What's On / Bristol Nightlife / electronic

Electronic Music in Bristol

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Bristol's Electronic Scene

As synthesizers, drum machines and sequencers become more affordable, it’s becoming rare to see live music performances without at least some electronic component. Bands are embracing new technology and unlike the every-band-needs-a-turntablist movement of the 2000’s, synthesizers are here to stay.

At the other end of the spectrum lies electronica and dance music where producers live shows have also hugely benefitted from the increasing access to physical hardware. Gone are the days where a “live” set involved watching a producer awkwardly staring into their laptop pausing for the occasional hit of bit-crush and reverb. From one man shows to co-ordinated digital masterpieces, we are for the first time we’re starting to see electronic producers making truly engaging live shows. James Blake, Mount Kimbie, Flying Lotus, Gold Panda and Luke Abbott are just a few of the artists to bring their MPC’s, patch bays and stunning live shows to Bristol.

If we set dance music to one side, then it’s relatively easy to highlight a few key venues for live electronic music in Bristol. Start The Bus, The Louisiana and The Exchange typically pick up artist’s first live tours while you would want to pick up tickets to The Trinity Centre, The Fleece or Thekla for larger, more established artists.

Buy tickets for electronic events in Bristol

Our recent electronic recommendations

Long live PLU! Celebrate 12 years of our beloved queer partystarters with Animistic Beliefs’ incendiary techno-gabber-gamelan-breakbeat catharsis and techno trance pumpers from Field Maneuvers fave Lewis Lowe. See you in the dance. We invite all you beauts to join us for the Dance/Club part of our 12 years PLU celebrations

Another deep clurb rumbler down at Stokes Croft’s humble DIY art abode. Prepare for killer psych-dub meditations, lush breakbeat, lunar ambient techno and sublime shape-shifting rhythms — powered by the MEGA Bristol via Cardiff custom Sain Audio sound system for maximum immersion. Cirrina Sessions are bringing their debut party to KIT FORM with residents Casino Flats, DJ Vetiver and DJ Yulian.

DiD break the stratosphere with the space race disco ambassador Prins Thomas, offering his shimmering widescreen vision of euphoric squelch to all worthy earthlings. Another huge notch on the Paradisco 0-gravity bedpost here, all phasers will be set to stun, ricocheting off the Brew’s mahoosive disco ball in waves of cascading, prismatic, proggy dancefloor bliss. A very special extended set from Norway's Prins Thomas & disco set from Bristol's own Farrell

Sell out warning! Hypnotic live/club showdown from Siraba with their spellbinding re-imagining of Malian blues and ancient Wassoulou folk into a dreamy afro-futuristic headtrip. With uncompromising DJ support from Inda Flo: rattling you with the bass-stomping percussive motherbeat til 4am. A club night of music from Africa and the diaspora, featuring the debut UK performance by afro-electronic innovators Siraba.

What our editors say

“For nearly 20 years, Motion has been at the heart of Bristol’s drum and bass scene, and for our closing series, we’re bringing some of the genre’s biggest names to the city. Leading the lineup is Dimension, whose unique productions have made him one of the most in-demand artists in electronic music today.”
From: Motion Closing Series: Dimension, Friction, KOVEN

“From the moment the doors open, you'll be transported straight to the Caribbean as our world-class Rum 'N' Bass sound pumps the sweetest soca, dancehall, reggae, and bass-heavy beats that will keep you moving until sunrise and beyond.”
From: Rum 'N' Bass X Bristol

“A true multi-genre selector, his sets explore sounds from across the globe, yet they are deeply rooted in the rhythms and melodies of North Africa and the Middle East—the sonic landscapes of his heritage. Whether weaving together jazz, reggae, rai, disco, or electronic music, his selections tell stories that transcend borders.”
From: Brakery w Cheb Mimo + Residents

“Voltage is here to take you on a journey - five hours of pure, sweaty, bass-driven energy. From classic dancehall cuts to early Moschino-clad UKG, through the foundations of Jungle, and right up to the cutting edge of today’s Drum & Bass.”
From: Voltage • All Night Long •

“Welcome to AETHER’s debut night. AETHER are a brand-new collective in Bristol set up by AERIAL pushing stripped-back, deep and heavy sounds across electronic music. With a roster of DJs hailing from across the DnB, jungle, and dubstep scenes, expect a night of weighty basslines, tight percussion, hypnotic grooves and raw, underground energy.”
From: AETHER: Debut Night