139 things to do in Bristol in September 2018

Art / Exhibition

In Relation: Nine Couples Who Transformed British Art

Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, Nicholson/Hepworth and other fruitful artistic couples

: Saturday, Jun 16 2018 - Sunday, Sep 9 2018

Art / Cartoons

The Corridor of Power 2018

Political 'toons by Bristol cartoonist

: Saturday, Sep 1 2018 - Saturday, Sep 29 2018

Art / Fine Art

The Rawrulists

Street and fine art all-dayer from Rowdy and co... plus exhibition

: Saturday, Sep 1 2018 - Sunday, Sep 30 2018

Art / Drawing

What the Puck?

'Drink & Draw' event

Rough Trade: Saturday, Sep 1 2018 7:30pm

Art / Artist's Talk

Pecha Kucha Bristol Nights Volume 3

Return of these informal, multi-speaker gatherings

Watershed: Tuesday, Sep 4 2018 7pm

Art / Documentary Photography

At the Going Down of the Sun

Photographs remember those who lost their lives in WW1

: Wednesday, Sep 5 2018 - Monday, Nov 19 2018

Art / Exhibition

Corinna Spencer: Lovely Creatures

Paintings examine representation of women across the ages

: Friday, Sep 7 2018 - Saturday, Sep 29 2018

Art / 1980s Britain

Visible Girls: Revisited

Showcasing the lives, tribes and spirit of British women in 1981 and 2017

: Friday, Sep 7 2018 - Thursday, Oct 4 2018

Art / Art Event

The Little Shop’s Fifth Birthday

Celebrations at the thriving Stokes Croft shop and gallery

The Little Shop: Saturday, Sep 8 2018 11am

Art / Contemporary Painting

FAB 4

Social commentary from four rising Bristol artists

: Monday, Sep 10 2018 - Sunday, Nov 4 2018

Art / Circus250

Lulu: The Eighth Wonder of the World

Introducing a beautiful, fearless 19C acrobat

: Tuesday, Sep 11 2018 - Sunday, Sep 16 2018

Art / Exhibition

Texture

Very fine trio of artists

: Saturday, Sep 15 2018 - Friday, Oct 12 2018

Art / Exhibition

Opening Minds

Annual arts festival inspired by nature

: Saturday, Sep 15 2018 10am & Sunday, Sep 16 2018 10am

Art / Exhibition

The Ten (Group Show)

UK-wide collective exhibits painting, sculpture, installation and more

: Friday, Sep 14 2018 - Sunday, Sep 23 2018

Theatre / Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

13

BOV Theatre School students stage Mike Bartlett's powerful play

: Friday, Jun 23 2017 - Saturday, Jul 1 2017

Art / Documentary Photography

In Your Face

London street scenes from the Thatcher years

: Wednesday, Sep 26 2018 - Saturday, Dec 22 2018

Art / Art Trail

St Werburghs Arts Trail 2018

Vibrant neighbourhood trail with over 100 artists and makers

: Saturday, Sep 29 2018 12pm & Sunday, Sep 30 2018 12pm

Art / Illustration

Chie Hosaka

Illustration and printmaking

: Tuesday, Sep 25 2018 - Sunday, Nov 18 2018

Books & Spoken Word / Memoir

Gina Miller – Rise

Life Lessons in Speaking Out, Standing Tall and Leading the Way

We The Curious: Tuesday, Sep 4 2018 7pm

Books & Spoken Word / Short Stories

Prabda Yoon – Moving Parts

New short story collection

Foyles: Friday, Sep 7 2018 7:30pm

Books & Spoken Word / Science Fiction

Peter F Hamilton – Salvation

One of the biggest names in science fiction discusses his new novel

Foyles: Saturday, Sep 8 2018 7:30pm

Books & Spoken Word / Spoken Word

Blahblahblah: Stand Up and Slam

Poetry and comedy spoken word battle

The Wardrobe Theatre: Monday, Sep 10 2018 8pm

Books & Spoken Word / Spoken Word

Salon Soirées – Mirrors

Second outing for new spoken word night

Bloom & Curll: Tuesday, Sep 11 2018 7pm

Books & Spoken Word / Poetry

Spotlight – Imogen Downes & Open Mic

Poetry and spoken word

The Crofters Rights: Tuesday, Sep 11 2018 7:30pm

Books & Spoken Word / Fiction

Melissa Harrison & Tim Pears

The pastoral novel and lessons of history

Waterstones Bristol Galleries: Thursday, Sep 13 2018 7pm

Books & Spoken Word / film

Peter Biskind – The Sky is Falling

How vampires, zombies, androids and superheroes taught us to love political extremism

