Bethany Ley & ELDON (live debut)
Bethany Ley is a visionary producer and multi-instrumentalist, focussing on weightless, intricate wormhole sonics merging organic and synthetic worlds by utilising vocals, electric harp and colourful electronics. Paired with Cold Light’s wise spoken-word rhythmist, ELDON will be supplying his hazy, glitched-out beats and meditative jazzed-out rap. Kickstarting festivities, they’ll be debuting their first ever live collaboration at our opening event at The Cube.
Evo Ethel (live)
Merging elements of musique concrète and electroacoustic experimentation, Bristol-based-Welsh sound artist Evo Ethel (of Ex Agent, Foot Foot, and Zalizo) presents a new improvised solo performance at En Masse. Their work combines acoustic instrumentation and field recordings which are looped and processed electronically to create obscured industrial soundscapes that explore themes of refuge and peril.
Kahn & Autumns (live debut)
Bandulu Records’ Kahn steps into super rare live mode territory in collaboration with Derby’s electronic post-punkstar, Autumns. Revisiting punk and sound system culture’s shared heritage, this is a collaboration we are truly excited to present - raw acid-dub, rattling technoid-steppas and goth EBM in the arches of Loco Klub.
Vanessa Bedoret (live)
A London-based French violinist, vocalist and composer with releases on Scenic Route and other DIY labels. Her style melds hypnotic melodies, beguiling modern classical, whispers of black metal and sleek dark ambient. As well as her solo work, she accompanied Astrid Sonne for her Great Doubt’s tour in 2023 & 2024.
Silver Waves Trio (live)
Silver Waves is the project of Dylan Mallett, an experimental musician and producer who explores abstracted narratives and sounds derived from the unconventional use of traditional instrumentation. At En Masse, Silver Waves performs in trio formation for the first time, collaborating with bassist Jo Kelly and percussionist Dan Johnson.
Batu & CCL
En Masse’s founder and Bristol stalwart Batu returns to the festival, joined by Berlin resident CCL for a b2b set. CCL’s affinity with Bristol is long standing as they briefly lived in the city in Dubstep’s heyday, setting them on a path to their kinetic bass driven sound which encompasses their sets to this day. Their intuitive and widereaching approach to DJing embraces chaos in synergy with groove. This is Batu & CCL’s second b2b, and after a successful debut in Detroit the two are ready to let rip on Sinai for the closing set of Friday night, stay late for this one!
Patrick Russell
Detroit-born and New York-based Patrick Russell is a low-key and legendary DJ and producer who has been active since the early 90s, known as a key figure in the legendary No Way Back parties alongside Carlos Souffrant & Scott Zacharias. En Masse will mark Patrick’s first (?!) ever Bristol appearance. We can't wait to welcome his mesmerising and patient mixing style of raw, wormhole techno, lush IDM and mutant drum and bass into the depths of Green Works.
Azu Tiwaline & Forest Drive West (live debut)
With a debut EP released together on Livity Sound earlier this year, Azu Tiwaline & Forest Drive West will be premiering their first ever live collaboration on Sinai Sound System, a project which is an ode to spatial and intricate dub minimalism and brain-tickling techno. Taking inspiration from Azu’s Tunisian heritage and Forest Drive West’s roaring dnb past histories.
Mish
An unsung hero of Bristol’s underground, Mish (Noods Radio) makes his first appearance at En Masse with his down-tempo psychedelic sludge and sci-fi ambient atmospheres. We can only expect something special from his 2 hour opening set, putting Sinai to the test with brooding dub mutations and amphibious slime.
Steevio & Suzybee (live AV)
Steevio and Suzybee will be performing a live AV transcendence of psychedelic, and jazz-influenced techno. Steevio’s organic and complex probability-based, modular patterns feel precise yet loose, accompanied by Suzybee’s pure illustrations which take inspiration from the Welsh countryside that they call home.
Tina Hitchens (live)
Bristol-based noise-maker and Brunswick Club’s Tina Hitchens will be performing live improvisational styles of eerie electronics, FX, field recordings and delicate flute compositions. She is known for her involvement with Viridian Ensemble, Bristol’s legendary collective which advocates for womxn in the experimental arts scene.
Paquita Gordon
Paquita Gordon has been a crucial resident for Italy’s Terraforma festival, helping to determine and transform its sonic narrative over the last few years, with sets that are both mind-bending and earnest. Her boundless collection of records can fleet in between - but not limited to - intricate, lower-tempo percussion, hazy rock mutations and dusty, drumless techno to lucid drum and bass, roaring acid and trip-hop.
Sunun (live)
Known for her beautifully crafted EPs on Bokeh Versions and Idle Hands, Sunun's live sets combine Dub Mixing with her own mystic creations. Inspired by 70s Reggae, RnB and Grime, she creates a future facing sound, full of mediative atmospheres, grounded in the humanness of her voice and sub bass. This will be Sunun’s first solo live show in Bristol since her recent hiatus.
Jon K
Jon K and the term “DJ’s DJ” are synonymous at this point. The Manchester legend (now London-resident) has gone through many musical eras; through mid 90s Manchester raves, helping to break Equiknoxx into Europe, and his deep and diverse NTS Shows. Jon has the ability to play almost anything, and follow almost anyone, whilst still retaining his own sound and identity, a craft 30 years in the making. A DJ of this status deserves the red carpet treatment, so with this in mind Jon will play the final slot at Strange Brew, our spiritual home.
R.E.D
Bristol-based and Welsh native R.E.D (Red Waxxx) has delivered diverse sets at UNFOLD, Creatures and Fabric to spellbinding effect as well as explorative mixes on Cozi, The Lot Radio and Plantera. R.E.D will be on opening proceedings for our closing event at Strange Brew with her progressive styles of leftfield techno, experimental and wormhole percussion.