From legendary rock musicians, secret gigs, silent discos and late-night club takeovers, to  family raves and jazz for babies, Bristol's Old City will come alive this August Bank Holiday as Bristol BID brings back Old City Sounds with its biggest and most eclectic programme to date.

Taking place on Saturday 29 August, the free one-day festival transforms Bristol's historic Old City into a vibrant celebration of live music, creativity and independent hospitality, with 11 venues hosting everything from intimate acoustic sets and swing dancing to brass bands, DJs and all-night parties.

This year's participating venues are Bristol Old Vic, Mr Wolfs, The Old Duke, Mother's Ruin, The Crown, The Library, Seamus O'Donnell's, St Nicholas Market, Franco Manca, The Glassboat and St Stephen's Church, each curating their own unique programme that reflects the character of the venue and Bristol's thriving grassroots music scene.

Whether visitors are looking for an afternoon out with the whole family or dancing into the early hours, Old City Sounds offers something for every age and every musical taste.

Families can spend the day at St Stephen's Church, where the popular Kids Zone returns with a packed programme of live performances, interactive workshops and free activities. Highlights include jazz sessions for little ones with Music with Maya, Rock Out Baby, African drumming workshops, beginner DJ sessions, circus skills, face painting, craft activities, bubble artists and a colourful family rave to round off the afternoon.

At Bristol Old Vic, audiences can enjoy free solo jazz dance classes, performances from the Bristol Community Big Band, HeadRush Brass Band and Bristol favourites The ZuZu Men, while Franco Manca partners with Sofar Sounds for intimate live performances alongside family storytelling sessions earlier in the day.

Band performing at Bristol Old Vic as part of Old City Sounds 2024 in Bristol - Credit Julian Preece / Bristol City Centre BID

One of this year's biggest expansions comes from Mr Wolfs, which has unveiled its largest Old City Sounds programme to date. Running from midday until late, the venue welcomes Reef founder Jack Bessant, Chris Jagger & The Terraplanes - fronted by the brother of Rolling Stones lead singer Mick Jagger, Technicolour Steam Train, Bite The Buffalo, Kima Moon, Bristol Northern Soul Club and festival favourite DJ Jambo for a full day of free live music that continues well into the evening. 

The city's rich musical heritage also takes centre stage through the Old Duke Jazz Festival, with The Old Duke once again filling King Street with live jazz, funk and blues throughout the day, while nearby venues Seamus O'Donnell's and Mother's Ruin celebrate everything from folk and trad jazz to Americana, electronic music and DJ takeovers.

As daylight fades, Old City Sounds shifts into party mode. The Crown is set to host a Void Radio takeover until late, while Mother's Ruin will welcome VooKoo, Burst Radio, Get Weird and Rave It Up across multiple spaces, while The Glassboat will once again host free silent discos overlooking the harbour.

The programme also includes DJs at St Nicholas Market, intimate live performances at The Library and a host of emerging artists performing across independent venues throughout the Old City, creating one of Bristol's biggest annual showcases for grassroots music.

Sabrina Shutter, Senior Project Events Manager at Bristol BID, said: "Old City Sounds is all about celebrating what makes Bristol special. Our independent venues, grassroots artists and hospitality businesses are at the heart of the city's cultural identity, and this festival brings them together for one incredible day. Whether you're bringing the family, discovering a new favourite band, enjoying a long lunch or dancing until the early hours, there's genuinely something for everyone. Best of all, it's completely free, making it the perfect way to spend the August Bank Holiday.

Now in its fourth year, Old City Sounds continues to champion Bristol's independent hospitality sector by encouraging visitors to explore the city's pubs, bars, restaurants and live music venues, helping drive footfall into the Old City while supporting the businesses that keep its cultural scene thriving.”

With every performance free to attend, the festival offers one of the South West's biggest free celebrations of live music, perfectly timed for the August Bank Holiday weekend. For the full programme and venue information, visit oldcitysounds.co.uk.