Grime Nights in Bristol

upcoming clubnight

Bristol's Grime Scene

From room-two staple to warehouse-filler, Bristol’s blossoming grime scene neatly reflects the genre’s encroachment of the UK mainstream. In the late 2000’s it took a mix of ingenious programming and innovative promotion to bring grime to Bristol’s larger venues; Sh*t The Bed broke down the boundaries between traditional dance music snobbery and introduced a whole new generation of ravers to grime and urban dance music. Just a few years later Bodynod would proceed to host some of the biggest grime events Bristol will ever see, with past guests including Wiley, EZ, Skepta and JME. While Sh*t The Bed may be no longer, The Blast’s excellent curation continues with grime/crossover bookings including Stormzy, Oneman and Plastician

Homegrown grime productions are also on the rise. Under the direction of long-standing Bristol MC, Koast’s Durkle Disco imprint pushes Bristol grime and UK garage. Kahn and Neek are Bristol’s current success story with recent releases on local experimental label Young Echo.

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Our recent grime recommendations

Kilengi is a seriously hi-NRG dance party from Saffron Records sensation Marla Kether – and you should really know it by now! This round, she’s inviting Club Djembe heroine Josephine Gyasi and Foundation FM’s Vigilante to explore the Afro-diaspora on an ecstatic dance floor, with wile-out riddims rough riding through the dancehall / amapiano / UKF / global bass continuum. Marla Kether Presents: Kilengi Dance Party at The Jam Jar.

Baile do Futuro and Breach launch Talk To Strangers with a warped brew of mutant bass, erratic drum freakouts and full-tilt breakbeat carnage. At the helm: Abadir’s twisted, sideways rhythms; Distant Planet shelling pure ’90s hardcore energy; and UVB-76’s half-step industrial noise-makers out in full force. Serious bizniz! Talk to Strangers goes to Loco Klub for a night of fast tunes and wobbly grooves.

One for the sound system heads! Smooth operator Donch seamlessly quick-flips through non-stop wheeeel-it-up dancehall/bashment bangers and socca slow jams. The 1Xtra selector joins this roadblock madness from the Reload Sound crew with added global club heat from St Paul’s own DJ Eazy and Aprtment Life boss Parismatiq on the jazzy low-slung grooves. Reload Sound join the dots between Hip Hop, RnB, Dancehall, Afrobeats, UK Rap, Reggae, Neo Soul, Amapiano, Grime, soundsystem culture and global bass music. Joining them are RnB and Slow Jams DJ DONCH, PARISMATIQ from the APRTMENT LIFE collective/YouTube channel, St Pauls' very own DJ EAZY and Merce Jade.

Get Weird sure like a well-brewed cuppa bass with plenty of MCs in the mix. Shaking up the tea leaves: Alpengeist and Neffa-T sparring partner Zukki with their punishing sino-grime chops, JPEG’s patented brand of fierce electoid-techstep and bruk-out breaks, Doctor Watts’ bootified Detroit electro and Duality’s heavyweight jungle slammers. Laaaaaaaaaarge. Get Weird and Blxck Anto link up for some birthday celebrations...

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What our editors say

“System Killa Sounds return to The Crown on Sunday 24th May for a full-spectrum session of heavyweight, genre-spanning energy. Expect electro, funk, grime and baile, delivered by a carefully curated lineup built to keep you moving all night. Headlining is super selector Vigilante, joined by System Killa residents and local underground talent bringing serious heat. Best part? It’s completely free. Pull up and lock in for a proper Bank Holiday and Love Saves weekend send-off. [A-Z] BILLY D FIACHRA B2B LUKEBROOMZ OJATT VIGILANTE ZILPHA Free entry all night - no ticket needed.”
From: System Killa Sounds: Vigilante, Billy D, Fiachra B2B Lukebroomz + more

“Get ready for an all-night journey through bass, breaks and high-energy selections as Chimpo lands in Bristol for a special extended set. Taking over Full Moon & Attic Bar on Saturday 16th May, Chimpo brings his unmistakable blend of grime, dubstep, garage and jungle, built from years at the forefront of UK underground music. Known for pushing sounds forward while keeping the dancefloor locked, expect a genre-spanning ride packed with heavyweight dubs, rapid-fire mixing and serious late-night energy. 21:00 - 02:00 Saturday 16th May”
From: Chimpo All Night Long

“Old school rave ethos meets new UKG energy as Can You Cope & Star.One link up for a heavyweight session at The Croft. A stacked lineup of UKG, 140 and grime. Burt Cope b2b Asher + Special Guest MC Star.One Stormy J Ro.La Don't Sleep.”
From: Can You Cope x Star.One Presents How We Used To Rave

“We’re taking over Clock Factory this Easter Bank Holiday Sunday in true Bristol fashion as four of the city’s finest brands go head-to-head in the ultimate sound clash! Expect an eclectic mix of breaks, jungle, drum & bass, UKG, 140 and grime. No limits, only champions. FREE ENTRY BEFORE 11PM £3 GUARANTEED ENTRY ALL NIGHT Experience the only full sensory lighting installation in the city — 28 high-powered screens waving from ceiling to back of stage, delivering a fully immersive production experience, powered by VOID Acoustics. 22:00 – 03:00 18+ (Valid ID Required) No ID. No Entry.”
From: Easter Bank Holiday Sound Clash

“Nottingham’s own Window Kid has been one of the most electrifying voices rising out of the UK underground in recent years. Rooted in the country’s rave and bass culture and known for his sharp lyrics, cheeky humour and genre-blurring style that nods to grime, garage, bassline and hip-hop, he’s carved out a sound that’s as unpredictable as it is addictive, all while staying genuinely true to British youth culture.”
From: Clock Factory Presents: Window Kid