Things To Do / Sponsored
21 things to do in Bristol this week, May 27-June 2 2024
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Monday: Summer Lates Series, SS Great Britain
The after-hours gigs at Bristol’s iconic dockyard return for the third year on 27 June 2024. Locals will know that Brunel’s SS Great Britain is one of Bristol’s best family days out and a treasure trove for history fanatics. But this summer, after the gates are closed to the public, it will also become one of the city’s most exciting gig locations.
SSGB Summer Lates – photo: SSGB
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Monday: Dana Gavanski, Bristol Beacon
There’s a party in Dana Gavanski’s head and everyone’s invited – well, kind of. Late Slap, Gavanski’s third album, gives voice to the highs and lows of the mindscape in all its joys and terrors, injecting some much-needed playfulness into the process of writing about emotionally hard things. Born in Vancouver to a Serbian family, but relocating to Montreal to attend university, Dana originally planned to pursue a career in film. However, she shifted her attention back to music when her then ex-partner left her his guitar before moving to NYC. After signing with Full Time Hobby in 2019, Dana released two 7″ singles (“One By One”, “Catch”) and announced her debut album “Yesterday Is Gone”, a co-production between Sam Gleason, Tunng’s Mike Lindsay. Support comes from Bingo Fury.
Dana Gavanski – photo: Bristol Beacon
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Monday-Sunday: SABOTAGE by NoFit State Circus, NoFit State Big Top, St Pauls
SABOTAGE is another full-on, boisterous, and audaciously fierce performance with the NoFit State signature style. This energising, uplifting and socially relevant contemporary circus production directed by Firenza Guidi will be back in Bristol this May.
Sabotage – photo: No Fit State Circus
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Monday-Sunday: Passenger Takeover, SS Great Britain
Meet new costumed characters aboard the SS Great Britain this half term, from merchants and farmers to botanists and scoundrels. Watch as dramas unfold with immersive live performances and hear tales of Victorian life at sea as you explore the ship.
SS Great Britain Victorian Actors -Photo: Adam Gasson
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Monday-July 22: Hamilton, Bristol Hippodrome
Bristol will have to Wait For It no longer; the multi-award-winning masterpiece by Lin-Manuel Miranda is now open at the Bristol Hippodrome! Hamilton is the winner of 11 Tony Awards including Best Musical, 7 Olivier Awards, the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2016 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album.
Hamilton – photo: Bristol Hippodrome
Monday: WAR! Short film showcase, Bristol Aquarium IMAX
A series of five award winning short films showcasing some of history’s forgotten conflicts, all of which can teach us lessons about the world around us. With films ranging from the sobering tale of a Sikh soldier fighting for the British empire to a journalist exposing war crimes, expect a range of sobering stories.
Bristol Aquarium IMAX – photo: Forbidden Worlds, Bristol IMAX
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Tuesday: Preview Q&A: A House in Jerusalem, Watershed
A poignant tale exploring memory, trauma, and the longing for home amidst the complexities of relations between Israel and Palestine. Join us after the Tue 28 May 18:00 screening for a Zoom Q&A with director Muayad Alayan. A House in Jerusalem is screening in Partnership with Bristol Palestine Film Festival.
A House in Jerusalem – photo: Watershed
Tuesday: Cave Tour (Inc. We Are Warriors), Redcliffe Caves
Enjoy a tour of the many tunnels and caves beneath Redcliffe, as you learn about the history surrounding the medieval caves that lie beneath the streets. You will also be guided through the incredibly popular and striking We Are Warriors exhibition that currently inhabits the caves.
Redcliffe Caves, We Are Warriors – photo: Rob Browne
Wednesday: Bluescreen, The Cube
As part of the 2024 edition of Europe’s biggest street art and graffiti festival, the team behind Upfest are presenting an enlightening evening with one of the city’s most innovative artists, discussing his artistic journey that led him to where he is today, and taking questions from the audience.
Bluescreen poster – photo:The Cube
Thursday: Call & Response, Acta Community Theatre
A mini festival of sorts, spanning an evening at the Bedminster community theatre. The evening will consist of a presentation of new art, music and theatre productions from community and youth groups from refugee backgrounds across Bristol and London.
Call and response – photo: Acta Community Theatre
Friday: space•lab w/ dBridge, Katiusha, Dr. Baird, Strange Brew
A strange but somehow fitting booking from the spacey prog/trance label headed up by rave alien Adam Pits sees one of the pioneers of the birth of drum & bass dBridge head to Strange Brews big, loud, dark back room. With an eclectic career, it’s anyone’s guess what he might reach for.
