28 things to do in Bristol this week, April 15-21 2024

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Monday: The Art of the Beacon, Bristol Beacon
Join acclaimed artists Rana Begum, Linda Brothwell and Giles Round whose work features at the heart of the Beacon transformation and curator Theresa Bergne for an evening of presentations and discussion about their work and the creative process of developing the art commissions for the building. Working with the project team, how did they respond to the brief to ‘bring music to life in visual form’ and to respond to the history of the site? What were the challenges? And how does working in this way differ from their usual creative practice? All tickets under £10.

The Art of the Beacon – photo: Bristol Beacon

Monday: Inside the Newsroom with Bristol24/7, Watershed
Building on the foundations of our hugely successful work experience programme, Bristol24/7 is inviting anyone interested in journalism to spend the day with us and other local and national media organisations to learn about what it takes to work in the media and how to start your career.

The Bristol24/7 team will be hosting discussions designed to give insight into the journalism industry – photo: Meg HG

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Tuesday-April 27: The Last Show Before We Die, Bristol Old Vic
Welcome to the messiest break up you’ve ever been through: live. This Edinburgh smash hit is an existential cabaret about the big things in life. And Death. “Absolutely bonkers and deeply moving” (★★★★★ BroadwayWorld) don’t miss this five-star, “heady, gut-wrench of a show” (★★★★★ Guardian).

The Last Show Before we Die – photo: Bristol Old Vic

Tuesday: BBC Upload showcase, acta Community Theatre
BBC Upload is the perhaps lesser known arm of the public broadcaster, dedicated to taking submissions from across the realms of creativity from people making art at home around the country. Part of the annual Lyra poetry festival, they are showcasing some of the most exciting poets/spoken word artists from the city who have submitted their work over the past year.

BBC Upload is the BBCs vessel for finding undiscovered talent in communities across the UK – photo: BBC Upload

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Tuesday: Phantom Parrot, Watershed
A journalist uncovers documents proving the existence of a top-secret surveillance programme. Codenamed Phantom Parrot, it’s designed to copy the personal data of individuals at airports and border crossings. A dark film about technology, surveillance and structural racism, followed by a Q&A with Lead Contributor Muhammad Rabbani, Producer Steven Lake and Priyanka Raval from Bristol Cable.

Wednesday: UWE animation screening, The Cube
The talented UWE animation students descend onto the community microcinema for an evening filled with a variety of different short films made by those studying the course currently and those who’ve previously graduated. There will also be drinks and an auction, all to raise money for the students’ 2024 degree show.

UWE Animation screening – photo: The Cube Cinema

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Wednesday-Saturday: ‘Hedda’ by Andrew Whittle (after Henrik Ibsen), Factory Theatres
‘Hedda is bored, and when Hedda is bored, she is dangerous…’

A fresh, new, and exciting stage adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s classic Hedda Gabler that is as relevant today as ever. A powerful woman who feels trapped by the expectations of those around her, but when she tries to take control, her life spirals and bad things happen.

Hedda – photo: Here to There productions

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Thursday-April 22: Civil War, Watershed
An adrenaline-fuelled thrill ride through a near-future, fractured America balanced on a razor’s edge from the writer of 28 Days Later and Annihilation, Alex Garland.

Thursday: Found Footage Festival vol. 10, Bristol Aquarium IMAX
Two lovers of the weird and (sometimes) wonderful team up for the tenth edition of their strange touring production, in which they showcase their obsession for collecting the strangest possible pieces of moving image from history, and walk you through the many unexpected wonders of found footage.

Found Footage Festival Vol. 10 comes to Bristol’s IMAX – photo: Found Footage Festival

Friday: Turbo Island music tee exhibition, Kit Form
One of the artists behind the Bristol24/7 10th Anniversary Collection celebrated a decade of creating weird, whacky (and oftentimes genius) designs for t-shirts, posters and more, often taking inspiration from his various extensive musical influences. Taking place a stone’s throw from his namesake, Kit Form is the new creative space directly underneath Jamaica Street Studios.

Turbo Island music tee exhibition – photo: Christopher Wright (Turbo Island)

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Saturday: Kelly Moran, Bristol Beacon
New York-based composer and producer Kelly Moran defies classical norms with a contemporary, experimental approach to the piano. Moran’s debut 2017 album ‘Bloodroot’ with intricate and experimental piano captured the imagination of contemporary classical and avant-garde music fans. Since then, she has drawn influences from every corner of the musical spectrum with dazzling inflections of jazz and dream pop, neoclassical and black metal. Her latest release “Moves in the Field” showcases a unique collaboration with Yamaha’s Disklavier player piano, pushing the boundaries of human and machine interaction.

