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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

Yallah & Debmaster’s always a no-brainer! Potent, frenetic Nyege > World-conquering flow bolstered by a bedrock of glitched-out, searing beats: it’s the ideal lead for Strange Brew’s 4th time round the sun. Plus two live debuts from Kelan & Cruelle’s 50s electro-noir fantasies and SIABT’s industrial fractured illbient. Cos you just can’t spell Bristol without Brew these days…. It's our birthday! Live: MC Yallah & Debmaster, Kelan & Cruelle, Shark in a Bathtub (world debut) // DJs: i-sha b2b Anina, Dirtytalk + Nadoone. Futuristic electronic raps, cut-up hip-hop, dub, house, techno, illbient, experimental, synth pop, country classics, jungle + more. ONLY £10 in!

Stokes Croft modular masters Elevator Sound herald the double digits with Rotterdam’s reigning king of the Clone galaxy. Serge and Afra will be slinging genius-level braindance electro, acid techno and cyber-funk selects with Elevator’s in-house gremlins Monojack, Missterspoon and lifeisfeedback serving you live hardware soup for starters. Bristol's foremost Machine Music specialists with a night of speedy techno & electro in the backroom from Serge, Afra, Lifeisfeedback & Missterspoon. + synth experimentalists in the front from FFINN, Myr, Moral Fibre, Marco Bernardi & maybe some secret special guests...

DiD schedule in another check-up for disco’s soaring pulse with the low-slung boogi-fied sleaze of System Olympia - slinging erotic italo squelch alongside nu-beat’s wayward son DJ October. Church Road = the Sunset Strip for one night only….. A masterclass in sultry, sleazy and jacking sounds..

Sell out warning! In the wise words of Charli XCX “I wanna dance to HudMo” and thanks to the ever legendary PTS, we’re counting down the days ‘til we get to do just that. The shape-shifting electronic maverick is a true luminary of postmodern club culture, his warped and high-octane sonic maximalism perfectly captures this age of digital-fuelled-hyperactive-overload. Truly unmissable. Wonked-out maximalism on the Firmly Rooted Soundsystem. First Bristol appearance in 8 years!

What our editors say

“Pat Hurley brings decades of expertise, blending US, European, and UK techno and electro, Jay Galligan channels the raw dynamism of Dublin’s legendary club circuit, while Tape Twelve infuses his techno, electro and breaks with the energy and style of London’s underground electronic music scene.”
From: PULSEWAVE w/ Pat Hurley, Jay Galligan & Tape Twelve

“Perkins has spent the last few years bridging these two worlds, be it as one of the organisers of DJs For Climate Action or through his ‘A Guide to the Birdsong’ project which marries electronic music producers with endangered birds and their songs to raise awareness and funds for their survival. The project was covered by NPR’s Morning Edition, Billboard, The Guardian, Audubon Society and many more and has raised over $70,000 USD for bird conservation in Latin America to date.”
From: The Jam Jar Presents: El Búho

“A party where no music is off limits, no DJ is off limits & where anyone and everyone is welcome to come and experience an across the board rave experience. Eats Everything will be bringing along some of the finest selectors to Bristol who will take you on a journey through time, celebrating electronic music and rave culture from past and present.”
From: NYE: Eats Everything Presents - History of Rave

“As well as powering the event, CGC Sound System, will be doing 3 sets through out the evening. They will be warming up affairs with their selection of rootical dubs and steppas, DJ Chalcroft will be returning to the decks for a tour of 140, and Sensitivity Sound Program will be packing a wonky dancehall set to get ya bodies moving.”
From: KAIJU CGC Sound System NYE Special

“Energy + sauce, Hannza brings heat to the dance floor with big, genre-busting beats and rhythms from Afrobeats, UKG, UK funky and dancehall… plus a splash of grimy bass. Half of the Moylan Family and part of the female/non-binary Booty Bass DJ collective, when it comes to making your booty shake, Hannza is a pro.”
From: Terrain w/ Hannza - Bangers Without Borders