The Underdog 2026 | Heat L (Alt Rock/Pop Punk)

⚠️ Please double-check the heat you're buying tickets for! We have twelve similar-looking events, so please ensure you buy tickets for the correct heat. ⚠️

WE NEED BANDS X Synthetica Present:

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THE UNDERDOG 2026 · HEAT L (Alt Rock/Pop Punk)

🔥 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:
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Please note – the line-up will be determined on the night; bands are listed here in alphabetical order and do not reflect the running order.

✪ DUST CUP RELEASE
Alternative · Indie Rock

https://linktr.ee/dustcuprelease

LISTEN: https://spotify.link/OegmY2LvTXb
WATCH: https://youtu.be/C6BKgPRMQGY

FOR FANS OF: Yo La Tengo, Big Thief, Elliot Smith

✪ ECHO CULTURE
Alt Rock

https://linktr.ee/echoculturemusic

LISTEN: https://spotify.link/3VFzGfEvTXb
WATCH: https://youtu.be/Gb3SrFOvKnI

FOR FANS OF: Queens of the Stone Age, Nothing But Thieves, Smashing Pumpkins

✪ JUMP JUMP JOAN
Indie · Pop Punk

https://linktr.ee/jumpjumpjoan

LISTEN: https://open.spotify.com/track/7az4dwA9Z3qVw8E83YZ9JP
WATCH: https://youtu.be/7B1o8MjBGaw

FOR FANS OF: Paramore, Elastica, Garbage

✪ KURT ALEXANDER
Post-Emo

https://linktr.ee/kurtisalexander

LISTEN: https://spotify.link/iNveIsOwTXb
WATCH: https://youtu.be/YwEaz299Ybk

FOR FANS OF: And So I Watch You From Afar, Idles, Basement

✪ LOVE IS ENOUGH
Alt-Rock

https://linktr.ee/loveisenough

LISTEN: https://open.spotify.com/album/3xsL4cqKDos4BwymfoWgVY
WATCH: https://youtu.be/7NvidifxzHQ

FOR FANS OF: Coldplay, The Amazons, Biffy Clyro

✪ ONLY LOVE
Emo · Pop Punk

https://linkpop.com/onlylove/index.html

LISTEN: https://open.spotify.com/track/44HrorVA0Z3ouQA2gstHSR
WATCH: https://youtu.be/KaUvyH0JQ5c

FOR FANS OF: Alkaline Trio, AFI, My Chemical Romance

The INFO:
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WHERE? ⇾ The Thunderbolt
124 Bath Rd, Bristol, BS4 3ED

WHEN? ⇾ Saturday 14th February

WHAT TIME? ⇾ 7:00pm-11:00pm

HOW MUCH? ⇾
Super Early Bird (4X Votes): £7.00 + BF
Early Bird (3X Votes): £8.00 + BF
General Release (2X Votes): £9.00 + BF
Final Release (1X Vote): £9.00 + BF

Please Note: Only one ticket can be claimed per person (you cannot buy multiple tickets for the extra votes).

Follow All The Action:
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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/UnderdogBristol
www.facebook.com/UnderdogBristol