Samhain Portal: Ecstatic Dance, Ancestor Ritual & Live Sound Bath · The Mount Without · Bristol

Ace Collectiv presents

SAMHAIN PORTAL

Sunday 8 November 2026
3pm — 8pm
The Mount Without · Bristol 

As the veil thins we gather at the threshold.

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AT A GLANCE

✦ Samhain Ritual — Carolyn Hillyer & Nigel Shaw
✦ Ecstatic Dance journey — Osara
✦ Live Sound Bath — Georgia Kate & Osara
✦ Ancestor Altar · Kids Space
✦ d&b audiotechnik Sound System
the rig of choice for the world's best venues
✦ The Mount Without
soaring arches, stained glass, sprung wooden dancefloor
✦ All Ages · Sober · Organic Cacao
✦ No Experience Needed · Safe(r) Space · Wheelchair Accessible

SAMHAIN CELTIC NEW YEAR

Samhain is the Celtic new year. The night the year dies and the veil between the worlds is thinnest, when the ones who came before us come close enough to feel.

Bring them with you. A photograph, an object, a name written on paper. Grandparents, friends, animals, places and the people whose names you never knew. Place them on the ancestor altar at the centre. Then do what bodies have always done at the turning of the year: gather, dance, sing, pray, integrate, eat.

One continuous journey in a deconsecrated church on the hill. We open the ceremony and speak the names of our ancestors, all of us, at once. Carolyn Hillyer and Nigel Shaw of Seventh Wave and the Weavers' Trail lead a Samhain ritual with bone whistles, flutes, drums, grief rattles and songs we can all share, some in the Proto-Celtic language (the ancient language from these lands), ending with something dynamic that carries us straight into the dance. Osara takes the room on an ecstatic dance journey, from the ashes into fierce, joyful aliveness, dancing for the ancestors. Georgia Kate closes the journey with a live immersive sound bath. We close the ceremony with one word each for what we carry across the threshold. Then we feast.

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JOURNEY

3pm  Doors Open
Arrive from 3pm. Land, get cacao and add your item to the ancestor altar.

3:45pm Opening Ceremony
We arrive in circle. The names of our ancestors, spoken at once.

4pm Samhain Ritual — CAROLYN HILLYER & NIGEL SHAW
Bone whistles, flutes, drums, grief rattles and shared songs. Go to the altar when you’re ready or witness.

5pm Ecstatic Dance Journey (2 hours) — OSARA
We dance for our ancestors.

7pm Live Sound Bath — GEORGIA KATE & OSARA
Land and integrate with crystal singing bowls, gong, chimes and more from Georgia, woven with live vocals and drums from Osara.

7:55pm Closing Ceremony
We complete the journey.

8pm Dinner & Hang Out (optional)
Venue closes at 9pm. Food and drinks are optional and bought separately on the day.

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OSARA

Ecstatic Dance journey

We dance for our ancestors.

Osara is a father, embodied DJ and founder of Ace Collectiv. With Cymreig, Scottish and Sámi roots, he uniquely blends ancient and future technologies and sound: drum, shakers and yoik-inspired vocals with organic, underground and electronic dance music.

Expect the deeper, uplifting and soul-invigorating:  Folktronica, Organic Electro, Afro House, 140 and Techno alongside Folk, Celtic, Medicine, World and South American music.

Osara is one of the leading Ecstatic Dance DJs in the UK and is the first and longest serving resident DJ (7+ years) for the famous Ecstatic Dance UK in London.

Listen to his dance journeys on SoundCloud

CAROLYN HILLYER & NIGEL SHAW

Samhain Ritual

A sacred journey through wild ancient land in music: bone whistles, flutes, drums, grief rattles and songs we can all share, some in the Proto-Celtic language of these lands. From loss into mending.

Carolyn Hillyer and Nigel Shaw are renowned musician and artists who have lived and
worked on their ancient hill farm in the feral heart of Dartmoor for over 30 years. Their work is
inspired by the raw beauty, untamed spirit and primordial memory of sacred and ancestral land. Their live performances form a mystical weave of tender music, wild songs and sacred flutes and drums, many of which they have made themselves.

Carolyn teaches powerful workshop journeys for women and has been
instrumental in awakening the 4000 year-old Proto-Celtic language. Nigel has composed and produced a profound and diverse collection of music recordings during the last forty years and is founder of the techno-shamanic trance dance band, Global Collective. They have travelled around the world with their work, including many journeys to the Siberian Arctic. Their concert tours have carried them from mountain temple to tundra camp, from festival tent to ritual cave to high moor.

Seventh Wave Music
The Braided River

GEORGIA KATE & OSARA

Live Sound Bath

Land and integrate with crystal singing bowls, gong, chimes and more from Georgia, woven with live vocals and drums from Osara.

