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.

Sell out warning! Speedbass, jungletek, drag!? It can only be a bloody Mandidextrous album launch! The Bristol icon brings it home in the biggest way possible with 190BPM amen breaks, 8 hours of pounding kicks and proper dancers + a lil help from Saumari Break's footworkin' rave juggernauts. Absolutely HUGE! Lights Out w/ Mandidextrous at Sawmills.

No Signal pairs up two devotees of the time-dilating longform movement for an intrepid navigation of mid-tempo’s far reaches. P-Bar shutter-controller Nd_baumecker’s penchant for gliding house melodics playing off Chez de Milo’s darker acid shades, textural psychedelia and hard-edged elektronik will see you chugging til the wee hours. NO SIGNAL 004 - Chez de Milo B2B ND Baumecker at Shredenhams.

Sell out warning! Hauff Force One docks in Sawmills, going full CDJ orchestra with Timedance don Batu for the biggest En Masse since records began. 'Tis an uncompromising, nigh historical union of club wreckage with Verraco's TraTraTrax raptor-damaged-techno, Barker's weightless living soundworlds + more TBA. Out of body experiences likely (but not guaranteed)... En Masse x Sawmills - Helena Hauff b2b Batu + more at Sawmills.

More Photos of Bristol Rave Events

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

“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

“Confit Dub is a Bristol-based live act and DJ offering a distinctive take on contemporary dance music. Rooted in Electro, Bruno references ideas regularly from dub, ambient and acid house. Working primarily with hardware, Confit Dub approaches performance as an evolving, process-led practice. His sets and productions blend dub-influenced rhythm, downtempo pulse and textural space, favouring subtle shifts and atmosphere over fixed structures.”
From: Sub_structure w/ Confit Dub , Caruti and Culplex

“The rave music connoisseurs INTERLUDE are joined once more by DJ DOUBT for the tried-and-tested, all-vinyl B2B. The gang will be spinning wax from all chapters of the rave continuum, all night long. Expect pianos, acid, kick drums and amens galore (and everything in between).”
From: Elysium x Way Of The Future