As synthesizers, drum machines and sequencers become more affordable, it’s becoming rare to see live music performances without at least some electronic component. Bands are embracing new technology and unlike the every-band-needs-a-turntablist movement of the 2000’s, synthesizers are here to stay.
At the other end of the spectrum lies electronica and dance music where producers live shows have also hugely benefitted from the increasing access to physical hardware. Gone are the days where a “live” set involved watching a producer awkwardly staring into their laptop pausing for the occasional hit of bit-crush and reverb. From one man shows to co-ordinated digital masterpieces, we are for the first time we’re starting to see electronic producers making truly engaging live shows. James Blake, Mount Kimbie, Flying Lotus, Gold Panda and Luke Abbott are just a few of the artists to bring their MPC’s, patch bays and stunning live shows to Bristol.
If we set dance music to one side, then it’s relatively easy to highlight a few key venues for live electronic music in Bristol. Start The Bus, The Louisiana and The Exchange typically pick up artist’s first live tours while you would want to pick up tickets to The Trinity Centre, The Fleece or Thekla for larger, more established artists.
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Our recent electronic recommendations
Sell out warning! Club der Visionaere BS1 here we come…it’s the return of Uruguay’s vinyl-only myth-maker and dark prince of trip-tastic techno tessellations, percolating acid, cosmic minimal house and star-gazing electro. Mr Lutz is a total bucket list DJ for the leftfield aficionados and chasers of psychedelic club transcendence.
Afterthought: Nicolas Lutz at Strange Brew.
Fafi Abdel Nour’s NYE send-off of spellbinding body music was one for the books. A Dutch underground legend whose radiant disco digs and house bangers have set Europe alight for years, his unmatched energy meets the blissful grooves of Daisy Moon in total victory lap mode after D. Tiffany’s day party roadblock.
Off-Kilter Night w/ Fafi Abdel Nour, Daisy Moon, Amber at Strange Brew.
Free entry D. Tiffany!? This is not a drill! Buckle up for high-energy club hypnotism: D. Tiffany’s sets should come with a G-force warning as she journeys through dance music’s legacy, from house and acid chuggers to breakbeat, heady techno and bassline-heavy trance. Pure day party bliss is a-comin’ with the Planet Euphorique boss in special b2b morphing mode with Off Kilter’s Daisy Moon.
Off-Kilter Day Party w/ D. Tiffany, Daisy Moon, Marie Malarie, Ben Jackson at The Christmas Steps.
Free entry! Tucked away in the Attic Bar, Void’s giving Bristol's DIY radio scene a real shake-up. For the weekly listeners and unfamiliars, they’re putting their cards on the table with this Croft offering of global booty-shakers: Stormy J cutting shapes to jab house, soca and Caribbean flavas, with WINK bringing the femme bass baile and amapiano NRG + Dowdle’s itchy 140 stylings. At this price, it’s hard to miss...
Void Radio: Stormy J, WINK + Dowdle at The Croft.
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What our editors say
“A high-energy carnival-style night celebrating vibes, music and food. Bringing together the best of dancehall, reggae and soca in an inclusive space where people of all backgrounds can come together, dance and enjoy a true taste of the Caribbean culture!”
From: Gwaan Madd Residency
“Music collector, DJ, producer, and Klasse Wrecks co-founder Mr. Ho makes his Public Affair debut. A cult figure in electronic music whose sets are as unpredictable as they are authoritative, moving freely through house, techno, breakbeat and electro with the instincts of a lifelong digger. Alongside Luca Lozano, his Klasse Wrecks imprint has quietly become one of the most coveted names in the game, and that same obsessive curation carries into every set he plays. Public Affair founder and resident Monika Taneska opens the night, setting the tone with her signature tripped-out techno. Deep, disorienting and exactly where the night needs to begin.”
From: Public Affair: Mr. Ho & Monika Taneska
“Bringing a fresh new vibe to Bristol, expect non stop energy from start to finish with the best in house, garage, dancehall & RnB. Good people, good music & nothing but feel good music all day. Come ready to move, connect & be a part of something new.”
From: Keep It Movin
“Higher Level return to their favourite Stokes Croft institution and are proud to be bringing one of the UK underground's heavy hitters, Drumskull! With releases on Sherelle & Nina's Hooversound, London's Seagrave and Skin Teeth's Torre he has been at the forefront of the 160+ movement and is very much a producers producer. He will be playing an extended set and going b2b with our resident breakbeat specialist Borai Expect drum workouts the likes of which you've never heard, and crushing bass weight worthy of the updated system in the backroom.”
From: Higher Level: Drumskull / Borai
“On July 17th Crack returns to its hometown at the incredible new Sawmills for a special show featuring two generational electronic music icons. Fresh from announcing their collaborative album Exhale, and having forged a musical relationship behind the decks at very select events in the last few years, we are suer proud to be bringing Italian legend Donato Dozzy and hometown hero Batu together for a four hour back to back – their first in Bristol. A truly essential show for fans of both artist's signature styles, this is a musical relationship that takes in the techno adjacent spectrum to its fullest and will no doubt be a truly mind-bending sonic journey.”
From: Crack presents Donato Dozzy B2B Batu + Support