26 things to do in Bristol this week, March 11-17 2024

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Monday-Thursday: Copa 71, Watershed
Opening on International Women’s Day and told by the pioneering women who participated in it, this is the extraordinary story of the 1971 Women’s Soccer World Cup, a tournament witnessed by record crowds that has been written out of sporting history — until now.

Monday: Cigsncash pop-up/exhibition, Art Club
The underground fashion brand hosts its first ever pop up in the Art Club basement exhibition space. Expect grungy streetwear from the cigsncash team, alongside a selection of curated artworks that will also be on sale, of course soundtracked by some quality DJs.

It’s the first pop up from cigsncash – photo: Cigsncash

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Monday-Thursday: High & Low: John Galliano, Watershed
The gripping and thought-provoking new documentary from Oscar®-winning director Kevin Macdonald (Whitney, Marley), High & Low: John Galliano tells the rise-and-fall story of the influential and controversial fashion designer.

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Monday: Moor Mother, Bristol Beacon
On her latest album ‘The Great Bailout’, Moor Mother aka Camae Ayewa and her collaborators invite you on an evocative trail through themes of Afrofuturism and collective memory with the forebearers of jazz, hip hop and beat poetry in mind. Running in parallel to this is the thread of black life as freedom, black life otherwise, it’s in the music, the sonic landscape that is Moor Mother’s black music making as freedom and in the legacy bequeathed by earlier generations of black music makers, she so keenly honours. Tender and atmospheric, The Great Bailout is astounding for the poignancy and tenderness in which it invites listeners to dwell in facing Britain’s complicity not just in enslavement and its afterlives, but also its very making as a built environment and social-political formation. Moor Mother will be joined on stage by vital member of Bristol’s alternative scene Harrga and Dan Johnson for a special one off performance.

Moor Mother – photo: Bristol Beacon

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Now-March 30: Starter for Ten, Bristol Old Vic
Adapted from the hilarious novel by David Nicholls and the subsequent film, Starter for Ten is a bright, big-hearted new musical. Featuring an irresistible ’80s-inspired original score, this coming-of-age comedy is about love, belonging and the all-important difference between knowledge and wisdom.

Starter for Ten – photo: Bristol Old Vic

Tuesday: Cowboys and lesbians, The Wardrobe Theatre
A beautiful piece of coming of age theatre from the Spring Lamb theatre group. Two school children run away from secondary school one day and step into a new wild western world filled with romance. The production plays with the ideas of gender, identity and fantasy.

Cowboys and Lesbians at The Wardrobe Theatre – photo: Spring Lamb Theatre

Wednesday: The Trading Game launch, Strange Brew
Gary Stevenson was once the top trader at CitiBank in London. Growing up in a working class household, he’s been from living in the shadows of the skyscrapers to sitting at the top floor of them. He’s out of the game now, and is a staunch campaigner from economic reform. His new book details his journey, and he’ll be talking about it in detail this week at Strange Brew.

The Trading Game – photo: Gary Stevenson

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Thursday: Future Leap’s Festival of Sustainable Business Conference, The Bristol Hotel
The MET Office cited 2023 as the warmest year on record. The latest IPCC report underlines the imperative need for the immediate peaking of greenhouse gas emissions if we are to avoid the most devastating impacts of the climate emergency. Despite the ambitious commitments outlined at COP28, the government’s pledges do not align with this imperative. It is therefore up to us as individuals and as a business community to take collective action, and the Festival of Sustainable Business will help you do just that. Get your ticket now!

Festival of Sustainable Business Conference 2024 – photo: Future Leap

Thursday: Music, culture & anti-racism: The 2-tone records story, The Cube
The 2-tone music genre so strongly defined a very specific period of UK culture, 2-tone often goes forgotten when talking about the vast soundscape of UK music from the late ‘70s/early ‘80s. Not this Thursday at The Cube – it gets its own discussion as part of a book launch around the style. The discussion will be preluded by a couple of screenings of classic pieces from the time that help define the sound and style of the movement.

