Bristol the DnB capital of the country: Increasing represention in Bristol’s DnB scene

Bristol is famous for its Drum and Bass music scene, something which students and other Bristol residents have enjoyed for years. However, DnB is still heavily male-dominated and often events do not feel like safe places for marginalised students. Queer, female and ethnic minority artists are plentiful in Bristol and it’s thanks to event collectives like Full Spectrum that their talents are put centre stage.

Full Spectrum is a collective of friends: Ffi, Kate, Al, Sal, and Row, seeking to break the mould of typical DnB events. They provide an alternative to the “lad culture” of DnB.

“We wanted to create a space for those looking to discover artists outside of the predominantly cis white male setting,” collaborator Kate told us.

They believe the secret to a diverse, representative DnB scene in Bristol is DIY events and opportunities. Underground collectives and artists are at the forefront of re-diversifying DnB, a genre which has its origins in the Jungle scene of the mid-90s.

Sal told us: “During the pandemic, lots of labels made promises about how they’d do things differently once venues opened up again, but unfortunately not much has changed and big label lineups continue to be unrepresentative of the scene. 

“I think what this means though, is that it has allowed space for collectives like Full Spectrum to grow, and I’m excited to see more and more diversity coming from the underground.

“I hope we see more DIY events and more opportunities to foster new talent.”

Credit: Libby Smith

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Full spectrum works with “artists that are already playing an active role in promoting diversity within the scene.” Ensuring their events are safe spaces for all with their strong values of respect and no discrimination. 

They also use “Safer Spaces” an organisation that provides specialist training to handle sexual violence at events and festivals.

Students may perceive certain barriers to attending DnB events in Bristol “You can’t be what you can’t see” is a quote the members of Full Spectrum live by.

“If you’re female, poc or queer, feeling unrepresented on lineups can feel like a barrier as it can often feel like the event isn’t aimed for you despite loving the music,” Ffi tells us.

Money is also a huge barrier to event entry, students often do not have a spare £20 to fork out. “As we all know, money can be a huge barrier in properly immersing yourself in a scene you want to get involved with! We firmly believe keeping ticket prices as low as possible helps people attend nights more frequently and make the most of what Bristol’s underground scene has to offer.”

Credit: Libby Smith

Vispera, up and coming artist and University of Bristol alumni, told us: “If you’re studying in Bristol and have found yourself falling in love with the city’s bursting underground scene, you really need to come and experience a Full Spectrum rave!

“Back when I was at uni despite loving what the Bristol DnB scene had to offer, it was severely lacking in terms of representation. How happy was I to find Full Spectrum where the music, vibes and community was on point! 

“Students should come if they want to experience the upper echelons of Drum and Bass in a beautiful, vibrant setting with plenty of raw female power. Full Spectrum gave me my first proper booking as an MC, so it is very special to me they are hosting the Bristol leg of my EDEN EP tour

“I’m all about empowering women in the scene and the Full Spectrum stage is the perfect place to see the magic of what Drum and Bass can offer with a wide array of tunes and talent.”

For students interested in getting more involved in Bristols student DnB scene Vispera says “Make your way to open decks/mic nights as often as you can (like To the Moon!), go to Pirate Studios for a mix, join relevant societies, come to events like Full Spectrum and support the independent nights. 

“You’re far more likely to meet people and make strong connections and see the best up and coming acts by going to these nights rather than the 1000+ people raves at bigger venues, plus support for the underground scene is vital in today’s climate! 

“Put energy and love into the scene and it will come back round, and make sure you’re having fun with it too.”

Full Spectrum’s next club night is at The Crown on Saturday 21st September – Vispera’s Eden EP Tour – Bristol.

Featured image via Libby Smith

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