Keep Bristol Weird | A Boiler Room & British Council Documentary

► Keep Bristol Weird is Boiler Room’s new documentary in partnership with the British Council.
The 21-minute film spotlights an independent community in the West Country enclave, responsible for some of the most exciting music coming out of the UK right now. The multi-voiced story is told by a series of local names key to this Bristol scene: Idle Hands supremo Chris Farrell, the Young Echo crew, Bad Tracking, Mix Nights, Giant Swan, Batu, Hodge, Danielle, E B U, Ossia, Franco Franco & Kinlaw.
With their sounds, this group of artists, DJs and performers is fighting against algorithms, influencer culture and the mainstream-ification of electronic music. As music culture shifts ever-more online, Bristol’s underground scene try to keeps things IRL, grassroots and experimental; their boundless artistic energy a reaction to club closures in the city.
This thriving DIY scene is pushing the city’s dense musical history in exciting new directions, and creating new sounds from established forms. The documentary traces the roots of this sonic outpouring back to Bristol’s Caribbean community and soundsystem culture, through to Bristolian Dubstep, Grime and Drum & Bass, and beyond to punk, noise and metal. This music community is defined by its eclecticism.
In the documentary, Bristol comes across as a supportive place for creatives, where collaboration is prioritised over individualism. The city bristles with sprawling collectives and more independent labels than one can count, including Livity Sound, Timedance, Idle Hands, and Ossia’s multitude of operations.
#Musicdocumentary #Documentary #BoilerRoom
Soundtrack:
Peverelist - Dance Til The Police Come - Hessle Audio - Copyright Control - 2011
Restriction - Four Point Plan - Copyright Control - Thanks to Bristol Archive Records - 1984
Pinch - Qawwali - Planet Mu - Deep End Publishing - 2006
Hi5Ghost - No Sleep - Hotline Recordings - 2017
Toma Kami - Negative Extasy - Livity Sound - 2019
Hodge - Mindgames - Hotline Recordings - 2014
Bruce - Æon - Hessle Audio - 2018
Bruce - Baychimo - Hessle Audio - 2018
Laurel Halo & Hodge - Tru - Livit Sound - 2018
Boofy - Mask And Glove - Bandulu Records - 2016
Kahn & Neek - Shimmer - Unreleased
Sunun - UK - Unreleased
Young Echo - Baron - Young Echo Records - 2018
Sunun - How Not To Use an MPC - Unreleased
Ossia - Dub Hell - Blackest Ever Black - 2018
Ossia - Tumult - Berceuse Heroique - 2017
Ishan Sound - A Wa Yu Want (Instrumental) - Hotline Recordings - 2015
Batu - Shiratini - Timedance - 2019
Batu - Groundwork - Timedance - 2017
Peverelist - Roll With The Punches - Punch Drunk - 2007
Batu - False Reeds - Timedance - 2019
Bruce - Post Rave Wrestle - Timedance - 2016
Franco Franco & Kinlaw - Fat Come - Avon Terror Corps - 2019
Franco Franco & Kinlaw - Positivo - Avon Terror Corps - 2019
Sunun - Z0 - Cold Light (CL003)
Sunun - How Not To Use an MPC - Cold Light (CL003)
R & D - Trick Track - Burden Imprint - 2018
Bad Tracking - Unnamed Jam - 2019
Burden - Thr3e - Burden Imprint - 2018
E B U - Slivver - NoCorner - 2019
Giant Swan - Earn - FuckPunk - 2016
Giant Swan - The Plaque - Whities - 2018
Hi5Ghost - Holy I$$h - Bandulu - 2017
Relapse - DreIIams - Avon Terror Corps - 2019
Keep Bristol Weird Team:
Hugo Jenkins - Director
Anaïs Brémond - Boiler Room Creative Producer
Nathan Greenwood - Editor
Holly Wolfers - Black Dog Films Producer
Joel Honeywell - Director of Photography
Evan Campbell - Sound Designer
Jack McGinity @ Cheat - Colourist
Josh Wiley - Art Director
Stefan Ipaya - Senior Motion Designer
Seth De Silva - Senior Motion Designer
Alice Bloomfield - Animator (Hodge Bath Animation)
Shawn Soh - Senior Motion Designer (Hodge & Bruce Animation)
Martin Roker - Black Dog Films Executive Producer
Joe Walker - Boiler Room Executive Producer
Joe Alexander - Boiler Room Head of Film

