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Bristol's Pop Scene

80s pop, 90s pop, Bristol has all kinds of pop. Go down the Harbourside on any night of the week and the streets are packed with queuing punters going out to hear the latest tracks and pop classics from days gone by. Bristol's thriving club scene means you can go out and hear almost any music. Another key area is the Clifton Triangle (especially for students) where cheap nights and drink deals at clubs like Po Na Na and Mbargo's are all the rage.

On the live circuit, you can experience plenty of pop music in Bristol. Like any major city, larger concert venues cater towards and music and, along with Cardiff, Bristol is one of the key cities in the West (and South-West) for any international touring act to be playing. Larger venues like the O2 Academy and Colston Hall are great places to see groups of all kind.

Buy tickets for pop events in Bristol

Our recent pop recommendations

Truly spellbinding neoclassical, violin-fuelled avant-pop awaits at a dreamy billing of LEYA’s celestial and sensual baroque incantations combined with Vanessa Bedoret’s spectral electronic experimentations. Huge FFO: Eartheater, Lafawndah, Sarahsson, claire rousay. LEYA + Vanessa Bedoret at The Louisiana.

Finally – a brand new all-dayer to put Bristol back on the DIY indie pop map! As if Peel-approved 80s legends The Pop Guns weren't enough of a gift, the line-up’s bursting at the seams with sweet trebly goodness. Don’t miss: dreampop-punk from Muncie Girls’ treasure Lande Hekt, the minimalist bedroom folk of Two White Cranes, a once-in-a-decade opportunity to catch mighty 'pop piss-takers' Bucky, and heeeeaps more… BRISTOL GOES POP - INDIE ALL-DAYER at Exchange.

Kelela-esque R&B sensuality, soulful synth-pop, off-kilter electronica and reggae bounce gracefully meld together under Sirens of Lesbos’ shimmering creative touch. The sister-duo led Swiss group - who count Bootsy Collins, dreamcastmoe and Erick the Architect as collaborators - bring their radiant indie-pop to The Jam Jar. Essential FFO: Steve Lacy, Mk.gee, Childish Gambino. Sirens Of Lesbos + Guests at The Jam Jar.

Mohammad Syfkhan’s bouzouki and drum-machine fuelled Kurdish wedding dabkes are a revelation. From his family’s flight from Syria to their rocky assimilation in Ireland (Lankum are big fans), Syfkahn’s music has been steadfast, electrifying passing ears with his lightning fretwork and dazzling synthesis of North African, Turkish and Western folk music. A pan-national treasure FFO: Omar Souleyman, Omar Khorshid, Nass El Ghiwane. Mohammad Syfkhan & Durga Ramakrishnan at The Jam Jar.

What our editors say

“Natalie Bergman is an American singer-songwriter. She is one half of the duo Wild Belle, along with her brother Elliot Bergman. Her debut solo album, Mercy, was released on Third Man Records on May 7, 2021 - infused by rich pop music taking influence from reggae, afrobeats and soul.⁠”
From: Natalie Bergman + special guests

“Emelina Murphy is a rising Bristol-based artist whose music channels the daring spirit of 70s and 80s art pop and rock era. Inspired by the likes of Kate Bush, Björk, and David Bowie, her sound blends theatrical flair with emotional depth, offering a distinctive and genre-blurring experience. On stage, Emelina is magnetic—her dynamic performances are immersive, high-energy, and designed to leave a lasting impression.”
From: Emelina Murphy + Flump + Les Joy

“...a perfect storm of posturing gothic art pop with a grungy, low-tempo backbone, spellbindingly dark and angsty, and flecked with violin lines that lent the songs a satisfyingly Venus In Furs-esque eeriness. - Clash Music”
From: Lucy Kruger And The Lost Boys

““Duncan Fleming is a genius of a songwriter walking a razor sharp tightrope between deranged humour and classic pop music. War Against Sleep is his ongoing battle against the absurd waking dream that passes for life, in which he plunders the hidden treasures of a thousand charity shop records, writing songs that tingle the spine, move the soul and lift the spirit.””
From: Good Friday - Emily Breeze with War Against Sleep

“Within the rugged terrain of Bristol’s live music scene, bonVILLE’s sound feels like a cool dip in a river. Combining dreamy synths, pared-back beats and understated vocals, she delivers a clean, stylish take on alternative pop and folk. Since her last performance at Underwire, bonVILLE has also released her fantastic debut album Strip, so an acoustic set from this Nordic native is not one to miss.”
From: SPRING SHOWCASE