After what’s felt like an age of venue closures or near misses, Bristol is getting a new music venue. Open seven days a week, The Den sits between Thekla and Arnolfini on Bristol’s Harbourside. The intimate 180-capacity venue is inspired by London jazz cafes and brandishes an impressive 7AM – 3AM licence.
The intimate 180-capacity venue is inspired by London jazz cafes and brandishes an impressive 7AM – 3AM licence
Shapeshifting throughout the day, The Den will offer fresh coffee, smoothies and organics snacks first thing; before sister cafe to the award-winning Beets N Roots fires up the kitchen, serving organic plant-based grub from lunch through to supper. The Den will also house a new outpost of Bristol-born hair salon Level Cuts upstairs, while film and music post production studio Walkmans Studio settle into the basement.
As evening sets in, the spotlight hits the stage and a selection of funk, soul, reggae, jazz and world music will fill the floor
As evening sets in, the spotlight hits the stage and a selection of funk, soul, reggae, jazz and world music will fill the floor, lovingly curated by The Den’s music director Andy Compton. Easily Bristol’s most prolific beatmaker, deep soul and house producer Andy has released over 30 albums and close to 150 EPs under various projects including The Rurals.
Andy will be channelling this passion into The Den’s music programme, with every Thursday-Sunday throughout June hosting live music. Highlights include jazz, funk and latin troupe Mango Factory, internationally acclaimed jazz band The Greg Foat Group, and a Sunday residency from Soulful Settings.
inviting soul and funk’s finest saxophonist James Morton to jam on stage with The J.B.’s legend Pee Wee Ellis
The Den are kicking things off in a big way this bank holiday weekend, with three opening parties. Starting on Friday with local reggae heavyweights Laid Blak, before inviting soul and funk’s finest saxophonist James Morton to jam on stage with The J.B.’s legend Pee Wee Ellis. The Den close the weekend with reggae royalty Troy Ellis and his Hail Jamaica Reggae Band. You can join The Den for pre drinks from 5PM with Skylion on decks, with entry £5 on the door after 8PM.
And it looks like there might be even more good news on the horizon for Bristol’s live music scene, with fringe Bristol party crew Dirty Talk currently almost half way through their £45,000 crowd funding target to open new multi-use venue on Fairfax Street, Strange Brew.
30 May-1 June – The Den: opening weekend, The Den
Tickets // thedendockside.com
there might be even more good news on the horizon for Bristol’s live music scene…
Love me some Laid Blak, great that there’s somewhere that’ll be open until 3am of weekdays