[@roody59]

Generally, gentrification works in UK towns and cities like this… - Creatives (artists, writers) live in cheaper, more deprived areas in cities and towns (because they can't afford affluent areas) - Creatives make that area ‘cool’ through cultural production (painting, street art, music) - Once the area has become 'cool’ the suits and gents start to buy into the area - The area goes through changes, largely development of penthouses, cost of living increases, rent goes up, bars, cafes, food places - Creatives then move to cheaper areas, or smaller towns as they cannot afford to live in the area anymore

[@firstrandom2732]

Andrew Baker correct

[@loveulez]

Same most places except it's not a cycle that's a simplification and it's wrong.

[@roody59]

Adam agree it’s not a cycle, comment edited.

[@roody59]

Adam what’s wrong or right?

[@marcporter4973]

So true worked in London for a good 20 years and seen it happen in Clapham, Fulham and lately hackney, bow, and even Stratford trendies then bankers then the coffee shops and burger joints always the way it goes!

[@getthoseskills4451]

I've visited Bristol and followed the scene for years. Great City. Big shout out to all those dark music masters like Massive Attack, Portishead, Tricky, Krust, Pinch, Allflaws

[@boilerroom]

Links to all artists and labels featured for further investigation: Alex Digard Tape Echo tape-echo.com/ Bad Tracking facebook.com/Bad-Tracking-416000448922767/ Batu / Timedance facebook.com/BatuMusic/ Boofy soundcloud.com/boofy Bruce instagram.com/snapsofbruce/ Burden Imprint burdenimprint.bandcamp.com/music Chris Farrell / Idle Hands idlehandsbristol.com/ Danielle soundcloud.com/danielle_dj E B U nocorner.bandcamp.com/album/hinge Franco Franco & Kinlaw avonterrorcorps.bandcamp.com/album/mezzi-umani-mezze-macchine Giant Swan giantswan.bandcamp.com/ Hi5ghost soundcloud.com/hi5ghost Hodge instagram.com/hodgebristol/?hl=en Jabu facebook.com/jabubristol/ Kahn soundcloud.com/kahn Livity Sound livitysound.bandcamp.com/ Lizzy / Proverb instagram.com/lizzyblizzyb/?hl=en Manonmars youngechorecords.bandcamp.com/album/manonmars Max Kelan Pearce facebook.com/maxkelanpearcevids/ Mix Nights mix-nights.com/ Neek www.bandulurecords.com/ Noods Radio noodsradio.com/ Ossia ossia.bandcamp.com/ Rewind Forward rwdfwd.com/ Relapse Records facebook.com/RelapseRecords/ Saffron saffronmusic.co.uk/ Sunun soundcloud.com/bls-4 Tectonic soundcloud.com/tectonic-recordings Young Echo youngechorecords.bandcamp.com/

[@audioglass]

I don't think I heard one Bristol accent

[@benbrooker]

PREACH... watching this as a Bristolian who studied Creative Music Tech at Bath Spa Uni like most the people in this video.

[@alexphillips7544]

audioglass I was thinking the same thing!!

[@jadworld4125]

It’s like that in Manchester aswell these days once a place gets cool the gentrifiers take over

[@graazoor]

does it matter? not heard this scene before, but it excited me about music again

[@Rushupedge_]

@@graazoor yeah? If it's meant to be an intimate view of roots up n comers of the scene but instead they give recognition nepotistic style to posh kids who studied music then moved to Bristol to ride off the hype of the bristol scene it's a bit different ennit?

[@basilrush77]

I can't say it's my bag of music, but at the end of the day it's all about the vibe and having a good night.

