Bristol’s beloved grassroots venue The Canteen is marking Independent Venue Week 2026 with a full week of live music, celebrating the artists, audiences and communities that keep independent venues alive.
Independent Venue Week shines a spotlight on the vital role grassroots spaces play in nurturing emerging talent and sustaining local music scenes. For The Canteen, it’s a chance to do what it does best: provide an accessible, inclusive platform for artists across genres, while reinforcing the importance of protecting independent cultural spaces.
This programme follows The Canteen’s recent Turbo Island billboard campaign, which delivered the message “Independent venues are for life, not just for x’mas” at one of Bristol’s most symbolic locations. Launched amid figures showing 24.9% of UK grassroots venues are at risk of permanent closure, the campaign urged the city to actively support independent venues year-round.
“Independent Venue Week is about more than gigs,” says Lauren Poole, Marketing Manager at The Canteen. “It’s about recognising these spaces as cultural lifelines. If they disappear, we lose the foundations of our music scene.”
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Independent Venue Week at The Canteen
Live music throughout the week. As an official Independent Venue Week venue, we will be doing a suggested entry donation on the bar, which will go towards the band fee.
Monday 26 January
Senna Weeks Trio
Electrifying organ trio delivering gritty blues and funk-driven grooves.
Tuesday 27 January
Riddim – Roots, Reggae & Dub Session
Monthly live session hosted by Alex Dawson, featuring guest vocalists and musicians in an open, community-led jam.
Wednesday 28 January
Zubieta & the Suaves + Guests
Bossa nova and Latin jazz from Bristol-based musicians bringing warmth, rhythm and melody.
Thursday 29 January
Pretend Friends
High-energy, foot-stomping folk with punk spirit and riotous crowd participation.
Friday 30 January
The Shingalings + DJ Tom Riley
Eight-piece Bristol collective serving infectious Latin-inspired dance grooves and explosive live energy. DJ set until 2am.
Saturday 31 January
Soma Soma + DJ Rubba
Afro-Brazilian rhythms blending samba, bossa nova and Afrobeat, led by powerful Portuguese-language vocals. DJ until 2am.
Sunday 1 February
Live Bristol – Grassroots Emerging Artist Showcase
A family-friendly platform for emerging local artists, supporting creative development both on and off stage.
5pm–midnight.
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