Things To Do / Sponsored
26 things to do in Bristol this week, October 14-20 2024
Monday: Billy Billingham, St George’s
Billy Billingham, chief instructor on SAS: Who Dares Wins, will share his life story and stories from behind the scenes of the hit Channel 4 show.
The former paratrooper spent over 20 years with the Royal Marines – photo: Billy Billingham
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Friday-November 2: FEAR Scream Park, Avon Valley
Get ready for #ABloodyGoodNight this October at the multi-award winning FEAR Scream Park. The event features 5 immersive, ‘scare’ attractions, roaming street theatre, fire & laser shows, thrill rides and Halloween festival vibes. It’s an adrenaline fuelled, laugh along event not to be missed!
FEAR – photo: Avon valley
Monday-Friday: Wildscreen Festival, various venues
The world’s biggest gathering of natural world storytellers returns to Bristol with masterclasses, networking and screenings.
This year marks the 42nd year of the Wildscreen Film Festival – photo: Wildscreen
Tuesday: England U21 vs Azerbaijan, Ashton Gate
The Young Lions will compete in their final Euro qualifying game against Azerbaijan on Tuesday evening.
The Young Lions hope to compete in the U21 Euro Finals next year in Slovakia – photo: EnglandU21
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Tuesday-November 9: Gaia, Bristol Cathedral
A unique opportunity to join a series of events in celebration of the arrival of Gaia, the stunning art installation, at Bristol Cathedral. Faith, science and art come together in a programme that includes music, talks, stargazing and fashion. Free and paid-for events running between October 15 and November 9.
Bristol Cathedral welcomes Gaia
Tuesday & Wednesday: Kensington Arms x Barang
Batang, a popular Cambodia-inspired pop-up restaurant, will be at the Kensington Arms in Redland for two nights this week.
Tom Geoffrey, the founder of Barang, is a former actor – photo: Kensington Arms
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Throughout October: Thrilling Halloween adventures, Mendip Activities
Spooky season has arrived at Mendip Activity Centre. Join the Zombie Outbreak Response Team to sharpen your target skills, zoom down the haunted toboggan slope, bring a party to ArcheryActive or try out a Nerf Battle in the brand-new Hangar 51. It’s the perfect way to celebrate Halloween!
Thrilling Halloween adventures – photo: Mendip Activities
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Wednesday: Gotts Street Park, Bristol Beacon
The acclaimed Leeds-based trio bring their unique blend of raw, soulful sounds and cinematic influences to Lantern Hall this week. Sharing a passion for creating music the old-fashioned way—live, in one room — the band’s music has an authentic, unfiltered quality which resonates deeply with listeners. Following a sold-out Bristol show last winter, this performance promises to be as mesmerising and inventive as their new record – don’t miss out!
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Wednesday: The Eagles Greatest Hits – For Orchestra, Bristol Ensemble
The Bristol Ensemble bring you a magical night of The Eagles Greatest Hits, specially arranged for the orchestra, keeping the iconic rock feeling while fully integrated into the symphonic sound. Following sold out performances and five star reviews of Dark Side of the Moon, Tubular Bells and The Beatles, this will be another epic night to remember.
Be Eagles – photo: St George’s Bristol
Wednesday-Saturday: Slave, Tobacco Factory
Based on the autobiography of Mende Nazer, a Sudanese woman who was enslaved in Sudan and the UK in the early 2000s, Slave: A Question of Freedom exposes the horrors of modern slavery.
The original ensemble of ‘Slave: A Question Of Freedom’ in 2010 – photo: Edward Garvey
Wednesday-Sunday: Bristol Photo Festival, various venues
The theme of the second biennial Bristol Photo Festival is ‘The World on A Wave’ and features photography from Trent Parke, Herbert Sherwood and Inuuteq Storch among others.
Herbert Shergold was a commercial photographer in 1950s and 60s Bristol. This is one of his many acclaimed images – photo: © Vintage Photographs
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Thursday: Breathwork, Yoga & Sound, Yogasara
Join Lucy for an immersion in transformational breathwork, yoga and sound bath in the beautiful candlelit setting of Yogasara. Breath is a powerful tool we can harness to regulate the nervous system, release stress and tension, and enter a deep state of calm and presence.
An immersion in Breathwork – photo: Lucy Spragge
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Friday: Roddy Woomble, Bristol Beacon
With his enigmatic and poetic lyrics, warm baritone voice and consummate gift for a tune, Roddy Woomble is widely considered to be among Scotland’s best contemporary songwriters. Over the sixteen albums that he has released (nine with his band Idlewild, and seven as a solo artist) he has traversed punk rock, chart bothering melodic rock, folk and most recently electronica, with his most recent project ‘Almost Nothing’, with each one delivered with the humble grace that he’s become known for.
