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Words by · 99 reviews

Matt Barnes

2026

Festival
GROOVE VILLAGE, WESTON-SUPER-MARE – ‘THE LINEUP PACKS A REPEATED PUNCH’
29 September 2026•Groove Village Festival 2026
Festival
VALLEY FEST, CHEW MAGNA – ‘A LITTLE FESTIVAL WITH A BIG HEART’
17 August 2026•Valley Fest 2026
Gig
Punk Rock, Power Chords and Pure Joy Frank Turner & Bowling For Soup Bring Cardiff Castle to Life
6 July 2026•Cardiff Castle, Cardiff
Gig
ALDOUS HARDING, BRISTOL BEACON – ‘SURREAL, ENTHRALLING AND ENTIRELY HERSELF’
4 June 2026•BRISTOL BEACON
Gig
TOOTS & THE MAYTALS, TRINITY – ‘REMINDS US WHY THEIR LEGACY ENDURES’
12 May 2026•TRINITY
Festival
OUTERTOWN 2026 - A day of discovery, disorder and pure Bristol magic
16 April 2026•Outer Town Festival 2026
Gig
JENS LEKMAN, STRANGE BREW – ‘IT’S A MUSICAL, IT’S A STORY, IT’S COMPELLING’
16 March 2026•STRANGE BREW
Gig
LUCY ROSE, ST GEORGE’S – ‘ELEGANTLY POWERFUL’
9 March 2026•ST GEORGE’S
Gig
HEAVY LUNGS, THE LOUISIANA – ‘IF IN DOUBT GO INTO A TINY ROOM AND SWEAT IT OUT WITH STRANGERS’
2 February 2026•THE LOUISIANA
Gig
DOMINIE HOOPER, EXCHANGE – ‘VISCERAL, DESOLATE, BEAUTIFUL’
23 January 2026•EXCHANGE

2025

Gig
DOREEN DOREEN, ELECTRIC BRISTOL – ‘LEAVE YOUR EGO AT THE DOOR, GET ON THE DANCEFLOOR”
23 December 2025•ELECTRIC BRISTOL
Gig
MILLION DEAD, ELECTRIC BRISTOL – ‘SWEATY AND EUPHORIC’
15 December 2025•ELECTRIC BRISTOL
Gig
Live Review | Kae Tempest @ O2 Academy, Bristol
14 November 2025•O2 Academy, Bristol
Gig
Oswald Slain’s “Bucky” Launch at Jam Jar Bristol 6th November 2025
12 November 2025•Jam Jar Bristol
Festival
Simple Things Festival 2025: From harp-led bliss to sax-fuelled chaos
12 November 2025•Simple Things Festival 2025
Gig
Live Review | Erotic Secrets Of Pompeii @ Rough Trade, Bristol
23 October 2025•Rough Trade, Bristol
Gig
NOVA TWINS, ELECTRIC – ‘POP TO SCREAM TO, ROCK TO DANCE TO’
13 October 2025•ELECTRIC BRISTOL
Festival
Live Review | Groove Village Festival
3 October 2025•Groove Village Festival 2025
Gig
BILLY NOMATES, ELECTRIC BRISTOL – ‘A NIGHT OF ARTISTIC RICHNESS AND EMOTIONAL RESONANCE’
27 September 2025•ELECTRIC BRISTOL
Gig
Divorce @ Strange Brew, Bristol, March 31st, 2025 - A night to be treasured....
6 September 2025•Strange Brew
Festival
Forwards Festival 2025: A Bristol love letter in sound....
28 August 2025•Forwards Festival 2025
Gig
IDLES BLOCK PARTY, QUEEN SQUARE – ‘COMMUNITY, UNITY AND FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION’
2 August 2025•QUEEN SQUARE
Gig
A night of friendship, emotion, and musical triumph - PRIMA QUEEN & LILO @ Thekla, Bristol - 21 May 2025
27 May 2025•Thekla
Gig
PANIC SHACK, THEKLA – ‘A FRENZY OF FLAILING LIMBS’
24 May 2025•THEKLA
Gig
EZRA FURMAN took over ROUGH TRADE in BRISTOL for a glimpse at her new record 'Goodbye Small Head'
23 May 2025
Gig
KNIVES, THEKLA – ‘BARELY DRAWS BREATH’
14 May 2025•THEKLA
Gig
SCISSOR SISTERS, ELECTRIC BRISTOL – ‘FERVENT FILTHY FUN’
12 May 2025•ELECTRIC BRISTOL
Gig
DOMINIE HOOPER, EXCHANGE – ‘EMOTIONALLY CHARGED, RAW AND UNFURLED’
7 May 2025•EXCHANGE
Gig
DREAMWAVE, LOUISIANA – ‘AN INTENSELY ENJOYABLE GIG’
1 May 2025•LOUISIANA
Gig
MANIC STREET PREACHERS, BRISTOL BEACON – ‘YET ANOTHER MANICS MASTERCLASS’
1 May 2025•BRISTOL BEACON
Festival
Outer Town Festival 2025: A riotous celebration of Bristol’s DIY spirit....
15 April 2025•Outer Town Festival 2025
Festival
Bristol hosts RITUAL UNION FESTIVAL 2025 - What a day!
3 April 2025•Ritual Union Festival 2025
Gig
THE DARKNESS, BRISTOL BEACON – ‘VERY VOCAL, VERY SARCASTIC’
26 March 2025•BRISTOL BEACON
Gig
The Darkness at Bristol Beacon: glitter, guts, and good times...
25 March 2025•Bristol Beacon
Gig
Getdown Services @ Loves Cafe, Weston-super-Mare, 15/03/2025
20 March 2025•Loves Cafe
Gig
DO NOTHING, THE LOUISIANA – ‘VIGOROUSLY EXPRESSIVE’
3 February 2025•THE LOUISIANA
Gig
PEACH, THE LOUISIANA – ‘ALWAYS ON POINT, ALWAYS INTENSE’
31 January 2025•THE LOUISIANA
Gig
MOULD / MP3 CHAINSAW / LIFTER / HAMBURGER, STRANGE BREW – ‘A BRISTOL BAND BONANZA’
27 January 2025•STRANGE BREW

