Bristol Rave Events

upcoming clubnight

Bristol's Rave Scene

Bristol has long been the South West's rave mecca with bus loads of ravers coming to hardcore nights from lesser endowed cities like Bournemouth and Bath since the nineties. At the heart of Bristol's hardcore and old skool scene has always been Lakota, the only venue (until recently) large enough for huge, multi-room raves. The venue's industrial warehouse feel and non-central location also made it popular with Bristol's free party crews who's multi-rig 'linkups' (most notably the Gener8r parties) have also made Bristol a national attraction for oldskool, mash-up and breakcore nights.

The Black Swan in Easton is Bristol's other key rave venue, attracting promoters like Mongrel (formerly at the Croft), Tiki and Avalaf. Keep an eye on Lab's listings for occasional Wrong Music events and even check Whats on at Bristol's Motion for the odd large rave event like Battlegrounds.

Bristol Rave in the time of Covid
Bristol is easily the rave capital of the west, it’s clear from just the name of Rave on Avon - a multi-day multi-venue rave event where the streets of Bristol open themselves to fans of the whole spectrum of rave: drum n bass, hardcore, trance, techno house. Bristol never descriminates! But the only raves hitting the news recently was an illegal rave - the first of its kind in Bristol to receive a £10,000. Obviously no-one would condone raving in Bristol at this time, no matter how much we want it. The question on everyone’s lips is: what will raves look like after covid? Facemasks on entry? Dwindling crowds checking track and trace apps on their phones. Let’s hope Bristol can get its rave on, in the way remember, as soon as possible.

Buy tickets for rave events in Bristol

Our recent rave recommendations

Breakbeat fiends assemble: Jurassic Audio and Under The Sea present this BS4 whopper for a proper post-Betwixmas rinse-out. In the mix: Duality’s heavyweight jungle slammers, Borai and Don’t Forget To Go Home serving up hard-house heat and Ratlin pushing turbo-charged 170+ mind-benders. Strap in! Jurassic Audio & Under the Sea Sounds Presents: Down The Works

The soundest new skool old skool night around recalibrates for another year of euphoric dance endeavours. Running the 90s genre marathon in all night b2b formation from freaky acid to hard house, breakbeat hardcore to bleeping jungle techno - this’ll be proper, trust us! Oldskool 90s rave is back for 2026!

Sell out warning! Fantastical creatures stalk the six immersive worlds of Ashton Court Mansion as 2025’s power wanes. Festival-sized pageantry awaits adventurous souls: goblin kings and burlesque queens, dnb pyrotechnics and walloping speedbass, live dub delights and feisty folk. If only the rest of the year was this damn magical… Experience an unforgettable New Year's Eve with live music, immersive environments, and magical performances. an unforgettable New Year's Eve with live music, immersive environments, and magical performances.

Riddim Roots returns to the Crown with an absolute stomper to warm your cockles! Expect wall-shaking beats and bass including Mousai’s hefty jungletek, a big nod to 90s rave classics from Anna Prank, plus pumping trance + hard house from Selection Soundsystem. MULTI GENRE RINSE OUT, FAT SOUNDSYSTEM, BIG STOMP

More Photos of Bristol Rave Events

What our editors say

“The latest edition of 2 Bad Mice & Friends lands in Bristol and this time they invite some of the the scenes finest beat technicians for the ride!!! A multi genre night exploring Everything Rave - from acid house to old skool to jungle, DnB, and more!!!!!”
From: 2 Bad Mice & Friends

“Curated by local DJs Janus and Lomare, this day is all about inclusive, welcoming vibes and top-tier dance music. Expect a genre-spanning journey designed to bring people together on the dancefloor. - Event Details Join us at The Cider Box on Friday 27th February, from 19:00 to 03:00 - CELINE DIJON - Party starter and founder of Get On Festival, Celine Dijon brings high-energy, genre-spanning bangers to the dance floor. With a wicked Voices Radio show under his belt, expect acid house, disco, and everything in between.”
From: Blue Marbles

“~ Hard hooning tunes from ~ SHARDY BUMPA - slutty bouncy acid tekno TOXTETH COWBOY - hardcore donk bootlegs CAPTAIN CHAOS - happy hardcore galore KALISAE - the silliest of hardcore/breakcore/uptempo DJ OSU! - Ponycore MEZAMORPH - frenchcore/tek”
From: DEADLY NIGHTS

“SPICE RANGER: Spice Ranger brings a variety of harder styles from 160-200bpm. Expect tek, drum and bass, hardstyle and donk remixes of 2000's pop tune bangers. Make sure you're ready to stomp your feet and sing along!”
From: Stoopid Events #001: For the Love of Donk

“Intimate venue, legendary DJs, large-scale production This night will be a full on musical education. Five DJs back-to-back all night long, armed with records from across the spectrum of 90's rave music!”
From: Elysium : Louise Plus One B2B Hughesee B2B Interlude - All Night Long