[@WakeupMEDlA]

i'd be interested to see some recognition for the people out on a limb making music in whack little towns and the countryside , for the love of it . great can come from anywhere

[@witnessthis4558]

jp j YES

[@sb4621]

Slowthai

[@maxpearce8333]

Completely agree but also you would be interested to know a lot of people in this documentary including myself are from small countryside towns

[@user-tx9ys8cn6x]

@@maxpearce8333Just out of curiosity, what's your favourite music gear brand? is it Beeeeeeh-ringheer? 😂 i'm so sorry...couldnt resist ! 😂

[@MichaelCook84]

Grew up in Somerset and went to many gigs/nights out in Bristol. I didn't really appreciate how good the music and creativity vibes were in Bristol until I moved to Newcastle. 👍

[@sidtaylor3005]

Same here, grew up in both Easton and Shepton Mallet yes boss!

[@heiltd1286]

Bristol has some of the greatest nightclubs in the world plus great brewers doing amazing craft beer.

[@David-xx7ny]

Putting it out there: Aphex twin started in Penryn

[@2112jonr]

I bet they all have south eastern accents there too 😂

[@quantumharmonics6299]

Electronic Music Explorations, a great glimpse into the techno scene. Electronic music gives us a way to quantify more electronic music into a new paradigm.

[@DoozAU]

CLASSIC. i force myself into the bath to brain-storm too due to hyper activity. love it

[@Sloth131987]

YES YES YES. this doc is everything. thanks so much for highlighting a sound and a series of producers/DJ's which are so thrilling and invaluable to my listening experiences! BIIIIG ups!

[@TheHouseintheJungle]

So good to discover Massive Attack from this documentary. LOVING THEIR MUSIC!!!

[@cos210]

been watching that nitelife vid for time so proper gassed for this to come out

[@straightfaya7765]

Remember back in the days when there was this huge warehouse in Saint Vincents trading estate called chemical records. I’ m nostalgic now ☹️.

[@stervi2]

Where are the Bristolians? All I saw was private school kids from London

[@Rushupedge_]

Truss

[@thungiggs5475]

That's because Boiler room is ran by the same people. How else can you afford to work for 17k a year without Mummy and Daddy giving you a load of cash every month lol

[@stefan1632]

We're slowly being pushed out by people who don't want to be in London and heard Bristol is a bit edgy in the guardian.

[@Nadoone]

Umm no only about two people in this are from London

[@2112jonr]

@@Nadoone They are ALL home counties accent, all luvvies. Not a single local accent amongst them. May as well be about Guildford.

[@iaindennis3321]

Very supportive, open minded and friendly as long as your like us.

[@dipperuk]

having run nights in bristol I can confirm you're so right, you need to be in with the click to get support, its really trendy.

[@AssassinX899]

Bristol..... keeping it strictly London

[@chef.ramesses]

Bristol now is what London was around 2005-2010

[@michaelwildsmith4446]

Andrew Baker you only have to post the wisdom once...not on every comment thread

[@maxpearce8333]

Literally about 2 people from London in this video, most of the people are from small towns

[@2112jonr]

@@maxpearce8333 Yep. Small home counties towns, like St. Alban's. Not a single local accent here.

[@2112jonr]

@@michaelwildsmith4446 They are all home counties accents. London, "init". Not Bristol at all.

[@poo123444]

Buce is a National Treasure and should be preserved for future generations, Any doubters should watch his boiler room set at dekmantle 2019

[@adambutler2465]

The ending was like an episode Nathan Barley

[@sidtaylor3005]

As a born and bred bristolian/somerset babber myself, there’s no mention of interviews with local legends like joker, Addison grove, hyetal, pinch, sepia, cartridge, koan sound, jakes, batu, kahn, appleblim, phaeleh, peveralist, buggsy or gemmy? More of them please 👍

[@JafuMusic]

Bucket list for sure

[@filipch.1021]

I Love Bristol.

[@moneymayhem2000]

18:40 littering

[@nekro9t2]

like an episode of Nathan Barley

[@juggernogjones6054]

Registered in the cook island

[@VTS1337]

the vocalist about 18 minutes in reminds me of noel fielding's character

[@dantheman81811]

38 years old and live in Bristol and always have. I respect what these kids are doing, but don't try and dress it up with a nice boiler room doc shooting a few moody slow mos in stokes croft. I was there for drive by, full cycle nights, deep.and dark, safe house, karanga plus all the smaller more niche experimental nights.....remember level, creation, arc bar and the thekla pre renovation? The fact is, I came to the party late. The truly amazing days were before I was raving. This lot seem to be very middle class and yeah as a lot of people have noted where are the bristolians?

