Bristol Techno Nights

upcoming clubnight

Bristol's Techno Scene

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.

Buy tickets for techno events in Bristol

Our recent techno recommendations

Deep Street only have themselves to beat, bringing another hero of Chi house-story to rock the Brew’s mind, body and soul. Glenn Underground’s vintage traxx birthed the deep house blueprint, serving as future parables for all jazzed-out jackin' rhythms to come. This one is gonna get reeeeeal spiritual FFO: Larry Heard, Ron Hardy, Omar S, Rick Wilhite. Deep Street x Strange Brew w/ Glenn Underground at Strange Brew.

Prepare to get schooled by one of the biggest legends in the game: DJ Nature aka DJ Milo of Bristol's era-defining Wild Bunch posse. Decades on, his selections remain as soulful as ever… gliding through bass-soaked deep house, punk, hip-hop, jazz, dub and beyond. No nostalgia trip here, just the real deal from someone who helped write the rulebook! DJ Nature at The Love Inn.

Proper community happenings in the beating dub heart of St Pauls! Powered by the almighty Mexico-via-Italy Bass Revelation rig; this is set to be an epic session deploying HQ digi-dub pressure, technoid steppas and enough low-end vibrations to shake both the mind and the spine. Rising Yard at Kuumba Centre.

Rob Smith has been etched into Bristol’s musical lore for as long as we can remember. From Smith & Mighty to RSD, that Pretty Bright Light percy was the soundtrack of the golden-era dubstep days. Trust Exercises are cramming a giant into the Cider Box, with Timedance’s Bruce dishing out his dubwise crud alongside Amaia’s wall-shaking deep digs on wax. Absolutely ’uuuge! Trust Exercises Presents: RSD / Bruce / Amaia / Dom Carlo + Axle / Kutchi at The Cider Box Tap Room.

More Photos of Bristol Techno Nights

What our editors say

“Buckle up, Bristol. Headlining our next party is none other than Mollie Rush, the ultimate purveyor of euphoric, high-energy rave chaos. As the powerhouse founder of the iconic queer hardcore collective Soz Lad and the former frontwoman of digital-hardcore outfit Tokky Horror, Mollie has torn up stages from Glastonbury to Boomtown. Seamlessly blending a punk-rock ethos with heavy-hitting electronic production, her sets are a relentless, high-octane journey through rave, jungle, acid, and hard techno. [A-Z] ANOMALY KAISER B2B NEPTUNE MOLLIE RUSH RIGPIG B2B PROMISCUOUS PIGGY Last entry 00:30”
From: Notizz: Mollie Rush + Support

“Excited to welcome iconic duo Tama Sumo & Lakuti back to the Brew for another Bank Holiday Sunday special. Their last visit was a highlight of the year. Known for free-flowing sets rooted in awareness, they move effortlessly across genres, spanning new and classic house, techno and disco. Sharing a deep knowledge and love of music and what it takes to make people dance. Leading the way will be one of Bristol's best kept secrets and proprietor of one of the largest vinyl collections we've ever seen: Winkles. Blending the finest in deeper than deep house and (un)classics to loosen up the floor.”
From: Strange Brew presents Lakuti & Tama Sumo + Winkles

“RAVE IT UP // 6 YEARS // 140 + TEK + JUNGLE + DONK + MORE We’re celebrating over 6 years of throwing underground parties, and you’re all invited. Come join us at the crown for a night of proper multi-genre goodies – expect everything from 140 and 4x4 to jungle and techno. No messing around with this event! To say thanks, we’re giving away free tickets. [A-Z] ANOMALY CO-EN HAJICORE RIGÖUR ROZZA STOYLEY WUBSY DAISY Free entry - no ticket needed.”
From: 6 Years Of Rave It Up: Anomaly, Co-En, Hajicore + more

“Do you want another one? Very excited to announce Bellingtier's event debut at the Red Lion, BS5, for a night of LIVE performances n top shelf DJs for ya Saturday night. Expect some live techno, jungle, scratching and everything in-between. Free entry as always Thanks to the Undo Cru for letting us cover their slot too, big shoes to fill!”
From: BellingTier presents... Lyn Diesel , Bob the Blender, Tom Tier & more

“BIG LIGHT OFF, DISCO BALL ON After 10+ years building up a considerable collection of fun party records, turning afterses inside out & lingering around all the best parties every god damned weekend, Rhys Lightning locks in to the Zoggs basement all night long to lay it on thick for the freaks, the lovers and the dancers Music including but by no means limited to: wonky italos cuts, discos sans frontiers, punky synthpop bangers, sleazoid new beat slammers, tongue in cheek techno... Dancefloor stickiness at maximum, get to know!! FFO: staying up (late!), good times (seriously!), music (in general!)”
From: Rhys Lightning's States Of Batter