Techno is a big deal in Bristol, book the right names or build a strong enough reputation and you’re gonna need a seriously big club to keep everyone happy. And so Bristol has Motion, masterfully converted into a 1200+ capacity nightclub from derelict warehouse via a skatepark. If Motion is Bristol’s techno castle then there’s no denying Just Jack is king. Reigning for over a decade, Just Jack have enough programming muscle to pull names like Ricardo Villalobos and Omar S. If there’s a secret to the ultimate big-room techno experience, then Motion knows it.
On the other hand, if there’s a secret to healthy techno scene, then Bristol has totally nailed it. While tickets for Just Jack, Apex and Tribe of Frog may sell in their thousands, some of Bristol’s most forward thinking techno nights have capacities for just one or two hundred. The Prison Cells at The Island have become an unlikely home to some of the most adventurous dance music in Bristol. Promoters like Room 237 and Timedance are putting out challenging and thought-provoking line-ups with past guests including the likes of Surgeon, Untold, Asusu and Helena Hauff.
If techno had a spiritual home in Bristol, it would be Lakota. With 4 rooms, a back-to-basics yard and a pair of coroners courtrooms for larger events, Lakota is Bristol’s ultimate techno playground. The venue has found favour with pervasive promoters including the electro-techno focused Get Born and bass techno masters Wide Eyes.
Amongst the city’s resident house music djs, many of Bristol’s best techno djs regularly play Bristol’s smaller clubs and bars. Dojos, The Love Inn, The Doghouse and the Small Horse Inn to name a few.
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Our recent techno recommendations
Where else are you gonna hear Coil on a Saturday night? A new venture from Dark Alchemy's occult ambient and harsh industrial ghouls to rival Zed Alley's legendary goth-leaning club communities TYRANNY and No Alternative. Throb promises intimate-capacity 80s pulses straight from the EBM / power electronics heartlands.
Dark Alchemy Presents: THROB. industrial clubnight at Zed Alley.
Airhorns out for ‘appy ‘ardkore survivor DJ Fat Controller, heading a euphoric night of old skool antics across the breakbeat / jungle / trance / acid continuum with nightcore4totalsluts’ deconstructed donk ambassador Dolfinboy.
Bristol Zoo w/ DJ Fat Controller, Dolfinboy & more at Green Works.
Free entry before 11! Scotland’s finest braindance wreckin’ crew come full force with jittering dubtech and blasted house from Capricorn One, left-field breaks from Feena, wind tunnel IDM from Kairogen + all that’s weird n dubby in clubby. Followers of Madteo, CPU, CS & Kreme, TTT, FSOL, Sotofett etc come hail your new favourite label.
Headset Label Rave at Strange Brew.
A real club whipping of Thunderdome-grade evil hardtek and hypnotic hard trance straight from the Teletech empire. If you like your techno full of wall-shaking hoovers and face-melting acid, then get ye to Loco Klub on time kiddo!
Spektra: Kander & Faster Horses at The Loco Klub.
More Photos of Bristol Techno Nights
What our editors say
“Supporting Dr Jeep will be local veterans in the techno & bass world are Bristol based Em & Stav who are no strangers to the underground scene & a catalogue of recent productions that will complete this bass and techno heavy event.”
From: GLASSHOUSE Pres. DOCTOR JEEP
“Berlin based Cocktail Party Effect has previously released on R&S's sublabel Apollo Records under the moniker Kasket. Cocktail Party Effect is a purveyor of raw modular made and DIY-minded techno combining distinctive drums with abstract outspoken synths.”
From: NormCore on SINAI SOUNDSYSTEM
“A rising star born out of the new generation of UK techno, Eli Brown has been making serious waves with his past releases on Abode and Drumcode, cementing his place as one of the most exciting in the scene. His unique productions and sound have garnered support from industry legends such as Carl Cox, Adam Beyer, Green Velvet, Charlotte De Wit, Patrick Topping & more.”
From: Motion Presents: Eli Brown, Matt Guy + more
“The New Zealand-born DJ, Producer and MC is coming to thekla">Thekla this April, together with Berlin-based techno powerhouse Stephanie Sykes, who will be back in Bristol after almost 5 years for this special co-headline.”
From: Thekla Presents DJ Fuckoff + Stephanie Sykes
“Headlining this intimate venue will be Tañ, a DJ much loved by the Alpha's Trip crew. Her unique sound consists of a range of house, hard house, trance, electro and techno and her sets are always full of consistent energy that fuse these genres together seamlessly. She holds down a monthly residency on Rinse FM and frequently DJs across Europe and the UK. Her unique sound has had her play at the likes of Glastonbury, Boiler Room, Nachtville and more.”
From: Alphas Trip w/ Tãn + A For Alpha