Shanti Celeste: "Bristol is very different - you get all kinds of people moving here to be creative"

We’ll soon be back partying, dancing and having a right good time. It’s been a long time coming but we’re nearly there. Until then, we’re celebrating everything that makes cities tick, from independent music venues and bars to food spots and record stores. In partnership with Beefeater Gin and THE FACE, we’ve teamed up with Shanti Celeste, Swing Ting, Flohio and Sef Kombo & Kitty Amor for four films showing us what puts the spirit into Bristol, Manchester and south and east London. First up: Shanti Celeste in Bristol

Bristol’s footprint in British culture will never disappear. Globally-loved bands like Massive Attack and Portishead are from the south west city, as is Mercury Award-winning artist Roni Size, a producer who helped put jungle on the world map. Musically, the city’s a melting pot of sounds, from drum ‘n’ bass and dubstep to leftfield techno and house music. Although born in Chile, DJ and producer Shanti Celeste spent her formative years in Bristol and is somewhat of a local hero for electronic music heads thanks to her lush take on house music and involvement in local record labels such as Idle Hands - where she worked - and Brstl, which she co-ran.

In a short film produced by THE FACE, in association with Beefeater Gin, Shanti describes why Bristol’s so special to her and gives the lowdown on the city’s go-to spots. “Bristol is very different. The history, the fact that it’s quite small and there’s two universities. You get all types of people moving here to be creative.”

Shanti’s one of many of those creatives who settled in the city so she’s well placed to give us the guided tour. In the film she visits record shop Idle Hands and describes the shop as “the very foundation of the music I play and the style that I have.” From there she goes to Stokes Croft to talk about former venue The Motorcycle Showrooms, where she used to party, and “sweaty basement” venue Take Five. Next stop on her guided tour is new DIY venue Strange Brew, where we filmed her recent set. Talking about the spot, Shanti says: “Strange Brew opened just before the pandemic hit and they weren’t really able to continue operating, but it’s gonna happen now and they’ve kept going, so that Bristol can have the size of venue that we’ve all been looking for.”

Next stop on her guided tour is new DIY venue Strange Brew, where we filmed her recent set. Talking about the spot, Shanti says: “Strange Brew opened just before the pandemic hit and they weren’t really able to continue operating, but it’s gonna happen now and they’ve kept going, so that Bristol can have the size of venue that we’ve all been looking for.”

On that topic, Shanti continues: “When I think about the future of Bristol, I think it’s hopefully the beginning of more people taking some more risks and opening venues that we’ve all been hoping to have.”

Check out Shanti’s tour of Bristol below.

Head to THE FACE to check out Shanti’s guide to 24 hours in Bristol and check out her set a Strange Brew, Bristol below.