Bristol Rave Events

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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

Gary is an alien! He landed in the Hague’s 80s italo scene and is keeping clubkind under control with Martian-endorsed acidic stompers, oddball komische transmissions and an ancestral knowledge of freak electro-funk happenings. Lupini may also not be human, if her dub-wise new beat and sludge-wise dancehall stylings are anything to go by…. There is a cosmic hole and we want to be in it.

Mix Nights / Idle Hands L.E.G.E.N.D. Danielle is slaying every aspect of club culture possible. After minting the expansive Soft Raw label with a slew of future bassbin bangers AND gifting us Stingray at the Brew last year - now she’s corralling Ogazón’s old school house and techno stylings for a back-to-basics night of unadulterated dancefloor purism. Danielle’s Soft Raw is back in the backroom with Berlin-based Ogazón, bringing her old school approach to longform DJing, journeying through wiggy leftfield minimal, pummeling techno and percussive house

You’ve seen 2 sounds clash, maybe 3, maybe 4, but 20!? Check this 3 room soundsystem insanity from Stomp Project, Hooney Tunes, Riggy Stardust, Korridor Kru and more unleashing hardtek, jungle, acid and rave subsoup with 100% of profits going directly to families in Gaza. 100% of ticket proceeds donated to Palestinian families

Sell out warning! 18 year Corsica-aged vintage dnb NRG - Double O & Mantra bring that peerless Rupture vibe rip-roaring into Trinity Centre for one night of undiluted amen heaven. Huge double headliner action with hallowed Bristol Sound alchemist DJ Krust on a ‘93 special + ‘ardkore junglist futurism from the one and only Tim Reaper. This is how you do it…. Celebrating 18 years of Rupture - the best in past, present and futuristic jungle & d&b!!

What our editors say

“Room Two hosted by dance-punk upstarts Bellyache- dealing out a dose of acid house and rave utlitarianism on the Murmur Soundsystem. Room Three will be the chillout room, hosted by everyone’s favourite cyber sorceress and meme admin Zeobat.”
From: PTS 12 ϟ Iglooghost, AKA Hex, gyrofield

“Back before acid house changed the world Jaye was already ploughing a unique path playing weird and wonky musics of all flavours at squat parties and industrial based do’s. She flung herself whole heartedly and without concern for her safety into the oncoming tsunami of what we would end up tagging as house, techno or the multitude of varying descriptive titles it has been given and has stayed true to ‘our thing’ ever since.”
From: CLUB LOVE MEMBERS PARTY

“Join us on March 14th at the Love Inn. We're thrilled to feature Overland, a DJ from Alberta, Canada, known for her high-energy sets and love of rave music. With releases on Naive and Sweat Equity, performances all over the globe, and a residency at Rinse France Overland has made her mark on the scene. Supporting acts include Boulderhead and Ollie Kirk.”
From: Down to Earth w/ Overland + residents

“We've got one of the UK's brightest talents, the one and only I. Jordan stepping up to take us into the early hours with their signature high-energy dance music. They dropped their long awaited debut album ‘I AM JORDAN’ on Ninja Tune last year - a giddy tribute to northern dance sounds like donk and hardstyle, euphoric trance and house. The acclaimed electronic DJ and producer is known for turning up the heat with their bouncy, stomping, uptempo club sounds - so prepare to sweat!”
From: Rhythm Section x Noods Levels: I. Jordan + more

“Since the introduction of acid house music to the UK in the 80s, every great rave has been built upon these four values. Though we are a long way from Kandi bracelets and cuddle puddles now, these ideas have stood the test of time and ravers still experience the community and love that is intertwined into the roots of the scene.”
From: PLURPROJECT