Music / folk
Bristol’s month in Folk and Roots – December 2025
While the rest of the world gets excited about twinkly lights, dreadful Christmas songs and over-priced stuff that no one needs, the Folk and Roots world keeps on giving us brilliant gigs.
There’s some fantastic stuff as the nights get a bit chilly.
Downend’s December gig will be festive but folky too… – photo: Bryony Griffiths & Alice Jones
The Downend Folk & Roots Christmas gig is always one of the highlights of any festive season. This year, Yorkshire Folk duo Bryony Griffiths & Alice Jones play songs from their wonderful Christmas album, Wesselbobs, on Friday 19. They are fantastic folk singers and the festive songs are the perfect antidote to anything Mariah-shaped.
As is traditional, Heartwood Chorus start the evening off and they really are the spirit of Christmas in human form.
Even if it is the end of the year, there’s no danger that the Folk House is going to slow down. Folkish singer-songwriter Olive Grinter plays on Thursday 4, while Americana superstar Katey Brooks plays a couple of days later (Saturday 6).
One of the Bristol Folk scene’s founding fathers, Ian A Anderson, says that his show on Sunday 7 will be his last. If that is true then it’s going to be one of the highlights of the month. Anderson is best known for the Village Thing label, as editor of fRoots and as a brilliant Folk/Blues/Roots singer-songwriter-guitarist.
The Antler Ceilidh is on Friday 12, there is a free Irish session on Monday 15 and the Bristol Folk House Choir round of the festive Folk House season on Tuesday 16.
On the other side of Park Street there’s plenty of festive fun too. Steeleye Span have been together for fifty-six years and this tour supports Conflict, their first studio album for over five years. They play a selection of songs from across the ages on Tuesday 2.
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One of the very best festive Folk bands, Winter Union, return to Bristol on Tuesday 9. Featuring members of the Willows, Gilmore & Roberts and Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, they are a proper pre-Christmas folky knees-up.
Finally Moya Sweeney & Archie Churchill-Moss are supported by Dave Malkin & Louis Campbell on Wednesday 10. Two stunning duos that bring together traditional English music and fabulous playing.
Bristol’s very own manic party starters Sheelanagig celebrate twenty years and a brand-new new album (St Congar’s Walking Stick) in the Lantern Hall on Saturday 13. They might be twenty years old but they’re still a wild night out, full of Balkan beats and folk-rock madness.
Altogether gentler is the heart-warming, traditional Kate Rusby Christmas show on Wednesday 17. It wouldn’t really be Christmas without Rusby, Yorkshire Carols and winter-y songs.
Skinny Lister at Thekla on a previous visit – photo: Matt Barnes
Are Skinny Lister one of the best live bands in the UK, right now? Of course they are. They play the Fleece on Thursday 4, bringing a glorious Folk/Punk noise, sing-along choruses, masses of energy and some of the finest songs you’ll hear to our favourite packed and steamy room.
They’re living in Bristol these days too, so it’s a bit of a home coming.
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Bristol-based singer-songwriter Elly Hopkins plays on Old Market on Wednesday 3. The last time she played in Bristol I said “if First Aid Kit had more dirt beneath their fingernails, or CMAT spent less time beneath a glitter ball and a bit more time on a dark, dust-filled highway, then they might sound like this”, which sounds about right.
This gig celebrates the release of her debut EP, Animal. The Elmer’s Arms Trad Irish session is Thursday 11 this month.
Thea Gilmore is not exactly folk but she is one of the best UK singer-songwriters of the last twenty-odd years. She celebrates this year’s gorgeous covers album, These Quiet Friends, in two seated shows on Sunday 7 and Monday 8. She’s supported on the Bristol dates by Penfriend.
Another superb singer-songwriter, James Yorkston, plays another seated show on Monday 15. His latest album, Songs for Nina and Johanna, is one of the best of the year.
The last of the folk gigs at the Wesleyan chapel in Broadmead is Andy Cutting on Thursday 11. Cutting is one of the Folk world’s finest melodeon players having played with Blowzabella, Fernhill and countless others.
Fitty Gomash are putting on three ceilidhs at the Jam Jar this year, one of them family friendly, as well as a show in Stroud – photo: Fitty Gomash
There will be plenty of dancing at Blowin’ a Hooley – A Christmas Ceilidh at the lovely Jam Jar on the weekend of 20 and 21. Just to make sure that the whole family is included, there’s a family ceilidh on the Saturday afternoon. Last year it sold out, so get your tickets early.
O2 Academy
Irish indie folk group Kingfishr have already sold out the O2 show on Tuesday 2. Their debut album, Halcyon, is stunning.
John Sebastian Lightship (Cabot Cruising Club)
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Folk Tales December features Roland Harrad and Louis Alberry as well as some mighty fine story-telling on Wednesday 3.
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Singer and guitarist Kit Hawes plays the tiny El Rincon in Bedminster on Thursday 4. He’s a brilliant songwriter as well as an interpreter of folk songs from the South West and is known for his work with Sheelanagig, Yola, Seth Lakeman and Roni Size.
Finally, it wouldn’t be Christmas without a few festive shows from our local folk choirs. Bristol Folk Singers are at Kelvin Players on Monday 15 and then Dundry Church on Thursday 18. The aforementioned, and absolutely wonderful, Heartwood Chorus are at St James Priory on Friday 12.
Happy Christmas.
Main image: Fitty Gomash
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