Independent Venue Week: Gigs in Bristol this weekend

Independent Venue Week is scheduled to end this Sunday, February 6. The week-long event is described as a ‘celebration of music venues around the country and a nod to the people that own, run and work in them, week in, week out’.

The independent sector was arguably hit the hardest during the pandemic, with music venues one of the last locations to get up and running again, so this week has definitely meant more.

As well as venues, these events also allow local bands and artists the chance to have their first experience of playing live in front of an audience, and despite being a nationwide event, has a very local feel.

Local venues, to loyal locals usually are much more than just a live music venue. It can be a place to socialise, and feel a real staple of a community, and this event highlights that.

Here’s events in Bristol that you can see before the end of the event on Sunday.

The Louisiana

Address: Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 6UA

Date: February 5

Performing: Mercy’s Cartle + support

The show in The Louisiana kicks off at 8pm on Saturday, and will feature Bristol and London based artist Mercy’s Cartle, supported by The Jones Project and Rosie & The Tricycle. After an early career plagued by self-doubt and confidence issues, the artist is now pursuing her dream.

Tickets for the event cost £5 plus a booking fee, is available to over 16’s only, and under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult, purchase tickets here.

Date: February 6.

Performing: Sheep on Drugs

Sheep on Drugs are a British techno/Industrial music group, and made a triumphant return to the music scene in 2019. Tickets for this event which kicks off at 8pm, cost £13, and can be purchased here.

Thekla

Address: The Grove, East Mud Dock, Bristol BS1 4RB

Date: February 4

Performing: Secret Affair

Secret Affair are a mod revival band, formed in 1978 and disbanded in 1982. The show kicks off TONIGHT at 7pm, with tickets costing £20. To see Secret Affair tonight, get your tickets here.

Fleece

Address: 12 St Thomas St, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6JJ

Fleece, open since 1982, has a great array of options this weekend as they’re hosting five events.

Date: February 4th.

Performing: The Emperials & Break stuff - a night of nu metal nostalgia.

The Emperials are the first to perform, kicking off their DJ set from 7pm-8:30pm, and then beginning their first of their two sets, culminating in a 10:20pm finish. Tickets for this show cost £13, plus a booking fee, and is available for all ages, with all u16’s having to be accompanied. You can find tickets here.

The second event, that begins at 11pm isn’t any band, it’s designed solely for metal fans and due to its start time, will run deep into Saturday morning. Music you can expect to dance the night away to will be from Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park and Kid Rock, to name a few. Tickets, that cost £6 or £8 on the door, can be found here.

Date: February 5th.

Performing: Local Legends & Paramore vs Avril Lavigne

Performing first are Local Legends, featuring bands that are long-standing members of the community. The list of bands performing are TRY ME, LA LUNE, THE DISCONNECTED, INFOTAIN, BLUE CROW, CUFFS and PLACE OF KINGS! Tickets cost £5 in advance or £6 on the door, and are only available to purchase directly from the bands. Doors open at 4:30pm

This one kicks off at 11pm, and is perfect for those in Bristol who love punk rock. Featuring two pioneers of the genre, Avril Lavigne and Paramore, expect songs from these two belting out all night. Tickets cost £5 before midnight, or £6 after midnight. Tickets here.

Date: February 6

Performing Scouting Session

Much like a previous event, this features multiple local bands, that include: DASH B, AIR MILES, SINS, CATALYSTS and THE HANGOVER CLUB.

Doors open at 5pm, with the event scheduled to end around 9:50pm. Tickets cost £5 in advance or £6 on the door and can be purchased from the bands only.

Exchange

Address: 72, 73 Old Market St, Bristol BS2 0EJ

Date: February 4th

Performing: Chaotic Dischord & European Techno - Brecc/Irene/Piras/Torre

Chaotic Discord are a rock band, formed in Bristol. They formed in 1981 and disbanded in 1988, but are seemingly performing again. Doors open tonight at 7:30pm, and tickets cost £10. They can also be found here.

European techno opens at 11pm and you can dance the night away to techno music. The set times are :

11PM TORRE

00AM IRENE

1AM BRECC

3AM JOHNNY PIRAS

Tickets cost £13, and these are final release, so in high demand. The link is here.

The last event is DTYM, which is an LGBTQ+ friends night, which runs from 10pm until 02:00am. Tickets are £10, and can be found here

Trinity Centre

Date: February 4th

Performing: System vs Innamind

Hosted by Crazy D, this event celebrates 10 years of Dub and Dubstep label. Music from 10 artists that include De-tu and Headland, this event starts at 10pm and ends at 04:00. Tickets are £10 and can be found here.

Unfortunately, the event scheduled for February 5th is now sold out.

Old Duke

Address: The Old Duke, 45 King St, Bristol BS1 4ER, UK

Date: February 4

Performing: The Barrel House Vipers

The Barrel House Vipers play a mix of classic jazz and swing tunes from the 1920s. They are scheduled to begin at 8:30pm.

Date: February 5

Performing: The Karonlina Griskute Trio & The Liam Ward Band

Karolina Griškutė is a jazz singer from Lithuania now based in Bristol. Doors open at 12:30pm for this one.

The Liam Ward Band are an award winning harmonica player and band, something niche for sure. The award-winners are set to get underway on Saturday at 9pm.

Date: February 6

Performing: Henry’s Bootblacks & The Eddie Martin Band (Plus guest)

This is a bigger performance, bought to you by an eleven-person strong jazz ensemble playing jazz from the 1920’s and 1930’s. Due to begin at 12:30pm

According to the Old Duke website “Eddie Martin is a singer-songwriter composer/arranger/producer, guitarist, harmonica player, band leader and one man band.” He is scheduled to start at 9pm.