2024

Gig
DOREEN DOREEN, SWX – ‘A EUPHORIC NIGHT OF PURE POP FUN’
24 December 2024•SWX
Gig
The Horrors @ Strange Brew, Bristol – 13/12/24
21 December 2024•Strange Brew
Gig
Remi Wolf at O2 Academy Bristol - A night of dream pop and funky energy
12 December 2024•O2 Academy Bristol
Gig
Sports Team at Trinity Hall, Bristol - A night of indie mayhem
12 December 2024•Trinity Hall
Gig
KATY J PEARSON, SWX – ‘POWERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, LOUD AND PROUD’
1 December 2024•SWX
Gig
SKINNY LISTER, THEKLA – ‘THE SHANTY PUNK FLIES THICK AND FAST’
25 November 2024•THEKLA
Gig
ENGLISH TEACHER, SWX – ‘A SPECTRUM OF EMOTIONS’
22 November 2024•SWX
Gig
LIZ LAWRENCE, STRANGE BREW – ‘KILLER SONGS THAT SHAPESHIFT THROUGH GENRES’
17 November 2024•STRANGE BREW
Gig
IBIBIO SOUND MACHINE, SWX – ‘HOPE AND POSITIVITY IN EVERY BEAT’
11 November 2024•SWX
Gig
ONLY THE POETS took over The Fleece in the heart of Bristol for their ONE MORE NIGHT tour....
1 September 2024
Gig
FUTURE ISLANDS, BRISTOL BEACON – ‘RAW, EMOTIVE AND ENERGETIC’
30 July 2024•BRISTOL BEACON
Gig
KINGS OF LEON, ASHTON GATE STADIUM – ‘A SHOW OF EPIC PROPORTIONS’
26 June 2024•ASHTON GATE STADIUM
Gig
FENNE LILY, STRANGE BREW – ‘A HEARTBREAKINGLY GOOD STORYTELLER’
24 June 2024•STRANGE BREW
Gig
The Mysterines showcase a stripped back offering of their forthcoming long player at Rough Trade Bristol on 12 June 2024
19 June 2024
Gig
TAKE THAT, ASHTON GATE STADIUM – ‘EVERYTHING YOU COULD POSSIBLY WANT’
9 June 2024•ASHTON GATE STADIUM
Gig
DOREEN DOREEN, LONG ASHTON COMMUNITY CENTRE – ‘SMILES, TEARS AND DANCE MOVES’
4 June 2024•LONG ASHTON COMMUNITY CENTRE
Gig
ST VINCENT, SWX – ‘NOTE-PERFECT, RAUCOUS AND MESMERISING’
3 June 2024•SWX
Festival
Bristol's OUTER TOWN was a day of sonic bliss, read our live review...
16 April 2024•Outer Town Festival 2024
Gig
THE HIVES descend upon Bristol and tear the O2 Academy a new one....
4 April 2024
Festival
We attended multi venue Bristol festival RITUAL UNION and saw some amazing bands....
28 March 2024•Ritual Union Festival 2024
Gig
HOT WATER MUSIC, SWX – ‘FILLED WITH PASSIONATE ANTHEMS’
26 March 2024•SWX
Gig
CRAIG FINN, THE EXCHANGE – ‘A FEELING OF TOGETHERNESS’
4 March 2024•THE EXCHANGE
Gig
YARD ACT take over Rough Trade Bristol to showcase their new record 'Where's My Utopia?'
4 March 2024
Gig
PIP BLOM, BRISTOL BEACON – ‘CONSTANT ENERGY’
20 February 2024•BRISTOL BEACON
Gig
THE LAST DINNER PARTY delighted the audience at Bristol's Rough Trade with an acoustic set to promote their debut album
14 February 2024
Gig
GLOOM INDEX, CROFTERS RIGHTS – ‘JOURNEY INTO A DARK, DARK WORLD’
28 January 2024•CROFTERS RIGHTS

