19 things to do in Bristol this week, January 8-14 2024

Monday: Come & Sing drop in choir, The Jam Jar
A welcoming, relaxed and open drop in choir session at the St Jude’s community venue. The session has become popular with amateur and more experienced singers alike, and the session leader Pearl has a knack for “pulling out the most beautiful sounds in such a gentle and held way”.

Come & Sing! has fostered a welcoming community choir environment where everybody is welcome – photo: The Jam Jar

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Monday-Thursday: Priscilla, Watershed
Director Sofia Coppola returns with this ethereal portrait of the whirlwind romance and relationship of Priscilla and Elvis Presley.

Tuesday: People’s Art Club and community drop in, PRSC
An art club open to all, whether you’re working on a craft project currently or looking to learn a new crafty skill. Each session focuses on a different element of arts and crafts, with this week’s session focussing on drawing skills. But don’t worry if that’s not for you, you’re still welcome to come and do your own thing (and enjoy the free tea & coffee.)

People’s Republic of Stokes Croft – photo: PRSC

Wednesday: Crochet a pillow, The Crafty Egg Fishponds
From the ever-popular second edition of the cafe that started out on Stokes Croft, “The Crafty Egg 2” hosts a workshop for those with little or no experience with crocheting, teaching the basics and working your way up to crocheting your own pillowcase. All materials and hooks will be provided, and you’ll be able to take your items home with you to finish the job in your own time.

The Crafty Egg on Fishponds Rd – photo: Betty Woolerton

Thursday: Cheese & wine tasting, Averys Wine Merchants
Arch House Deli, a once Clifton based deli that now supplies some of the finest British and European cheeses to businesses around Bristol comes to Averys on Culver Street for an evening of tasting some of those exact cheeses, expertly paired with wines selected and provided by the winehouse.

Averys Wine Merchants – photo: Betty Woolerton

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Friday-January 18: Poor Things, Watershed
Academy Award® Nominee Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite, The Lobster) and producer Emma Stone return with a daring, deranged and deeply funny comedy about a woman’s unusual awakening.

Friday: Live acoustic set & free low-alcohol pint, Clubhaus
If you’re having a crack at dry January, you don’t need to miss out on the social side of things, too. Wiper & True are running a “month of fundays”, offering “low-alcohol, low cost and high fun” events on most days throughout the month, at venues and workshops across the city – with this one being some cracking live music and some equally cracking free beer.

Wiper and True’s ‘Tomorrow’ low-alcohol lager – photo: Wiper and True

Saturday: Cave/tunnel and bunker tour, Avon Gorge
If you’re up for a little Saturday scramble and an explore of the fantastic caves and walkways surrounding the Avon Gorge and the Suspension Bridge. Led by local artist Heath Bunting, you’ll be shown some of the most interesting (and hidden) areas surrounding the gorge, both manmade and natural.

Avon Gorge – photo: Martin Booth

Sunday: Place Portrait Exhibition (Final day), Spike Island
Your final opportunity to visit the sensory multimedia exhibition that’s been on display at Spike Island since the end of September. Examining the neighbourhood within which the gallery sits, the exhibition combines interviews with locals, ambient sound, still & moving image and materials to create an all encompassing picture of the area.

Spike Island – photo: Mia Vines Booth

And coming soon…

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January 18: Kronos Quartet, Bristol Beacon
For 50 years, San Francisco’s GRAMMY-winning Kronos Quartet – David Harrington, John Sherba, Hank Dutt and Paul Wiancko – has challenged and reimagined what a string quartet can be, revolutionising it into a living art form. This special evening will highlight the legacy of innovation of Kronos Quartet with new commissions, signature works from its vast repertoire, and pieces from Kronos’ Fifty for the Future project. Honing in on five decades of material, the programme includes performances of Steve Reich’s Triple Quartet, the UK premiere of new works by Angélique Kidjo and Sun Ra/Terry Riley, as well as music by Sigur Rós, Jlin and Laurie Anderson.