[@firstrandom2732]

dantheman81811 👀 init!!!

[@2112jonr]

Agreed, all south eastern home counties accents. Not a single local accent amongst them. Real people please!

[@sidtaylor3005]

Arc bar was class!

[@philiplevins6702]

shout out to Smith and Mighty...

[@Rushupedge_]

12:10 rah mazza no one has ever done a party line b4

[@demianlara5909]

there is a Time Dance night in mexico city almost every 2months or so since a year and its such a pleasure to listen all kinds of sounds out of genres respect to all ya

[@harryfox105]

sick

[@MAKCYT]

is this a mistake in description? i couldn't find this track in google "E B U - Slivver - NoCorner - 2019"

[@teeteringonthebrink.305]

I heard a lot of blips and blops and hypnotic computerised sounds but nothing that could be construed as music, or anything creative or innovative. There were quite a lot of adverts in this and for once I was pleased - they were the best bits.

[@andrzejzielinski8002]

man i have to move there

[@sezjames2472]

Bristol = Pretentiousness heart of the UK

[@less._.7066]

Sadly I can't disagree

[@antifugazi]

My hometown, St Pauls/Montpelier raised.

[@Andrew-le4zq]

amazing doc

[@grindad230]

love this, love bristol, up the gas

[@drytoes4142]

alex brown up the City

[@Girlsplaybass]

Nope UTG

[@JohnDoe-dx7bu]

The Bristol music scene is currently underground from the gentrification of our homes, clubs, pubs, squats and music. This short uni drop out documentary represents the mainstream....

[@johnclapp8412]

What Bristol artists do you think they should have featured to be a true representation in your opinion?

[@hw305]

Also would be up for hearing some underground Bristol artists

[@gitbackmymushh06]

@@johnclapp8412 they should have interviewed the drum n bass legends of bristol or king aggi who was shottin crack nd shottin guns on his door step when these lot parents were studying social economics in uni hes now a bristol rapper there r much much more I guarantee u no1 from Bristol would relate 2 this

[@seanberry1911]

@@gitbackmymushh06 King Aggi is a Bristol legend but i'm not sure why you want him featured on a documentary about experimental music? The whole doc is about a small corner of music being made not a definitive history of music in the city.

[@flacey4880]

Whens next fight in st Paul then ??

[@Gotchaaaaaa]

Not Bristol. Utter bollocks.

[@sheehan102]

Fair play there were some good producers in this, but my god this does not represent Bristol. Some of the people In this were mad pretentious which really isn’t what the real Bristol is about. Also not one mention of blue mountain or Lakota!?

[@Nadoone]

Do they have lots of experimental nights at those clubs?

[@sheehan102]

Nadoone Jajaja yeah all sorts of DnB, phytrance, Tek, and a really sick vibe

[@mistermotivation2502]

Which “Bristol” is this?? Only thing I rated was seeing Bandulu 💯 - ShoutOut 2 Ghost & Boofy!!

[@tochn]

what a fuckin dope of an opening track haha pev is surely what i identify the sound of bristol as in terms of techno and dance music

[@Jungalist06]

The Briz music scheme has three foundations, Dub, DNB & House music. Only one of these was talked about on this vid. So many people getting it wrong when it comes to "Bristol's sound" its criminal.

[@dylanjones6312]

trust me

[@earthstick]

Jazz

[@EazZiB]

Melts

[@conorleech9087]

19.48 Is “having a conversation” the new way of saying let’s get a load of Garys and get minced to some of that mad shite down town ? Buzzing for my next conversation wink wink

[@tadaizm]

great film of great movement

[@eloyvderve]

I feel a bit sad seeing this being 'explained' on Boiler Room

[@kanjavisual357]

gentrification in process... just like Berlin, that culture will be devoured by the housing market. now adays Berlin is too expensive to experiment in. experimental ideas pushed outward, replaced by mainstream culture engineers. forced to either comply or dissolve.

[@James-ip8xs]

Where would you say is the creative hotspot in Germany then since Berlin is gentrified?

