Bristol Beacon
Formerly known as Colston Hall, it reopened in 2023 after major refurbishment and aims to become the UK’s first net-zero concert hall by 2030.
Capacity: ~1,800 seated / 2,100 standing
Official Website: bristolbeacon.org
Famous Artists: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Queen, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Elton John, Bob Marley, Iron Maiden.
2025 Highlights: Hosting a diverse programme of global acts, comedy, and special events such as wellness and fine dining experiences.
Thekla
A former German cargo ship turned iconic floating venue, celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2024.
Capacity: Variable (intimate boat venue)
Official Website: theklabristol.co.uk
Famous Artists: Massive Attack, Portishead, Roni Size, Franz Ferdinand, Stormzy, Phoebe Bridgers.
2025 Highlights: Fresh from its 40th anniversary, continuing to host cutting-edge indie, drum & bass, and alternative gigs.
O2 Academy Bristol
One of the city’s main mid-large concert halls and part of the UK-wide O2 Academy chain.
Capacity: ~1,600 main hall / 250 Academy 2
Official Website: o2academybristol.co.uk
Famous Artists: Hosted countless global touring acts including Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, and Foals.
2025 Highlights: Continues to book chart-topping international tours and major UK artists.
The Fleece
A cornerstone of Bristol’s independent music scene since the 1980s, renowned for its raw, intimate setting.
Capacity: Mid-sized independent venue
Official Website: thefleece.co.uk
Famous Artists: Oasis, Radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age, The White Stripes, Amy Winehouse.
2025 Highlights: Packed calendar of indie, punk, and rock gigs alongside themed club nights.
Motion
Interesting Fact: Converted from a Victorian warehouse and skatepark, Motion is ranked among the world’s best nightclubs.
Capacity: Up to 4,000
Official Website: motionbristol.com
Famous Artists: The Chemical Brothers, Deadmau5, Carl Cox, Fatboy Slim.
2025 Highlights: Cutting-edge electronic music festivals and immersive 360° stage productions.
Trinity Centre
A Grade II-listed former church turned cultural venue, mixing heritage with a community-first music programme.
Capacity: Flexible, mid-large capacity
Official Website: trinitybristol.org.uk
Famous Artists: U2, Public Enemy, The Prodigy, Gorillaz, Peaches.
2025 Highlights: Continues to support eclectic grassroots events, from reggae and hip hop to electronic and punk.
Exchange
Bristol’s first community-owned venue, known for grassroots gigs and a DIY ethos.
Capacity: ~250
Official Website: exchangebristol.com
Famous Artists: Supported early gigs from Idles, and countless emerging punk, indie, and dance acts.
2025 Highlights: Hosting underground dance nights and small-scale tours for rising UK talent.
St George's Hall
A beautifully restored 19th-century church, famed for its near-perfect acoustics.
Capacity: Medium-large concert hall
Official Website: stgeorgesbristol.co.uk
Famous Artists: Frequented by international classical soloists, chamber ensembles, and jazz greats.
2025 Highlights: Celebrated programming of classical, folk, and jazz, enhanced by its modern glass pavilion.
The Louisiana
A cosy pub-venue that has become legendary for launching big names.
Capacity: Small pub venue
Official Website: thelouisiana.net
Famous Artists: Coldplay, Muse, Stereophonics, Dua Lipa.
2025 Highlights: Staying true to its grassroots legacy by booking breakthrough indie and alternative acts.
The Old Duke
A Grade II-listed pub dating back to 1775, it’s one of the UK’s most celebrated live jazz venues.
Capacity: Pub-sized (intimate)
Official Website: theoldduke.co.uk
Famous Artists: Long-running residents like the Blue Notes and Severn Jazzmen, plus Beth Rowley.
2025 Highlights: Continues its tradition of free nightly jazz, open-mic sessions, and an annual Jazz Festival each August.
Lizard Lounge
A staple late-night club in the city centre, known for student nights and party vibes more than big-name tours.
Capacity: ~500
Official Website: lizardloungebristol.co.uk
Famous Artists: Not a touring band venue, but has hosted numerous high-profile DJs and themed events.
2025 Highlights: Continues to attract younger crowds with affordable nights and themed weekly residencies.
Lakota
Legendary club in St Paul’s, central to Bristol’s rave culture in the 1990s and a hub for jungle, drum & bass, and house.
Capacity: ~1,000 across multiple rooms
Official Website: lakota.co.uk
Famous Artists: Roni Size, LTJ Bukem, Andy C, Goldie — pioneers of the Bristol DnB scene.
