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Post-Rock Gigs in Bristol

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Bristol's Post-rock Scene

What ever happened to post-rock?

Britannica defines post rock as a form of experimental rock that incorporates aspects of jazz and electronica, so what happened to the genre that was so popular in the 90s and 00s. Bands like Mogwai and Tortoise have gone quiet and local Bristol post-rock acts too. The problem with post-rock is that it’s so loosely defined, that it hasn’t really gone away or at all. Rather than decline, the term has just gone out of fashion. Post-rock lives on in the fusion-ready music of local Bristol acts like Ishmael ensemble. With many kids that would’ve been rockstars in the 90s, now making electronica - maybe we should call this post-post-rock now?

What we said in 2015
Right now Bristol’s post-rock and alternative rock scene is at it’s healthiest for years. In addition to some excellent local venues and consistently strong live bookings, we also have promoters like Simple Things purveying some of the boldest festival programming in the UK. Recent Simple Things events have paired post-rock headliners like Mogwai and Godspeed You! Black Emperor with cutting edge electronic music and innovative techno producers. In terms of consistent Bristol venues for alternative rock - The Exchange, The Stag And Hounds and The Fleece (who’s past bookings include Thee Silver Mt Zion and Deerhoof) lead the way. The Thekla also makes solid bookings (past guests include 65daysofstatic, And So I Watch You From Afar) and annual ArcTanGent Festival is not to be missed.

Buy tickets for post-rock events in Bristol

Our recent post-rock recommendations

A Cellar Door IWD special! With serpentine electro-avant-pop from Mui Zyu, slithering unsettling discordance through sweetly melodic cradle songs of identity and alienation – a must-hear for fans of Caroline Polachek/Alex G/Grouper. Plus huge support from Electrelane & Wire alumni psych duo MEMORIALS and maximalist noise-jazz manglers For Breakfast. Female-led collective Cellar Door celebrate International Women's Day with a packed Audio-Visual & arts jamboree spanning psychedelic indie pop, art rock, jazz and electronics. Music in the front / exhibition in the back!

Sell out warning! Able Noise are a Cube no-brainer! Their deconstructed post-rock undulates woozily between minimalism and maximalism in a time-bending, freeform interplay of collapsing loops, snatched fragments and percussive textures. Plus glitchy folktronica duo Milkweed and a debut show for Eva May & Tara Clerkin Trio’s Pat Benjamin. Huge FFO: Slint, Still House Plants, Lifted. Glitched & fractured distortion in a collage of sound

PLU’s birthday gift from Berlin/the cosmos! Mary Ocher’s extra-terrestrial hymnary of operatic krautrock is a revelation for anyone who’s ever longed for a Space Lady + Jenny Hval crossover album. Cerebral, transcendent, sublime FFO: Molly Nilsson, Anna Von Hausswolf, Klaus Nomi. Seated show! PLU celebrates 12 years starting with a live gig with the amazingly versatile and charismatic avant-garde pop artist Mary Ocher. Whose works are influenced by cumbia, post-punk, folk, cosmic synth and deconstructed techno - often using political lyrics. Plus Bristol's brilliant Bethany Ley & Bonsi for a special DUO live show!

An ambitious global rallying cry embedded in an evening of music without borders. Come cloaked in your best threads of shared humanity to raise funds for Calais Appeal ft. spoken word post-rock soundscapes for Kosovo, Lowkey-approved punk rapstar Yung Yusuf + much more. Bristol STAR present a Calais Appeal Fundraiser featuring four great acts in experimental world music alongside talks: Kosovan-Albanian sound artist AER (with Ismi WD and Oscar), Palestinian-English lyricist and poet Yung Yusuf, world music DJ Joeti & DJ Slaggamuffin

What our editors say

“KATATONIA released their triumphant Napalm Records debut, Sky Void of Stars, in 2023 to the enthrallment of critics and fans alike. The album showcases their brilliant, genre-defying fusion of melodic death metal and atmospheric post rock. Following its release, the band jumped on a massive headline tour across Europe and the UK alongside Sólstafir and SOM.”
From: Katatonia

“One of the South West's freshest post rock / math rock outfits, Essential Formulas have been picking up momentum in their respective scene since their formation 2 years ago, garnering support slots with the likes of Bicurious, Parachute for Gordo and local friends in Bristol's Hexcut, picking up a loyal following along the way.”
From: Essential Formulas

“Leading the way for the current wave of math and post rock bands coming out of Ireland and the UK, Bicurious' popularity comes down to the fact that they've put a refreshing and fun take on a genre that had faded into obscurity in the independent math rock scene.”
From: Bicurious All-Dayer

“Combining elements of free jazz and post rock. Thematically exploring chaos and refuge, Ex Agent are a petri dish harbouring Parp Noir, Gonzo strains and No Wave bacterium. Music to balance the four humours.”
From: Ex Agent, Zelt, GRANDCHILD

“Oh, the guilt have been tearing up the Bristol scene since their 2024 album launch "Dead names and Deed Polls". Pioneering the "Dream-Punk" sub genre; fans of post-punk, dream-pop, post rock and shoegaze are sure to get a kick out of this”
From: KYROS - Fear and Love Tour