Celebrations include a 24-hour party with the artist who performed at the first ever Motion event almost 20 years agoA ‘funeral’ was held for Bristol nightclub Motion last week ahead of its closing(Image: Martin Booth / SWNS)

Beloved music venue Motion is closing its doors for the last time this weekend, but isn’t bidding farewell quietly. A weekend filled with music is scheduled as part of its wider ‘Closing Series‘ and fans are reportedly even travelling from abroad for one last party.

Across Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Motion and music fans can expect a drum & bass event, a garage event, and even a 24-hour long final event that sees Motion’s first ever performer return to the stage to say a proper farewell.

Managing director Dan Deeks told BristolLive: “The closing weekend is very celebratory. We want people to have a really great time. We have a lot of die hard fans of the venue coming from as far as Japan and Canada.

“Friday is very focused on drum & bass which is a big sound that’s very synonymous in Bristol. The Saturday daytime is very focused on garage – another thing that’s very synonymous with Bristol – and Saturday we’ve brought back the very first event that was ever at Motion, Just Jack, to do the final party, which will run for 24 hours – so it starts at 6pm on Saturday and will run until 6pm on Sunday.”

More details of each event – and if there’s tickets left

Friday, July 18 (5-10pm) – GIA & Muckers – Sunset Lock Yard Party

Heavily influenced by the euphoric sounds of the 90s and 00s, Bristol’s very own GIA curates her first Motion headline show on the Lock Yard outdoor space, eight years after her very first set at the venue. The line-up also includes Longeez, River, Neil and I, and Koren McIntosh.

Tickets are selling fast, but you can get yours here while they last.

Friday, July 18 (9pm-6am on Saturday) – Dimension, Friction, Koven

As Motion has been at the heart of Bristol’s Drum and Bass scene for nearly 20 years, this closing series event brings some of the genres biggest names to the city. Dimension leads the line-up with unique productions that have made him one of the most in-demand artists in electronic music today.

He’ll be joined by Friction, pioneering DJ and Shogun Audio founder, as well as Koven – known for their cinematic and powerful sound – and Grafix, renowned for blending high-energy beats with intricate melodies and melancholic elements.

The line-up also includes the likes of Kelvin 373, and Stellar Audio Takeover, as well as Crossy, Aries, Selecta J-Man and Bish in the Marble Factory, and even more artists in The Tunnel.

This event has now sold out.

Saturday, July 19 (2-11pm) – Bullet Tooth, Y U QT, Club Angel

This is the day party element of the Closing Series on Saturday, featuring a ‘heavyweight line-up’ that includes Y U QT, who have very quickly built a reputation as the ones to watch in the new House, Garage and Rave scene, as well as Bullet Tooth, Messie, Club Angel (one of Australia’s most distinctive artists on the scene), and In Parallel.

Meanwhile, Motion resident SUFI will bring her signature blend of new-wave UK Garage, raw 140 sounds, and baile funk to Motion’s outdoor stage.

Tickets for this event are currently on their final release, priced at £26.32 – get yours here.

An outdoor party at MotionAn outdoor party at Motion(Image: Motion)

Saturday, July 19 (6pm until 6pm on Sunday, July 20) – Just Jack x Motion: The Last Dance

Just Jack returns to Motion after performing at the first ever party here, and now the last. As the organisers write: “Times change, moments fade, but connection remains. The call of the dance floor pulling us back to its warm embrace. United by the music, the vibe, the pulse that brings us together for fleeting moments that last forever.

“A one-off rave for the ages. Winding back the wheel of time, taking the cosmic-escalator right back up to the depths of the dance floor. Visions of the future from a past left behind. The future they talked about over those house records in the 80s. This is our house. And in this house we are all created equal. A brief window to the promised land.

“A final rave for the ages with a seriously heavyweight line-up. 24 hours of music, from Sat 6pm—Sunday 6pm. Set to be one for the history books, come for the ride and stay a while.”

The line-up includes 24 acts and artists, including the likes of Christian AB, Freakenstein, Luke Una, Steffi x Virginia, Alfresco Disco, Arlo, Dan Wild, Joel Fisher, Milly On Air, Pardon My French, and more.

Tickets are still available, but on their final release and priced at £25.76 – get yours here.

Why is Motion closing?

Motion is closing the doors to the iconic building it has called home since 2006 due to the expiration of its lease and the factor that the building’s owners are selling the property, with a bid by the venue unsuccessful. It’s since been fundraising to raise money for a new venue and continue in a new chapter of Motion.

BristolLive reported back in April that the venue had announced it was intending to buy a new site to move into, and launched a campaign to raise £250,000 to do so.

Have any memories of Motion from over the years that you’d like to share with us? Get in touch by emailing ellie.kendall@reachplc.com.