2025 Highlights: Still a powerhouse of electronic culture, with club nights, festivals, and collaborations with local promoters.
Dareshack
A modern hybrid space combining live music, experimental art, and café culture near Temple Meads.
Capacity: ~200
Official Website: dareshack.com
Famous Artists: Hosted grassroots acts and alternative electronic performers, with a focus on creative crossovers.
2025 Highlights: Known for multi-genre showcases and art installations, bridging Bristol’s creative communities.
Mr Wolf's
A lively city-centre bar/venue famous for late-night live bands and open mics.
Capacity: ~150
Official Website: mrwolfsbristol.co.uk
Famous Artists: Hosted hundreds of up-and-coming Bristol bands, often first steps for acts later moving to The Louisiana or Fleece.
2025 Highlights: Continues to thrive as a grassroots hub with a vibrant mix of funk, soul, ska, and acoustic acts.
Rough Trade
A record shop and intimate live space hosting exclusive gigs and in-store appearances.
Capacity: ~250
Official Website: roughtrade.com/gb/stores/bristol
Famous Artists: Fontaines D.C., IDLES (hometown signings), Phoebe Bridgers.
2025 Highlights: Hosting in-store album launches, DJ sets, and intimate showcases for Bristol and international indie acts.
Crofters Rights
A popular Stokes Croft pub-venue with a focus on underground and experimental music.
Capacity: ~120
Official Website: thecroftersrights.co.uk
Famous Artists: Hosted early shows for Squid, Black Midi, and a stream of Bristol’s post-punk and DIY acts.
2025 Highlights: Remains one of Bristol’s strongest DIY stages, tied into the city’s independent festival circuit.
Lost Horizon
Run by the Boomtown Festival team, this venue doubles as a live-music bar and art space.
Capacity: ~350
Official Website: losthorizonlive.com
Famous Artists: Hosted secret sets by festival regulars, DJs, and Bristol’s underground collectives.
2025 Highlights: Mixing live music with immersive art installations, its 2025 programme keeps pushing experimental nightlife.
King Street Brew House
King Street is home to multiple pubs that double as grassroots stages, including King Street Brew House and The Old Duke nearby.
Capacity: Small (50–150 per pub space)
Official Website: kingstreetbrewhouse.co.uk
Famous Artists: Rising local folk, acoustic and jazz players.
2025 Highlights: Remains a hub for casual, pub-based live music with riverside culture in the heart of Bristol.
Jam Jar
Independent venue in St Paul’s with a not-for-profit ethos, community-driven and eclectic programming.
Capacity: ~200
Official Website: thejamjarbristol.com
Famous Artists: Hosted Gilles Peterson, Nubiyan Twist, and Bristol’s reggae and jazz collectives.
2025 Highlights: Hosting experimental world music nights and immersive cultural showcases.
The Thunderbolt
A Victorian pub turned grassroots music venue on Bath Road, South Bristol.
Capacity: ~120
Official Website: thethunderbolt.net
Famous Artists: Pete Doherty, The Wurzels, and numerous indie touring bands.
2025 Highlights: Still programming a steady stream of indie, ska, and folk acts, beloved by locals.
Cube Microplex
A volunteer-run arts collective in Stokes Croft combining cinema, theatre, and experimental live music.
Capacity: ~100
Official Website: cubecinema.com
Famous Artists: Hosted avant-garde performers, local experimental acts, and leftfield DJs.
2025 Highlights: Continues to be a hub for boundary-pushing multimedia performances and underground gigs.
Hy-Brasil Music Club
A city-centre venue with late-night hours, known for indie, funk, and eclectic live shows.
Capacity: ~200
Official Website: hybrasilmusicclub.com
Famous Artists: Past sets from up-and-coming UK indie acts and Bristol-based collectives.
2025 Highlights: Still going strong with regular live showcases and weekend club nights.
Canteen
Based in Hamilton House (Stokes Croft), this café-bar venue is famous for its free live music every night.
Capacity: ~120
Official Website: canteenbristol.co.uk
Famous Artists: Hosted local reggae, jazz, and world musicians; known for jumpstarting Bristol collectives.
2025 Highlights: Continues free nightly gigs, keeping grassroots music accessible in Bristol.
Mr. LaLa’s (aka Mr LaLa’s Lounge)
A colourful Caribbean-inspired venue offering rum, reggae, and live entertainment.
Capacity: ~150
Official Website: mrlalas.co.uk
Famous Artists: Hosts Bristol reggae and soca bands, plus DJs from the city’s Carnival scene.
