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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! Dare you miss your annual dose of Pink Lady Lemonade? The definitive freak-out group of the 21st century unite with Teeth of the Sea’s crunchy mutant soundscapes for a potent dose of beyond-experimental psych. Unhinged music for unhinged fans of: Hawkwind, Amon Düül, Gnod, Comets on Fire, Föllakzoid. Acid Mothers Temple / Teeth of The Sea / Thee Alcoholics at Strange Brew.

If you know, you know. Your favourite band’s favourite sound engineer, the prolific and ubiquitous Ajay Saggar, brings the guitar wash and kosmische wormholes of his Bhajan Boy project to The Cube, joined by Zahra Haji Fath Ali Tehrani’s ethereal poetry and Double Pelicans’s mind-melters. Phantasmagoric sprawl FFO: Durutti Column, Spacemen 3, Tangerine Dream, Panda Bear, My Bloody Valentine. Bhajan Bhoy/ Zahra Haji Fath Ali Tehrani/ Double Pelican at The Cube.

Mums and Dads, offer up your children to the Family Drone in this all-ages matinee of horror jazz in the round! Ritual bass clarinet skronk, sinister electronic malaise, crushing hell percussion, CHECK. No-one’s been scratching our David Lynch x Bitches Brew x Swans itch the past decade quite like these lot... Sly & The Family Drone at Exchange.

Low-key sonic operators gather for an evening of wandering soundscapes. Thomas Lobbam celebrates his new album of delicate guitar-driven minimalism and hazy shoegaze, perfectly complemented by Underscore’s AV sound collages and Light 9’s ambient trap nostalgia. Thomas Lobban "I pull up clean for no reason" album launch

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What our editors say

“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

“Dawn Terry From the days of Bong to a host of collaborations; cranky lo fi Dungeon Synth to one of the most arresting and enveloping improvised solo drone projects around, Dawn Terry is a mainstay of the UK underground. She plays slow, melancholic, optimistic music for sad people. Based in Newcastle, she is a veteran drone artist, producing work that is heavy, dreamlike, open and hypnotic. In her recent music Dawn has turned towards acoustic resonances provided by accordion, hurdy-gurdy, and voice.”
From: SHFTD & SB pres. Jarboe feat. Thor Harris & Joy Von Spain + Dawn Terry ++

“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

“S A R R A M,solo project of Valerio Marras,heads to Bristol,on tour ,and all the way from Sardinia, Italy.' A dark ceremony ' , promises ambient electronic noise , with a new album.FFO Coil,Sunn ((((0))))) ,The Body ,Nadja.”
From: S A R R A M + Colossloth + Prior+ DJ JG