Three Days of Trance at Document – Event Review
Written by Ben Ireland / TEC STAKR 
When you think of the electronic music scene in Bristol, you’re likely to think of the House, UK Garage and Drum & Bass events that are a mainstay of the city’s nightlife culture. The festival scene reflects this as well, with worldwide acts visiting and performing throughout the year, alongside the thriving base of local talent that make the city a standout in these genres.
It’s safe to say, however, that trance has its place in Bristol, with a dedicated fan base showing their numbers when world class events take place in the city. When I say world class, that means names like Paul Van Dyk, Armin Van Buuren, Ferry Corsten & Markus Schulz as headliners. That’s not to mention the other big names at these events, which we’ll get in to.
Regular visitors to Bristol will know that there’s no shortage of outstanding venues, from small club spaces, to large warehouses and open-air amphitheatres.
Document manages to fit into all of these categories, where high level production meets the feeling of an intimate club venue, without compromising on either approach. Whether you want a late-night out with sweat hanging from the ceiling or prefer having your head out in the sun, you’re likely to find an event that suits your taste.
I was lucky to attend three trance events at Document this year, with the line-ups curated bringing a different identity each time.
- Document presents: SHINE Bristol ft Paul van Dyk (14th February)
- Document presents: Armin van Buuren [3 Hour Set] (22nd May)
- Document Open Air Presents: TRANCECODA Ferry Corsten b2b Markus Schulz (25th July)
It’s a real credit to the team behind the venue that they are able to host events of such calibre, but with their experience of running Motion and the Marble Factory, this should come as no surprise. It wasn’t just the line-ups that brought a unique identity to each event either: with different spaces, both indoor and outdoor, each event brought a different vibe to Document.
The venue itself is understated, but serves as a good canvas for promoters: you know something’s being done right with the level of bookings happening at the place.
Local Support
We’ll get to the headliners in a minute, but one thing you’ll notice on any of the line-ups at these events is that the support and development of local talent is of paramount importance. It’s clear to see with such a healthy scene in Bristol why promoters continue to do this. With programmes like Momentum showcasing talent at Document and local promoters like Beat Lab Chicago being trusted with hosting stages, there’s a real base for growth here.
An example of that is NEDJ, who opened the night at Armin van Buuren’s event. Ned brought a lot of energy early on, which given his time slot at 7pm was not an easy task. Fans of that 90s progressive trance sound from the old Platipus Records releases or modern labels like Neptune Discs will appreciate the driving, high energy vibe he brings to the dancefloor in his selection.
I asked him how he felt his set went after opening at Document:
‘So that was actually a big milestone for me – I’ve never played on a stage that big before and opening the main stage at Document for the Armin Van Buuren event was a real pinch-me moment that I’m incredibly grateful for! Knowing I was playing first I wanted to pay tribute to the various flavours of trance, squeezing in elements of psy, acid, prog and melodic throughout the set. I was super nervous as I didn’t know how the crowd might react and if they were expecting something different but I was happy with their response, seeing plenty of smiling faces and dancing feet! I had a brilliant time, and it was super exciting to be handing the reins over to GIA and seeing her smash her set too. I’ll be riding the high of this night for some time, though it’s also been a powerful tool to reflect and think about what I want to improve upon – production mostly’.
Ned also paid credit to the support from local initiatives in the Bristol scene which have played such a part in his development:
‘I’d like to add a shoutout to Hayliegh and the Momentum crew too as they’re providing DJs like myself exciting opportunities to play, whilst expanding upon the myriad of genres Bristol already has to offer and building the next wave of upcoming artists to watch.’
You can find NEDJ on Instagram here.
The same goes for local rising star GIA. I’ve attended a few of her sets over the past couple of years and it’s clear why she continues to appear on more and more club and festival bookings in the UK and abroad – recent sets at Rong Open Air Festival in Malta and Luminosity Beach Festival in The Netherlands speak to that. If you first heard trance during the golden age of the late 90s to the early 00s, you can expect a set of that calibre from her, whether she’s playing tracks of that era, modern releases in the a similar spirit, or her own productions. Her two Document sets were no exception, with a round of applause coming from the local crowd at both.
Recently signed to Armada Music, playing before Armin was of particular significance. I asked her how she prepared for her set:
‘Supporting Armin van Buuren was a dream of mine so my main focus was to make sure the set reflected my own sound and identity while still complimenting the overall night.
