hitting performer who has gone on to concentrate largely on free improvisation without sacrificing a rigorous melodic logic, a sparing lyricism and the technique to drop in on bebop occasionally." - John Fordham, The Guardian”
From: DUNMALL & PURSGLOVE QUARTET