Watershed: Tuesday, Sep 18 2018 6:30pm

Books & Spoken Word / Poetry

Raise the Bar – Danez Smith

Top Bristol spoken word night

Arnolfini: Thursday, Sep 20 2018 7pm

Books & Spoken Word / Residency

Nikesh Shukla In Conversation

Bristol-based writer presents work from his residency

Arnolfini: Thursday, Nov 16 2017 7pm

Books & Spoken Word / Poetry

The Dizziness of Freedom – book launch

Launch of Bad Betty Press poetry anthology exploring mental health

The Wardrobe Theatre: Monday, Sep 24 2018 8pm

Books & Spoken Word / Bristol

Jane Duffus – The Women Who Built Bristol

New book on the women who helped to shape Bristol

Redland Library: Thursday, Sep 27 2018 7pm

Books & Spoken Word / Fiction

Tanya Atapattu

Book launch for debut novel

Waterstones Bristol Galleries: Friday, Sep 28 2018 7pm

Books & Spoken Word / Fiction

Novel Writers – Fiona Mozley

2017 Man Booker shortlisted novel

Spike Island: Thursday, Sep 20 2018 6:30pm

Music / Grime

Cubana X Free Rave

Grime and bass specialists Cubana have teamed up with Free Rave

Motion: Saturday, Sep 1 2018 2pm

Music / Drum and Bass

Run All Day

Day party of drum and bass

Motion: Saturday, Sep 8 2018 12pm

Music / Bass Music

Dazed Bristol Bass Carnival

Featuring the likes of DJ Guv, Hedex and many more

O2 Academy: Wednesday, Sep 19 2018 10pm

Music / Punk

Running Riot All-Dayer ft. The Last Resort + 6 more bands

Run riot with this all day event

Fleece: Saturday, Sep 22 2018 2pm

Music / Music

Festival Of The Dead

Giant skulls and carnival processions; this is a party like no other

O2 Academy: Saturday, Sep 22 2018 10pm

Music / Drag Act

Acid Betty

From Ru Paul's Drag Race to Bristol

The Lanes: Wednesday, Sep 26 2018 9pm

Music / Bass Music

IN:MOTION opening weekend with David Rodigan

Exhilarating bass-heavy lineup that promises to run furiously throughout the night

Motion: Friday, Sep 28 2018 10pm

Music / House

IN:MOTION opening weekend with Jackmaster + Floating Points + Amelie Lens

A breathtaking array of house and techno

Motion: Saturday, Sep 29 2018 7pm

Comedy / Alan Partridge

Monkey tennis: LIVE

Live recording of the acclaimed Alan Partridge fan podcast

The Wardrobe Theatre: Friday, Sep 7 2018 8pm

Comedy / Observational comedy

Bridget Christie: What Now?

The brilliant political comic muses on current chaos

: Friday, Sep 7 2018 8pm & Saturday, Sep 8 2018 8pm

Comedy / Observational comedy

Hal Cruttenden: Chubster

Affable, quick-witted stand-up, actor and TV panellist

Redgrave Theatre: Friday, Sep 14 2018 8pm

Comedy / Observational comedy

Rich Hall’s Hoedown

Laconic, sharp-as-tacks Southerner

: Tuesday, Sep 18 2018 - Thursday, Sep 20 2018

Comedy / Musical Comedy

Vikki Stone

Award-winning comedian and musician

The Wardrobe Theatre: Thursday, Sep 20 2018 8pm

Comedy / How Lazy Is He

How Lazy Is He: Daniel Simonsen

Norwegian comic kicks off autumn comedy at The Lazy Dog

The Lazy Dog: Thursday, Sep 13 2018 8pm

Comedy / Observational comedy

Jamali Maddix: Vape Lord

Plain-speaking, social-issues-skewering comic

The Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken Studio: Friday, Sep 21 2018 8pm

