A new exhibition at the Royal West of England Academy maps the critical architecture of Bristol's jungle and D&B lineage from the late '80s to now.
Bristol’s sonic identity is inseparable from the breakbeat. "This Is Jungle Takeover," currently showing at the Royal West of England Academy (RWA), documents thirty years of that local evolution through a sharp collection of flyers, photography, and archival records.
The project is curated by figures who were actually in the room: DJ Krust, Flynn Ites, and Gary Thompson. It prioritizes the structural history of the Bristol sound, highlighting the foundational work of Full Cycle Records, Independent Dealers, and the Ruff Neck Ting Crew.
Beyond the marquee names, the exhibition puts the focus on the wider ecosystem that sustained the movement. It gives overdue credit to the local radio stations, label managers, and photographers who formed the South West’s underground infrastructure.
The show provides a clear-eyed look at how a regional mutation grew into a global standard. It remains open at the RWA until June 28.