Old City Sounds 2025

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Sabrina Shutter
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Old City Sounds is back with a bang this August Bank Holiday, transforming the Old City with music and more from midday till late on Saturday 23 August 2025.

Project Type
Promoting
Date
23 August 2025

OLD CITY SOUNDS 2025

Coinciding with the 58th annual Old Duke Jazz Festival, this free celebration on Saturday 23 August will showcase the best of Bristol’s music scene!

Spanning seven vibrant festival areas, enjoy an eclectic mix of acts in all your favourite local spots, with performances across King Street, St Nicholas Street, Corn Street, Welsh Back, and St Nicholas Market. Our creative kids zone is also making a welcome return to St Stephen’s Church, bursting with free activities to inspire future generations of creatives.

EXPERIENCE OLD CITY SOUNDS, YOUR WAY

Wherever you find yourself in the Old City, there’s something around every corner. Whether you’re in the mood for toe-tapping jazz, laid back acoustic sets, electrifying DJs, or family-friendly fun, Old City Sounds is the place for you this August bank holiday. Enjoy free entertainment at venues across the city all Saturday long, from midday till late. Plan your day below.

LET US KNOW YOU'RE COMING

FESTIVAL MAP

Dive into all the fun of Old City Sounds, with music and more around every corner of Bristol’s Old City. Explore the famous Old Duke Jazz Festival, kids zone at Saint Stephen’s Church, plus so much more across King Street, Corn Street, St Nicholas Street, and Welsh Back.

Download the map

EXPERIENCE OUR VIBRANT FESTIVAL ZONES

The Old Duke

Old City Sounds is headlined by The Old Duke Jazz Festival, now in its 58th year. The Old Duke Jazz Festival is a free celebration of jazz, hosting performances from top artists all bank holiday long.

See what's on

Saturday's impressive line-up boasts back-to-back sets from some of the best bands around.

THE BLUES MERCENARIES

12pm-2pm

JP & CAPITOL SWING

3pm-5pm

THE SOUL STRUTTERS

6pm-8pm

FLASH HARRY

9pm-11pm

Kids Zone

Head to the Kids Zone at St Stephen’s Church for free family-friendly fun, all afternoon from 12pm-5pm. In the garden, you’ll find circus workshops and bubble artists throughout the day, while inside the church will be bursting with creativity. You can expect all day face painting and crafts, plus an exciting line-up of performances, drumming workshops, and more. 

See what's on

See what's across the Kids Zone

ROCK THE TOTS

Expect covers of some great summery songs, plus some of the best tunes of the year, with bubbles, puppets, and more! 12pm-12.45pm & 1.45pm-2.30pm.

Afidance Drumming Workshop

Take part in a traditional African dance and drumming workshop. 1pm-1.30pm & 4.30pm-5pm.

Dancing Around The World Workshop

Join multi-award winning Movema and celebrate World Dance. This fun and interactive workshop will explore a taste of different cultures and dance styles. 2.45-3.30pm & 3.45-4.15pm.

CRAFTING

Join Bristol Art Junkie for hands-on workshops where children and families create musical instruments from recycled materials. Make shakers, drums, string instruments, and more, then join a joyful group jam session. Perfect for ages 4+. 12pm-5pm.

BUBBLE ARTIST

Enjoy giant bubble fun for everyone! 12pm-5pm.

CIRCUS WORKSHOPS

Join Circus Antics for their fun circus skills workshops, perfect for families and children of all ages. 12pm-5pm.

FACE PAINTING

Bring colour to your day with face painting from 12pm-5pm.

Corn Street

Start your bank holiday on a high with DJs and live music across Corn Street venues, including The Cocktail Club, Dirty Martini, and Harbour Hotel’s Gold Bar. Get ready for a night you won’t forget!

See what's on

Head to Corn Street venues for genre blending line-ups.

THE COCKTAIL CLUB

Celebrate the Bank Holiday in style at The Cocktail Club with live sax bringing the heat from 4-6pm. Enjoy electrifying saxophone riffs paired with your favourite cocktails in an atmosphere made for letting loose.

Dirty Martini

Sip on signature cocktails while the beats flow from 6pm till late, setting the perfect tone for your night out. Whether you're easing into the evening or dancing into the early hours, this is where the energy starts.

Habour Hotel's Gold Bar

Enjoy an evening in the Gold Bar at Harbour Hotel, with their resident DJ spinning soul and funk tunes from 6pm till late.

Welsh Back

Head to Welsh Back for all-day immersive entertainment, with plenty to do around the water’s edge. Climb aboard the 6 O’Clock Gin Glassboat for back-to-back silent disco sessions. During your visit, don’t forget to sample their impressive range of drinks, including G&Ts and gin cocktails.

