Music / Previews
Bristol’s month in metal and prog: February 2026
Bad news for anyone who was looking forward to seeing doom metal pioneers Pentagram at the Thekla: the show has been cancelled yet again. Ho hum.
On a personal note, you may (or may not) be interested to know that I’ve started writing for the BBC Classical Music website, the reason being that they dipped their toe into the world of classic rock, prog and metal and got a huge response so have decided to do more of it. You can find my bollocks here.
Louisiana, Feb 8
Welcome return of the North Carolina rockers fronted by the fabulously named Ronnie Riddle. They’ve toured with the likes of Lynyrd Skynyrd and ZZ Top and were last seen at this very venue in July 2024 supporting Tom Killner. They’ve just released their sixth album, ‘By the Horns’.
Fleece, Feb 10
“Fairy doom metal” is a new sub-genre which doesn’t mean what it would have done 30 years ago. LA trio Faetooth have just released their second album, Labyrinthine, which showcases their novel blend of sludge, shoegaze and doom metal. They first played in the UK last Summer, including a show at the Download festival, and now return for an extensive tour.
Fleece, Feb 16
Raw, taste-free Ohio death metallers who claim to have recorded both of their albums while tripping on acid. The name, which is rendered in an authentically indecipherable logo, apparently means ‘bloodsucking toilet’.
Avatar/Alien Weaponry/Witch Club Satan
O2 Academy, Feb 18
Welcome return of the theatrical Swedish melodic progressive death metallers who were last seen at SWX (as it then was) three years ago, almost to the day. Avatar have been going since 2001 but their international breakthrough came with the release of Avatar Country in 2018 and they played a memorable show at the Anson Rooms the following year. New album Don’t Go in the Forest is out now. Support tonight come from impressive Maori metallers Alien Weapnry, making their first appearance in Bristol. Opening the show are splendidly named all-female Norwegian black metallers Witch Club Satan.
Academy Bristol, Feb 20
Taking quite a step up from the Fleece, where they played a packed and sweaty gig in March 2022, guitarists Adrian Smith, of Iron Maiden fame, and Richie Kotzen, whose credits include Mr. Big, The Winery Dogs and, uh, Poison, seen like an unlikely combination on paper. But it really works and they’re now up to their second album, Black Light/White Noise, which, as one might expect, is a powerful celebration of old-school heavy guitar music. Support tonight comes from Torquay’s very own Kris Barras band.
Main pic of Avatar by Johan Carlén
COMING SOON
Here’s our essential diary of upcoming gigs that should be of interest to anyone of a rockin’ disposition.
Hayseed Dixie, Fleece, March 3
10cc, Bristol Beacon, March 24
Infected Rain/Butcher Babies/Black Spikes, Fleece, March 29
Full Ov Hell, Fleece, April 7
Nordic Giants, Fleece, April 8
Blackbraid, Fleece, April 9
Solence, Fleece, April 28
Yes, Bristol Beacon, April 30
Love with Johnny Echols, Fleece, April 30
Jethro Tull, Bristol Beacon, May 10
Rosalie Cunningham, Louisiana, July 17
Steel Panther, O2 Academy, July 24
ArcTanGent Festival (Primus, Igorr, Napalm Death, Alcest, Amplfier), Fernhill Farm, Aug 19-23
Voyage 35, O2 Academy, Sept 15
Marillion, Bristol Beacon, Sept 18
Big Big Train, Komedia Bath, Sept 27
Steve Hackett, Bristol Beacon, Oct 7
The Sheepdogs, Trinity, Nov 16
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