The Canteen
Seriously popular Bristol venue with free gigs every night.
Thankfully surviving lockdown, the Canteen is still a centre point of the Stokes Croft live music scene: 5 nights a week of the best free* music on the most vibrant street in Bristol (*£5 entry fee after 9:30pm Fri & Sat)
Since it's launch in 2009 The Canteen (part of the Hamilton House Arts Space) has become seriously popular, so much so that it's fair to expect queues on both Friday and Saturday nights. The Canteen is a multifunctional meeting space, it is neither predominantly a restaurant nor a music venue, however arguably succeeds in both of these roles.
With regards to gigs at the Canteen you can find some of Bristol's best bands and entry is always free (see our free live music in Bristol page for more).
The atmosphere (gig wise) can depend on whats on at The Canteen in Bristol, bearing in mind that many patrons will not be there specifically for the live music. That said the quality of musicians booked by the Canteen is seriously high so be sure to check the listings.
Since it's launch in 2009 The Canteen (part of the Hamilton House Arts Space) has become seriously popular, so much so that it's fair to expect queues on both Friday and Saturday nights. The Canteen is a multifunctional meeting space, it is neither predominantly a restaurant nor a music venue, however arguably succeeds in both of these roles.
With regards to gigs at the Canteen you can find some of Bristol's best bands and entry is always free (see our free live music in Bristol page for more).
The atmosphere (gig wise) can depend on whats on at The Canteen in Bristol, bearing in mind that many patrons will not be there specifically for the live music. That said the quality of musicians booked by the Canteen is seriously high so be sure to check the listings.
What's On At The Canteen
— The Canteen
alternative pop
new wave
experimental pop
synthpop
art rock
Get a feel for The Canteen
Our recent recommendations for The Canteen
Free entry! Feverishly noisy glitch pop at Canteen. Local instrumental experimentalists Socks & Ballerinas are a two-person kaleidoscope of fractured beats, lush loops, and improvisational swerves. Captivating and chaotic FFO: Matmos, Autechre, Tortoise.
Bristol-based instrumental live looping duo making weird sounds and wacky rhythms
Sell out warning! Chewing Glass top a righteous year ploughing the extremes of soundsystem culture and bassbin metal with Deep Medi’s not-so-secret weapon, Kaiju. Rumbling Stokes Croft to the core a mere 50m from its Subloaded mecca with their Distance / DMZ / Bug-grade no-frills 140 bassweight. Hold onto your hoods, hair, and even your eyebrows, this will be…..HEAVY.
One of Deep Medi's biggest and best pieces of sound system artillery comes to level Canteen for Stokes Croft Sub Sessions NYE Special
Free entry! Ya Freshness lets rip on the original rudeboy boss sound with a proper authentic, highly danceable take on classic Jamaican ska and UK two-tone culture. Expect ecstatic live energy, skanking feet, skronking brass and lyrical calls for unity. Essential FFO: the Skatalites, Prince Buster, the Special, Madness etc.
Free entry for this thrillingly original take on 60s and 70s ska
Free entry! One of Bristol’s most consistent new star-gazing psych units steps up for a deserved headline slot full of hypnotic kosmische pulse, epic eldritch jams and proggy transcendence. New local favs FFO: Minami Deutsch, (Swedish) Goat, Can, Slift.
Hypnotic world-infused psych from Bristol
Catch the absolute Queen of the Brazillian dancehall scene for £0 at the Canteen. Ain’t every day this happens, but Lei Di Dai’s singular rudegyal style’s set to light up Europe with sprinkles of jungle, reggaeton and baile madness thrown into the grinderrrrrrrr. Lei eats Beiber for breakfast, ladys to the front!
Jamaican music, Brazilian flow, positive lyrics and dancing beats in the vibrations of Reggae, Dancehall, Dub, Rub-a-Dub, Jungle and Dnb.