Bristol's Tribe of Frog, a club night dedicated to the oft-maligned genre of psytrance, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The event, held at the Lakota nightclub, is known for its UV paint, crocheted frog hats, and shamanic DJ sets that aim to create a 'Garden of Eden' atmosphere.
Co-founder Chris Rana, who discovered psytrance while travelling in Thailand in the 1990s, says the genre offers a feeling of freedom. His late wife Donna's artwork continues to adorn the night. The name 'Tribe of Frog' comes from the amphibian's mystical ability to exist in two worlds—water and air.
DJ Tristan Cooke, a legend in the psytrance scene, explains that the music 'grew out of partying on beaches and nature' in Goa, India, and is designed to enhance the effects of LSD. 'It's about attempting to achieve a peak experience. In a nutshell, it's spiritual raving,' he says.
The night has spawned a residency at Hampshire's Boomtown festival and attracted a dedicated following. Attendees like Matthew Sarrington, who met friends at Boomtown, praise the sense of community: 'If you put that much care and dedication into making something a tradition, you're going to create a following.'
Despite criticisms that psytrance is a headache-inducing genre beloved by 'crusty ravers', Cooke notes it is becoming more mainstream. 'Psytrance has always been the black sheep of the dance music fraternity,' he admits, 'but it's becoming part of the mainstream.'
