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Drone, Noise & Experimental

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Bristol's Drone/noise Scene

Bristol’s drone and noise rock scenes are some of the most awesome musical niches found in this city. Small packed-out gigs, captivated crowds and performers pushing the boundaries between music, white noise and sound art. While international names like Tim Hecker and the Haxan Cloak have made appearances in Bristol, it’s local label Howling Owl Records and promoters Cacophonous Sarcophagus who are leading the way here. Keep your eyes peeled for gigs at the Arnolfini gallery, The Cube cinema, The Exchange and small events spaces like the Scout Hut and Centre Space.

Intimate Drone/noise music in Bristol
The Bristol drone/noise scene, it’s not just the Bristol Hum like you’d think! Bristol drone and noise gigs can be some of the most intimate around, the crowd all huddled in silence in one of Bristol prestigious venues (like the newly rebranded Bristol Beacon). Although lacking big local names to rival international drone artists like William Basinski or Tim Hecker, there’s been a recent increase in ambient gigs, nights like Dark Alchemy and Lust Pattern have taken the beat out of music but still made it droney and noisey, and just very Bristol.

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Our recent drone/noise recommendations

The most deranged, ecstatic, snare drum solo of all time rolls back into town. This time the cult of Kiyasu has its own mini-festival with 9 hours of grinding electronic weirdness ft. Genderisthebastard’s wanton peddle abuse, pagan noise-hopera phenomenon Isn'tses + a whole host of Eggy Tapes-adjascent niceness/nastiness. God bless Sharp Noodle. Ryosuke Kiyasu returns with a day full of abrasive weirdness

One more Enter the Noid transmission outta the digital void and into the flesh with 7038634357’s manglings of minimalist synth overdrive and emo-fractured bleep pop + Drumloop’s isolationist drone torchsongs. Spine-tingling sacraments FFO: more eaze, Fennesz, Ana Roxanne, Tim Hecker, Cremation Lilly. Two totally singular NY-based musicians come to noid out

Sell out warning! Ecstatic, infinite, freak-out guaranteed from Flower-Corsano Duo: serving mind-melting kinetic free improv on electrified shahi baaja and incendiary drums for the armchair Microplex psychonauts. Unmissable third eye bizness FFO: Vibracathedral Orchestra, Sun Ra, Boredoms, Master Musicians of Bukkake. Psychedelic improv from world renowned drummer + japan banjo duo

Leading vocal experimentalist joins forces with fearless DIY percussionist in a boundless collaboration where politics, deep listening and raw physicality collide. Using piano, voice, gong and tap dance, their performance is as precise as it is playful. Their enchanting show at St George’s last year still echoes in our minds... Free improvisation across borders.

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What our editors say

“Inspired by Afropessimist thought and the work of economist Jacques Attali, Quinton Barnes became interested in noise and its function within the context of Black music. He hoped to situate noise within a context of Black cultural expression, fusing soul and gospel-inspired vocals with noise, pushing the limits of Black genres to their sonic brink. Together with 7 of Montreal’s most daring experimental musicians they explore an expansive sound that merges avant-jazz, noise, hip-hop, breakbeat, drone, and footwork, supporting Barnes’ poetic, nihilistic sprechgesang.”
From: Quinton Barnes with The Black Noise Ensemble

“Brown's solo work is heavily electronica-based utilising analogue synths alongside tape machines, piano, strings and walls of ambient atmospherics. His work focuses on the analogue side of capturing and creating sound in the real world with physical hardware.”
From: James Adrian Brown & Sulk Rooms

“Joined by a remarkable ensemble including Jordan Smart (Mammal Hands) on reeds, Taz Modi on piano, and vibraphonist Harriet Riley, Vega Trails craft vivid soundscapes that blur the lines between jazz, classical and ambient. Expect soaring melodies, subtle textures, and deep grooves — a sound journey shaped by wide-open landscapes and internal reflection.”
From: Vega Trails

“Pete is the trumpeter with BBC Jazz Award-winners @gettheblessing, acoustic duo @jow2o, and ambient-jazz-minimalist duo @eyebrow.music, and multi-instrumentalist with chamber-folk trio @threecanewhale, as well as composer of 3 (now nearly 4!) albums of solo piano music.”
From: SOLOISH

“Gnarled Fingers: 1 man drone machine. Gnarled Fingers is a Solo experimental drone doom metal Project based in Somerset UK, Gnarled Fingers is pure Free time crushing Drone, bass frequencies, noise adding unique textures & layers creating a hypnotic, meditative, immersive atmosphere that evoke a sense of timelessness and space,”
From: An Evening of Psych, Stoner, Drone & Doom