Music / Feature
Putting the niche in music festivals
From drum and bass to punk, from pop to jazz, Bristol is well versed in providing a range of events for a range of people. Bristol’s carefully curated nightlife is one of the main reasons why it is seen as a cultural hub for so many people.
However, with so many major festivals just outside the city (Glastonbury, NASS and Shindig, to name a few), the local festivals can get drowned out.
But if you know where to look then you’ll be able to find a range of niche music festivals which cover a range of genres all within, or just outside of, Bristol.
is needed now More than ever
One such festival is Astral Festival which took place over Easter bank holiday at Strange Brew.
Run by Alex Studer of Stolen Body Records it has become a yearly passion to bring some of the best psychedelic, heavy psych, doom and hard rock music to Bristol.
Leaning towards another genre is Bristol Folk Festival. After a triumphant return in 2022, the festival will be taking place at several different venues around the city.
Bristol Jazz Festival returned after a four year hiatus!
A well loved music festival, it will be taking over Bristol Beacon’s foyer spaces for three days of beautifully curated jazz music.
Opening with a tribute to the late Pee Wee Ellis, the festival played host to Jazz Defenders, South African singer Sisanda Myataza, Afro-beat big band No Go Stop, the Bristol keyboardist Rebecca Nash, and the premiere of Bristol supergroup 6161.
You may need to go a little further out of the city if you’re a true rock fan but you won’t regret it. ArcTanGent is the three day rock music festival based in Fernhill Farm in Somerset.
Known for more than just traditional rock, the festival boasts a lineup for lovers of math rock, post rock, progressive metal and experimental music.
If you think you have a niche taste in music, think again! There are so many festivals and events in and around Bristol that allow people to not only discover new genres but that also allow those to connect with people who share the same love of music.
In Bristol, you are never alone.
Main photo: Alex Andrews
Read next:
- Review: Bristol Jazz Festival 2023, Bristol Beacon/Bamalam
- Interview: Astral Festival 2019
- Review: Bristol Folk Festival – ‘The best encaspulation of everything wonderful about folk music’
Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast:
Our top newsletters emailed directly to you
