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

Free entry junglism on a Sunday!? If you know you need it, you need it, and Western Lore can more than provide with Dead Man’s Chest and Artificial Red taking you on a 4 hour b2b journey til 1am (so you don't even need to pull a sickie). Free entry junglism on a Sunday!? If you know you need it, you need it, and Western Lore can more than provide.

Forever teasing thrilling new forms from the dnb/jungle/hardcore continuum, Western Lore unleashes a two room shock-out for NYE with rolling bass and Photek-grade future drum science from Dead Man’s Chest + Samurai Music wunderkid Eusebeia. 2023 SEND OFF: jungle tekno, esoteric future beats, ambient soundscapes and tribal dub rhythms

Hardcore will never die as long as Vinyl Destination continues this home run of OG hardcore/jungle/dnb Dare2 parties beamed through time to save all dedicated ravers. Top of the bill’s the infamous DJ Sy aka Scratchmaster aka half of power force Sy & Unknown bringing those Dreamscape / Fantasia vibes with an old skool special. Back in the club back to the 90s old skool

The only thing better than the golden age of rave is still being young for the golden age of junglist footwork. Fracture and Pete Canon are here to put everything you know about jungle / hardcore / old skool in the (bass)bin with another 160BPM thunderdome of breakbeat belters from Exstatic. Whistle posse, horns crew! The golden age Footwork Jungle with an oldskool ravin' vibe.

What our editors say

“New multi genre event off your bass will be held at dare to club in Bristol we are teaming up with DejaVu for the first event the main room is off your bass and is multi genre hardstyle, hardcore and drum and bass room 2 is hosted by DejaVu and will mostly be hardcore it will be £6 on the door and the doors close at 1.30 soo make sure you get there before this is gunna be a night not to be missed get your tickets from here https://skiddle.com/e/38289292”
From: Off Your Bass & DejaVu. Mike Antix birthday Stomp

“We're back again with your favourite oldskool club night, taking you straight back to the golden era of 90s rave! Join us in the tunnels of Basement 45 for an evening of classic rave sounds, including early breakbeat, trance & hard house bangers, and euphoric happy hardcore, all with plenty of acid thrown in for good measure.”
From: Safe As F*ck

“New kid on the block DJ Doubt is no stranger to the stompier side of rave music. This kickdrum warrior will be leaving no prisoners with his signature blend of Hardcore, Jungle Tekno and Free Party vibes.”
From: Elysium and Friends

“Dj Rara is a Bristol based DJ interested in all things jungle and happy hardcore - she loves to combine her love for the old and the new by mixing up the two during her sets. Rara’s mix of high-energy drums, choppy breaks and euphoric harmonies are guaranteed to get the dance floor bouncing”
From: ENERGY: Harmonia

“Chrissy is a genre-bending DJ/producer with releases on Hooversound, Shall Not Fade, Classic Music Company and many more. His selections centre on rave music, Chicago house, and disco, but his multi-decade career has ranged from jungle to footwork to freestyle. This unique form of story-telling has brought him to venues such as Panorama Bar and Fabric, and past residencies at Smartbar in Chicago, and San Francisco’s oldest and most storied queer club, The Stud. His new record label, Maximum Airtime, is grass-roots and forward thinking, featuring upfront, melody-forward euphoric rave bangers.”
From: Ruffnek Diskotek w/ Chrissy