Industry Insights: ESO

By Resonate | June 4, 2021

Words by Erica Travis

Photos by Khali Photography

ESO are a Bristol-based events company embodying their own esoteric tastes of electronic music at their club events. Showcasing artists such as Kahn, Neek, Missingo, Djrum, Lurka, Paleman, Riz La Teef, Distinct, Jook and many more, ESO run sell-out events across multiple Bristol venues including Thekla, Crofters Rights and Cosies. Made up of eight dedicated members, the concept of club nights was originally kickstarted by the founding group back in Brighton, during sixth form college. Having put on events in Brighton under the name Squalor the group took to a rebrand for bigger and better nights as they moved up to Bristol for university in 2017. Since then the club nights have grown in popularity and ESO has risen amongst the leaders for electronic bass club events. Their passion for new styles has introduced the audience to vision-impairing experiences that have solidified their name in the Bristol scene.

“We want to create a truly unique experience for our audience that enjoy the same music and values as we do.”

Since the first lockdown prohibited them to put on events, ESO have continued to grow their exclusive community of like-minded individuals. By creating a collaborative and conversational platform for emerging producers through their popping ESO’s Melting Pot Facebook group, along with their growing mix series on Soundcloud and brand new radio show on SWU. fm. New beginnings are on the horizon for the events brand as we prepare to enter into a new world we are unable to anticipate. Grand plans are in the making of how their events will come back bigger and better than ever before. We caught up with 3 of the core members to get an inside view of running events and what the future holds for them.

Having run so many events across the years what makes a show really feel like a success to you?

ESO: Oh, there’s so many things. Definitely, when there is a queue out the door, the venue is full, and the artist is clearly having a good time with the crowd.

Also, when everything’s going mental and feels completely out of control you can tell it’s a memorable experience for everyone. Like when Djrum was playing at one of our most recent events, the crowd were going nuts and the strobes were insane. It felt completely out of control, but everything was going to plan, and that’s what you want.

What are you looking to create by your events?

E: We want to create a truly unique experience for our audience that enjoy the same music and values as we do. It started off as ‘a place for the heads’, which was our tagline. Back then we just wanted to create a sick night that would be memorable, and it’s just grown from there to be honest.

How did ESO start?

E: Most of us are from Brighton where we used to put on events called Squalor. When we moved up to Bristol we wanted to create a new respected brand and be more serious about our events than we had been in Brighton. The first step towards this was not being called Squalor.

*all laugh*.

Where does the name ESO come from?

E: The word Esoteric. It means knowledge of a select few, if you know you know.

How has ESO adapted and coped with COVID lockdowns?

E: We’ve really used the space to rebrand and realign what we want to do going forward, in opening new avenues for ESO. We’ve started producing a clothing line which is in the making and will be coming out this summer. Vinyl pressing is also in the works and longer term we will be releasing music under the new ESO label.

We have also gained traction through our mix series on SoundCloud which we use to showcase both up and coming as well as established artists, and everything in-between. The mix series started as a place for us to celebrate the music we enjoy and share it with our community, it’s nice to have seen it grow into the platform it’s becoming.

How has the brand grown over the years?

E: In terms of respect in the scene, we’ve developed good relationships now with artists and venues. We’ve jumped from venues like Cosies, Crofters and Thekla. As we’ve worked with so many venues now we have developed good relationships in the industry and that’s given us respect in the scene.

Being known predominately for your Dubstep experience do you plan to expand from this in the future?

E: We don’t book artists or plan events for specific genre. We’re looking for new innovative sounds to bring forwards to our audiences. As we open back up again, we’re planning on expanding our reach and genres working with more diverse audiences. We will be continuing to work closely with Crofters Rights on a new monthly series showcasing our favourite new and interesting artists across a multitude of different electronic genres. We’re also moving in on new audiences, with bigger shows coming up at Thekla, with more eclectic electronic music. As well as this, we will be continuing our intimate 140 nights at Cosies.

What do you see for the future of ESO?

E: 2022 will see our entrance into festivals as we will be hosting a stage in a mansion at Madruga festival, being held at a secret location in Wales. We are also looking to be putting on events in multiple cities across the UK and gathering a large roster of artists on the label.

The expansion into new ventures is really exciting for us as we are learning new parts of the industry and able to push more creative content that we believe in. We have been working really closely with DJ Sagepay to design the first run of graphics for the clothing and are stoked to be able to share with people what he has pulled off. Shout out Sagepay for that!

“As we open back up again, we’re planning on expanding our reach and genres working with more diverse audiences.”

Who’s your favourite artist you’ve booked to play and why?

E: Ohh that’s a hard one. Djrum maybe? Or Paleman he’s a solid geez. But, Madam X is also a fucking legend, Boofy’s a G as well. If there was going to be one favourite event, reckon it would be Rizla Teef at Jacobs Barbers, that was the best, also for using the space for something it wasn’t designed for, big up Riz and Jacobs for that!. But then Strategy was also a fucking mental night.

Also, booking Sumgii was a big deal for us as some of us have been into Cult Mountain and him for a long time even before we put on events, so that felt good. To be honest, I don’t think we could pick, it’s like picking between your favourite kids init.

Who’s had the weirdest rider of all the artists you’ve booked?

E: Oh, Madam X’s pokemon cards definitely. That was strange.

What’s your most memorable moment from ESO over the years?

E: *all laugh* Think it has to be Sam holding down the smoke machine switch and smoking out Thekla, meaning the venue had to be evacuated during the middle of Missingo’s set. But, bringing Neek out a birthday cake during his and Kahns set. That was pretty special.

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