Comedy / Observational comedy

Seann Walsh: After This One, I’m Going Home

Brilliant physical comic

1532 Performing Arts Centre: Friday, Mar 8 2019 8pm

Comedy / How Lazy Is He

How Lazy Is He: Eleanor Tiernan

Acclaimed Irish comic at The Lazy Dog

Comedy / Observational comedy

Dave Gorman: With Great Powerpoint Comes Great ResponsibilityPoint

New show from the laptop-and-projector king

Hippodrome: Monday, Sep 24 2018 8pm

Comedy / Observational comedy

Zoe Lyons & Patrick Monahan

Two fine comics look in at the Redgrave

Redgrave Theatre: Wednesday, Sep 26 2018 7:30pm

Comedy / Bristol University

Kick the PJ Presents: Space Trip

Cosmic comedy from storyteller and YouTube star

University of Bristol Union: Winston Theatre: Thursday, Sep 27 2018 7pm

Comedy / Intelligent comedy

Dara O Briain: Voice of Reason

More charismatic, intelligent comedy

: Friday, Sep 28 2018 8pm & Saturday, Sep 29 2018 8pm

Comedy / Above & Beyond Bristol

Funny Bones: Russell Howard & Guests

Charity fundraiser: Mr H leads an impressive lineup

: Sunday, Sep 30 2018 2:30pm & Sunday, Sep 30 2018 7:30pm

Comedy / How Lazy Is He

How Lazy Is He: Eleanor Morton / Sooz Kempner

Top-notch double bill at The Lazy Dog

The Lazy Dog: Thursday, Sep 27 2018 8pm

Film / Animation

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

W&G make their feature debut in Nick Park's great animation

Film / Drama

Parking Lot Social: The Greatest Showman

Hit musical biopic of US huckster P.T. Barnum screened in a car park at Bristol Airport

Film / Science Fiction

Jurassic Park

Spielberg's original, ground-breaking 1993 dino-rimp

Film / Action

The Iron Giant

Incredibles director Brad Bird's brilliant animated debut

Film / Documentary

Italo Disco Legacy

Documentary about the cult Italian '80s disco scene

Film / Comedy

Withnail and I

Welcome return of the remastered British comedy classic with endlessly quotable dialogue

Film / Drama

Cult Screens: The Greatest Showman

Hit musical biopic of US huckster P.T. Barnum screened al fresco in Bristol Zoo Gardens

Film / Drama

Saturday Night and Sunday Morning

1960 social realist drama kicks off British Working Class on Film season

Film / Documentary

Generation Wealth

Bling porn documentary from the director of The Queen of Versailles

Film / Comedy

Reality Bites

Ben Stiller's very '90s romcom with Winona Ryder and Ethan Hawke

Film / Comedy

Heathers

4K restoration of the black comedy that launched a genre

Film / Drama

@TheDriveIn: Jaws

Drive-in cinema screening of Spielberg's shark attack classic

Film / Event Cinema

League of Legends EU Summer Finals 2018

Watch other people playing computer games for hours and hours and hours

Film / Event Cinema

Royal Shakespeare Company Live: The Merry Wives of Windsor

New production of the Bard's sitcom of sexual jealousy, relocated to modern-day Essex

Film / Festival Screening

Bristol Film Festival: Opera Australia – La Boheme on Sydney Harbour

Handa Opera's spectacular staging of Puccini's romantic opera screened in All Saints Church

Film / Comedy

The Monster Squad

Kids take on Dracula, The Mummy and chums in rarely seen horror parody

Film / Drama

Diary of a Lost Girl

Iconic silent star Louise Brooks endures a downward spiral of degradation in G.W. Pabst's classic

Film / Drama

The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner

Tom Courtenay excels as an angry borstal boy consumed by class hatred

Film / Drama

Poor Cow

Ken Loach's groundbreaking social realist debut

Film / Documentary

Imagine: John Lennon

Digitally remastered 1971 John'n'Yokofest with previously unreleased bonus footage

Film / Action

Cowboy Bebop: The Movie

Reissue of this beautifully rendered spin-off from a Japanese anime TV series

Film / Documentary

Dead Man’s Money

Premiere of Katy Bauer's new documentary about Bristol music legend Fat Paul

Film / Ballet

Australian Ballet: The Merry Widow

Frothy, fun ballet based on Lehar's popular comic operetta

Film / Documentary

Dominion + Q&A

Documentary exploring the morality and validity of our dominion over the animal kingdom

Film / Drama

The Godfather

The first part of Coppola's gangster trilogy makes a welcome return to the big screen

Film / Drama

Billy Liar

Tom Courtenay just can't stop telling porkies in this '60s working class classic

Film / Documentary

Living in the Future’s Past + panel discussion

The Dude addresses our environmental challenges

Film / Documentary

Encounters: Compass Presents – Arcadia

Expanded Cinema screening of this intriguing cine-essay in the Boiling Wells amphitheatre

