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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

Sell out warning! Seize your chance to see Falmouth’s finest Lost Map-approved carnivalesque psych-folk collective. Blind Yeo are gonna carry the Jam Jar to new cosmic heights with wonky, motorik-tinged pastoralism (and a goblin outfit or three) – this one’s set to ignite fans of: Tunng, The Beta Band, Melin Melyn, Gong. Blind Yeo + Baby Deltic at The Jam Jar.

Globally adored for dialling up the kosmische with 21st century fusion GOATs The Comet Is Coming, Danalogue steps out to the fore in this dazzling analogue synth journey through all known galaxies. Timelessly distilling everything from 60s Moog stargazing to 80s acid house to 00s chillwave, this is the birth of a brave new world FFO: Wally Badarou, Lone, Legowelt, Space Dimension Controller. Danalogue AV Show at The Jam Jar.

Sell out warning! "I AM THE BLACK JAMES DEAN!!!!" Falle Nioke shouts over Peter Hook-style post-punk bounce, in a truly insane cocktail of driving 80s motorik and warped afro-futurist disco vision. Pigeon are seriously hot, Soundway says so, and this is one outernational space station your ass really needs to dock at. The crest of a big big wave FFO: William Onyeabor, Talking Heads, Joshua Idehen, ESG. PIGEON at Strange Brew.

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.

What our editors say

“Belfast-based singer-songwriter and producer Joshua Burnside brings together Irish folk traditions with Americana, world music, electronica and experimental soundscapes. His distinctive music blends intricate songwriting with found sounds, layered textures and unexpected production, creating something that feels both rooted in tradition and entirely contemporary.”
From: Joshua Burnside

“Leading the first wave announcement are experimental jazz-punk headliners Maruja, whose explosive live performances have earned them a reputation as one of the UK's most exciting rising bands. They're set to release their live album The Holy Inadequate on 20 November via Music For Nations. Next up are Enemies Etc., a new project featuring members of IDLES, Los Bitchos, Petbrick and TRAAMS. Joining them are raucous West Midlands duo GANS, bringing their own brand of abrasive post-punk, jangle-pop outfit The Tubs, and multi-instrumentalist psychedelic pop act Truthpaste.”
From: Ritual Union 2027

“Extra Terrestrial Promotions & Velvet Echoes are proud to present a showcase of one of their favourite independent labels; Rocket Recordings, at one of their favourite indpendent venues; Strange Brew, and featuring the mighty GNOD, SMOTE & THE SHITS. For anyone interested in loud and experimental noise, these are three of the countries finest acts specialised in the purveyance of such racket!”
From: GNOD / SMOTE / THE SHITS

“SHTËPI - A London/Oxford based art-punk band with a chaotic live show. Their new EP ‘Turbine Songs’ takes listeners on a journey through noisy experimental electronics, clanging garage rock rhythms, industrial percussion and contorted echoes of delta-blues. 2027 will see them tour the UK and Europe.”
From: SHTËPI

“Set in a world divided between the opulent “upstairs” and the struggling “downstairs”, where the rich live lavishly above while everyone else fights over scraps below, BRATPOCALYPSE follows EVILLE’s fight against the greedy, corrupt company ‘EVERYTHInc.’ The EP pushes the band into new, unexplored territory: industrial, hard hitting and heavy, yet also vulnerable, melodic and, of course, undeniably bratty.”
From: EVILLE