Georgia Kate is a mother, meditation practitioner and space holder devoted to the path of inner awakening. Her sound baths are woven with the cellular medicine of crystal singing bowls. An ancient vibrational pathway for deep rest, release and inner alignment.

As their frequencies move through the body, the thinking mind softens and the feeling body comes forward, carrying you gently into stillness. Expect to be guided home to yourself, and to leave rested, clear and reconnected.

Explore her offerings here

THE MOUNT WITHOUT

Step inside a sanctuary of soaring columns, arches and stained glass. A 900-year-old church, reborn as one of the UK's most awe-inspiring venues. At its heart: a professional sprung wooden floor, made for barefoot dancing. A cathedral of light, sound and transformation.

D&B AUDIOTECHNIK

Sound System

Every beat, breath and bassline delivered with clarity, depth and power.
Our dancefloor is blessed with the legendary d&b audiotechnik sound system, bringing you immersive sonic precision you can feel in your bones.

Organic Café & Cacao

Organic cacao on arrival, treats through the day and a proper dinner made with love and carefully selected ingredients. All organic, vegan and gluten-free.

ALSO

Altar Space  · Kids Space

WHO IS IT FOR?

For anyone carrying someone. For families who want their children to know where they come from. For people who’ve danced with us a hundred times and want to go deeper and for people who’ve never done anything like this. You don’t need to be a dancer or a singer. Just show up and step in.

It’s held with love. Everything is an invitation.

4.7 out of 5 from over 600 ratings across Ace Collectiv experiences.

WHAT TO EXPECT

✦ Darkness. Parts of the night are with low lighting.
✦ Bass you feel in your chest. Club-level sound. Earplugs if you’re sensitive; ear defenders for under 12s on the dance floor.
✦ Feeling in the room: tears, laughter, roaring, silence. All of it welcome.
✦ Invitations, not instructions. Nobody will make you share, speak, sing or go to the altar.
✦ Sober space: no alcohol, no drugs, no phones on the dance floor. Barefoot or grip socks.

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BEFORE YOU COME

Where

The Mount Without, Upper Church Lane, Bristol, BS2 8FN
https://goo.gl/maps/KHJSWYSiRSeVRfqo7

Please lift share, walk, cycle or use public transport where you can.

On-street pay and display nearby (check signs on the day) and a car park a short walk away:
https://goo.gl/maps/o9Vfj6mokRyKzPJd7

If driving, check whether you need to pay for Bristol’s Clean Air Zone

Dress

Dress to express. Dress for ceremony. Or whatever feels best for you. We welcome ourselves and each other as we are.

Bring

✦ Something for the altar: a photo, an object, a name on paper
✦ Layers, so you can keep warm and cool when needed
✦ Something to lie on, a blanket and an eye mask for the sound bath
✦ Earplugs for you; ear defenders for your children
✦ A notebook, if you journal
✦ Water bottle

Children & Families

There's a Kids Space in the corner with cushions, open through the day with a DBS-checked guardian. It's a space to play rather than supervised childcare, so a parent or guardian stays on site throughout. Children stay with their adults and are their responsibility the whole time. Under-12s wear ear defenders on the dance floor. Children are welcome at the altar.

Full arrival details are sent to you by email when you book.

CARE & AGREEMENTS

Safety

✦Welfare Angels are on the dance floor throughout and there’s a quiet corner if you. You can step out at any time.
✦ Safe(r) space: consent in every interaction, ask before you make contact with another, no phones on the dance floor. If something isn’t right, find a Welfare Angel.
✦ Loud, dark, with lighting changes.

Safe(r) Space Agreement

By attending you agree to respect and follow our Safe(r) Space Agreement. These agreements let us be expressive and intimate while staying respectful of one another and they apply to everyone present. Participants, team, facilitators, artists and venue staff. Anyone breaching them will be asked to leave.

Read our full Safe(r) Space Agreement, Safeguarding and Inclusivity policies here

Everyone is welcome

All sexual orientations, racial identities and ethnicities, gender expressions, abilities, body types and ages. Queer friendly, body positive, expression welcome. Zero tolerance for racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, body shaming, ageism, ableism or discrimination of any kind.

Accessibility

Wheelchair access throughout. Accessible toilets on site. Hidden disabilities are warmly welcomed and the Sunflower badge is recognised here. Our Welfare Angels (pink high-vis body bands) and Event Manager are there for you at any point. Email us with any specific access needs and we will do our best to meet them. 

Photography

Designated photographers and videographers are announced at the Opening Circle. Tell them or any team member if you'd rather not be filmed and message us any time if you want something removed. We'll do so immediately.

Questions? acecollectiv@gmail.com 

✦

As the veil thins, join us at the threshold.

Get your ticket

∞