Music / Previews
Bristol’s month in metal and prog: January 2026
As usual, it’s a fairly quiet start to the year on the loud music front. Epica at the Beacon is the only big gig to look forward to. Fortunately, things perk up a bit next moynth.
Fleece, Jan 19
Canadian veteran death metallers Cryptopsy celebrate 30 years of their None So Vile album with a packed show that includes support from 200 Stab Wounds, Inferi, and the splendidly named Corpse Pile.
Epica/Amarathe/Charlotte Wessels
Bristol Beacon, Jan 20
Anybody out there remember seeing After Forever at the Bierkeller in 2007? The first symphonic metal act to play in Bristol were impressive enough, but few would have predicted that the band’s key members would go on to become so huge. Today, vocalist Floor Jansen fronts Nightwish, while guitarist Mark Jansen went on to found Epica, who now graduate from the Academy to headline a show over the road at the Beacon. The Dutch sextet are fronted by mezzo-soprano Simone Simons and are renowned for their high-energy shows. Their ninth album, Aspiral, is out now on Nuclear Blast and is part of the A New Age Dawns series that began with Consign to Oblivion and Design Your Universe. The main support tonight is no-fixed-subgenre Swedish band Amaranthe, who were last seen locally supporting Dragonforce at the Academy in March 2024 and benefit from three distinctive vocalists. Opening the show is former Delain frontwoman Charlotte Wessels, who was last seen supporting VOLA at the former SWX and has released three solo albums to date.
Thekla, Jan 25
It seems like (and is) years since Anna Von Hausswolff played The Cube amid much controversy and protest after she was photographed wearing a Burzum T-shirt. But such are the things that excite our wokey friends. The Swedish crossover musician is a much bigger deal today, and he new album, Iconoclasts, features a guest appearance by Iggy Pop (who’s unlikely to be appearing at the Thekla).
Main pic of Epica: Nuclear Blast
COMING SOON
Here’s our essential diary of upcoming gigs that should be of interest to anyone of a rockin’ disposition.
Pentagram, Thekla, Feb 2
Sanguisugabogg, Fleece, Feb 16
Avatar/Alien Weapnry, O2 Academy, Feb 18
Smith/Kotzen, O2 Academy, Feb 20
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
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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