Top 15 Bristol gigs not to be missed in 2023 (February - June)

Top 15 Bristol gigs not to be missed in 2023 (February - June)

Posted on: 10 Jan 2023

From the O2 Academy to The Marble Factory, Bristol is home to a host of massive music venues all of which regularly book the biggest artists from the UK and further afield.

 

So, as the hustle and bustle of 2023 begin and Bristol’s live music schedule becomes busier and busier, we thought it would be a nice idea to round up our picks for the first half of the year.

 

Here are 365Bristol’s picks for the biggest live gigs of 2023 (the first half) …

 

Easy Life | Trinity Centre, Tuesday 7 February

 

Kicking off our list is a February show from indie pop megastars, Easy Life. Since their formation in Leicester back in 2017, the 5-piece have managed to establish a reputation as one of UK indie’s most promising new talents.

Rebecca Black | Thekla, Saturday 11 February

 

Next up is something very different at Bristol’s most popular musical boat. Rebecca Black rose to prominence back in 2011 thanks to her single ‘Friday’ and the accompanying music video. The track has become widely known as “the worst song ever” but that has not stopped Black from garnering a strong cult following. 

Caroline Polachek | The Marble Factory, Thursday 16 February

 

Alternative pop star Caroline Polachek will also be heading to Bristol in February and is sure to attract a massive crowd. Known for her experimental approach to avant-pop (in the same vein as acts such as Charli XCX and SOPHIE), the New Yorker will release her new album Desire I Want To Turn Into You 2 days before her Marble Factory show.

Dry Cleaning | O2 Academy Bristol, Sunday 26 February

 

On Sunday 26 February, South London post-punk outfit Dry Cleaning will drop by Bristol's O2 Academy. Forming in 2018, the group have been praised for their blend of visceral post-punk (reminiscent of acts such as Wire and Magazine) and spoken word lyricism from frontwoman Florence Shaw.

Lynks | Exchange, Friday 3 March

 

Kicking off March on this list is an appearance from popular Bristol favourite Lynks. With a penchant for catchy hooks inspired by dream pop, indie and dance music, the "masked drag monster" is known for their tongue-in-cheek queer anthems and enthralling live shows, complete with backup dancers.

Orlando Weeks | Thekla, Sunday 12 March

 

Next on the list is former Maccabees frontman Orlando Weeks, who is heading to Thekla in March. Following the breaking up of the popular 2000s rock band, the South Londoner embarked on a solo journey that has seen him release three albums to date.

Alex G | SWX, Wednesday 22 March

 

March will also see a show at SWX that is sure to sell out with popular American singer-songwriter and producer Alex G - formerly (Sandy) Alex G - dropping by Bristol. Known for his DIY approach to indie rock, the 29-year-old has frequently been compared to Elliott Smith and Car Seat Headrest.

Beans on Toast | The Fleece, Thursday 23 March

 

British alt-folk troubadour Beans on Toast became a festival staple in the late 2000s, twisting an age-old genre with a D.I.Y. approach and contemporary concerns. Fans can expect more of the same when he drops by The Fleece in March.

Iceage | Thekla, Friday 24 March

 

The following day Danish punk rockers Iceage will be boarding Thekla to play one of their famously riotous live shows that saw the band quickly rise to prominence in the early 2010s when they were still only teenagers. With five critically acclaimed albums under their belt (the most recent being 2021's Seek Shelter), this is sure to prove a popular one.

Orbital | O2 Academy Bristol, Friday 31 March

 

Made up of brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll, electro-punk two-piece Orbital will be heading to Bristol at the end of March to celebrate the release of their upcoming album, Optical Delusion. The duo are known as electronic music pioneers, exploring ambient, punk and other genres as well as Madonna, Björk, Aphex Twin and Bicep.

The Wurzels | The Fleece, Sunday 9 April

 

Known for their penchant for the comedic, the South West's very own Scrumpy n' Western band are back at The Fleece again in the Spring. The legendary local veterans are sure to be equipped with a set chocker full of double entendre, mainstream parody, comical folk and - of course - plenty of cider drinking.

Aldous Harding | O2 Academy Bristol, Monday 24 April

 

Next up is a visit from ethereal folk singer-songwriter Aldous Harding towards the end of April. The critically acclaimed New Zealand musician recorded her 2017 sophomore album, Party, in Bristol with local musician and producer John Parish and is sure to boast a fervent following when she returns to the city in the Spring.

Richard Dawson | St George’s, Thursday 4 May

 

The Northumbrian singer/songwriter has established themselves as a fixture in the underground folk scene with his distinctive blend of traditional English folk music, Sacred Harp-kissed North Country blues, jazzy psych-folk, and progressive rock... and new album The Ruby Cord is no different!

Osees | The Marble Factory, Tuesday 30 May

 

California garage psych rockers Osees, lead by enigmatic frontman and spiritual leader John Dwyer, are back at Marble Factory in May for their second show in 12 months. An immensely productive band (they have 25 albums to their name), they are known for their sweat-drenched live presence and punk outlook.

Rakim | O2 Academy Bristol, Sunday 4 June

 

One half of iconic duo Eric B & Rakim, the New York native changed the game with the fiercely unique lyricism and technique on early releases in the late 1980s and early 90s. Now, the legendary rapper is embarking on a UK tour with Bristol's O2 Academy one of his destinations - this one is sure to sell out.

Thanks for reading our list, stay tuned for our second half of the year preview in the coming months.


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Article by:

Stanley Gray

Stan is a born and bred Bristolian, recently graduated from studying English Literature in Sheffield. His passions are music and literature and he spends the majority of his time in venues all over the city, immersing himself in Bristol’s alternative music scene. A lifelong Bristol City fan, Stan’s Saturdays are spent watching his team both home and away.