What's On: March at O2 Academy Bristol
Posted on: 21 Feb 2023As one of the prime destinations for the biggest acts from the UK and abroad, O2 Academy is one of the city's most popular venues for students and Bristolians alike.
Legendary Britpop bands, controversial heavy metal legends and pioneering 90s electronic duos are all appearing at one of Bristol's biggest music venues next month with an array of music events between Thursday 2 March and Friday 31 March.
Hundred Reasons | Thursday 2 March
Rock royalty, Hundred Reasons return to the road, a decade after their triumphant and celebratory Ideas Above Our Station ten-year anniversary shows. Formed in 1999, the group made a name for themselves in the early 2000s thanks to their inventive approach to alternative metal.
Mungo's Hi Fi & Friends | Saturday 4 March
Much-loved Scottish sound system Mungo's Hi Fi returns to Bristol armed with tons of new and classic productions as well as an ever-growing box of dubplates for a brand-new show. Prepare for General Levy, Eva Lazarus, Charlie P, Solo Banton, Gardna, Kiko Bun, Catching Cairo and some of Bristol’s finest. Immerse yourself in the collective's signature exploration of sound system culture.
Napalm Death | Tuesday 7 March
One of the biggest names in UK rock, grindcore pioneers Napalm Death are heading onto the road to celebrate their critically acclaimed sixteenth studio album Throes of Joy in the Jaws of Defeatism, as they extend their ‘Campaign For Musical Destruction’ tour across the UK and Europe.
Lamb of God: State of Unrest UK/EU Tour | Wednesday 8 March
GRAMMY-nominated veritable giants of heavy metal, Lamb Of God will bring a state of unrest to Bristol City Centre alongside German thrash pioneers, Kreator, and Texan thrash fourpiece, Power Trip. The Virginia band have dabbled in metalcore, thrash, punk, sludge, and groove-laden death metal throughout their almost 30-year career.
This event is sold out, however, it is worth keeping an eye on the event page for resale tickets.
Stiff Little Fingers | Thursday 9 March
March will also see punk rock veterans Stiff Little Fingers bring their confrontational live show to Bristol's O2 Academy. Born from 1970s Belfast at the height of 'The Troubles', the hard-hitting group depicted a world of police brutality and terrorist violence in their legendary debut album, Inflammable Material, and they're still going strong to this day.
VV: Neon Noir Tour 2023 | Friday 10 March
Finnish metal pioneer and HIM icon, Ville Valo, returns under the moniker 'VV' with his debut solo album, Neon Noir. A mercurial and charismatic frontman, Valo is one of his country's most recognisable musicians and is the only Finnish artist to achieve a Gold Record in the US.
This event is sold out, however, it is worth keeping an eye on the event page for resale tickets.
Loyle Carner - The 'Hugo' Tour | Sunday 12 March
On his most recent record hugo, Loyle Carner dabbles in the deeply personal and the highly political, going deeper than ever before. With a slew of Mercury and Brits nominations, NME Awards and various high-profile festival appearances, Carner has undoubtedly had a meteoric rise and is sure to take the stage by storm with his electrifying new material.
This event is sold out, however, it is worth keeping an eye on the event page for resale tickets.
Sleeping with Sirens | Monday 13 March
Coming to Bristol all the way from Florida is emo outfit Sleeping with Sirens. Taking a more melodic approach to the heavy world of post-hardcore, the band grew to prominence in the 2010s thanks to their successful blend of passionate vocals, pop hooks and metal thrash.
The Pharcyde | Thursday 16 March
Alternative hip-hop favourites The Pharcyde are also in Bristol next month; funny, jazz-inspired and inventive in equal measure, the LA outfit are one of the most influential rap groups of their generation. Fans can expect only the very best from Imani, Fatlip, and Slimkid3.
FKJ 2023 | Friday 17 March
Multi-instrumentalist and production experimentalist, French Kiwi Juice (FKJ), is touring an entirely new and spellbinding live experience, in celebration of his recently released critically acclaimed album V I N C E N T. This second album signals a new dawn for FKJ, boasting features from prominent artists including Santana, Little Dragon, ((( O ))) and Toro Y Moi.
I Prevail | Saturday 18 March
Explosive American post-hardcore quintet I Prevail are engaging on a UK tour next month, displaying their radical cross-genre sound to heavy metal fanatics up and down the country. The two-time Grammy-nominated band rose to popularity thanks to a metal cover of Taylor Swift's 'Blank Space'.
This event is sold out, however, it is worth keeping an eye on the event page for resale tickets.
Daughtry | Sunday 19 March
Much-loved group Daughtry bring their rock roots and sonic art to the South West, performing huge hits and album favourites, including tracks from their latest album, Dearly Beloved. Daughtry made history with the release of their 2006’s quintuple-Platinum eponymous debut, producing four Top 20 Platinum-selling singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
Marcus King | Wednesday 22 March
Next up is an appearance from GRAMMY Award-nominated artist, performer, and songwriter Marcus King. By eight years old, the Greenville, SC native performed alongside his family for the first time. Logging thousands of miles as ‘The Marcus King Band', he established himself as guitar virtuoso with unparalleled performance prowess and a dynamic live show.
W.A.S.P. - 40 Years Live | Thursday 23 March
One of the most infamous, notorious, controversial heavy metal bands, W.A.S.P. mark their 40th anniversary with a world tour. Notorious founding member, Blackie Lawless, is joined by bassist Mike Duda, guitarist Doug Blair and drummer Aquiles Priester, going back to the beginning, complete with the stage show extravaganza that many fans never saw live.
This event is sold out, however, it is worth keeping an eye on the event page for resale tickets.
Fleetwood Bac | Saturday 25 March
Known as the world’s first (and best) Fleetwood Mac tribute band, Fleetwood Bac has been endorsed by Mick Fleetwood himself. They are also the only Mac tribute to authentically replicate the classic 'Rumours' line-up - this is sure to prove a popular one!
Suede | Tuesday 28 March
Suede are back to perform all their classics, hits and tracks from their latest album, Autofiction. Fronted by charismatic singer Brett Anderson, the London outfit are known for kickstarting the Britpop revolution of the 1990s and reviving the seedy romance and dark drama of glammy guitar rock.
This event is sold out, however, it is worth keeping an eye on the event page for resale tickets.
Devin Townsend | Wednesday 29 March
Legendary Canadian artist Devin Townsend is known the world over as a talented multi-instrumentalist with a focus on progressive rock and heavy metal. Returning to the UK to tour his latest album, Lightwork, audiences can expect an evening of intriguing songs written during lockdown.
The Steve Hillage Band | Thursday 30 March
Virtuoso guitarist, techno futurist and prog visionary: From acid rock to acid house, musician Steve Hillage has been on a transcendent journey for the past 50 years. Steve and fellow members of 70s cosmonauts Gong are returning to the stage to play cuts from his various cherished solo albums – plus a few surprises and never before played live tracks taken from Steve’s illustrious catalogue.
Orbital | Friday 31 March
Orbital, brothers Phil and Paul Hartnoll, have crafted a vast catalogue of ambitious critically acclaimed electronic music, informed by a wide range of genres such as ambient, electro, punk, and film scores. They became one of the biggest artists of the mid-90s by completely reinventing the notion of what a dance act could do live.
This event is sold out, however, it is worth keeping an eye on the event page for resale tickets.
To keep abreast of what's coming up at O2 Academy Bristol in 2023, head to the venue website.
Article by:
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.
