Bristol’s month in World music – May 2026

Yes things are definitely warming up now, both on the weather front and the music scene, and hopefully it will be fine for the annual Trinity Garden Party (Sunday 10) which this year celebrates the centre’s 50th year of music, arts and community action.

Having brought us countless amazing acts from all over the world (and especially the Caribbean) Trinity has been a major part of the musical life of Bristol and beyond, for which we owe them much gratitude.

May also sees the annual Diaspora festival (various venues, May 1-10) celebrating Bristol’s cultural diversity with music very much a focus – check the website for details.

The Jam Jar has pulled together an amazing line-up for its Jam on the Horizon takeover (Saturday 2) of St Jude’s various venues, with Zouk legend Kanda Bongo Man and uber-cool Latinista Quantic among the many highlights while the Fleece has it’s annual Skankfest (Sunday 3) all-day celebration of all things ska and 2-Tone with Mad Apple Circus headlining the 13 band line-up.

And – thinking ahead –  WOMAD just announced their final line-up info for Neston Park (July 23-26). But meanwhile: get out there!

Some rather special voices are coming to town, starting with the Warsi Brothers traditional Indian Qawwali ensemble (Lantern, Sunday 3). The current brothers Nazeer and Naseer follow a line of singers within the Warsi family claimed to have begun 900 years ago.

Pakistani classical singer and harmonium player Muslim Shaggan (Jam Jar, Thursday 28) learned his traditional Gwalior Gharana style from his grandfather and tours with tabla and flute accompaniment.

While Ukrainian singer GANNA (To The Moon, Thursday 7) has clear roots in her national traditions her contemporary approach is fearlessly individual – like fellow Ukrainians DakhaBrakha she brings the strength of heritage to her strikingly artful performance.

Ensemble Lalkhori (Holy Trinity Hotwells, Thursday 21) do not tamper with their Georgian traditions, however. They are touring to share and promote the very distinctive choral singing for which their country is well-known.

For obvious reasons, virtuoso of the Pakistani Nay flute Faris Ishaq (St Paul’s Church Clifton, Friday 1) doesn’t sing at all but he does bring a remarkable range of vocalisations from his instrument, augmented by foot-operated percussion, while effectively using traditional Palestinian musical forms as the basis for impressive modern jazz.

Mardi Gras may have come and gone but Bristol’s devotion to all things Brasilian happily shows no sign of abating.

Afon Sistema open the Diaspora Festival programme with a Maracatu night at the Canteen (Friday 1) showcasing their award-winning mastery of that music and dance form.

Bossa Nova specialists Zubieta & The Suaves are at the Star & Dove in Totterdown (Saturday 2) as well as their regular ‘with guests’ night at the Canteen (Tuesday 26).

Over in Southville there’s a street party (Kingston Road, Sun 3) with music from Latin-fusion singer/guitarist Jimi Cantera and the Balata Bristol Samba Reggae Band while at the Jam Jar (Sunday 3) contemporary Rio de Janeiro troubadour Leo Middea unveils his new album.

Guitarist Mario Bakuna (Jam Jar, Saturday 9) is a master of samba and bossa and his Brazilian Landscapes trio offers a sharp jazz-fuelled take on them.

There’s a Forro Party at Docklands that same night, with live music from Trio Magnata and classes to help you learn or improve your Forro dancing skills.

Jazz singer and percussionist Cathy Jones’ trio Balança bring her assured Latin style to El Rincon on North Street (Thursday 14) and Canteen have their always excellent Latin Descarga session (Tuesday 19).

Thought to have been devised by African slaves in Northern Brasil the coco music and dance tradition was being diffused and forgotten until Recife-based project Coco Dos Pretos (Strange Brew, Sunday 24) made it their mission to retrace the music wherever they found it and to promote it through lively performance.

Reggae fans will already have bought their ticket to Toots & The Maytals at Trinity – it’s all sold out. But there’s other roots and dub style treats on offer, starting with a Reggaeton Party at Thekla (Friday 1) and a Diaspora Festival special Riddim reggae jam at Canteen (Tuesday 5).

Rootsy London reggae band Hempolics are at Jam Jar (Thursday 14), local favourites Troy Ellis & the Hail Jamaica Band go to Exchange (Saturday 16) and Mr Wolf’s (Friday 29) has a ska-adjacent night featuring the brassy punk-ska Karyo and the rural agri-hop of Monkey Bizzle.

And then there’s the roots cultural meltdown that is Transglobal Underground (Thekla, Sat 16) – still rocking after 35 years.

Thanks to the Awesome Tapes From Africa label there’s been a considerable revival of interest in Ethiopian jazz and funk music from the 70s and 80s and now maybe it’s neighbouring country Somalia’s turn for the spotlight.

A Diaspora Festival event at the Beacon features Dur Dur Band (Sunday 10), a London-based revival of one of Mogadishu’s legendary funk groups from the 80s mixing classic hits with new arrangements.

The impressive locally based Fairfield House Ethio-Jazz Project (Roundhill Barn, Kelston, Saturday 23) bring faithful arrangements to the Ethiopian music of Mulatu Astatke and others with some great jazz ‘names’ among them.

After the great Ali Farke Toure it was Tuareg collective Tinariwen (Electric Bristol, Sunday 24) that brought the ringing and hypnotic desert guitar style from Northern Mali to prominence in the West, so it’s always good to welcome them back to Bristol.

Exponent of the n’goni, a traditional Malian stringed instrument, Griot musician Bassekou Kouyate’s compelling duo with singer Amy Sacko comes to Jam Jar (Saturday 16) in an unfortunate clash with Gambian kora player Suntou Susso‘s gig at Folk House.

Cameroonian singer and bandleader Alphonse Touna’s long-running Afrobeat band Helele will be rocking Canteen (Friday 15) as will former Fela Kuti band keyboard player Dele Sosimi’s Afrobeat Orchestra when they come to Jam Jar (Saturday 23).

And, finally, South African musician and music therapist Risenga Makondo comes to Bristol (St Anne’s Church, Saturday 9) to share his performance of music and dance as part of a fundraising tour to enable him to establish an art and therapy centre in the Limpopo province.

Main image: Afon Sistema

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• Bristol’s month in jazz – May 2026
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