[@profoundbathroomgraffiti]

@@James-ip8xs nice try yuppie

[@crackthefoundation_]

a sad state of affairs.

[@guyvitelson4451]

THIS AINT BRISTOL

[@djriley1]

this aint bristol ... trust

[@davetaylor264]

how?

[@gitbackmymushh06]

@@davetaylor264 these lot even admit themselves they aren't from bristol the music scene in bristol is similar 2 early 2000s l8 90s east london with a lot of dnb ukg grime bassline these lot really really arent bristol maybe upper stokes Croft not bristol

[@dieglhix]

1:32 thelem sound

[@chriswinstone9322]

Shite! Wheres the wurzels mashup ark at eeeeeee!

[@mrtomas0990]

The cities all over south england/wales have a changed dynamic...uni kids

[@firstrandom2732]

**sits and watches whole video and see not 1 Bristol music artist I know 🙄🙄” 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@charlieharrison4659]

bet your into some reyt shite

[@johnclapp8412]

Which Bristol artists do you think they should have featured?

[@jayjay6706]

Charlie Harrison Haaaaaaaaaa

[@firstrandom2732]

Charlie Harrison what is reyt

[@jxsish]

Wheres the tek and breakcore?

[@SimpleLudus9]

Init

[@user-tm1bc5yu8p]

4:28 trackkk

[@blastradius7193]

Dubstep will eat itself yet DnB LIVES ETERNAL!

[@azizalaliq8]

Safe yeah safe

[@Rennscobar]

this is 30% Bristol, if that

[@KingJonty1]

Big up

[@olliehutchinson5327]

Siiiicccckkk.. WOOOOOOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHBRISTOL LUV!

[@DIRTY-MERLIN]

lovely. interesting. wish we got a snippet from kahn & neek but beggers cant be choosers

[@chef.ramesses]

Lol was waiting for this too, can't imagine they weren't reached out to

[@TheAnnoor]

Some of this music may be creative but is outright bizarre like everyone's crazy and mental

[@internetcommenter6145]

Track ID at 2:39?

[@willbingle4524]

Pinch - qawwali

[@2112jonr]

Sad that Marvin and his council side with developers and close down decades old music venues to keep their rich property developer buddies happy and richer. No allegations of back handers being made at all, let's just be clear on that. Allllllllll allegedly.

[@bigmoneysteppa]

Too much musical art come out of bristol.

[@BuiltbyF]

heh I'm in this a few times :)

[@definitepartymaterial]

👏👏👏

[@polaka311]

and what about Shackleton my dudes??

[@seanberry1911]

He doesn't live in Bristol?

[@AudiogameOfficial]

Massive Anyone can say to me what track is at 15:21 ? Really can’t recognize

[@emmetedz2109]

Audiogame Official tracks listed in credits,

[@thungiggs5475]

Noods!? 1020 has by far done way more for the scene and upcoming talent in Bristol, are way more open minded and give far more opportunities for learning djs and marginalised communities. Boiler room once again proving how out of touch they are these days, giving voice to what looks trendy, this. aint. Bristol

[@vajnazsombor9397]

real talk

[@charlieharrison4659]

lol

[@thungiggs5475]

@@charlieharrison4659 you do the Satsuma show on Noods so obviously Bias lol

[@conjurdubs]

Noods been around for a bit, so of course going to have established djs, where 1020 is really new, thus able to offer upcoming talent, some spots. Plus there is tons of overlap of peeps playing between both stations, and all pretty supportive of the same sounds across a million sub-genres. Don't think it's a competition, fam

[@conjurdubs]

I'd even venture to even say the 2 are the same. Same exact web design, tons of overlap (gonna heavy stress that one) similar design work. And it's not a competition, listen to both.

[@jamiejerome8429]

No Julio? 😤😤

[@jdillonone]

woah GG LIVES

[@fnuppyfnup]

Didn’t find anyone interesting. My main issue with the ‘scene’ in Bristol is ketamine zombies. Drugs drugs drugs. Doing and talking about drugs. End off. Sad and depressing

[@dimwit3006]

There are less ketheads than it seems, atleast in clubs

[@kanisbdg]

@@dimwit3006 Oh in clubs there's so many of them, I used to be one of them, haven't done anything since 2 years and honestly while rave time was such a good time of my life, it was also so dark seeing people getting lost in key holes and me myself getting very wasted one or two nights...