I always prepare a playlist beforehand in case I have some brain freeze moments and I can’t think because of nerves but when I got there I knew for a fact the crowd wanted proper trance so that is what I gave them, ha ha!’
Being local to Bristol, I also asked what she made of the crowd’s reaction to her set:
‘Unreal. I wasn’t expecting the dance floor to fill as quickly as it did. I felt the energy build instantly and I really connected with the crowd. I’m Bristol born and bred so I always love playing in my city, for me that was probably my favourite Bristol show to date.’
Getting to perform at such a well established local venue, as local artist, certainly left an impression:
‘I’ve played at Document a few times throughout my career but this one was special. I feel like it was a really proud moment for me and my parents came along too. As a Bristolian female trance DJ and producer, opportunities like this represent years of dedication to a scene that some argue doesn’t actually exist in Bristol. It was an experience that reinforced my beliefs.’
While the big names might draw the upfront ticket sales, its worth getting down early to support the highly talented local acts, which Bristol has no shortage of. You might find your next favourite DJ.
You can find GIA on Instagram here.
I also spoke to Your Mate Chez, resident DJ of Beat Lab Chicago, who was involved in the hosting of the second stage at both the SHINE and Trancecoda events. Like Ned, he gave a nod to Momentum’s involvement in the local scene:
‘Momentum has been so much more than just an events brand to me, it’s become a genuine family. It’s built around a strong local community of like-minded people who all share the same passion for music, creativity, and supporting one another. From the very beginning, it’s created an environment where everyone is encouraged to get involved, develop their skills, and be part of something bigger than themselves.’
This support was reflected in their opportunities at Document:
‘One of the biggest opportunities it’s given us has been the chance to showcase Beat Lab Chicago as a supporting stage alongside some of the biggest artists, collectives, and labels in the electronic music scene. To be able to do that at one of Bristol’s most respected and iconic venues has been an incredible experience and something I’m genuinely proud to be a part of. Those opportunities have helped us gain valuable experience while introducing Beat Lab Chicago to a much wider audience. ‘
Chez emphasises though that it’s not just about the gigs, but the work that goes on in the background that makes things happen:
‘Beyond the events themselves, Momentum has invested in the people behind the scenes through educational workshops, industry insights, and opportunities to learn from others with real experience. Those sessions have helped me develop not only my understanding of music and events, but also my confidence, creativity, and connections within the local scene.’
All together, this brings the local scene together at these events:
‘What stands out most, though, is the sense of community. Some of my favourite memories this year have come from Momentum events and spending time with the Momentum family. It’s a group of people who genuinely want to see each other succeed, celebrate each other’s achievements, and create unforgettable experiences together.’
You can find Your Mate Chez on Instagram here.
I think what this shows is that venues like Document, even with world class bookings, still serve as an important platform for the local scene in Bristol and underline why events like this can happen in the first place.
The Events
On to the headliners, you were spoiled for choice if you’re a trance fan. Of the three events, I think SHINE brought the best experience at Document. This was my first impression of the venue and of all of the events I attended it was certainly my favourite in terms of line-up, programming and the use of the event space.
Aly & Fila, Cosmic Gate, John O’Callaghan and up-and-comer Modea joined Paul van Dyk for a day-to-night show made for a proper journey through trance. Even with the early start at 2pm, the 3000+ capacity venue was packed within a few hours.
Aly & Fila’s set was certainly a standout, especially for fans of their own productions or the trademark uplifting sound they bring with their label Future Sound Of Egypt. Full credit to Fadi at the controls for this one.
From an afternoon slot with SHINE, to an evening slot with Armin van Buuren, this was a unique experience in that it was his Bristol debut, quite hard to believe after over 3 decades of touring! A debut of this scale brought the Bristol fans in their numbers, and while his sound has changed over the years, leaning more into melodic techno, he brought elements of that classic trance sound to the night. He was also joined on stage by vocalist SACHA for live renditions of their tracks, which was a real highlight, reminiscent of Jan Johnston or Justine Suissa from back in the day.
Trancecoda’s outdoor event at Document also had a packed line-up from start to finish, with Ferry Corsten & Markus Schulz joined by Bryan Kearney, Gabriel & Dresden and Amy Wiles. Being out in the summer sun was a nice change from the two indoor events, with no less production as the courtyards were filled with sound and lighting.
I’ve only had the opportunity to see Amy Wiles perform live twice, including this event, but she always seems to deliver a compelling set of uplifting and progressive trance, especially for fans of Anjuna’s 138+ catalogue. Hearing Nitrous Oxide’s track Stardust played out on a big speaker stack was excellent, so cheers Amy for that.
