Bristol Rave Events

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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.

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Our recent rave recommendations

Sell out warning! Teachings & Deep Medi lock in for a joint birthday weekender - we don't need a lineup to know this will be SEISMIC!!! FRIDAY : THE W/ENDER : MEDi20 x T.I.D.19 at The Trinity Centre.

Woi oi! Iconic 'ardkore action incoming from the unrivaled Moving Shadow fold! Reinforced / Altern8 / Shut Up And Dance heads will already have their tickets of course. For everyone else: breakbeat ravestalgia doesn’t come much ruffer than 2 Bad Mice, chopping samples and bombing tha bass like it was the Second Summer of Love all over again. 2 Bad Mice + Friends at The Jam Jar.

East-repping cult of the machine spawns in a sparkling-fresh, bespoke-sound-kitted archway in BS5. Surgeons Girl, notorious for hardware heavy sets, brings cosmic beatless and beating 150+ bpm techno propulsion while Delay Grounds and Thomas Ridley divine high-res 5k ultra doof from incomprehensible modular systems. SPOOL Late - Surgeons Girl, Delay Grounds, Dani Whylie, Thomas Ridley at Future Temple.

Thee greatest 2000s disciple of the year 4000 militant warrior stance, King Alpha fires up the Green King subs to celebrate their double digit adventures in community dubswise. Come rally round one of Bristol's best next-gen operations with the rootical steppas of Southall's Eastern Roots; your earplugs won't stop your mind (and your spine) from rumbling to creation. 10 YEARS OF GREEN KING CUTS FT KING ALPHA & EASTERN ROOTS at Green Works.

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What our editors say

“With an image of looking like a crusty chav punk love child lost down a trippy rabbit hole, this unique soundsystem collective crew will continue to further the evolution of rave music and events and cannot be missed.”
From: New age Collective Crusty Raver tour

“Suffolk's home grown hero's SMK come down for their Bristol debut with a big stack to link up with hard hitters, Coreligula, pushing things nothing but raw and dirty since day dot. Pure fuckin gabber, hardcore, hardstyle and tekno. When you want something different and real to the sound, you can always count on us to provide.”
From: SMK x Coreligula presents a night of hard fuckin music

“For those unfamiliar, Ruf Dug is a selector and unofficial music professor who's been honing his craft since the early 90s, gracing the likes of Houghton, Panorama Bar and Burning Man over the years. His curveball selections sit somewhere at the crossroads of acid house, disco, soul, Detroit electro and all sorts of wonderful oddities. Expect a masterclass in eclectic and fearless ear candy.”
From: Pharmacy Project

“NFI presents… ATTIC ATTACK, featuring BASSCAT, AXJ, ONRE, HEY JUDE, DJUSTICE. A display of all styles of rave music culture including disco, house, garage, 140 and drum & bass. Taking place at the psychedelic Full Moon and Attic Bar in Stokes Croft, Bristol.”
From: NFI presents… Attic Attack

“A multi-stage show with 4 STAGES, with 3 stomping grounds inside where wicked DJ’s will be mixing genres from 4x4, donk, bassline and hard tek featuring some of your favourite artists in bassline, donk, hardstyle, hardtek and more such as Hang The DJs, B.UNQ, Darth Leng b2b Riguana, Venz, The Third Nipple & More!”
From: The UnUsual Suspects - Halloween Weekender pt. 1