Ishmael Ensemble
(DJ Set)

Pete Cunningham, the producer, saxophonist, and bandleader behind Bristol’s acclaimed Ishmael Ensemble, has long been just as comfortable behind the decks as on stage. Rooted in the UK’s rich electronic tradition, his DJ sets weave together leftfield electronica, house, cosmic jazz, psychedelic dub, and 20 years of Bristol club culture.

Before forming Ishmael Ensemble, Cunningham came up through the South West’s rave scene, spinning regularly at warehouse parties and quarry raves as a young teen before moving to Bristol during the city’s dubstep heyday, with parties like Pinch’s monthly Dubloaded becoming a huge influence on his own musical journey. These formative experiences cemented a style that bends genre boundaries and infused a spirit that continues to define his DJ sets today.