Bryan Kearney was on top form as ever and was certainly my favourite set from the main stage. His energy management through his sets makes for a properly good dance session, which was especially enjoyable in the evening sun in Document’s courtyard.
Local promoter Beat Lab Chicago were in charge of the second stage at both the SHINE and Trancecoda events, and despite the tough competition on the main bills, they managed to keep a healthy crowd at both. Bringing house and hard-house vibes to both events and a full line-up of local DJs, I found a lot of new talent worth following.
The Venue
As for the venue itself, first impressions of Document don’t reveal much: housed in the industrial developments of St Jude’s, you’ll be met with the understated red brick entryway along Pennywell Road, with only the iconic logotype at the front giving it away. As the name would suggest, Document is the site of a repurposed storage facility, and bar the signage, you’d be forgiven for thinking that’s still the case from the outside. Making your way through to the venue itself, however, reveals a different story.
You’ll be quickly through security. Even at large events like this, getting through took no time at all. You’ll be greeted by plenty of familiar faces on the security team if you’ve attended other events in the city.
Once through the main gates, you’ll find the main courtyard area. This serves as the main stage area for the outdoor events, as well as access to Facility, the main indoor event space. Facility, being the main body of the venue, is a wide open space, with the stage up front alongside the sound system, lasers and lighting system. The laser array is particularly impressive, they certainly haven’t cut short on the production quality at Document, which is a must when hosting world-class events like these.
The sound system itself is deep and rumbling, which I imagine is fitting for the bass music so popular in the city, but it delivered for trance as well, as long as it isn’t running too hot. You can grab ear plugs at the bar, but I’d recommend bringing your own – hearing protection is a must, especially if you like being up front amongst it!
The bars flank either side of the main room and, despite the size of the crowd in attendance, I had no issue with service during any of the events I attended. The toilet facilities at the edges of the venue are similarly easy to access. The bar staff are friendly and are obviously real enthusiasts of the music scene here, and that goes for the other team members on site as well.
As with any indoor event, it can get packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the middle of the dancefloor at Document pretty quickly, but you can easily make your way to the sides of the stage, where you’ll likely meet other enthusiastic dancers looking for extra room to throw shapes. Being slightly oblique to the speakers also makes it a bit easier to talk and not be overwhelmed by the sheer loudness of the system. The organisers do however seem to make good allowances for space at Document, with none of the events feeling oversold.
Record serves as Room 2 in the main building, but while being the smaller of the two spaces, it’s certainly not lacking, with a capable sound system and a bar present, offering a welcome break from Facility during busy events.
The outdoor spaces are rough and ready, being in an old industrial space, but with the production teams behind Document, Louder and Trancecoda on hand, they were able to fit out the stages with sound and lighting to transform each area into impressive performance areas. Most importantly, there’s plenty of room to dance.
Crowd Impressions
Typical of most trance events, you can expect a generally older crowd in attendance, but the newer generation of upcoming DJs and producers shows that trance still has relevance to younger audiences, so there was a healthy balance across each event. Bristol’s friendly reputation was on full display from the locals in attendance every time, as well as a few folks from further afield making the trip, given the level of talent on each bill. Everyone was there with the right mindset – to go out and have fun.
As always with dance music events nowadays, you have a mix of dancers, non-dancers and phone fanatics, but my impression from these events was that the Bristol trance scene draws the right balance of crowd. You’ll see plenty of screens up during the big anthems – myself included, guilty – but it never detracted from the atmosphere at any of the events. Anyone who knows me knows I love a good hard dancing session and I found plenty of company who shared the same enthusiasm at Document.
Ultimately, while other genres might have a bigger presence in the city, Bristol still manages to draw a good crowd for trance, especially if venues like Document continue to facilitate it.
Conclusion
Document isn’t quite a club venue, nor is it a glamorous festival stage, but it offers something unique in the middle that makes it an attractive venue for promoters and punters alike. The amount of international headliners in attendance, as well as stacked local line-ups, points to that.
There’s a healthy electronic music scene in Bristol, so whether trance is to your taste or you prefer something else, the venue is definitely worth checking out if you’re in town. If you’re there for the music, to have a dance and to have a good time, you’ll not go wrong there.
Written by Ben Ireland / TEC STAKR. You can find him on Instagram here and Soundcloud here. You can buy tickets to his debut trance event in Bangor here.
