A guide to Bristol's biggest NYE 2018 club nights
Posted on: 02 Dec 2018Ah, New Year's Eve. A chance for many of us to see out the year with friends and family, looking back on fond memories of the past 12 months and looking ahead to an exciting new start. Or, for the rest of us, a chance to have it off with our mates in a dingy club setting for the last time in 2018 and get the new year off to a flyer. Bristol is, of course, playing host to a huge range of NYE parties this year, ranging from unmissable drum n bass to all-star house and techno lineups, a very special edition of the infamous Ramshackle, an exclusive soiree at Ashton Court Mansion and everything in between. Check out all the details below and get your tickets sorted early - chances are they won't be around for long.
UK DnB frontrunners The Blast are back at it again this New Year's Eve, teaming up with Motion for the third time in the 2018 In:Motion series to put together what is certain to be the hardest NYE event in Bristol this year. Fronted by the in-demand Hannah Wants and Bristol favourite Redlight, this one will also see Sub Focus headline The Marble Factory, flanked by the likes of Jungle Warriors, a huge b2b set from TC & Annix, Critical Impact, Unglued and many more. Put simply, Bristol's massive drum n bass contingent needs look no further than this when looking for a venue to see out the year.
If drum n bass isn't your thing, Motion have, as always, got you covered. Their annual New Year's Day shindig always attracts some of the world's most in-demand house, techno and disco DJs and this year's is no different. With uplifting selectors like The Black Madonna and Hunee appearing alongside the supremely talented Palms Trax and a smattering of renowned Bristol talent like Timedance boss Batu and Motion residents Em Williams and Ellie Stokes, there'll be no better way to kickstart 2019 than a day & night party at Bristol's most established club venue.
NYE at the Lakota Complex: Dispatch NYE//The NYE Spectacular
If Motion doesn't really appeal, fear not: Lakota have come through with a New Year's Eve tale of two parties this year that sees drum n bass connoisseurs Dispatch Recordings take over the main building while Crazy P take care of the Coroner's Court and the Stokes Croft Beer Garden as part of Viva La Disco's NYE Spectacular. Dispatch's concentrated lineup will see some massive talent descend on the club on the night with heavyweight Dub Phizix set to headline, while the Coroner's Court party will be soundtracked by party purveyors Alfresco Disco, the Dance Class Soundsystem and, of course, the immeasurable expertise of Crazy P.
Back To The Future NYE @ The Bridewell Complex
New Year's Eve, for many, represents the closing of some doors and the opening of others, and Timewarp have taken the latter literally this year and organised a huge event that utilises the space of SEVEN establishments in the Bridewell Complex. The list of venues is made up of The Old Crown Courts, The Island, The Fire Station, Laser Quest, The Shed, The Café and the YMCA, all connected by a huge outdoor courtyard space. Of course no event of this magnitude would be complete without a killer lineup, and the organisers have been all too happy to oblige, welcoming Bryan Gee, Ed Solo, Benny Page, Buckfast Boys Club, Ray Keith and many, many more to the range of themed spaces. There won't be a party like this one in Bristol for a very long time so get yourself a ticket while you still can!
Circo Bizerko @ The Loco Klub
Huge beats and mind-blowing visuals await at The Loco Klub's Circo Bizerko New Year's Eve party. Revisiting the summer of love in eclectic day-glo style, The Invisible Circus are set to bring their truly unique brand of party to The Loco Klub this New Year's Eve. With Altern8 set to take revellers through thirty years of rave music backed up by a stellar lineup made up of both established and upcoming artists, this one is likely to be one of the biggest events the venue has ever seen.
New Year's Eve Tracksuit Takeover @ Ashton Court Mansion
Many of us like to think outside the box when New Year's rolls around, opting for the more obscure parties in favour of another night at your regular haunts in the hope that you'll end up having a real night to remember. A Tracksuit Takeover party at Ashton Gate Mansion may just be exactly what the doctor ordered, run by Junior Jungle and welcoming Oh My God It's The Church, The Correspondents, Slamboree Soundsystem and more to the stately country house in Ashton Gate. With seven hours of top-drawer tunes and a free glass of champagne on entry, who could say no?
Prehistoric Pop Party @ Thekla
If cheesy tunes are your thing, look no further than Thekla this New Year's Eve. Those of you familiar with the now-defunct Thekla Thursdays know that Bristol's only water-borne club venue know how to party, and this themed affair is set to be business as usual. Fully decorated in Prehistoric attire and employing a Prehistoric-style fancy dress policy on the night, the Thekla team fully expect you to leave your inhibitions at the door and get down in one of the most unique parties on the Bristol New Year's calendar.
New Year's Eve 2018-19 @ Blue Mountain
Blue Mountain have decided to go all out this year for their New Year's party this year: a no-holds-barred, all-out free-for-all that absolutely personifies the club's identity. Kicking off at 12 midday on Sunday 31st December, the event is set to welcome more than 50 artists to bring the vibes to three spaces for 18 - yes, 18 - hours of dance. If you want nothing more from New Year's Eve 2018 than to get as loose as possible in the company of some top-notch electronic music artists at one of Bristol's favourite underground venues, get yourself a ticket for this one. Huge, huge respect from all of us in the 365Bristol office if you can last the full 18h.
Ultimate Power NYE @ The Fleece
As the name suggests, The Fleece's 2018 New Year's plans are set to be full of the biggest power-ballads of all time, so rest assured that you'll get what you're after if you're looking for somewhere to let loose and sing your heart out as you ring in the new year. Expect to hear some of the greatest tunes of all time from the likes of Queen, Bon Jovi, Meatloaf, Whitesnake, Bonnie Tyler, Phil Collins and many, many more all night long at one of the city's loudest NYE parties.
Ramshackle: Decades NYE Party @ O2 Academy Bristol
As one of Bristol's best-loved club nights Ramshackle had to go all-out for their 2018 New Year's party, and they've certainly delivered. Let them transport you back to the 70s and take you on a musical journey through the biggest, best and most euphoric tracks of every decade up to now and take you on an adventure through music like no other! Expect a wide range of tunes from The Jackson 5, David Bowie, Eminem, Massive Attack, Chic, Drake, Oasis, Run DMC and many, many more as you see out this year and kickstart 2019 in style.
Have we missed your event from our list? Or are you going to one that we've forgotten? Let us know via our contact page! For more information on individual events or to book your tickets, follow the links in the headings to the respective parties. Otherwise, happy booking and Happy New Year!
Article by:
Editor - 365Bristol.com & LOUD Magazine
Matt is a Journalism graduate and writer, passionate about supporting Bristol music, art and independent business. Get in touch via email at matt@365bristol.com.
