Rock Gigs in Bristol

upcoming gig

Bristol's Rock Scene

With so many artists jumping ship in favour of more fashionable genre name, it's always amazing to see how much falls under the 'rock' umbrella. Classic rock venues in Bristol include The O2 Academy and The Fleece.

Have Idles put Bristol rock music back on the map?

Idles have put Bristol rock music back on everyone’s mind, but they’re just one of the talented Bristol rock bands who have the nation’s attention. While more retro rock gigs like Let’s Rock Bristol festival and rock and metal cover bands at the Fleece and Beerkeller (RIP), make Bristol’s rock scene look 80s focused, the List of current bands in Bristol is long. Bands like Heavy Lungs, Stolen Body record their own brand of psychedelic rock (including the popular yearl Bristol Psych Fest). For those who love to rock: Bristol’s live music scene salutes you.

Buy tickets for rock events in Bristol

Our recent rock recommendations

Midweek essential! Veterans of the Swedish underground The Janitors lurch mercilessly between nightmare psychedelia and hypnotic garage-sludge, guaranteed to send Crofters into a blissed-out stoner-drone stupor. Heavy-hitting cosmic murk FFO: Sabbath, BJM, The Black Angels, The Warlocks, Dead Meadow. A Grey Muzzle Promotions event

Newcastle’s answer to San Fran/Laurel Canyon-style folk-psych, Scott Hepple and the Sun Band bounce from the garage to the basement fresh off a summer support slot for iconic 60s rock n’ rollers Love. Wailing guitars and soul-tinged caterwauls lovingly channelling the spirit of West Coast counterculture. FFO: Ty Segall, King Tuff, Dead Ghosts. Psychedelic/Garage Rock from Newcastle

Dreamwave’s spellbinding stoner-surfbeat’s already sent them stratospheric before their debut EP’s even landed. Indulge in their Nuggets-grade garage-pop and fuzz-guitar frenzies, utterly essential FFO: Ty Segall, Syd Barrett, Night Beats, Osees, King Gizzard. DREAMWAVE live at Crofters Rights.

Bristol’s enduring riot grrrrl rock’n’roll banshee Rita Lynch needs to be seen to be worshipped. The St Paul’s icon of razor-blade guitar anthems is always essential viewing FFO: PJ Harvey, Patti Smith, Screaming Females, Breeders, Ex Hex. A Grey Muzzle Promotions event

What our editors say

“Formed in Oklahoma City in 1983, The Flaming Lips have since become one of the most iconic, influential, unpredictable, and vital forces in American alternative rock music. ‘Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots‘ gave the band their first RIAA certified Gold Record. As the eagerly awaited follow-up to 1999’s masterwork, ‘The Soft Bulletin‘, Yoshimi proved that singer/guitarist Wayne Coyne, and multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd had yet another masterpiece in them.”
From: The Flaming Lips

“British rock legends Skunk Anansie quickly rose to fame with their distinct fusion of alternative rock, punk, and dub influences, highlighted by frontwoman Skin’s bold stage presence and unapologetic activism.”
From: Skunk Anansie

“Following the meteoric success of their first two albums Bright Green Field (2021) and O Monolith (2023), which took the band all over the world, the English art rock quintet extend and explore textures of folk, kosmische, psychedelia, jazz and electronics on their new album, Cowards – hovering at 30,000 feet above distinct tales of human evil: apophenia-tinged songs punched by vantablack comedy.”
From: Squid

“Ring in the New Year with Red Rocket Go, the psychedelic rock cover band that never disappoints! This New Year’s Eve, they’re bringing their signature blend of loud musical wizardry and howling vocals to The Old Duke. Get ready for a night of electrifying performances and classic rock energy!”
From: The Old Duke New Years Eve Party

“Cheesy indie rock is a hard thing to achieve, sometimes it means writing killer riffs whilst sacrificing a decent melody. Sonic sunrise however, a conventional four piece pull it off with ease, and when together, are able to generate something truly unique, capturing the essence of having fun, whilst writing songs which will have you humming for hours. Influenced heavily by the likes of Queen and Muse, Sonic sunrise provide a sound akin to classic rock with a modern twist, taking a style unmatched and making it truly their own.”
From: SONIC SUNRISE CHRISTMAS BASH