[@vasiliys5849]

добавьте субтитры

[@NO-fh8wm]

1:13

[@JimmyJammy97]

so uhh do you like whitehouse

[@GlobalJargen]

how did my man make a Bristol music doc and not cover the dnb scene

[@seanberry1911]

I'd love to see a doc about current Bristol DnB but this one doesn't claim to be about that. Not sure why everyone things it should be?

[@zarfb254]

Top cringe

[@freednb]

'influencer' 'mainstream-ification' 'keeping things IRL' jesus christ

[@hectormonroysalazar5305]

Ok ! There is a whole diversity of sounds (not) but don't be ungreatful, people know about Bristol because of MA and Portishead

[@wanderlusterer442]

Bristolians have always thought they were cool but I see the place with a stale music scene. All Hip Hop and D&B. A bit backwards for many years

[@Nadoone]

How is this about hip hop and d&b lol the majority of people in the comments are complaining that it's anything but that

[@CT-sy4wj]

Im being told by hipsters that ‘its not about being a hipster’ in Bristol.

[@lesula4373]

This comment section is hilarious

[@akasickform]

I'm weird and I make music.

[@earthstick]

Bristol is a bowl. A bowl of Muesli, once you take out all the fruits and nuts all you're left with is flakes.

[@halluciongen3000]

I tried to keep an open mind but it was hard finishing. I really tried.

[@Shaun-cf8mz]

Bristol no1 sound 1

[@SandandFriends]

Keep Bristol eco friendly and don’t throw fucking balloons in the sky

[@mohammedatif924]

I'm born in bristol. I can honestly say this city is sugar coated to the max. People are weird, fake and on drugs. This is not the bristol I remember. If you want real people and a good music party scene live in Manchester, and if you support multiculturalism to. Trust me manny is way better than bristol, cheaper, bigger, better.

[@Lizardking420]

Well this completely patronised our city, we love music, not leftist hipster tendencies... not all of us do £500 of ket and then go back to daddy’s flat in Redcliffe which he bought for me to “find” myself in Bristol.

[@johnclapp8412]

You love ‘your’ city so much you use the Birmingham area code as your name on KZbin? Whilst I’m here can you point me in the direction of some good right wing music? You seem to be alluding to its existence in your original post 🤔

[@johnclapp8412]

The original comment is dumb, and doesn’t bare any resemblance to the truth. Who do you think they should have featured in a documentary about experimental in Bristol?

[@johnclapp8412]

So people like Boofy and Kahn aren’t from Bristol? I’ll ask again, what artists in your opinion should have been featured?

[@maxventuri-sn2mi]

Who are these london hipsters

[@PepsisElectronicMusic]

Non of the cool kids want to play with me

[@austinkirley714]

not really enough about the normal Bristolian joining with the constant presence of diverse cultures in oppressed areas making collectives/soundsystems/venues. You could of looked at real heart of Bristol in St.Pauls or Stokescroft and focused on the diverse range of ravers and creators that are from this place or love playing this place!

[@spongeofsteel01]

Why should they? That's a dying part of Bristol culture. Bristol used to be a haven and new home for families like mine moving in from places like Jamaica, Somalia and Poland etc etc. But that was the past sadly. Inner Bristol neighbourhoods where I grew up, today are just for typical upper class, white hippy types who's parents will bankroll them to live in this city. Lets face it, these rich white kiddos from the home counties are now the new face of Bristol's culture sadly.

[@biffybiggins7211]

I'm pretty new to Bristol what collectives/soundsystems/venues should I check out once corona is over?

[@foql4975]

NOODS RADIO

[@rollerstreeteur]

Oi

[@Rennscobar]

looool this is very questionable

[@louiag8908]

Yet another video about creatives that don’t represent Bristol at all.... such a shame.

[@bensteiner7507]

This film achieves the almost impossible feat of making Bristol appear to be populated entirely by wankers.

[@loveulez]

It's difficult to remember it isn't