Friday: Relax and rejuvenate with sauna aromatherapy, The Conscious Breath
The breathwork studio is offering tickets to experience their unique authentic Finnish style sauna, scented with aromas of eucalyptus, citrus and pine, for 45 minutes, before plunging straight into one of their invigorating ice baths – it’s certainly one way to get you ready for the weekend.

Fire & Ice therapy sessions – photo: The Conscious Breath

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Friday: Holly Humberstone, Bristol Beacon
Holly Humberstone has become one of the most important British female artists of her generation, boasting consistent live experiences that capture the heart of her raw songwriting. The 23-year-old’s debut album ‘Paint My Bedroom Black’ was written with longtime collaborator Rob Milton during pockets of time touring the globe last year. Holly’s time on the road was lonely as well as liberating, with most days watching friends and family through her phone, while living a “Truman Show-like” existence. After teaming up with producer Ethan Gruska (Phoebe Bridgers, Fiona Apple), the trio began experimenting with pawn shop-bought instruments and synths, writing album highlight ‘Into Your Room’ in just one day, a cinematic, dream pop affected ode to Holly’s guilt from not being present in her new relationship, reflecting the album’s expansive sonic moments that sound like hurtling down a West Coast Highway. Limited tickets remain.

Holly Humberstone – photo: Bristol Beacon

Saturday: Distant Planet, Cosies
The Distant Planet rave crew have been a staple of the jungle scene since their inception in London in 2011. Channelling that euphoric era of ‘90s rave, the collective are known for putting on consistently well curated parties, with real jungle at its core. Cosies is going to be absolutely rammed for this one.

Distant Planet at Cosies – photo: Distant Planet

Sunday: W.E. Irish CultureFest Party, Revolution Bar & St. Nicholas Market
In celebration of St. Paddy’s Day this Sunday, the West of England Irish Culturefest will be hosting a parade, starting at M Shed and ending at St Nicks Market. Expect music, dancing and all manner of colourful festivities, before heading to the parade after party throughout the glass arcade and in Revs.

W.E St Patrick’s Day Festival – photo: West of England Irish Festival

And coming soon…

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March 20 & 21: Self-Raising, Tobacco Factory Theatres
Award winning Artistic Director, Jenny Sealey, has spent a lifetime championing stories by Deaf and disabled artists. Now she takes to the stage to tell her own. Unravelling the past and facing the future, Self-Raising is a blisteringly honest, laugh-out-loud one-woman show about growing up deaf in a family with secrets.

Self-Raising – photo: Tobacco Factory Theatres

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March 23: Ritual Union, multiple venues
With a variety of top-notch live acts, on Saturday 23rd March music fans will be able discover the next wave of upcoming talent, alongside performances from some old favourites and international guests, across multiple venues in one of the UK’s most vital musical cities.

Ritual Union lineup poster – photo: Crosstown Concerts

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March 27: Goreckis symphony no. 3 by candlelight, St. George’s
In the candlelight setting of St George’s and with beautiful visuals you will be immersed and transported by the glorious strings of the Bristol Ensemble with Paul Israel dazzling at the piano.

Goreckis symphony by candlelight – photo: Bristol Ensemble

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March 29: Hans Rey – Mishaps and Mayhem, Redgrave Theatre
Mountain Bike pioneer, adventurer, former Trials World Champion, Hans ‘No Way’ Rey. Hans will reveal the crazy and whacky that accompanied him on some of his adventures. Behind the scenes stories of his greatest stunts and adventures and how it felt to be lost, haunted, stalked and rescued. You know what they say, an adventure isn’t an adventure until things go wrong.

Hans Rey – photo: Redgrave Theatre

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April 3-6: No More Mr Nice Guy, Bristol Old Vic
Chronicling the life of a British-Caribbean Music Teacher caught in a love cube, this funny new play is told through a captivating blend of storytelling, movement, rap and RnB. An experimental gig-theatre production not to be missed.

