Punk Gigs in Bristol

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Bristol's Punk Scene

The longstanding, big-names in American punk have found home in many of Bristol’s large gig venues with The O2 Academy, The Fleece and Bristol Bierkeller catching the most footfall. The area around Old Market has undoubtedly built a renaissance of forward-thinking, British punk music. The Exchange and the Stag and Hounds are arguably leading the way with new, up and coming talent. Fans of the older punk scene can find tributes to bands like The Ramones and The Sex Pistols at The Tunnels, The Fleece and The Thunderbolt.

What is the link between punks and anarchism in bristol?

Bristol has a deep anarchist subculture with a local wing of the Anarchist Federation and world-famous bristol punk bands like the Pop Group. But what does an increase in local anarchist activity have to do with the Bristol punk scene? In truth, punks and anarchists might have had a closer link at the birth of the punk scene in 1977, but not all punks are anarchists and Vice versa. Many ‘punk’ looking people maybe be blamed for anarchists attacks in Bristol, but this is a media portrayal of the punk scene that is now almost 40 years out of date. Leave Bristol punks alone.

Buy tickets for punk events in Bristol

Our recent punk recommendations

Santa/Satan-baiting death-doom misery with lashings of morose goth imagery and apocalyptic sludge riffage. Yes, Grave Lines’ brand of ‘heavy gloom’ is the office Xmas party kryptonite your soul desires. Join them, monumental stoner-psych outfit Morag Tong and evil Cardiff fuzz merchants Lung in a hellish Moor Beer amp-fest FFO: Celtic Frost, Conan, Neurosis, Anathema, Sleep, Weedpecker. ANTI-CHRISTMAS PARTY at Moor Beer Co.

OG cult UK horror punks! Back from the dead for their just deserts, to claim the undead throne of British deathrockin’ power-punk. This is a macabre must FFO: Eloise-era Damned, TSOL, Bauhaus, Misfits, Naut, Virgin in Veil, Horror Vacui. Screaming Dead + A Murder Of Crows + Das Ghoul at The Golden Lion.

Agitated post-punk-funk / no-wave dementia from irresistibly danceable Leeds trio Nape Neck, combined in a flailing maelstrom with the free-form math skronk of hometown heroes Repo Man. Unbeatable knockout combo FFO: the Ex, This Heat, DNA, Sex Swing, Made in Mexico, Delta 5. Liquid Repo at Moor Beer Co.

Sell out warning! The last truly legendary Oi band (bite me) affront you with their lovable, yobbish and hooky-as-hell brand of delinquent streetpunk. They’re sitting ugly atop this typically stacked Shitty Futures outing with blown-out lo-fi garage yelpers Virvon Varvon and rancid dbeat skate-punk ragers Rank. Proper FFO: The Business, Angelic Upstarts, Black Time, the Urinals, Bones Brigade. HARD SKIN plus VIRVON VARVON, PLEASURE and RANK at Exchange.

What our editors say

“Taking the aggressive and frenetic edge of late 90s/early 00s metalcore combined with the dynamism of post-hardcore, Cruelty are an intense proposition, hell bent on combatting the often insular and circumscribed heavy music scene.”
From: Cruelty

“Screamo / post-hardcore quartet known for their relentless touring. Since the release of their debut album in 2014, the band have shared the stage with the likes of Converge, Full of Hell and Birds in Row. Following their recent signing to Prosthetic Records, the group released their fourth studio album – titled Endocannibalismo – in 2023”
From: Stormo

“Chasing dolls are a twinkly emo band hailing from the South-West of England, combining our high intensity original music with socially conscious and thought provoking lyricism to make you move. We hope our music sounds original and gives a rock n roll refresh. Our aim is to give people the same feeling music gave to us… Come see us live. We’ll make it worth it”
From: Chasing Dolls

“They will also be joined by Bug, a Brighton heavy psych band relying heavily on improvisation, Sick Rose, another heavy psych band from Bristol, and Tricks!, a Southwest Midwest emo band with this being their first ever gig together!”
From: Choir of the Sun + Bug + Sick Rose + Tricks

“Quartet from the outskirts of London writing groove-oriented emo and post hardcore to explore death, divinity, society and the self. With the release of their debut single 'Past Tense' back in August, the band have been on a heavy gigging schedule since, gaining notoriety for their energetic and passionate sets. They stop off at Moor Brewery this November as part of a small run of headline shows across the UK.”
From: Sunday Best