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WE NEED BANDS X Synthetica Present:
▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔THE UNDERDOG 2026 · THE GRAND FINAL
🔥 The Underdog Is Back For 2026! 🔥
After a record-breaking 2025, Bristol’s most electrifying battle of the bands returns - bigger, louder, and wilder than ever!
The Heats will see hundreds of local musicians go head-to-head for one of just eighteen golden spots at the Thekla Semi-Finals. From there, our finalists will fight for glory - and a massive prize haul, including:
💷 £1,000 cash - no strings attached🎙️ Two full days in a professional recording studio👕 50 custom-printed band t-shirts📸 A killer promo photoshoot🚌 A mini South West tour
Since launching in 2015, The Underdog has become a Bristol institution - the go-to series for up-and-coming talent and a true alternative to the big-name competitions. Past events have rocked legendary venues like O2 Academy, Thekla, The Fleece, Exchange, The Thunderbolt, and Zed Alley.
This year, 72 bands from across the South West and Wales will throw down in our biggest showdown yet. But when the dust settles… There can only be one Underdog Champion. 🏆
📱 Follow the action and join the hype: #UnderdogBristol
⚠️ Please Note: Only one ticket can be claimed per person (you cannot buy multiple tickets for the extra votes).
The BANDS:▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔
Please note – bands are listed here in alphabetical order and do not reflect the running order of the event.
✪ AKIRAIndie Rock · Pop · Hip-Hop
https://linktr.ee/AKIRA_artist
WATCH: https://youtu.be/3yjKq9Enj2s
FOR FANS OF: The Wombats, Twenty One Pilots, Loyle Carner
✪ ALIBIAlt Rock
https://linktr.ee/weareyouralibi.band
LISTEN: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4REF2j74KXeS8e1TFgr4l2WATCH: https://youtu.be/xA5LokSWCUw
FOR FANS OF: Soundgarden, Mammoth, Halestorm
✪ BALLOON TOMBParty Punk
www.instagram.com/balloon_tomb/
WATCH: https://youtu.be/ndp_DEFbhbI
FOR FANS OF: Rage Against the Machine, Idles, Limp Bizkit
✪ OPEN RETURNIndie Rock
https://linktr.ee/open.return
LISTEN: https://open.spotify.com/track/5qRoEw6TnbGBFhlu8xBJn4WATCH: https://youtu.be/_RSedjws61Y
FOR FANS OF: Foo Fighters, Foals, Bad Nerves
✪ SEB LONGHORNFolk Rock
https://linktr.ee/seblonghorn
LISTEN: https://youtu.be/MrImpgJt9LAWATCH: https://youtu.be/pNlNYkKiBUY
FOR FANS OF: Paul Simon, Belle and Sebastian, Frank Turner
✪ SNAKE IN THE FOOTSPAIndie Rock
https://hoo.be/snakeinthefootspa
LISTEN: https://spotify.link/14IJm2n2R...WATCH: https://youtu.be/Nznq7e8Qu9k
FOR FANS OF: Catfish and The Bottlemen, The Royston Club, The Kooks
The INFO:▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔WHERE? ⇾ o2 Academy Bristolhttps://www.academymusicgroup.com/o2academybristol/Frogmore St, Bristol BS1 5NA
WHEN? ⇾ Friday 5th June
WHAT TIME? ⇾ 6:30pm-11:00pm
HOW MUCH? ⇾Artist Pre-Sales (5X Votes) · SOLD OUT!Super Early Birds (4X Votes) · SOLD OUT!Early Birds (3X Votes) · SOLD OUT!General Release (2X Votes) · £15 + BF
Please Note: Only one ticket can be claimed per person (you cannot buy multiple tickets for the extra votes).
Follow All The Action:▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔▔Search #UnderdogBristol on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date with all The Underdog 2026 news, or follow us on social media via:www.instagram.com/UnderdogBristolwww.facebook.com/UnderdogBristol
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