Saturday’s sunset is long gone, but there’s so much UV paint glowing in Bristol nightclub Lakota that I feel like I might get a tan from it. A crowd of dancers moves to the music as a shamanic DJ, flanked on stage by two dancers, pumps out squelchy beats. Faces painted in bright colors light up with joy, and arms wave through laser beams, as if ready to break into another dimension. For one night, I’m an initiated member of the Tribe of Frog, a Bristol club night that has been hosting mind-bending parties like this for 25 years.
To celebrate, the team has gone all out with kaleidoscopic decorations, but the music remains the same: psytrance. This is a fast-paced, dramatic offshoot of trance with hypnotic melodies and epic drops. Tristan Cooke, a DJ and legend in the scene, told me a week before the party that psytrance “grew out of partying on beaches and in nature,” specifically from the trance scene in Goa, India, in the early 1990s. He says psytrance enhances the effects of LSD. “It’s about trying to achieve a peak experience. In short, it’s spiritual raving.”
Chris Rana, co-founder of Tribe of Frog, never made it to Goa but traveled across Thailand in the 90s, where he and his late wife Donna (whose artwork still adorns the night) fell in love with psytrance. “For the first time in our lives, we found this feeling of freedom,” he says in the Tribe of Frog green room.
Back in Bristol, they started a nightlife decor business called Wildfrogz. Why frogs? “It’s always considered a mystical animal because it can exist in two worlds, in water and in air,” Rana explains. They met Jason Frog on a job. “You can reach this plateau of bliss, dancing to a synchronized rhythm,” Jason says of his favorite genre, while eating a bunch of bananas. After working on a psytrance party in London called Enlightenment, they decided to start their own.
Tribe of Frog was born, with its first night in August 2000. “Every inch of wall space is covered in psychedelic banners, projections, and lights, all designed to overwhelm the senses,” Cooke says, adding that even as an experienced DJ, playing at Frog still amazes him: “It’s about creating a Garden of Eden in a club.” From the start, imaginative outfits were encouraged, with Jason explaining that “the idea is to create a super-real environment where people forget their worries because they’re in this other world their mind creates.”
Since then, Tribe of Frog has spread worldwide and even has a stage at Hampshire’s Boomtown festival. Before the night begins, I meet a group of twentysomethings in handmade frog hats at a pub near Lakota, all of whom met as solo attendees at Boomtown. “If you put that much care and dedication into making something a tradition, you’re going to create a following,” says Matthew Sarrington, as a friend shows off a frog tattoo.
Despite its global reach, Tribe of Frog still feels quintessentially Bristol. It may not have the edge of drum ‘n’ bass, trip-hop, or dubstep that seems to pour from every corner and car in Stokes Croft, but it captures the city’s alternative spirit in its own way.However, for others—who are clearly not here tonight—psytrance is an unrelenting headache, even musical torture. Dance music enthusiasts often group it with other frequently ridiculed niche styles like happy hardcore and donk, viewing psytrance as a mystical scene favored by scruffy ravers in harem pants who indulge in too much magic mushroom chocolate.
“Psytrance has always been the black sheep of the dance music community,” Cooke admits. “They see it as a bunch of unwashed, dreadlocked hippies who appropriate cultures. But it’s becoming more mainstream.” Indeed, psytrance, now far from its origins and drawing huge crowds to festivals like Boom in Portugal, has been criticized for cultural appropriation, blending and diluting Eastern symbols.
But it’s a complex issue. “Some criticisms are still valid, but every case of ‘cultural appropriation’ should be examined carefully,” says anthropologist Graham St John, author of Global Tribe: Technology, Spirituality and Psytrance. “Sometimes, the portrayal of other cultures is primitive and even exploitative. Other times, the borrowing and acknowledgment is respectful and benefits everyone.”
For those striving for the latter, it’s a way of life, and there are always newcomers joining in. In the smoking area, I meet Francesca Stevenson, an up-and-coming psytrance DJ (known as Cheska Onyx) who won a contest to perform tonight. “It’s not just about hearing it; it’s about feeling it,” she says, linking psytrance’s local appeal to the ley lines of the southwest.
Elsewhere, there are plenty of first-year students with glittery faces and gap-year attire, many telling me with wide eyes that this is paradise. “The Frog has always had this endless supply of young people,” Rana notes. He also mentions there have been many “frog unions” over the years—I’m told that Cliff, the drummer for Tribe of Frog, met his partner there and is bringing their daughter along for the first time tonight.
Around the club, I overhear conversations about trust funds and discussions on the psychedelic drug 2C-B, and all of this—along with the psytrance itself—might turn some people off. But at Tribe of Frog, there are genuinely no posers or overthinkers. Energetic, fun dancing is encouraged, and multiple generations are all enjoying themselves together under one roof. “It’s a cool, funky, safe, amazing place… people aren’t there to hook up. It’s about partying together,” Cooke says.
The mental expansion and sense of community have been lifesaving for some. “It healed me. It brought me out of my shell. You gain a better perspective on yourself,” Jason shares. But while personal catharsis is possible, it’s always about the group. Rana’s earlier mantra resonates in my mind as I leave Lakota and head back to Bristol coach station: “Here, you always drop your ego!”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of helpful FAQs about Eat sleep rave ribbit and the Tribe of Frog phenomenon
Beginner General Questions
1 What is Tribe of Frog
Tribe of Frog is a longrunning UK club night and community dedicated to psychedelic trance music known for its immersive friendly and joyful atmosphere
2 What does Eat sleep rave ribbit mean
Its the events playful motto Eat sleep rave is a common rave culture phrase and ribbit is the frogthemed twist that makes it unique and memorable
3 Where and how often do the events happen
Their main and most famous home is at the Club Academy in Manchester They also host events at other UK locations and festivals typically several times a year
4 Im new to psytrance Will I feel welcome
Absolutely Tribe of Frog is famous for its inclusive and welcoming tribal vibe The community is very open and everyone is there to have a positive shared experience
5 What kind of music is played
The primary music is psychedelic trance which features fast hypnotic basslines and intricate evolving melodies Youll also hear related genres like progressive psytrance forest and darkpsy on different stages or from specific DJs
6 What should I wear
Wear whatever is comfortable for dancing all night Many people embrace the psychedelic theme with colourful clothing UVreactive outfits and funky accessories
Advanced Practical Questions
7 What makes Tribe of Frog different from other club nights
Its longevity and consistent focus on creating a complete experience set it apart Its not just a night of music its a mindbending journey with incredible décor visual projections and a strong sense of community that keeps people coming back for years
8 How did it grow to become so iconic in the UK scene
It grew through a relentless focus on quality music a safe and positive environment and by genuinely nurturing its community Wordofmouth and a reputation for reliability and joy have made it a cornerstone of the UK psytrance scene
