The Five Best Music Pubs in Bristol
Bristol has a fantastic heritage of live music and bands, from Hip Hop to Trip Hop, indie and rock to dub reggae, the city has always cut its own path when it comes to music culture.
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The city’s music scene has always been fuelled by a fab selection of live music venues where bands and musicians can jam the night away. The local audience play a huge part in this as well, by fervently supporting local bands, and visiting musicians with feet on the floor and a warm friendly vibrant atmosphere.
We take a look at five of the best live music pubs and venues in Bristol – the gateway to the South West.
Thekla
If you ever went clubbing in the 1990s, you would know the Thekla is an award-winning live music venue and club space. This music venue and bar is unique in that it exists within the boughs of an old converted German cargo ship, which has been moored in Bristol Harbour since 1984. The Thekla continues in the footsteps of The Fleece with some ultra cool bands having performed on this floating stage, such as The Magic Numbers, Metronomy, Ed Harcourt, Jamie T, Arab Strap, The Bees, Joan As Policewoman, and many more – Bristol would not be the same without the Thekla.
Mr Wolf's
Mr Wolf's has been entertaining the music elite of Bristol for around a decade. One of the smaller music establishments in Bristol, it's perfect for catching home-grown talent before they reach a wider audience. Music acts are as diverse as the punters and drinks are served till the early hours! Mr Wolf's is a family run business and opens seven nights a week, with an Open Mic night on Wednesdays and a Jam Night on Mondays. They also serve Noodles & Nibbles every day of the week – what better, food & drink and some local musical mayhem.
The Old Duke
The Old Duke cobbled King Street in the heart of Bristol. The Old Duke, took its name from famous jazz musician Duke Ellington. Now world famous for live traditional, New Orleans Jazz, it's a real gem in the city's music crown. The music policy is jazz and blues, with live music every night of the week. The pub's strong connection with jazz goes back as far as the late 1960s, and possibly earlier, needless to say you'll be stroking your beard, if you have one, or foot tapping to smooth brass sections and soulful singers in this historic West Country music gaff.
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45 King Street, Bristol BS1 4ER
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0117 927 7137
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12:00 - 00:00
The Fleece
The Fleece has been a popular music venue and bar since 1982. It is legendary to the local Bristolians and offers live music and DJs seven nights a week. The Fleece is a grade II* listed building, and takes its name from its humble beginnings as a sheep trading market in the 19th century. The venue caters for up to four hundred and fifty music revellers and has full accessibility for disabled customers. The Fleece is Bristol's largest independent music venue has it's no surprise that many a famous band have graced the stage, from Radiohead to Oasis, Muse to Jeff Buckley, Coldplay, Amy Winehouse, and Ed Sheeran. Their music legacy lives on offering new bands and music fans the perfect place to have a drink and be immersed in new music.
The Louisiana
The Louisiana is a small family affair, with around one hundred and forty capacity. The venue has been honing its musical prowess for the last three decades due to a fire in The Fleece which saw two local promoters use the upstairs space of The Louisiana as a stand in, that first week saw Placebo and the Super Furry Animals play, and the team at this music mecca have never looked back. A popular venue for new up and coming bands, both at local and national level, The Louisiana is also a fringe venue at the Harbourside Festival. Some of the more notable bands to have played here include Coldplay and Muse, so if you fancy catching some live music at the Louis, you'll be following in famous footsteps.