2025 Highlights: A centrepiece of St Paul’s Carnival afterparties and Caribbean-inspired live shows.
The Gallimaufry
A Gloucester Road bar/venue renowned for live jazz, funk, and experimental residencies.
Capacity: ~100
Official Website: thegallimaufry.co.uk
Famous Artists: Hosted Nubiyan Twist, Ishmael Ensemble, and other Bristol jazz fusion collectives.
2025 Highlights: A regular stop on Bristol’s jazz circuit, with packed weekly residencies.
Kingsdown Vaults
A friendly pub in Kingsdown with an intimate live-music room and garden stage.
Capacity: ~80
Official Website: kingsdownvaults.co.uk
Famous Artists: Features local singer-songwriters, folk groups, and acoustic collectives.
2025 Highlights: Keeping community folk nights and grassroots talent alive in North Bristol.
Old Market Assembly
A café-theatre-venue hybrid in Old Market, known for sustainability and community-driven arts.
Capacity: ~200
Official Website: oldmarketassembly.co.uk
Famous Artists: Hosts Bristol-based folk, world, and jazz acts; linked to Wardrobe Theatre.
2025 Highlights: Showcasing eclectic touring acts and emerging local performers.
Zed Alley
A rock-and-metal friendly underground venue near the O2 Academy.
Capacity: ~150
Official Website: zedalley.co.uk
Famous Artists: Focuses on up-and-coming heavy bands, tribute nights, and alternative DJs.
2025 Highlights: Busy calendar of alternative gigs and rock showcases for Bristol’s heavy scene.
Louie’s Tapas Bar (Live Lounge)
Hidden in the city centre, known for Latin-inspired nights with live bands and DJs.
Capacity: ~120
Official Website: louiestapas.co.uk
Famous Artists: Latin, jazz, and funk performers from Bristol’s multicultural music scene.
2025 Highlights: Keeps the Latin spirit alive with weekly salsa, samba, and Afrobeat events.
SouthBank Club
A converted church hall in Southville offering community-led gigs, folk sessions, and ceilidhs.
Capacity: ~150
Official Website: southbankclub.co.uk
Famous Artists: Hosted folk and roots artists, community ensembles, and spoken-word acts.
2025 Highlights: Continues to anchor Bristol’s folk and grassroots circuit with inclusive events.
The Hen & Chicken
Interesting Fact: A long-standing Southville pub that doubles as a comedy and live music venue.
Capacity: ~200 (studio theatre upstairs)
Official Website: thecomedybox.co.uk (Hen & Chicken listing)
Famous Artists: Hosted stand-up legends plus folk and acoustic touring acts.
2025 Highlights: Regular comedy headliners alongside grassroots music nights and open mics.
No. 1 Harbourside
A central harbourside bar with nightly live music, often free, spanning jazz to funk.
Capacity: ~100
Official Website: no1harbourside.co.uk
Famous Artists: Known for Bristol-based funk, Latin, and jazz collectives.
2025 Highlights: Continues its “free live music every night” ethos, a harbourside institution.
The Golden Lion
A Gloucester Road pub known for reggae, funk, and grassroots live shows.
Capacity: ~120
Official Website: goldenlionbristol.co.uk
Famous Artists: Hosted Bristol reggae greats and funk bands; connected with St Paul’s Carnival acts.
2025 Highlights: Still one of Gloucester Road’s busiest music pubs, keeping live funk alive.
The Mothers’ Ruin
A city-centre bar/venue that’s a launchpad for indie and punk acts.
Capacity: ~100
Official Website: mothersruinbristol.com
Famous Artists: Royal Blood and Foals played early shows here.
2025 Highlights: Packed indie nights, punk shows, and student-driven gigs.
The Gryphon
A legendary rock and metal pub tucked behind Colston Street.
Capacity: ~80
Official Website: thegryphonbristol.co.uk
Famous Artists: Hosted countless UK underground metal bands and cult touring acts.
2025 Highlights: Still the heart of Bristol’s metal scene, with weekly gigs and festivals.
Smoke & Mirrors
A speakeasy-style bar blending live music, comedy, and magic shows.
Capacity: ~100 (theatre room)
Official Website: smokeandmirrorsbar.co.uk
Famous Artists: Known for jazz and swing residencies.
2025 Highlights: Continues eclectic programming with jazz quartets and themed music nights.
The Jam House (Bristol branch)
Brings Birmingham’s iconic Jam House concept to Bristol — live soul, funk, and R&B.
Capacity: ~250
Official Website: jamhousebristol.com
Famous Artists: Regular soul and funk collectives; special guests from the UK funk scene.
