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Bristol's Experimental Music Listings

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Bristol's Experimental Music Scene

It’s Bristol’s dance music that has earnt Bristol’s music scene international recognition, but the city’s playful experimentation between musicianship, electronics and sound art that is starting to gain the most traction. It's with a sigh of relief that we bid farewell to loop-pedal-powered hippies of the past and embrace the patch bays, compressors and modular synths of the future. All Bristol’s experimental music events are listed on this page.

Buy tickets for experimental music events in Bristol

Our recent experimental music recommendations

Marauding Norsemen Agabas charge into town wielding their self-coined ‘deathjazz’: a pummeling uptempo rawk engine with a thrash gallop, horn blasts strafing through the noise, and shredding throat growls atop a storm of riffs and rhythms. A cataclysmic ruin ritual FFO: Kvelertak, Imperial Triumphant, Slipknot, Converge. AGABAS at Exchange.

Sell out warning! Crazed cumbia meets mutant surf, acid champeta and retro-future radiophonic SFX via Bogotá’s most notorious supergroup (ft. Meridian Brothers mastermind Eblis Alvarez). Astonishingly strange new instrumental worlds FFO: Romperayo, Dengue Dengue Dengue!, Ondatrópica, Frente Cumbiero, Fumaça Preta. Los Pirañas at The Jam Jar.

Sell-out warning! Gorgeous, dream-soaked ghost music, refracted through hypnagogic pop lulls and a soulful jazz poise. Tara Clerkin Trio’s seductive sound is rooted in the city’s lineage of smudged trip-hop and experimental forms, with this homecoming gig at Trinity promising something quietly magical that we’ll all look back on for years to come… utterly unmissable. Tara Clerkin Trio at The Trinity Centre.

Sell out warning! Come commune with the music of the stones: TSHNE continues to astound after THAT intimate Bridget St John happening with Incredible String Band treasure Robin Williamson – the arch bard of UK outsider folk – gracing the lil ol’ Microplex. Undiminished by time, he performs with longtime partner Bina on a stunning set of Celtic and Indian traditionals, marked by intricate, eccentric magic. Robin & Bina Williamson + Rosie Brownhill + Fohn at The Cube.

What our editors say

“Old Empire present Krallice + special guests tba "Krallice is a metal band formed by New York City musicians Colin Marston, Mick Barr, Nick McMaster and Lev Weinstein. They play an experimental, highly technical style of black metal. The band has released eight studio albums and two EPs, most recently the LP Go Be Forgotten on November 21, 2017. They have been described as "one of the most interesting, engaging black metal bands to emerge in recent years" and "one of the most important bands in modern black metal”. Age: 14+ (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult)”
From: Krallice + special guests

“Shaking Hand Shaking Hand are a Manchester trio who construct long slowburning post-rock in multiple tunings and time signatures, taking inspiration from modernist architecture, 90s US alternative and midwestern emo. The band’s musical DNA runs through experimental guitar outfits like Women, Slint, Sonic Youth, Pavement, and Ulrika Spacek, balanced with the melodic sensibility of Big Thief and the dynamic intimacy of Yo La Tengo. Holly Head Manchester punk-groove noiseniks Normal Village 1000 Legs Bristol Bug Punk”
From: Shaking Hand

“Ninush is the solo project of London-based violinist, songwriter and producer Nina Lim, blending experimental electronica, intricate string arrangements and intimate vocals into a distinctive sound shaped by collaborations with artists including Black Country, New Road, Jockstrap, Geordie Greep and Little Simz. This is an unreserved seated show. + Support www.eyesofftheclock.com”
From: Ninush

“The Five Hundred With Eschalon and The Mechanist A force in UK heavy metal, hail from Nottingham’s industrial heartland. Emerging in the early 2010s, they crafted a sound blending metalcore’s raw intensity with the precision of djent and progressive metal. Their name symbolises unity and strength, mirroring their tightly knit, high-energy musical synergy that has solidified them as a dominant presence in the UK metal scene. 7pm doors £10 Adv Please note the basement is not wheelchair accessible and is accessed by a narrow enclosed staircase. For more accessibility info, please email [email protected]”
From: The Five Hundred

“Wounder - Low-end industrial black metal Undershadow - Solo raw, depressive black metal project from the soul behind Remor & involved with Shadenfreude Scathing - Doom-laiden metallic chaos Sade Arellano - spontaneous drone-folk”
From: Wounder, Undershadow, Scathing, Sade Arellano