BRISTOL MUSIC WEEKLY
Each Friday we round up the freshest sounds from Bristol’s buzzing scene. From boundary-pushing underground acts to chart-ready anthems, discover the tracks and albums making waves this week. Dive in below and explore what’s new.
This week is all over the map in the best way: wonky Bristol electronics, dark rave pressure, chilled neo-soul, heavy shoegaze, live trip-hop weirdness and proper bassline movement. Philski keeps his mad run going, Slowe drops a beautiful new album, Split Chain bring the heavy guitars, Fred V & Grafix reunite, and Gardna links with Shapes for a fresh Shogun Audio cut.
Philski is back again, and this one has proper oddball charm. Dude’ STARKER comes from the May release DUDE and pulls from UK garage, d’n’b, hip-hop, punk-pop and Latin house.
Loose, playful and hard to pin down — exactly why it gets Song of the Week.
Gardna & Shapes “Snakes & Ladders”
Gardna links with Shapes for a sharp Shogun Audio single about loyalty, pressure and knowing who’s really in your corner. Straight-talking Bristol energy with drum & bass weight underneath.
Dark rave energy with real emotion behind it. Xisqueta is dedicated to Paula, a friend who passed away in 2024, and carries the note “Rave In Paradise.”
Acid, hardcore, techno and tribe sounds all collide here — heavy in more ways than one.
Lee “Celeste”
Bristol acid and electro with a softer glow. Celeste comes from Lee’s Dance Trax and sits somewhere between chill electronics, braindance and late-night melodic movement.
Arlow & No_Name “Space Ghetto”
Deep drum & bass and halftime pressure from Arlow & No_Name on Ntropy. Officially a forthcoming June release, so mark it as one to watch.
Keep Breathing “birstol live [22.04.2026]”
A raw live document from Keep Breathing, and definitely one to keep an eye on. Experimental, dark electro, trip-hop, alternative hip-hop and witch-house textures all come through.
Wipe The Needle & Venuz Beats “Wrong Side Of The Story”
A forthcoming Good Vibrations Music release with a soulful club feel. The full EP lands later in May, making this a forward-looking pick for house and dance heads.
FXCK Borders lands tonight with a heavyweight multi-genre energy. Expect a proper Bristol night: loud, urgent, community-minded and built for the floor.
The original Rebel MC crash lands at Lost Horizon next Friday. Forging one of the wickedest sounds for almost 40 years, Congo Natty brings heavyweight jungle, roots and soundsystem history to Bristol.