Film / Action

Hellfire Video Club & Bristol Bad Film Club: Turkish Star Wars

2K restoration of ultra-dodgy remakesploitation classic

Film / Festival Screening

Encounters: Black Sabbath

Mario Bava's classic portmanteau horror with Boris Karloff

Film / Action

Total Recall

4K restoration of Paul Verhoeven's great 1990 adaptation of the Philip K. Dick yarn

Film / Comedy

The Big Lebowski

The cultiest of all cult Coen brothers movies celebrates its 20th anniversary

Film / Documentary

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

Documentary portrait of the Hollywood polymath

Film / Drama

Pandora’s Box

Twenties icon Louise Brooks stars in G.W. Pabst’s erotic silent classic

Film / Comedy

Bristol Film Festival: The Princess Bride

Rob Reiner's great comic fantasy screened in Bristol Museum

Film / Action

Robocop

Paul Verhoeven's ultra-violent science fiction satire

Film / Musical

@TheDriveIn: Grease singalong screening

Warble along with the middle-aged musical from the comfort of your car

Film / Art House

Mulholland Drive

David Lynch's 2001 head-scratcher back on screen in late night cult classics season

Film / Festival Screening

Bristol Film Festival: Vertigo

Black tie screenings of Hitchcock's bleak yet brilliant psychological thriller

Food & Drink / Beer

Bristol Craft Beer Festival 2018

Featuring more than 250 beers to drink from 35 breweries

: Friday, Sep 14 2018 - Sunday, Sep 16 2018

Food & Drink / Coffee

The Coffee House Project

A two-day festival promising to bring “the best of the South’s coffee scene” to Bristol

: Friday, Sep 7 2018 9am & Saturday, Sep 8 2018 9am

Food & Drink / Beer

Factoberfest 2018

A whole weekend to celebrate the very best of craft beer

: Friday, Sep 7 2018 - Sunday, Sep 9 2018

Food & Drink / Beer

Bristol Breweries Open Doors Day

Launching Bristol Beer Week 2018

Various venues: Saturday, Sep 8 2018 1pm

Food & Drink / Beer

SS Great Britain Lates: Beer & Cheese

Beer and cheese tasting on board Brunel's famous ship

SS Great Britain: Thursday, Sep 6 2018 7pm

Food & Drink / gin

Distillers Table – tomato

Celebrating the humble tomato at Psychopomp

Psychopomp Microdistillery: Saturday, Sep 1 2018 6pm

Food & Drink / Coffee

Coffee & ice cream day

A perfect pairing

West Street Kitchen: Saturday, Sep 8 2018 1pm

Food & Drink / food

Andy Clarke At Adelina Yard

Back at another Autumn Delight Event

Adelina Yard: Wednesday, Sep 12 2018 7pm

Food & Drink / gin

Distillers Table – bloody Mary

Spicing things up at Psychopomp

Psychopomp Microdistillery: Sunday, May 20 2018 1pm

Food & Drink / food

Square Food Pop-up – The Autumn Edition

Seasonal series brings Catalan supper and a cooking demo

Spike Island: Friday, Sep 21 2018 7pm

Food & Drink / food

Bake With A Legend

A unique baking experience

Square Food Foundation: Saturday, Sep 29 2018 11am

Music / Garage

Oh Sees

Garage psych goblins

O2 Academy: Sunday, Sep 2 2018 7pm

Music / Electronic

Daft Punk Orchestra

13-piece orchestra playing the greatest hits of an iconic electronic duo

Fleece: Thursday, Sep 6 2018 7:30pm

Music / Indie Pop

Luna

Beloved 90's indie

Thekla: Friday, Sep 7 2018 7pm

Music / Classical

Jon Boden and Sacconi Quartet

Ex-frontman of Bellowhead joins Sacconi Quartet for one night only in Bristol

St George’s Bristol: Friday, Sep 7 2018 7:30pm

Music / Alternative

Teleman

Live show and signing - entry is with purchase of 'Family of Aliens'

