Dive Into Bristol's Legendary Jungle Beats: A Drum & Bass Time Capsule

A new exhibition called This Is Jungle Takeover has opened at the Royal West of England Academy in Bristol, and it will be open until 28 June. This exhibition explores the history and influence of Bristol's jungle and drum and bass music scene, which began in the late 1980s. The display shows how Bristol and the southwest of England played a big role in making jungle music popular, not just in London but also across Europe. Visitors can see a variety of items from the past 30 years, including album covers, flyers, photographs, and other memorabilia that celebrate the people who helped build Bristol's drum and bass scene.

One of the curators, Flynn Ites, who is also known as DJ Flynnites, explained that when Bristol DJs started playing outside their city, their creative energy and unique style caught on with people in other places. He said that Bristol was a very special and unique place in the late 80s and early 90s, before the internet made it easy to share music. Back then, only a few people knew how different Bristol was, and you had to really love the music to be part of the scene. This gave musicians, artists, and other creative people the freedom to experiment and develop their own styles.

Another curator, Kirk Thompson, also known as DJ Krust, said his brother Gary Thompson came up with the idea for the exhibition. Kirk pointed out that many people contributed to the culture, not just the musicians. Photographers, radio stations, and label owners also played important roles. The exhibition aims to highlight the history and the pioneers of the scene, especially from the southwest's point of view. It also looks forward, showing how the ideas and creativity from the past can inspire future generations. The exhibition is a celebration of Bristol's unique contribution to music and encourages people to learn about and be inspired by the city's musical history.