Bristol’s music scene is celebrated around the globe, yet most people, even those residing in the city know little about it beyond the likes of Massive Attack, Portishead and Roni Size. We thought we’d give you a quick run down on the history of the local scene…

The current chapter of Bristolian music began back in the seventies, when a wave of fiercely independent post punk bands put Bristol’s underground music scene on the map. These bands proved to be hugely influential to the city, imparting a strong independent ethos that urged others to lead rather than follow when it came to musical ideas. The way in which bands such as the Pop Group combined a mixture of different genres was to set the blueprint for the next thirty years.

The next major development in the city’s musical history was the rise of the hip-hop scene that surrounded crews such as the Wild Bunch and the 2Bad crew. Here the independent ethos was taken further, with the crews forming their own sound systems which would blare out a bold combination of hip-hop, reggae, soul and punk. This heady mixture of styles helped to lay the foundations for the ‘trip-hop’ scene, which would end up giving Bristol some of its most famous acts. The Dug Out club on Park Row was especially influential to this scene, creating an environment in which people from across the social spectrum could come together and share ideas.

Jungle has been causing mayhem on the city’s dance floors ever since its emergence from the acid-house scene in the early nineties, with parties such as Ruffnek Ting helping to spread the sound to the masses. DJs such as Dazee, Cridge and Easy Groove all passionately pushed the genre, creating a platform from which the likes of the Full Cycle crew would become international stars.

A history of Bristol’s music scene, however brief, would not be complete without mentioning Smith & Mighty and the local reggae scene from which they and so many others have drawn influence. Combining their love of dub with just about every other genre imaginable, the duo have continually pushed the boundaries of music, often writing tracks that are years, if not decades ahead of their time. They are the unsung heroes of the local scene and deserve just as much respect as any of the city’s more famous acts.

There are obviously thousands of other people and scores of other genres that have helped to make Bristol’s music scene what it is, but hopefully the above provided a small insight into our fantastic city’s musical past.

Photos: Elena Goodrum