Rough Trade: Saturday, Sep 8 2018 6:30pm

Music / Jazz

The Big Chris Barber Band

Jazz legend Chris and his band return to Bristol for 70th anniversary

St George’s Bristol: Sunday, Sep 9 2018 7:30pm

Music / Alternative

Princess Chelsea

NZ-based princess brings 'magical music' to Rough Trade

Rough Trade: Monday, Sep 10 2018 7:30pm

Music / Indie Rock

Albert Hammond Jr

Strokes guitarist hit Thekla

Thekla: Saturday, Sep 15 2018 6:30pm

Music / Indie

The Smyths

Unite And Take Over Tour

O2 Academy: Friday, Sep 21 2018 6:30pm

Music / Acoustic

José González & The String Theory

Colston Hall Presents at The O2 Academy Bristol

O2 Academy: Sunday, Sep 23 2018 7pm

Music / Comedy

The Midnight Beast

The viral parody stars are on tour

Fleece: Monday, Sep 24 2018 7:30pm

Music / Indie

The Night Cafe

Young indie four-piece

Thekla: Monday, Sep 24 2018 7:30pm

Music / Alternative Rock

Spring King

Riff dominated rock

Thekla: Tuesday, Sep 25 2018 7pm

Music / Classical

12 Ensemble

London 12-piece 'reborn' under their new 2018 programme

St George’s Bristol: Friday, Sep 28 2018 7:30pm

Music / Pop-Punk

Molotov Jukebox

The London six piece on their tenth anniversary tour

Fleece: Saturday, Sep 29 2018 7:30pm

Theatre / Drama

Touching the Void

Staging of the hit book and film about a terrible dilemma

: Saturday, Sep 8 2018 - Saturday, Oct 6 2018

Theatre / Shakespeare

Henry V by William Shakespeare

stf tackle the Bard's great history play

: Wednesday, Sep 12 2018 - Saturday, Oct 6 2018

Theatre / Drag Queen

Prom Kween

"Think Grease meets Drag Race"

: Tuesday, Sep 11 2018 - Saturday, Sep 15 2018

Theatre / Blackbeard

Blood, Blackbeard and Buccaneers

Show of Strength lead you around piratical Bristol

: Friday, Jul 20 2018 - Saturday, Oct 6 2018

Theatre / Drama

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot

Imagining the trial of Judas Iscariot

: Tuesday, Sep 11 2018 - Thursday, Sep 13 2018

Theatre / Dance theatre

SKIN

Dance theatre follows a boy’s journey of gender transition

: Saturday, Sep 15 2018 2:30pm & Saturday, Sep 15 2018 7:30pm

Theatre / Improvised

Closer Each Day: the Improvised Soap Opera

Wardrobe's brilliant improvised comedy show

: Monday, Sep 4 2017 - Monday, Dec 11 2017

Theatre / Coming-of-age story

Skin a Cat

A teenage girl’s sexual awakening and misadventures

: Tuesday, Sep 18 2018 8pm & Wednesday, Sep 19 2018 8pm

Theatre / Family theatre

BLOC Productions: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Locals BLOC stage the popular family musical

: Tuesday, Sep 18 2018 - Saturday, Sep 22 2018

Theatre / Clevedon

Over the Wall Picking Apples

Addressing mental health among middle-aged men

Clevedon Theatre Shop: Wednesday, Sep 19 2018 7:30pm

Theatre / Comedy

Hansel and Gretel

Locals Oooh Arrr with a darkly comic retelling

: Tuesday, Sep 4 2018 - Thursday, Sep 6 2018

Theatre / Cabaret

She Who Dares: A Fierce Circus Cabaret 

Rebellious circus cabaret from Bristol's Lavrak

: Thursday, Sep 20 2018 - Friday, Sep 21 2018

Theatre / Comedy

D!CK: The Rise and Fall of Dick Turpin

Swashbuckling comedy from locals Fandango

: Wednesday, Sep 19 2018 - Saturday, Sep 22 2018

Theatre / Performance

Interval Takeover

Bristol collective present two days of performance, sound and film

: Friday, Sep 21 2018 12pm & Saturday, Sep 22 2018 12pm

Theatre / Children's Theatre

Adventure Bureau

High-octane interactive storytelling for ages 3-8

: Sunday, Jan 28 2018 2pm & Sunday, Feb 25 2018 12am

Theatre / Comedy

Giants of Science

The inimitable Living Spit go all sciencey on us

: Monday, Sep 24 2018 - Saturday, Sep 29 2018

Theatre / Bristol music

Dugout to Party Fashion Show

Theatre, music, fashion show... and a look back at all our musical yesterdays

M Shed: Friday, Sep 21 2018 8pm

Theatre / Comedy

Sleeping Trees: World Tour

Multi-roling, genre-splicing, physical comedy trio returns

: Tuesday, Sep 25 2018 - Saturday, Sep 29 2018

Theatre / Circus

WOW Weekend of Wonders

Circus and more in Weston's Italian Gardens

Weston-super-Mare: The Italian Gardens: Saturday, Sep 30 2017 12pm

Theatre / Stranger Things

One Man Stranger Things

Single-handed recreation of the Netflix smash's first season

Redgrave Theatre: Sunday, Sep 30 2018 7:30pm