Catch-it-while-you-can venue brings cutting edge sound to historic setting

The site of a former sawmill in east Bristol that is scheduled for imminent development is being put to good use while it’s still standing.

Two of the city’s leading independent music venues have joined forces to turn the disused space in St Jude’s into a unique catch-it-while-you-can cultural destination.

Sawmills has a full run of live music and club events programmed from March to May this year – photo: Chris Cooper / Shotaway

It has already hosted a number of secret-location pop-up parties including an Alfresco Disco all-dayer, and now the teams at the Jam Jar and the Underground are going public with a full programme to make the most of the space while they can.

With seven warehouses and expansive outdoor areas the site, which boasts remaining historical features including the 200 year old stone walls of a former tannery, is currently considered Bristol’s largest independent run open-air venue.

“This site is truly a dream come true and represents a once in a lifetime opportunity here in a rapidly transforming city,” said Hadie Abido, co-founder of the Jam Jar.

“It’s an expansive labyrinth of post industrial charm, with hidden nooks and crannies all over. Each of its large warehouse spaces has its own character and represents another era of history.

“We are dedicated to celebrating this history and bringing it to life through the events we run here.”

The buildings, a significant marker of Bristol’s industrial history, are due for demolition to make way for a largescale housing development – photo: Chris Cooper / Shotaway

While stepping into Sawmills, the team says, is like stepping back in time, they have invested in a cutting-edge sound system described as “the best fully horn loaded system in the world”.

Road tested at European festivals including Fusion and used in-house at Berlin’s Tresor nightclub, it’s the first time a Lambda Labs QX3 system has been installed in the UK.

“We’ve brought in world-class sound because that’s the foundation of everything we do,” said Joel Williams, the Jam Jar’s co-founder.

“The Lambda Labs system transforms the space into a truly physical listening experience — it’s not just loud, it’s detailed, dynamic and emotional. Don’t miss your chance to hear it here.”

The site will be used for clubnights, festivals and day parties for as long as the developers, who have planning permission for 352 homes and commercial space, allow – photo: Chris Cooper / Shotaway

The site is due for imminent demolition to make way for a housing complex of 352 new homes in 19 storey high tower blocks as well as commercial space, a gym, a cinema and private dining rooms.

Until then, developers PLATFORM_ have agreed for the site to be used in line with the area’s burgeoning cultural scene which, alongside the Jam Jar, features alt-creative space Club395, Shangri-La run Lost Horizon, warehouse venue the Boxing Gym and a number of music oriented pubs including the Crown, the Swan with Two Necks and the Volunteer.

Working with both local independent promoters and global names, a series of spring-to-summer events are planned that will bring crowds upwards of 4,000 into the site.

American folk duo Nora Brown and Stephanie Coleman played live to a sold-out Sawmills crowd at the end of last year – photo: Chris Cooper / Shotaway

Kicking off the event series, Brown Excellence join forces with Kesh for a night of high energy global club sounds on March 6, and world renowned Latin American folktronica producer El Buho drops in, with support from Dengue Dengue Dengue, the following week.

Sawmills makes a high profile addition to May’s Jam on the Horizon festival, hosting headliners Quantic and Zero 7, and the Lost Track of Time party brings in international names including Groove Armada, Ross from Friends and Crazy P.

Brown Excellence’s night Hush makes a return to Sawmills in March – photo: Khali Ackford

Tom Hodgeson, the brain behind Alfresco Disco who established Galleries carpark-come-club the Underground as one of the city’s most hyped new venues, is looking forward to the events to come:

“After four incredible years at the Underground we were determined to find a new space with as much character and potential,” he said.

“Sawmills is exactly that and having access to this extraordinary site ahead of its development is a real privilege.

“We’re beyond excited to be working with the Jam Jar to programme and produce a diverse range of events in what is set to become Bristol’s most versatile and exciting space.”

Find the full programme of events at sawmills.space/whats-on

Main image: Kayleigh Bicknell @12kmedia

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