Ahead of the May release of his EP ‘Defence’, Pete Josef hits the Forge for an intimate quartet showcase. His recent politically charged, southern soul sound will combine with early favourites from the ‘Colour’ and ‘I Rise With The Birds’ albums to form an evenings journey with stop offs at Soul, Jazz, World and Dance flavours. Featuring Jihad Darwish (Double Bass), Eli Jitsuto (Guitar) and Miguel Andrews (Drums).

Bristol’s alto sax virtuoso, James Morton brings us ‘ The Groove Den’  joined by Johnny Henderson, one of the UK’s finest Hammond players. With The expansive genius of guitarist Alex Hutchins to back it all up, you know it’s gonna be a blinder.

Fusing Latin-inspired soul grooves and soaring vocals, Carmen's reputation as one of the UK's most gifted singer-songwriters continues to be cemented. Her desire to uplift, inspire and dedicate her life to her craft, has produced an outstanding E.P. 'Change of Heart' due to be released later this year. She brings her exceptional live band to The Forge for this special event and to premiere what promises to be milestone music.

MDC is a curious musical place where certain elements of 1930’s Berlin Cabaret, Hot Club de France, Nuevo Tango & Gypsy Campfire meet, have a few to drink, and stagger arm in arm into the darkness of some eastern European cobbled street on a mission to find the bar where Django Reinhardt & Tom Waits are having an after-hours jam with the local Tziganes.

The brain-child of rising star Sophie Stockham; her energy and lyricism on the Alto saxophone is complemented by the brilliance of Jake McMurchie on tenor, the distinctive sounds of Greg Cordez (Bass) and Joe Wilkins (Guitar), and the band’s main composer, the formidable Matt Brown (Drums). With influences as diverse as John Zorn, Medeski Martin and Wood, Tin Hat Trio and Tonbruket expect distinctive original compositions that owe as much to alt-rock and Americana as jazz.

POSTPONED DUE TO COVID 19 - email us here for new date

Our friend & man about town David Minns, AKA Brown in Town is happy to announce his annual sample sale at the Forge this March. Plus special guest Fox Brothers. Friendly records will be on the decks & the bar will be open.

” With Brown in Town suits, jackets and trouser samples and vintage accessories, there will be something for all clothes horses! “

This November playing live at the Forge, the Jim Blomfield Trio. The music, at times delicate and atmospheric, at others intricate and intense, will engage the listener in a fascinating musical journey with evocative melodies, driving rhythms, rich harmonies, adventurous solo and group improvisations and tight, complex ensemble writing.

The Jazz
Double Bassist Pete Maxfield and pianist/singer Julie Lewis make for an incredible live performance. Pete is somewhat a legend, playing bass for over 40 years.

The Cocktails
Theo Maxfield, Mixologist and Bartender, will be serving carefully crafted cocktails, selected especially to reflect the style and genre of music. Favourite classics to contemporary creations, there will be something for everyone, you might even discover something new

A soul, jazz, folk, soul fusion band led by a powerful harmony vocal trio. With a heavy focus on melody, harmony and lyrical content, their songs are intricately arranged and deeply emotive with support from Marco Woolf
Woolf has built a reputation as a storyteller and builds narrative around his music, while his songs are atmospheric with lyrics full of imagery.

The Evil Usses are an experimental psych four-piece from Bristol who have been praised for their almost overwhelmingly wild and energetic live shows with a sound somewhere between Captain Beefheart's Magic Band, Tortoise and the Cardiacs.

Sam Brookes’ unique voice and affecting songwriting have made him a rising figure within the alt-folk genre. His 2014 LP, Kairos, was acclaimed by The Independent as one of the stand-out records of the year and his track ‘Crazy World and You’ received extensive support from BBC Radio 2’s Dermot O’Leary. Single ‘James’ has since chalked up over 15 million streams. A sought-after vocalist and collaborator, Brookes has performed live and recorded with the likes of Newton Faulkner, Scott Matthews, Lucy Rose and Basement Jaxx.

Judging by his resume, trumpeter and flugelhorn player Gary Alesbrook likes to mix things up. He’s played on live shows and studio sessions for Kasabian, Noel Gallagher, Scissor Sisters, Rag N Bone Man, Raphael Saadiq, Kelis and Tom Jones, as well as movie, TV and computer game soundtracks. Each has proved the perfect setting for his warm and lyrical sound and although Alesbrook has shown his dexterity as a player able to cross multiple genres, it is Jazz that drives his creative appetite.

