It's 2003, Rennie Pilgrim's Emit remix is on serious rotation and Cut and Run remixing another classic that should have been left well alone! This was when breaks were breaks and the genre moved predictably through reggae, hiphop and electro without disturbing the wider music scene.
Fast forward to 2010 and 'breaks' is dead. In its place the open casket which is 'electro', no longer the preserve of choppy drums and stabbing synths, 'electro' today encompasses elements from across the dance music spectrum with a diverse range of artists to attaching the 'electro' label to their sound.
The sound of electro in Bristol is vast, catching all the international players from Erol Alkan and Boys Noize to Toddla T and Redlight all bringing their own take on 'electro' to the table and redefining the genre as they go. It's this chicken and egg scenario that liberates the genre and allows nights like Shit The Bed at Motion and Blowpop at Thekla to have such a diverse sound.
Visiting producers like Sinden borrow basslines from dubstep and garage while artists from the Boyz Noise and Ed Banger imprints inflate traditional electro synths beyond recognition. Whether it's the manicness of fidget house (a la Redlight) or the choppy breakbeats of 90s old skool (Toddla T), Bristol's electro listings are bursting with influences from across dance music.
Buy tickets for electro events in Bristol
More Photos of Bass & Electro in Bristol
What our editors say
“Expect a love letter to the millennial chaos that raised us: late 90s, 00s and early 10s pop bangers, dirty club electro, and blog-era indie dancefloor heaters - the sweet spot between Britney singalongs and a little Peaches-style filth.”
From: BEND - Millennial Panic
“Alongside Grooverider as early acid house and breakbeat purveyors playing the biggest raves of the late eighties, to Rage at Heaven introducing Goldie and DJ Storm to these sounds, to Speed with LTJ Bukem, to Swerve - the influential Liquid focused weekly at 'The End’, to discovering and bringing Calibre to the world, to Friday nights on Radio 1 for fourteen years, touring the world with Grooverider alongside The Outlook Orchestra, to being the person to coin the term ‘Liquid’...”
From: Slippin’ present: FABIO - 90min set +Deselecta, Rhi’N’B & Chamba B2B N8worm
“DJ DOUBT b2b DJ THEM: Fast becoming a familiar duo, these two Safe As F*ck veterans will be opening the night with a 3-hour journey from oldskool rave to breakbeat hardcore to hard house. Spinning a mixture of vinyl and digital, you can always expect classics and surprises in equal measure, and to be left begging for more.”
From: Safe As F*ck: Grace Wolfe + Support
“Blossom is the dance floor reset you’ve been waiting for. A night built for anyone craving something more intentional, more human, and more connected. Rooted in cosmic house, hypnotic techno, Uk Bass and electro. Blossom strips clubbing back to its essence of music, movement, and shared energy. No gimmicks, no distractions, just a carefully shaped atmosphere where everyone is welcome, and judgment is left at the door.”
From: Blossom
“Joining him is A For Alpha, who draws inspiration from the 90s underground scene, creating masterful sets that blend reworked classics with contemporary productions. STYLI completes the line up, a standout selector and co-head of Klub Kaos, delivering high-energy sets blending house, techno, and electro.”
From: RECORD presents: Locklead, A For Alpha & STYLI