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Saturday: Nubiyan Twist, Bristol Beacon
Nubiyan Twist are a blend of virtuosic players, skilled producers and inspired composers who have joined forces under the leadership of multi-instrumentalist & producer Tom Excell. Since forming in 2011 at the Leeds College of Music, Nubiyan Twist have risen to become one of the leading groups in the fertile UK music scene. Known for their eclectic blend of styles and powerful sound, the virtuosic nine-piece band’s thrilling exploration of tight musicianship and infectious grooves have consistently mesmerised audiences. With support coming from The Scorpios & corto.alto, and Fantastic Stranger in Bridgehouse, join us this June as we kick off summer with a sun-soaked soul and jazz celebration.
Nubiyan Twist – photo: Bristol Beacon
Saturday: Mickey Zoggs Street Party, Mickey Zoggs
The online community radio station’s home base/pub/music nerd hangout is currently running a fundraiser in an attempt to bring the building in which it resides under community ownership. They are hosting a day party this weekend to try and raise some more money for the cause, and tickets can be purchased via their fundraiser page.
Mickey Zoggs Street Party – photo: Mickey Zoggs
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Saturday-June 9: Festival of Nature, multiple locations
Festival of Nature is the UK’s largest celebration of the natural world, taking place 1 – 9 June across Bristol and Bath. Running for over 20 years, Festival of Nature offers people the chance to connect with local wildlife, learn about the natural world, and take positive action for nature.
Festival of Nature – photo: NHC
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Sunday: Wallace and Gromit Double Bills, Watershed
Ready for some Aardman classics? This half term holiday, we’re screening Bristol’s best-known animated duo as double bills. Starting from the beginning we’re pairing the film that started everything A Grand Day Out withThe Wrong Trousers – starring the terrifying Feathers McGraw.
Wallace and Gromit – photo: Watershed
Sunday: Summer Bristol vintage clothing pop up, PRSC
The Stokes Croft community hub brings together some of Bristol’s best second hand vintage clothing resellers for a sustainable clothes market that will set you up for your summer wardrobe. For those not wanting to break the bank, there will even be a bargain bin where you can hunt for treasures.
Bristol vintage pop up – photo: PRSC
And coming soon...
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June 4: Allie Bailey – Running Won’t Save You, Redgrave Theatre
Allie Bailey has spent the past decade running Ultramarathons and sinking beers in every corner of the world. In ‘Running Won’t Save You’, she gives a frank, shocking and at times, darkly funny account of what it was like to be a functioning alcoholic and depressive, what Ultrarunning has taught her and what she’s now teaching other people!
Allie Bailey – Running Won’t Save You – photo: Redgrave Theatre
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June 5: Kevin Quantum – Momentum, Redgrave Theatre
Explore the exotic space where science and magic meet with the magician-scientist-adventurer, trained by US magic legends Penn & Teller. With over a decade of Edinburgh Fringe sell-outs, performances around Europe and tours of Australia, Kevin embarks on his first ever UK tour with an entrancing collection of unique magic inventions, stunning sleight-of-hand and beautiful (yet deadly) stunts in a show – inspired by science but targeted at humans.
Kevin Quantum Momentum – photo: Redgrave Theatre
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June 5: Handel by Candlelight, St. George’s
Bristol Ensemble team up with Fitzhardinge Consort for a special celebration of Handel’s choral music in the gorgeous candlelit ambience of St George’s.
Handel by candlelight – photo: Bristol Ensemble
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June 5-15: Clifton International Festival of Music, Clifton Cathedral & St Paul’s
Spellbinding sounds from renowned artists, tenor James Gilchrist and mezzo soprano Helen Charlston, and festival favourites, early music vocal group The Erebus Ensemble, plus Bristol Symphony Orchestra. You’ll find masterpieces including Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.6 and Faure’s much-loved Requiem.
Clifton International Festival of Music – photo: Clifton International Festival of Music
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June 8: Music for a blue planet, Trinity Henleaze URC
In collaboration with the Festival of Nature, the Bristol Ensemble will take us on a breathtaking musical exploration of our beautiful planet with music from the BBC series Blue Planet by George Fenton together with Schubert’s enduringly popular Trout Quintet. Written by the young composer at just 22 years of age, this Quintet has a freshness and serenity that has engaged players and audiences for nearly 200 years. This will be the last concert of our season, do come and join us.
Music for a blue planet – photo: Henleaze Concert Society
Main photo: Watershed
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