Bristol Rave Events

upcoming clubnight

Bristol's Rave Scene

Bristol has long been the South West's rave mecca with bus loads of ravers coming to hardcore nights from lesser endowed cities like Bournemouth and Bath since the nineties. At the heart of Bristol's hardcore and old skool scene has always been Lakota, the only venue (until recently) large enough for huge, multi-room raves. The venue's industrial warehouse feel and non-central location also made it popular with Bristol's free party crews who's multi-rig 'linkups' (most notably the Gener8r parties) have also made Bristol a national attraction for oldskool, mash-up and breakcore nights.

The Black Swan in Easton is Bristol's other key rave venue, attracting promoters like Mongrel (formerly at the Croft), Tiki and Avalaf. Keep an eye on Lab's listings for occasional Wrong Music events and even check Whats on at Bristol's Motion for the odd large rave event like Battlegrounds.

Bristol Rave in the time of Covid
Bristol is easily the rave capital of the west, it’s clear from just the name of Rave on Avon - a multi-day multi-venue rave event where the streets of Bristol open themselves to fans of the whole spectrum of rave: drum n bass, hardcore, trance, techno house. Bristol never descriminates! But the only raves hitting the news recently was an illegal rave - the first of its kind in Bristol to receive a £10,000. Obviously no-one would condone raving in Bristol at this time, no matter how much we want it. The question on everyone’s lips is: what will raves look like after covid? Facemasks on entry? Dwindling crowds checking track and trace apps on their phones. Let’s hope Bristol can get its rave on, in the way remember, as soon as possible.

Buy tickets for rave events in Bristol

Our recent rave recommendations

AIRHORNNNNNNN!!!! Enter the Exstatic thunderdome of breakbeat belters with the most notorious rotter in hardtek / Deathchant’s prodigal son: the DJ Producer. He’ll be on an old skool / junglist tip with a live hardware set from Rudeboy Morris and Boca’s hella authentic hardcore stylings (laced with 2024 futurism). DJ Producer dropping an Old Skool Hardcore + Jungle set!!

YESSSSSSS the filthy priests of ilicit, queer AF acid vocal anthems and haunted 808 house whip Bristol into a falsetto-drenched sweat for the first time in literally forever. Jam Jar’s promising cyberpunk decour and Soz Lad’s hard dance rotter Mollie Rush in support - huge, euphoric punk kisses from us for this look <3 Its 25 years since The Matrix was released and KB gang are doing a full on Acid Electro/House/Techno all nighter for Halloween. Ft. Acid House royalty - Paranoid London

One Night In St Philips!! The OG rave merchants @ Vinyl Destination present the twisted jackin’ acid of certified legends Jerome Hill and Dave the Drummer to a sea of smileys. With a stacked lineup of hardtek, jungle and old skool vibes out in the open at Dare2 from 2 - 10pm, you can reach 303 euphoria while the sun goes down. Our 2nd outdoor event of the year - we bring the techno

Deadly ‘ardkore duo 2Quid return to light the birthday candles on S.I.N.’s footwork flavoured, CDJ-shaped caked. Come check the bleep, the bounce and the chops with added jungle tekno manoeuvres from Manchester’s Syntax + more accelerated amen antics from the redonkulous Bristol based imprint. SYNTAX - 2QUID - SERETONIN B2B T-BREAK - DUSKA B2B DAVETEK - KYBER DROP

What our editors say

“Janser will be following Joe Koshin, incorporating acid house with electronic breaks. With an aim to recreate the atmosphere of a 90s rave, this is set will keep the people dancing before handing over to Kade.”
From: Bad Cabaret

“Over the last couple of years Milly on Air has established herself as a key player in Bristol’s underground house and techno scene. Her radiant sets blend a rich world of influences from the early roots of acid house to future facing leftfield club music. She draws from a wide and colourful musical palette spanning balearic, italo house, forgotten 90s gems, tribal percussion, progressive, trance, breakbeat and more.”
From: Sober Club: Milly on Air | Safiye | Tony Montana

“Rave Revival will be transporting you straight back to the early 90’s, mixing everything from acid house, rave classics alongside the underground heat from today!”
From: Rave Revival Bristol

“Join us for a family daytime club experience with local DJ heroes (and hardworking parents): Felix Joy, Milly on Air and Femmes on Decks who will be spinning the best in disco, acid house, current club music, 90s classics, UKG and more. After the huge success of our debut Halloween event in Stroud we're so excited to be bring the party to Bristol and to make a space to celebrate the new year with you and your little ravers.”
From: Club Kids - NYE Party

“It's been quite a year for Love Thing and it's been great to share the heat of summer and now with the dark days of winter setting in the stars align and Love Thing are back to take you to the stars. Celebrate the light of Love Thing shining through the murk of winter as your guiding star, a gateway to galactic rhythms and interstellar disco. Join The West of England Combined Authority Space Agency as they explore the outer regions of music and the inner space of your mind then let Nick Sykes open a wormhole back to the 90's with his selection of acid house from the halcyon space and time.”
From: Love Thing