What's On / Bristol Gigs / drone/noise

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! Early bets on the beatdown of the year, 2:1 on Sunami to pummel all contenders with their no-it’s-not-a-joke-anymore bada$$ bully crossover hxc. You’ve seen the news, so expect a bleeding lip or two (and don’t wear that fresh white tee). Fans of Terror, First Blood God’s Hate etc – you know the drill! Sunami at Shredenhams.

Sell out warning! The Brownswood polymath / scene GOAT lends her exuberant electro-jazz sensibilities to the Miles canon in a supreme act of love. Emma pushes the King of Cool's electric era into deeper fusion territory with the 21st century wisdom of broken beat and footwork, cos we all know he was a junglist born too soon. A bonafide life-affirmer for all the Brainfeeders out there... Dear Miles – A Love Letter at Strange Brew.

Woi oi! Iconic 'ardkore action incoming from the unrivaled Moving Shadow fold! Reinforced / Altern8 / Shut Up And Dance heads will already have their tickets of course. For everyone else: breakbeat ravestalgia doesn’t come much ruffer than 2 Bad Mice, chopping samples and bombing tha bass like it was the Second Summer of Love all over again. 2 Bad Mice + Friends at The Jam Jar.

Sell out warning! Harakiri are the only band you need on your post-black sky chariot riding mix. Triumphant melody barely disguising soul-wrenching trauma, blistering blast-beats; BM purists beware, this is pure catharsis stitched with post-rock, post-hardcore, grunge and skramz DNA. With Denmark's impossibly mournful Sunken opening things up, ethereal awakenings await disciples of: Alcest, Deafheaven, Drudkh, WitTR. Harakiri for the Sky & Sunken at Strange Brew.

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What our editors say

“Across the long weekend you will hear a whole collection of sounds and styles. Folk, psych, electronica, global, indie, ambient, disco, breakbeat, neo-soul, UK garage and many more. What matters is not the genre, but the feeling, the vibe, the energy.”
From: Shuffley Daze Music Festival

“Mountainscape are a 3 piece cinematic post-metal band from the UK. Their sound is a balance of post-rock and ambient blended with colossal riffs, ethereal melodies and hypnotic blackgaze. Latest album Traversing Realms came out in July 2026 via Road to Masochist to critical acclaim.”
From: Maebe, Million Moons + Mountainscape

“Curbside Lambsear is Annabelle Mödlinger and Magdalena McLean. The collaboration explores rough textures and soft intentions, weaving together elements of pop, folk, and improvisation with influences of drone, dub, and post-punk.”
From: Curbside Lambsear

“Blending ambient, neoclassical, electronic and avant-pop influences, his immersive compositions create expansive sonic landscapes that invite deep listening and introspection. Across more than 30 albums, collaborations with figures including Ram Dass, Jon Hopkins and Laraaji, and performances around the world, East Forest has become a leading voice at the intersection of music, mindfulness and wellbeing.”
From: East Forest

“Restless Taxis is a DIY queer and POC-led band formed in East London in 2019. Throughout the years, the band’s sound has progressed from a scuzzy blend of sub pop sludge with ambient overtones into a frenetic experience blending influences from London’s squat rave scene with J Mascis’ grunge Van Halen guitar heroism and A.R. Kane’s crooning psychedelia. They blend UK sound system culture with Dean Blunt’s conception of the Post-black male, infusing their Caribbean heritage to create a sound unique to them. Their influences include The Smashing Pumpkins, Dinosaur Jr, My Bloody Valentine and Stereolab.”
From: HEAVY