Roddy Woomble – photo: Bristol Beacon
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Friday-Thursday: The Apprentice, Watershed
The origins of Donald Trump are brought to life in a provocative, electrifying portrait of the man and his mentor, Roy Cohn – a notorious lawyer who will never let the truth get in the way of winning a fight.
The Apprentice – photo: Watershed
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Friday-Thursday: A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things, Watershed
Narrated by Tilda Swinton, A Sudden Glimpse to Deeper Things offers a profound cinematic journey into the life of visionary painter Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, directed by Mark Cousins.
A sudden glimpse – photo: Watershed
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Friday-Saturday: Dear Zoo, Redgrave Theatre
Dear Zoo, the timeless children’s classic book returns to the stage! See our characters write to the Zoo. Who will be delivered? A cheeky monkey, a jumpy frog and of course a perfect puppy.
Dear Zoo – photo: Redgrave Theatre
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Friday: Wildscreen official selection film screenings
Discover films from Wildscreen Festival’s Official Selection this week! Explore local talent at ‘Best of Bristol’ plus Q&A 18:00 – 20:30 Weds 16 th at The Royal Photographic Society. Got little ones? Join our ‘Family Friday’ film screening plus Q&A 18:30 – 20:15 Friday 18th at Bristol Megascreen.
Wildscreen Official Selection Film Screenings
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Saturday: Down Stokes Festival, various venues
Your new favourite DIY mini-fest returns with a stacked ‘n’ sludgy celebration of psych, garage, grunge & alt rock across Stokes Croft venues: ft. surf doom enchanters The Wytches, gobby post-punk poster boys Saloon Dion, eldritch slacker rock from Wych Elm, + tons more.
Lineup – photo: Down Stokes Festival
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Saturday: Steve Reich – Different Trains, Bristol Ensemble
Different Trains was a novel experiment, using recorded speech as a source for melodies taken from interviews with people in the US and Europe about the years leading up to, during, and immediately after World War II. The concert will also feature music from three leading UK female composers; Hannah Kendall, Anna Meredith and Carmen Ho.
Bristol Ensemble Contemporary – photo: Bristol Ensemble
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Saturday: Emma Sidi is Sue Gray, Redgrave Theatre
The star of Starstruck, Ghosts and the current season of Taskmaster brings her brand new character-comedy phenomenon to Bristol, fresh off a rave-reviewed, sold out run at the Edinburgh Fringe. Emma Sidi is an acclaimed character comedian. And now she’s Sue Gray.
Emma Sidi – photo: Matt Stronge
Saturday: Flying Baptists Over Hollywood, Bristol Improv Theatre
The Bristol Black Horror Club and the Bristol Bad Film club are teaming up to present a 90-minute screening of African exploitation cinema.
Sunday: Lush Greens harvest festival, Whitchurch
The Lush Greens community market garden is hosting a harvest to celebrate their accomplishments over the past year.
Lush Greens is a community vegetable farm in Hengrove – photo: Lush Greens
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Sunday: Mabe Fratti, Strange Brew
Bringing the UK leg of her tour to a close, experimental cellist and composer Mabe Fratti comes to Bristol’s Strange Brew this October. Her new album described in a five-star Guardian review as “rich, rewarding, spellbinding” and her live show promises the same. Remaining tickets on sale now.
Mabe Fratti – photo: Crosstown Concerts
And coming soon…
is needed now More than ever
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October 24: A one-off concert in celebration of our Blue Planet
Enjoy a unique evening of music on the 24th October. In the atmospheric surroundings of Bristol Cathedral, with the extraordinary Gaia: Our Home Planet installation as the backdrop, the Bristol Ensemble orchestra will take you on an incredible journey of contemporary and traditional music, all inspired by nature.
A one-off concert in celebration our Blue Planet
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October 26: Rozi Plain, Lost Horizon
Over the course of four albums, Rozi Plain’s hypnotic, gently askew songs have steadily sauntered their way from her birthplace of Winchester and reverberated through the bustling Bristol DIY scene. Rozi, also known for her part in Kate Stables’ luminous folk band This Is the Kit, plays Lost Horizon this October. Tickets are on sale now.
Rozi Plain – photo: Crosstown Concerts
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October 30: Breath led with lucy at the Mount Without
Join Lucy for an immersion in transformational Breathwork, Yoga and Soundbath in the stunning candlelit setting of The Mount Without where we’ll be accessing altered states of being. Breath is a powerful tool we can harness to regulate the nervous system, release stress and tension in the body, and enter a deep state of calm and presence. When we combine breath and posture it allows us to quiet our minds and open our hearts, expanding our energetic field, and accepting ourselves completely as we are. Some breaths will be energetic, some incredibly soft and gentle. Both will allow us to experience complete stillness.
Breath led with Lucy – photo: Lucy Spragge
Main photo: Gotts Street Park
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