OLD CITY SOUNDS 2025

Old City Sounds returned for a third year on Saturday 23rd August 2025, coinciding with the 58th annual Old Duke Jazz Festival. This free celebration showcased the best of Bristol’s music scene and supported local grassroots venues.

With six vibrant festival zones, visitors were invited to enjoy an eclectic mix of acts across King Street, St Nicholas Street, Corn Street, and Welsh Back. The festival’s creative kids zone also made a welcome return to St Stephen’s Church, with free activities to inspire future generations of creatives.

Read on to see what 2025 had in store for us.

The Old Duke

Old City Sounds was headlined by The Old Duke Jazz Festival which featured free jazz performances from top artists across the entire bank holiday weekend.

Kids Zone

The Kids Zone at St Stephen’s Church was a hub of activity all afternoon long. The garden was bustling with outdoor games and bubble artists, whilst inside live performances, drum and dance workshop, and face painting took centre stage.

Corn Street

On Corn Street, The Cocktail Club, Dirty Martini, and Harbour Hotel’s Gold Bar opened their doors for an evening of entertainment. Electrifying sax riffs echoed through The Cocktail Club, while DJs took over the decks at Dirty Martini and Gold Bar.

Welsh Back

Back-to-back silent disco sessions transformed 6 O’Clock Gin at the Glassboat into a lively riverside party, offering guests panoramic views of the River Avon as they danced the night away.

King Street

King Street came alive with a jam-packed day of live music at Small Bar and Bristol Old Vic. Live bands took to the Small Bar stage, while Bristol Old Vic once again teamed up with Sofar Sounds to deliver surprise acts throughout the day.

St Nicholas Street

On St Nicholas Street, visitors soaked up the sunshine with live bands on the Mr Wolfs and Mother’s Ruin outdoor stages, alongside DJs inside St Nicholas Market, plus music and karaoke at Seamus O’Donnell’s. As day turned to night, Mother’s Ruin and The Crown Bar & Venue came alive with DJ takeovers into the early hours.

We would like to thank all participating venues, performers, and partners for their support in making Old City Sounds 2025 a success. We’ll see you next year for Old City Sounds 2026!

Latest news

Read about 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.

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

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

Old City Sounds 2025

BID Lead