2025 Highlights: Expanding its role in Bristol’s nightlife with weekly funk and groove residencies.
The Loco Klub
An underground venue set in the disused railway tunnels beneath Temple Meads.
Capacity: ~400
Official Website: locoklub.com
Famous Artists: Hosted immersive theatre troupes, plus secret rave lineups.
2025 Highlights: Still known for immersive parties and leftfield live experiences.
Stag & Hounds
A historic Old Market pub turned grassroots venue, especially for jazz and alternative nights.
Capacity: ~120
Official Website: stagandhoundsbristol.com
Famous Artists: Hosted Bristol jazz collectives, metal bands, and DIY nights.
2025 Highlights: Remains a hub for eclectic local talent across multiple genres.
Cleo’s (at Motion complex)
A newer small live space within the Motion complex, offering a more intimate setting.
Capacity: ~150
Official Website: motionbristol.com/cleos
Famous Artists: Hosted Bristol DJs, live electronic acts, and showcase nights.
2025 Highlights: Acts as Motion’s “little sibling,” focusing on cutting-edge experimental lineups.
Stokes Croft Beer Garden
Interesting Fact: Outdoor community venue blending music, food, and street art, right in the heart of Stokes Croft.
Capacity: ~300 (open-air)
Official Website: stokescroftbeergarden.co.uk
Famous Artists: Hosts Bristol DJs, reggae sound systems, and festival-style live acts.
2025 Highlights: Central to Bristol’s summer open-air parties, with eclectic weekend lineups.
Cube Yard (Outdoor Stage at The Cube)
Interesting Fact: Seasonal extension of Cube Microplex with an outdoor bar and performance space.
Capacity: ~200
Official Website: cubecinema.com
Famous Artists: Experimental and DIY collectives from across Bristol.
2025 Highlights: Hosts summer sessions and cross-media performance festivals.
Strange Brew
Independent multi-room club and art space near Broadmead, opened in 2020.
Capacity: ~250 main space
Official Website: strangbrew.cafe
Famous Artists: Played host to Objekt, Black Midi DJ sets, Giant Swan, and experimental Bristol acts.
2025 Highlights: Still one of Bristol’s most cutting-edge venues for underground electronic and live crossover shows.
The Old England
Montpelier pub-venue, famed for late-night experimental gigs and DIY culture.
Capacity: ~100
Official Website: (venue listings)
Famous Artists: Hosted experimental collectives, free jazz groups, and underground electronic producers.
2025 Highlights: Continues to be one of the city’s most alternative grassroots venues.
Fiddlers
A South Bristol institution since the 1990s, converted from a former prison into a live music hall.
Capacity: ~450
Official Website: fiddlers.co.uk
Famous Artists: David Gray, Kasabian, and the Levellers all played here.
2025 Highlights: Still going strong with rock, blues, and tribute acts filling its calendar.
Café Kino
A vegan co-op café that doubles as a grassroots gig space, especially for DIY punk and spoken word.
Capacity: ~80
Official Website: cafekino.coop
Famous Artists: Hosted countless DIY punk bands and underground Bristol acts.
2025 Highlights: Remains central to Bristol’s activist and punk live culture.
Whistle Punks Axe Throwing (Event Space)
While best known for axe throwing, the space has hosted alternative music nights and crossover events.
Capacity: ~100
Official Website: whistlepunks.com/bristol
Famous Artists: Fringe collectives and experimental bands.
2025 Highlights: Keeps experimenting with crossover “alternative sports meets live music” concepts.
Revolution Bristol (Harbourside)
A popular bar-club hybrid on the Harbourside that hosts live DJs and acoustic sets.
Capacity: ~300
Official Website: revolution-bars.co.uk/bristol
Famous Artists: Featured local DJs and bands across commercial and pop genres.
2025 Highlights: Continues to thrive as a Harbourside nightlife destination.
The Orchard Inn
Historic Bristol cider house on Spike Island with regular folk and shanty nights.
Capacity: ~80
Official Website: orchardinn.co.uk
Famous Artists: Popular with sea shanty collectives like The Longest Johns (early gigs).
2025 Highlights: Still hosting shanty nights and local acoustic performers.
Totterdown Canteen (Community Space)
A South Bristol café and community venue supporting grassroots gigs and cultural events.
Capacity: ~100
Official Website: (venue listings)
Famous Artists: Primarily rising local performers, spoken-word poets, and folk groups.
2025 Highlights: Keeps grassroots, family-friendly live shows alive in South Bristol.
Iconic Gigs
Explore Bristol's vibrant music scene and legends.
