What's On / Bristol Gigs / experimental music

Bristol's Experimental Music Listings

upcoming gig

Bristol's Experimental Music Scene

It’s Bristol’s dance music that has earnt Bristol’s music scene international recognition, but the city’s playful experimentation between musicianship, electronics and sound art that is starting to gain the most traction. It's with a sigh of relief that we bid farewell to loop-pedal-powered hippies of the past and embrace the patch bays, compressors and modular synths of the future. All Bristol’s experimental music events are listed on this page.

Buy tickets for experimental music events in Bristol

What our editors say

“One of the most prolific and experimental bands in history, Acid Mothers Temple are an ultra-psychedelic force to be reckoned with. Touring relentlessly since their conception with a rotating lineup of masters of their craft, the band conjure progressive jams, bathed in synthesizer and drowned in electric guitar. Witness true greatness, and embrace the liberation of cosmic melody, of which this will be THE LOUDEST POSSIBLE IN THE UNIVERSE!”
From: Acid Mothers Temple

“Irish bitter darkness. Unyielding Love play experimental blackened death, chaotic and off-kilter. Over the band's 10 year lifespan they have delved into noise, power violence, doom, until they arrived at the band's adolescent form. A true force moving forward. Total death.”
From: Saturday Only

“Using unsettling noise, experimental techno and deconstructed club, Aja Ireland's distorted beats combined with intense performances, costume and visuals make her part noise artist; part living, writhing, screaming sculpture.”
From: Monochrome Festival of Ugly Music 2025

“Leading the first wave announcement is an impressive lineup of talent, headlined by the electrifying and honest Billy Nomates, the next-gen-yacht-rock 6 piece CVC, the exhilarating Gurriers and experimental seven piece KEG. Adding to the mix is one of the UK's hottest word-of-mouth groups and Bristol’s own Getdown Services, alongside other homegrown talent My First Time and MP3 Chainsaw.”
From: Ritual Union @ Strange Brew, SWX & Rough Trade

“Pure Adult is an experimental rock band from Brooklyn, NY. Originally a solo project of multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Snyder, Pure Adult later expanded to be a collaboration between him and contemporary dancer and visual artist Bianca Abarca. They have toured internationally with Gilla Band, Mdou Moctar, Bambara and Thank, shared bills with A Place To Bury Strangers and Mclusky. In 2023, they released their first LP, II, on Fat Cat, two years after self-releasing their first EP, I.”
From: Pure Adult