2023

Gig
DJANGO DJANGO, STRANGE BREW – ‘SUBLIME INDIE ECSTASY’
14 December 2023•STRANGE BREW
Gig
Sleaford Mods, supported by Big Special & Emily Breeze - 02 Academy Bristol 30/11/2023
6 December 2023
Gig
HOLYSSEUS FLY, THE EXCHANGE – ‘SHE PERFORMS FROM EVERY PART OF HER SOUL’
30 November 2023•THE EXCHANGE
Gig
LOTTERY WINNERS, SWX – ‘BULGING WITH SO MUCH PASSION’
25 November 2023•SWX
Gig
BC CAMPLIGHT, SWX – ‘HIS SONGS TAKE ON A COMPLETELY NEW LEASE OF LIFE’
22 November 2023•SWX
Gig
PALE BLUE EYES, STRANGE BREW – ‘HIGH ENERGY FUN’
22 November 2023•STRANGE BREW
Gig
LIZZIE ESAU, THE LOUISIANA – ‘PLEASURABLE BOPABILITY’
14 November 2023•THE LOUISIANA
Gig
ONLY THE POETS dazzled The Louisiana in Bristol with a 'ghoulish' Halloween performance
5 November 2023
Gig
PEACH, ROUGH TRADE – ‘AN ENERGETIC ANGER FUELLED BAND’
31 October 2023•ROUGH TRADE
Gig
SQUID, SWX – ‘THEY ARE RELENTLESS’
18 October 2023•SWX
Gig
BAXTER DURY, SWX – ‘FULL OF JOY’
13 October 2023•SWX
Gig
HALF MOON RUN, SWX – ‘THE CROWD WERE TRANSFIXED’
15 September 2023•SWX
Festival
‘Forwards Festival delivers again’ - 2023 two-day festival review
5 September 2023•Forwards Festival 2023
Festival
Mud baths to fireworks, stunning views to great live music - the perfect summer festival near Bristol
16 August 2023•Valley Fest 2023
Gig
Watch the incredible moment Mika jumps in the crowd at Bristol Sounds 2023
23 June 2023•Bristol Sounds 2023
Gig
Arctic Monkeys rock Ashton Gate in Bristol - review of ‘perfect set’
30 May 2023
Gig
‘What a performance, what a voice’ - Gaz Coombes at SWX in Bristol, review
30 April 2023•SWX
Gig
Yo La Tengo at SWX in Bristol - review
28 April 2023•SWX
Gig
‘Acoustic heartfelt folk’ - Nick Mulvey at SWX in Bristol
22 March 2023•SWX
Gig
Shame at SWX Bristol: Sparks fly at high energy gig from the raucous Londoners
14 March 2023
Gig
‘Intense joy with a cherry on top’ - Young Fathers at SWX review
6 March 2023•SWX
Gig
Melancholic and melodic - American singer Weyes Blood mesmerises the SWX Bristol crowd
15 February 2023
Gig
The Amity Affliction at SWX Bristol - review
20 January 2023•SWX

2022

Gig
‘This is close your eyes music’ - Ishmael Ensemble thrill a sold-out crowd at Trinity Centre in Bristol
13 November 2022•Trinity Centre
Gig
‘Pure emotion’: Dean Lewis makes waves at SWX in Bristol at packed-out show
21 October 2022
Gig
‘Fabulously confused glory’ - Elvana delivers perfect unplugged gig at Marble Factory in Bristol
15 September 2022•Marble Factory
Festival
Forwards Festival 2022: Billy Nomates bring swagger, Kae Tempest left me in tears, Chemical Brothers incredible
6 September 2022•Forwards Festival 2022
Festival
Forwards Bristol 2022: Jamie XX sends crowd crazy, Khruangbin a massive highlight and spoken word from Lemn Sissay
4 September 2022•Forwards Festival 2022
Gig
Nile Rodgers and Chic dazzle at Bristol’s Lloyds Amphitheatre - review and pictures
17 July 2022•Bristol’s Lloyds Amphitheatre
Gig
‘Cardigan-swinging delight’: Belle and Sebastian at Bristol’s Lloyds Amphitheatre - review and pictures
16 July 2022•Bristol’s Lloyds Amphitheatre
Gig
The War on Drugs close Bristol Sounds 2022 with a gig to remember - review
28 June 2022
Gig
Folk duo First Aid Kit dazzle at Bristol Sounds 2022 - review
27 June 2022•Bristol Sounds 2022
Gig
Steve Harley and his Acoustic Band at St George’s Bristol - review
9 June 2022•St George’s
Gig
Madison Cunningham at Thekla, Bristol - review
17 May 2022•Thekla
Gig
IDLES and Portishead deliver at special charity gig at Bristol’s O2 Academy - review
3 May 2022