SOLD OUT

In early 2017 Blythe Pepino, not one to compromise her artistic vision, turned her back on the major label existence to pursue her penchant for the strange and leftfield with new band, Mesadorm.

“I’m absolutely addicted... really affecting and beautiful” - Lauren Laverne, BBC 6 Music

"I love the sound of that… a beautiful record”  - Huw Stephens, BBC Radio 1

‘This is cinematic music of a high calibre, executed with eloquent musicianship. Elements of classical composition, jazz harmony and folk sensibilities combine with worldly influences from Ethiopia and the Far East. This is captivating music.' Songlines magazine

“ Mohawkestra are one of countless descendants from the mighty Edenheight collective that brought a unique combination of funk, jazz, soul and hip-hop to Bristol’s live scene over many years. While other spin-offs have pursued space-funk or hip-hop styles, however, the Mohawkestra quintet has settled on a refreshed revival of a 60s sound that became known in the States as ‘the British invasion’ TONY BENJAMIN

Take a classic funk base and spice it up with a pinch of freshly ground jazz, a heaped teaspoon of psychedelic guitar and a huge bunch of finely chopped brasswork and you might come close to the big, big sound of Wasabi, nine-strong and firing on all cylinders.

All tickets sales are paid to the band

*SOLD OUT* A curated evening of live music from some of Bristols finest - in aid of Penny Brohn UK. We really hope you can join us for an amazing line up of talent in support of this much loved & vital Bristol charity.  

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Dakhla Brass - a group propelled by percussion, but theirs is ‘not exactly’ music – not exactly jazz, not exactly hip-hop, not exactly brass band or Arabian or second-line Mardi Gras music, but a combination of all that and more ...

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Tezeta are an 8 piece instrumental group from the Bristol based collective 'Bloom', featuring double drums, saxophones, vibraphone with an electric rhythm section. Their music combines elements of experimental jazz, afrobeat, cinematic composition and collective improvisation.

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Join us for an evening of live music with the incredible Modulus III, mixing minimal synthesizers, sweeping textures, energetic drums, haunting cello, driving Fender Rhodes - all woven through engaging improvisations that might make you feel like dancing at one moment or like you’re lost in a retro-futurist soundtrack the next.

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Albert Jones is a British singer-songwriter with a unique and quintessentially British modern alternative sound.Mixing the heartfelt angst of a singer/songwriter with classic blues, Albert is a performer who most strongly refuses to be defined by a genre, leaping from one spot to another stylistically all the while following his increasingly prolific muse.

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This year we are delighted to be working with the Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival and we will be hosting Funk 101 - a masterclass from the formidable Pee Wee Ellis, in which both musicians and non-musicians can learn about funk music.

Guy Calhoun Band, original Funk and Soul with a psychedelic edge, some well-chosen covers and a killer line up including Celestine, Arj Magee, Jonny Henderson, Marcel Osbourne and Charlie Allen.
In contrast to his acoustic singer-songwriter performances, Guys electric guitar and soulful vocals echo the sounds of Issac Hayes, Funkadelic, Jimi Hendrix and George Benson.

ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY - Duval is the first studio album by Bristol based band The Duval Project. Releasing this December, it was recorded during the year in Cardiff and a home studio in Bristol with an extensive line up of musicians associated with the Thriving Bristol music scene. 

As a singer songwriter Phil King has the whole trinity: a beautiful, soulful voice; deft skills at playing the guitar and the capacity to write elegantly worded and powerful songs. “Always lyrical, tuneful and emotional. Lovers of the darker side of folk and roots-based music will find plenty to enjoy.” – R2 Rock’n’Reel Magazine/

Jackson – a pseaudonym for Bristol based keyboard & session player Jack Baldus, the sole writer & producer with a unique sound that incorporates jazz funk, soul, progressive rock & hip hop will be live at the Forge this November. The Jackson live band line up is ever changing but with one constant joining Jack on stage, DJ Asian Hawk, a veteran 5 time DMC champion.

Next up for music at the Forge : Leif with support set from Bristol based Jausme

Comprised of four established improvising musicians, Leif deftly spans the balance of jazz sensibilities with the groove and sound world more associated with Neo-Soul, R'n'B and Down Tempo genres.  Louise's voice sits comfortably alongside the company of Gretchen Parlato, Jill Scott and Becca Stevens with main writing credits shared between herself and drummer Mark Whitlam.