What's On / Bristol Nightlife / footwork

Trap, Footwork & Juke

upcoming clubnight

Bristol's Footwork Scene

While no producer would regard themselves creating ‘footwork’ alone, the influence of the footwork and trap sounds have had a healthy knock-on effect within bass music in Bristol. Local heavyweight Addison Groove throws down his banging electro 808’s in footwork patterns (live!) while Sam Binga combines orchestral stabs and MC collaborations into the footwork mix. Bristol’s Artifact takes a different approach sprinkling syncopated footwork patterns amongst pristine techno.

Buy tickets for footwork events in Bristol

Our recent footwork recommendations

We are so back: Baile do Futuro returns with a stacked crew of Brazilian electronic vanguards including grime DJ and producer ANTCONSTANTINO and Chediak’s genre-spanning blend of dnb, UKG and samba. Plus Feiurinha’s hard rave-pop x baile funk fusion and, of course, resident rabble rouser Gus. It’s gonna get rowdy. Brazilians do it all! Jungle and DnB legend Chediak, Grime/Drill/Breaks master ANTCONSTANTINO, cute n brutal baile funk from Feiurinha and resident booty shaker GUS

The Baile do Futuro parties have been a delirious 2024 highlight and they’re bringing us one more heater to close out the year. This time hosting DJ SoundPreta - whose impeccably curated selections traverse Brazilian funk, trap, grime, R&B and Miami bass - alongside Isa Castelari’s blend of UK club sounds with baile funk + a mighty return from Lisbon’s Bieu s2. LFG! Baile do Futuro is back at the Exchange for one last booty-shaking workout in 2024

Not one, but two OG UK dance music pioneers aboard for PTS’ next mega club voyage. Rave royalty rocking the boat with the First Lady of Metalheadz aka DJ Storm + melodic IDM veteran µ-Ziq (the evil mastermind behind Planet Mu). Plus two of the finest internet-spawned electronic world-builders: ethereal and metallic-pop daredevil BABii and kinetic-club innovator Oli XL. Let’s gooo. PTS on a boat with a massive lineup

Big Gay Rave rapturously returns to tend to their flock of neurodivergent beauties. With rap aliens Xel Maybe and Dylan the Cvnt keeping the mic warm over chaotic queer takes on the footwork / donk / slug techno continuum + merch couture for your empty wardrobes. BRISTOL'S OG QUEER CHAOS PARTY IS BACK AFTER A 2 YEAR HIATUS!!⊂◉‿◉つ

What our editors say

“Joining them is Messie with their distinctive sound rooted in breaks, footwork and Baltimore club, Club Angel, one of Australia’s most electrifying and distinctive artists, as well as rising duo IN PARALLEL, who aim to reconceptualise the dance moments that sparked their initial love for the scene. Meanwhile, Motion resident SUFI brings her signature blend of new-wave UK Garage, raw 140 sounds, and baile funk to Motion’s outdoor stage. Plus more artists still to be announced!”
From: Motion Closing Series: bullet tooth, Y U QT ++

“Bristol-based DJ k means had their first brush with dance music when they were just a teen, covering fantastical videogame soundtracks on the piano. Later falling in love with footwork's dizzy, rhythmic futurism, they began to develop a feel for the dancefloor's gooiest corners, folding experimental, hypnotic sounds into breathless, bass-heavy beats. A resident at Bristol's Psychotherapy Sessions, k-means has also contributed extensive sessions to Noods, Rinse FM and Kiosk, and has played across the UK and beyond, bringing their unique perspective to Berlin's OHM, London's Fabric and Malmö's Intonal Festival.”
From: Bristol Transformed 2025 Festival After Party

“Yokel - Avon Terror Corps' arch-alchemist has quietly carved out a brand of industrial-noise-trap drawing on everything from phonk and footwork to musique concrète over the last few years. From his indescrible solo entry Smell of Deer to 2023's Parable of the Empty Cup with local renegades Franco Franco and D.Ham, a trail's been etched of imaginative production that never spares on thump. Realist gets the coldest down to close with a set as unpredictable as it'll be mind-altering.”
From: Realist A: Synapsefirer, DJ 3t13 & more

“Known as the “Green Queen,” Pistachihoe brings a fresh, nutty energy to the decks. Blending everything from funky fresh house and garage grooves to high-octane jungle and footwork, with a vibrant splash of baile funk and heavyweight 140 rhythms thrown in for good measure. Bringing carefully curated selection of tracks and plenty of exclusive dubs, she keeps the dancefloor moving, offering an unpredictable yet unforgettable journey through bass-heavy beats.”
From: Lu.Re & Wink Collective

“For the best part of a decade, Club Djembe have been leading the way in diversifying the soundscape in Bristol, pushing forward percussion-led grooves and global club sounds, blending genres like amapiano, gqom and modern UK funky to create a real movement in Bristol with their releases and vibes-first parties. In recent years we have seen them bring artists such as KG, Hagan, Charisse C, DJ Naughty, Emma Korantema, Scratchclart, Tash LC, Fiyahdred and more to Bristol, alongside consistently supporting emerging talent from across the city.”
From: Club Djembe 8th Birthday w/ Katy B