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
“Headlining this intimate venue will be Tañ, a DJ much loved by the Alpha's Trip crew. Her unique sound consists of a range of house, hard house, trance, electro and techno and her sets are always full of consistent energy that fuse these genres together seamlessly. She holds down a monthly residency on Rinse FM and frequently DJs across Europe and the UK. Her unique sound has had her play at the likes of Glastonbury, Boiler Room, Nachtville and more.”
From: Alphas Trip w/ Tãn + A For Alpha
“Shaped by the Black & Brown trans women who inspired her truest incarnation, Panorama bar regular and Blitz club resident BASHKKA will bring big flavours of New York’s Ballroom scene to Strange Brew’s dancefloor for one night only. Full of passion and streaming with sass, her sets intoxicate audiences internationally, flirting with genres of pumping house music, techno, electro, rave and trance.”
From: Off-Kilter w/ BASHKKA, Marie Malarie & Daisy Moon
“Skee Mask debuts here at the Brew for an intimate back-room session with his signature pummelling techno & grimey breakbeat. A clean and surgical yet immersive and deep production style across 4 albums and 10 EPs has influenced many over the last decade. But not to mention his uncompromisable dj sets which are informed by his love for uk sounds spanning hip-hop, grime and garage - all laced between eerie, ambient soundscapes”
From: Strange Brew presents Skee Mask & Yushh
“We are excited to bring a child of the Dutch underground and no stranger to this city, Mad Miran, for an intimate show in Bristol. Consistently turning dance floors inside out with her ravey blend of electro, bass music, IDM, dubstep, electronics, and breakcore. Her infinite love for obscurities has left many prowling for tracks played, as her sets tend to be an adventure through leftfield novelties and obscurities deeply rooted in 90s rave. She has graced the decks of institutions like Garage Noord, De School, Nitsa, Blitz, as well as renowned festivals such as Dekmantel, Primavera, Solstice, Love International, and more.”
From: Devil's Work w/ Mad Miran & Farrell
“Master ravers and the Bristol vibe being you Master ravers rebooted, a 13 hour weekend rave from day time till early morning with a mixture of old skool breakbeat hardcore, jungle and uk hardcore with genres from 1992-2023 with a multi genre room as well.”
From: Master Ravers Rebooted