Kronos Quartet – photo: Bristol Beacon

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January 20: Henleaze Concert Society: Mozart and Mendelssohn, Trinity Henleaze URC
Come and enjoy with us two great works performed by the Bristol Ensemble:

• Mozart Clarinet Quintet in A K.581
• Mendelssohn Octet in E flat major Op.20

Mendelssohn’s piece is beautifully uplifting, and Mozart’s is one of the most sublime and well-loved works in the chamber music repertoire for its exquisitely crafted melodic lines.

Mozart and Mendelssohn – photo: Henleaze Concert Society

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January 24: Steve Bates MBE – Wild Tracks, Redgrave Theatre
Paralympic gold medal-winning cyclist Steve Bate MBE shares the incredible journey of riding to ascend the iconic mountain of Kilimanjaro, with fellow Paralympic gold medalist Karen Darke MBE. With a diverse team, Wild Tracks explores themes of challenge, diversity and human potential. A rare opportunity to hear, first-hand, a story of resilience, transformation and human connection.

Steve Bates – Wild Tracks – photo: Redgrave Theatre

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January 25: The Anatomy of the Orchestra: Drone Refractions (Paraorchestra with Charles Hazelwood), Bristol Beacon
In The Anatomy of the Orchestra: Drone Refractions, Charles Hazlewood and Paraorchestra turn the orchestra inside-out, charting an immersive drone odyssey via some of Minimalism’s forebears and its greatest composers, including Pauline Oliveros and Arvo Part. This unique performance re-casts the orchestra as a living, breathing installation: thirty-four musicians are arrayed throughout the space as they play. The audience is invited to walk or sit amongst them, to get close to the performers and sink into a deep sonic realm as enveloping drones mix with heady lighting design to conjure a hazy, transcendental atmosphere.

Anatomy of the Orchestra – photo: Bristol Beacon

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January 25: Pete Firman – TrikTok, Redgrave Theatre
Pete is an award-winning performer who is not to be missed live. Expect an evening of jaw-dropping magic and laugh-out-loud comedy. TrikTok takes Pete’s magic from the small screen to the stage and gives audiences a chance to see his critically acclaimed magical skills in the flesh.

Pete Firman – photo: Redgrave Theatre

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February 7 & 8: A Family Business, Tobacco Factory Theatres
A show how not to blow up the planet. A Family Business is about diplomats, activists, and a journey to change the world. If these weapons could wipe out all our tomorrows, then why aren’t we all talking about them today?

A Family Business – photo: Tobacco Factory Theatres

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February 14: The Beatles: Love Songs, St George’s
The Bristol Ensemble celebrate Valentine’s Day with the ultimate Beatles special, featuring their best love songs in an hour-long concert that will give you a Valentines Night to remember! Immerse yourself in the magical atmosphere of St. George’s Bristol, bathed in the romantic glow of candlelight. It doesn’t get more romantic than this!

The Beatles by Candlelight – photo: Bristol Ensemble

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February 27: The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Film and Live Orchestra, St. George’s
An epic experience that combines live orchestra with film! Watch the original Hunchback of Notre Dame film with live symphonic score from the Bristol Ensemble at St George’s Bristol.

Celebrating 100 years since the film was first released in September 1923. Flicker Alley restored and mastered this edition from a multi-tinted 16mm print struck in 1926 from the original camera negative.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame – photo: Bristol Ensemble

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February 27-March 2: Beautiful Evil Things, Tobacco Factory Theatres
Beautiful Evil Things is a high-energy one-woman show from Ad Infinitum, combining physical storytelling with cut-throat wit. This acerbically comic, thrilling and poignant show “brings tears to your eyes and raises your heart rate” (★★★★ The Guardian).

Beautiful Evil Things – photo: Tobacco Factory Theatres

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March 9 2024: Einaudi meets Richter by candlelight, Trinity Henleaze URC
This will be a hypnotic evening of music performed by the Bristol Ensemble, featuring mesmerising works by Ludovico Einaudi, and Max Richter’s engagingly refreshing reimagining of Vivaldi’s ever-popular Four Seasons:

• Einaudi Divenire; Primavera; Petricor; I Giorni; Full Moon
• Max Richter: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons Reimagined

Einaudi meets Richter by candlelight – photo: Henleaze Concert Society

Main photo: Wiper & True

Read next:

• 44 things to do in Bristol in January 2024
• Bristol’s cultural highlights of 2024
• The best of Bristol’s culture in 2023

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