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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 dungeon synth renaissance has trickled outta the internet and into our fair cityl! Blades of Folmär are an essential inventory item if your campaigns be existential and ambient-gazing, while Undumë veer into dank dungeon dreadquest, and Bone Folder summon mighty drone folk from guitar’n’bass feedback. Grail-tastic FFO: Klaus Schulze, Quest Master, Mortiis, One Leg One Eye. A night of Dungeon Synth, Noise and Drone

Sell out warning! While the new Swans are without their siren, we’ve had Blackmail on repeat waiting for her. Jarboe materialises from mists onto the stage, preluded by the acoustic drone netherworlds of Bong heroine Dawn Terry and Sade Arellano. Unparalleled folk goth enigmas await worshippers of: Diamanda Galás, This Mortal Coil, Keeley Forsyth, Circuit des Yeux. **Seated Show** Influential avant-garde artist Jarboe, and former member of the legendary Swans, collaborates with vocalist/composer Joy Von Spain (Eye of Nix), drawing from her deep catalogue of industrial, experimental and atmospheric works

Get into the long line to join pôt-pot’s eerie motorik dream: a breathing harmonium drone rock nebula, rolling forward in rhythmic lockstep through walls of garage-psych guitar fuzz and sardonic vocal haze. It’s a 21st century Nuggets-worthy parade FFO: Neu!, Spacemen 3, Ulrika Spacek, Stuck, Good Flying Birds. Lisbon/Ireland based psych rock & kosmische

Art Ensemble of Old Market assemble! 8 of our finest jazzers throw the kitchen sink at you with many arms a-skronking across two totally improvised and unrepeatable sets, tugging at the very edges of that thing we call music. Pizza Express this ain’t, so you best like your jazz freer than free. Free improvisation / Noise / Free Jazz / experimental / drone / other

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What our editors say

“Gotobeat presents Deep Forest £30 Adv 7pm doors The Deep Forest story began in the early 90’s in the North of France with the intention of mixing ethnic music with their own electronic and jazz sounds. The Deep Forest live set of today is versatile, as likely to dip into high tempo electronic music or jazz for audiences to dance to as it is to be ambient and relaxing whilst always retaining that classic Deep Forest sound.”
From: Deep Forest

“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

“With the release of southwest post hardcore band Lovelost’s sophomore EP “Picking Petals By Your Graveside” on June 5th, they will be performing the EP in full at The Exchange SUPPORTS: Smiling Politely, a post-hardcore five-piece from Cheltenham. Arcadia Ego, Liverpool based Post-Hardcore four-piece. Featherfall, newly formed ambient post-hardcore from Cheltenham. Tickets: £7 ADV £9 OTD Exchange has a small ramp entrance from the street. Our bar and main event space are on the ground floor with level access throughout and we have an accessible toilet. If you need any other info on accessibility, please contact [email protected]”
From: LOVELOST - Picking Petals By Your Graveside + Support

“Join us for an afternoon of eclectic ambient from the Muzak Concrète DJs (Noods Radio) interwoven with tabletop experiments from local ambient artists. A tapestry of cascading synths, bleeps, celestial vibrations, field recordings, earthy drones, ambient and ambience. We make a space for indirect listening and background enjoyment. Bring your knitting, a book, chess set or just yourself and immerse yourself in the music.”
From: Ambient Cafe

“STEVE DAVIS (snooker ace, modular synth explorer) and VEL ILIC (Electronic Sound) return for another DJ set of ambient excursions from the outer reaches. Expect a carefully curated drift through haunted frequencies, atmospheric electronics, hypnotic drones, radiophonic echoes, cosmic ambience and sonic esoterica. Slow frequencies, phantom signals, after-hours discoveries. Free entry!”
From: AMBIENT TRANSMISSIONS - Fathers Day Special