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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

Sell out warning (second show added)! Gorgeous suites for flute, cello and voice from the Japanese school of celestial folk-classical. Torso meld jazz, post-rock and hushed chamber minimalism into a towering romance FFO: Arthur Russell, JOW, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Midori Takada, Visible Cloaks unplugged. Hailing from Tokyo’s underground DIY scene, Torso are a music duo composed of Kenji (flute, sax) and Orie (cello, voice). Join us for a rare UK performance, live at IC Visual Lab.

Sell out warning! Gorgeous suites for flute, cello and voice from the Japanese school of celestial folk-classical. Torso meld jazz, post-rock and hushed chamber minimalism into a towering romance FFO: Arthur Russell, JOW, Penguin Cafe Orchestra, Midori Takada, Visible Cloaks unplugged. Hailing from Tokyo’s underground DIY scene, Torso are a music duo composed of Kenji (flute, sax) and Orie (cello, voice). Join us for a rare UK performance, live at IC Visual Lab.

Theatrical blackened doom – heavy on the unholiness! Dressed in full habits and wielding trombones, Warrior Pope are amongst the best and weirdest of Bristol’s seedy metal underbelly. CBOD’s also gifting you Malefic Grip’s bludgeoning sludge-psych-noise and Perry Frank’s glacial droning guitar bliss for starters. No-brainer FFO: Sleep, Evoken, Acid Bath, Beyond Dawn, Dopethrone, Loscil. An evening of Sludge, Doom and Noise

Sitting at the ceremonial crossroads of post-rock and doomgaze, Sarram administers Earth-crushing drone rituals for a dying world. Sharp Noodle’s serving you She The Throne’s hellish industrialized trip-hop for starters + ATC / Eggy Tapes’ in-house pain jazz gremlin Monika Badly. Essential ruin FFO: Sunn O))), Nadja, Main, Coil, Bonnacons of Doom, Dis Fig & The Body. Dark ambient, drone and noise

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What our editors say

“Danish duo Svaneborg Kardyb weave delicate melodies and hypnotic rhythms into something quietly transcendent. Blending jazz, folk, and ambient influences, their music shimmers with intimacy and warmth – a sound that feels both deeply rooted and endlessly open.”
From: Svaneborg Kardyb

“Based in Brooklyn, The Antlers began as Peter Silberman’s solo project, gradually evolving into a larger ensemble with Michael Lerner and formerly Darby Cicci. Their music blends indie rock with elements of art rock, dream pop, chamber pop and ambient textures.”
From: The Antlers + special guests

“Led by the Texas-born, Denmark-based artist Jason Dungan, Blue Lake is characterised by a peaceful, wandering approach. Blending folk, jazz and ambient music whilst often incorporating string, wind and percussion instruments as well as custom-built zithers, Blue Lake makes for beautifully radiant and tranquil compositions.”
From: Blue Lake , Memotone + Eva May

“Fabiano is a singular voice in contemporary music, blending the deep traditions of Brazilian jazz with an adventurous, genre-fluid approach. His music eﬀortlessly moves between hypnotic ambient soundscapes, intricate acoustic-electronic textures, and the infectious rhythms of bossa nova.”
From: Fabiano do Nascimento

“Combining elements of washed-out guitar textures, e-bow and electronics, Jonny Nash has emerged as one of the key artists in the new wave of ambient music. Tonight he performs a duo set with Japanese cello player Tomo Katsurada.”
From: Jonny Nash + Ezra Feinberg