No More Mr Nice Guy – photo: Bristol Old Vic

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April 7: Dreamcoat Stars, Redgrave Theatre
Dreamcoat Stars is back due to popular demand, for their 3rd UK tour. Bringing incredible live musical entertainment to the nation! Experience the UK’s biggest and best night of musical smash-hits in this star-studded concert featuring brand-new songs and arrangements.

Dreamcoat Stars – photo: Redgrave Theatre

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April 9-13: Doubt, a Parable, Alma Tavern & Theatre
“What do we do when we’re not sure?” A lean, potent drama of suspicion and manipulation. Set in a Bronx Catholic school in 1964, the severe Principal sets about uncovering truth where there may be none, when she accuses the Priest of the most serious of crimes.

Doubt: A Parable – photo: Alma Tavern & Theatre

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April 23-27: Community Service, Tobacco Factory Theatres
Inspired by the life of community hero Trevor Prince, Community Service is an emotional and uplifting theatre show, full of live music and wit. It is set against a backdrop of Thatcher’s Britain, the Handsworth Riots, miner’s strikes and casual racism.

Community service – photo: Tobacco Factory Theatres

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May 3: The Breath, Bristol Cathedral
Softly-spoken guitar whizz Stuart McCallum (Cinematic Orchestra) and larger-than-life singer/flautist Ríoghnach Connolly (BBC Folk Singer Of The Year) are something very special indeed. Catch their opening concert at Bristol Cathedral.

‘The jaw-droppingly stunning, woozy voice of Ríoghnach Connolly” The Guardian

‘Quietly, inexorably, The Breath have become one of the most exciting folk acts’ – The Financial Times *****

The Breath – photo: Bristol Folk Festival

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May 4: Spiers & Boden + Frankie Archer, St. George’s
Founders of Bellowhead and undisputed ‘dons of folk’ (The Observer), John Spiers & Jon Boden headline Saturday of Bristol Folk Festival. These master musicians are joined by Northumbrian artist Frankie Archer. Fresh from Jools Holland she shakes up genres and traditions, championing women, challenging perspectives and calling for a fairer future, all to a mix of synths, samples, fiddle and voice.

Spiers & Boden – photo: Bristol Folk Festival

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May 11: Blown Away, Trinity Henleaze URC
A great programme of music for wind instruments performed by players from the Bristol Ensemble:

• Mozart Serenade for Wind in C minor K.388
• Dvořák Serenade for Winds in D minor Op.44

We’ll hear the powerful and characterful C minor serenade by Mozart, a four movement work full of ingenuity, twists and turns. And also, Dvořák’s Serenade for Winds in D minor, unmistakably Czech, an homage to music-making in Czech palaces and stately homes.

Blown Away – photo: Henleaze Concert Society

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May 15: Einaudi meets Max Richter, St. George’s
A hypnotic evening of music featuring mesmerising works by Ludovico Einaudi, together with Max Richter’s engagingly refreshing reimagining of Vivaldi’s ever popular Four Seasons.

Einaudi meets Richter by candlelight – photo: Bristol Ensemble

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June 8: Summer Serenade, Trinity Henleaze URC
For this last concert of our season, the Bristol Ensemble will perform Schubert’s Trout Quintet and other pieces of light classical music.

Schubert’s enduringly popular Trout Quintet was written by the young composer at just 22 years of age.  It has a freshness and serenity that has engaged players and audiences for nearly 200 years.  Together with other pieces of light classical music, this will be a perfect programme for a Summer’s evening.

Summer Serenade – photo: Henleaze Concert Society

Main photo: Barry Savell

Read next:

• 48 things to do in Bristol in March 2024
• Bristol Gallery Weekend: a celebration of the city’s contemporary art scene
• Sparks Bristol to host Festival of Stories

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