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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

Fffffeeeeedback, deep resonance and live improvisation from four obscure sonic alchemists. Seth Cooke and Tina Hitchens present deep listening works of live electronics, weaving together delicate flute tapestries, field recordings and environmental sound. Joining the trip: Will Frampton and Pablo Jimenez-Moreno’s architectural drone dreamscapes. Tip! Seth Cooke+Tina Hitchens//Will Frampton+Pablo JimenezMoreno//Louie Newlands at Cafe Kino.

Turn up, tune in, Gnod out! 20 years tall, it’s impossible to fully describe this immemorial megalith of psych-sludge collective unity. If their latest Chronicles of Gnowt is any indicator, we’re in for a scorched Earth offering of ritualistic, surrealistic drone metal, shot through with Swans-level, slo-mo Stooges brutalism. Pack your bags, cos there ain’t no doors on the other side! GNOD + VANISHING at Strange Brew.

Sell out warning! 2 years was well worth the wait for this colossal offering from the Bristol New Music gods. A feast of experimental-minded recitals, workshops and club nights, pushing the boundaries of contemporary classical, jazz, sound art and pop across multiple venues in our fair city. Access all Saturday events

Sell out warning! Canadian-American experimentalist claire rousay shapes extended soundscapes from field recordings, found sounds, and ethereal autotuned vocals, mining deep emotion from minimal materials. With stunning support from Lucy Railton’s unsettling electronic-flecked cello carvings, this is a no-brainer FFO: Laurel Halo, Kali Malone, KMRU, Tim Hecker. BNM returns in late April for five nights and days of rolling concerts, performances, audiovisual works and installations in exhibition spaces, venues, concert halls and unusual locations around the city, traversing the outer realms of contemporary music, sound and visual arts.

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What our editors say

“Vice versa + Feral Decay presents SMOTE (UK) For those who dream to wash within the sonic unearthings of primal incantations, this is for you. His most recent record, songs from the Free House embarks on a mediative heaviness, steeped in folk drone ambience. Drone is alive, and ritual (and magick) is afoot. F.F.O: Bong, OM, Swans. SCATHING GOD aka 'Say, God + Scathing' (BRISTOL) A improv collaboration between two of Bristol's heavy and depressed ensembles. On the cusp of esoteric. Loud and emotional. Gut wrenching, in a nice way. F.F.O. The body, one leg one eye, Sunn O))). + Special guest (TBA) Golden lion (Gloucester rd) £12 ADV / £15 OTD”
From: SMOTE + special guests

“MOUNTAINSCAPE Instrumental post-metal Blending elements of post-rock, black metal, doom, sludge and ambient, MOUNTAINSCAPE meld dreamlike shoegaze with earth-shattering heaviness, unexpected twists and film score grandeur. A band on the rise, last year they notably played PORTALS festival and supported DVNE and NIGHT VERSES.”
From: Urzah

“Perry Frank, Sardinian electronic composer and Ambient -drone solo artiste On tour,and back in Bristol again,and dropping in on Camembert Promos for another round of spellbinding,dream soundscapes, guitar and electronics, maybe 50 minutes, maybe possible guest Thanks to the wonderful Black City Records for being the hosts extraordinaire”
From: Ambient In-Store with Perry Frank

“They released their debut EP Ode To A in 2023, earning it a spot on The Thin Air’s “Best of 2023” list. "Ode To A succeeds not just in the artistic practice of the avant-garde, but as piece of an engaging, genuinely psychedelic experimental drone rock” – Stevie Lennox, The Thin Air. In April 2024, they released their second EP “GOING INSANE” on cult Porto based label Socorro, with a limited vinyl run via Ireland’s beloved Blowtorch Records, receiving much critical acclaim.”
From: pôt-pot

“BACCHUS PRESENTS: DAUFØDT Norwegian noise rock-punks Daufødt come to Bristol ahead of an appearance at Desertfest London. Known for their harsh, drone-infused music, Daufødt continue to experiment with the genre-defying noise that has earned them spots at festivals across Europe. Catch them at Cafe Kino for an intense & intimate show in the basement with an all-star local lineup including: PEACELILY - LOW END HC DYNAMIC DUO TVWIFE - VERY LOUD NOISE ROCK GET FUCKED - SLUDGEY GOBLIN PUNKS”
From: Daufødt w/ Peacelily, TvWife, Get Fucked