See what's on

Dive into immersive fun at 6 O'Clock Gin at the Glassboat

SILENT DISCO

Immerse yourself in Silent Disco fun and boogie on board with slots at 12pm, 2pm, 7pm & 8pm.

Book now

King Street

Join us on the cobbles for a jam-packed day of live music! In the mood for Irish Trad and Folk? Head to Small Bar for performances from 3pm, followed by a Neo Soul and Funk DJ into the night.

Fancy a surprise? Bristol Old Vic are once again teaming up with Sofar Sounds for five top-secret gigs throughout the day. Expect local artists, great vibes, and a whole lot of community magic.



See what's on

Explore King Street venues along the cobbles.

Small Bar

Head to Small Bar for live acoustic and trad from 2-9pm, followed by DJs from 10pm until late.

Bristol Old Vic

Expect five top-secret gigs throughout the day, brought to you by Sofar Sounds. Gig times: 11am-12pm, 2pm-3pm, 5pm-6pm, 8pm-9pm, 11pm-midnight.

St Nicholas Street

Experience a blend of genres with live bands and DJs across St Nicholas Street venues.

Soak up the sunshine with live bands on the Mr Wolfs and Mother’s Ruin outdoor stages, embrace the music and get involved with Karaoke at Seamus O’Donnell’s, plus catch hip-hop, funk, and multi-genre lineups at The Crown Bar & Venue.

St Nicholas Market will also be home to resident DJs spinning hits, making it the perfect backdrop for shopping and grabbing a bite at the nearby stalls.

See what's on

St Nicholas Street is the place to be for back-to-back DJ sets and live music!

MR WOLFS

Expect back-to-back bands on the outdoor stage, including Lunda - 3pm, Harmer Jays - 4.15pm, Bad Trafic - 5.30pm, Shake Your Brass - 7pm, and DJ WOOLLEY + live sax and percussion - 8pm. From 10pm, head inside for DJ Chef de Party until the early hours.

Mothers Ruin Outdoor Stage

Experience all things Trad Jazz, Blues, and Americana on the Mother's Ruin outdoor stage. Bands and times coming soon.

Mother’s Ruin Bar

Find DJs and live streamed sets from Void Radio residents. Void Radio: Fern - 6-8pm, Void Radio: Hizzo - 8-10pm, JO53PH - 10pm-3am.

The Rathouse at Mother's Ruin

The tempo will be high in The Rathouse with Garage, Breaks, and House music. GetWeird: KAIMEERA - 9-10pm, GetWeird: YGF DEX - 10-11pm, Mental Block Records: Cutes - 11pm-1am, Rogue Frequency: Lportt - 1am-2am, Rogue Frequency: Dunes B2B Glovez - 2am-3am.

The Crown Bar

Enjoy exclusive Hip-Hop sets from Longeez - 9pm-12am, plus a funk-fuelled masterclass from Paradisco's very own SPICYICY - 12am-4am.

The Crown Venue

Experience multi-genre sets from Bristol's up-and-coming brands, including sad 2 see u go: Slighty - 9pm-10pm, Harmonia: DJCARAMELSTICK - 10pm-11.30pm, Frontline: Pauzit - 11.30pm-12.30am, Borai B2B dontforgettogohome - 12.30am-2am Intaception: Duality - 2am-3am, Intaception: Doctor Watts - 3am-4am.

Seamus O'Donnell's

Enjoy Folk and Irish music from Woodchuck - 1pm-3pm and The Ceili Band - 3pm-6pm. From 8pm, join in the fun with Just Jed's high-energy Karaoke takeover until midnight.

St Nicholas Market

Resident DJs in the Glass Arcade will keep the beats flowing, soundtracking the buzz of nearby stalls and delicious food.

Latest news

Read the latest updates for the 2025 festival

OLD CITY SOUNDS RETURNS TO BRISTOL THIS BANK HOLIDAY AND HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AHEAD OF THE FREE FESTIVAL

Old City Sounds returns for a third year, bringing the music onto the streets in a huge party across the Old City in celebration of Bristol’s venues and love for music.

read more

OLD CITY SOUNDS RETURNS: BRISTOL’S FREE MUSIC FESTIVAL BACK THIS AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY

Saturday 23 August marks the return of Old City Sounds for its third edition, once again aligning with the city’s longest-running jazz celebration

read more

Jazz icons, brass collectives and secret gigs revealed in first wave of Old City Sounds 2025 line-up

Free music celebration returns this August Bank Holiday with dedicated children’s area

read more

Photos by Julian Preece Photography