Kelly Moran – photo: Bristol Beacon

Saturday: Kidical Mass, Queen Square
An all-age friendly slow ride around the city centre, calling for safer streets – for children and everyone. Everyone is welcome to join the ride on bikes, scooters or skates to ensure children are seen and heard in Bristol. The ride will end with a child-friendly Safe Streets Now! rally and speeches from campaigners and politicians.

Saturday: Alpha’s Trip w/ Tañ+ A For Alpha, The Love Inn
For some Bristolians, it’s the best day of the year. Whether or not you’re one of those people, there’s an almost 100 per cent chance that you will catch yourself vibing to an extended three-hour b2b from London based eclectic selector Tañ and Alpha’s Trip boss/4×4 aficionado A For Alpha, with each DJ also playing a 1.5hr solo set either side.

Sunday: Yoga Brunch Club x Wiper & True & Eatchu, Wiper & True Taproom Old Market
Is there a better way to spend a Sunday than unwinding at a mid morning yoga class, before having lunch provided for you by one of the city’s favourite gyoza spots? Oh, and did I mention it was in one of Bristol’s newest (and loveliest) taprooms? It really doesn’t get better, does it?

Wiper & True old market Taproom – photo: Wiper & True

And coming soon…

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April 22: Jackie Fabulous – Full Circle, Redgrave Theatre
Jackie Fabulous has been carving her place in comedy in her native America since being a semi-finalist in America’s Got Talent, even getting Simon Cowell to blush! Jackie Fabulous is a hilarious and affable stand-up comedian, writer, actor, producer, motivational speaker, and headliner who uses her sparkling nature to simultaneously entertain, encourage, and empower audiences.

Jackie Fabulous – photo: Redgrave Theatre

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April 23: 5×15 Bristol, The Station
5 fantastic speakers, 15 minutes each. Our Spring event will feature Dr Nathan Filer, DJ Ngaio, Naomi Delap, Connor Allen and Dr Lily Dunn talking on an eclectic range of subjects from mental health to birth behind bars.

5×15 Bristol – photo: 5×15

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April 24: The King of Reggae, Bristol Old Vic
Get ready to enjoy songs like One Love, No Woman No Cry and Is This Love all played live on stage by the incredible The King of Reggae Band, as we tell the story of the man who brought Reggae music to the world.

King of Reggae – photo: Bristol Old Vic

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April 26-29: City Nature Challenge, multiple locations
City Nature Challenge is an exciting collaborative mission to record as much wildlife as possible from 26 – 29 April, using the free iNaturalist app. Get involved in the Bristol effort as we come together to collect records of biodiversity across our area, alongside 500+ other cities around the globe!

City Nature Challenge – photo: Natural History Consortium

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April 27: Sustainable Pop-Up Market: April, Future Leap Gloucester Road
Our Sustainable Pop-Up Market is back for April, giving you the opportunity to shop from an array of indie sellers! Every market hosts a different selection of stallholders, and you can expect to find photography and art prints, eco-friendly beauty and hygiene products, greener household alternatives, ceramics, handsewn homewares and much, much more.

April Pop-Up Market – photo: Future Leap

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May 3: The Breath, Bristol Cathedral
‘Quietly, inexorably, The Breath have become one of the most exciting folk acts’ The Financial Times *****
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

The Breath – photo: Bristol Folk Festival

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May 5: Sheelanagig + Filkin’s Ensemble, St. George’s
Raise the roof this Bank Holiday with foot-stomping folk & joint-jumping tunes. South West quintet Sheelanagig headline a special concert with support from stunningly beautiful 14-piece Filkin’s Ensemble. Think Penguin Café meets Bellowhead, not to be missed.

Sheelanagig – photo: Bristol Folk Festival

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May 10: Vivaldi Four Seasons Wine Tasting, 1904 Arts Club
Imagine a cosy and intimate setting, where you can enjoy a glass of wine and listen to the beautiful sounds of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. You’ll be welcomed to the 1904 Arts Club, a hidden gem behind the Red Lodge Museum, with its quirky artefacts and cabaret-style seating. As the candles flicker, you’ll be treated to a live performance of Vivaldi’s masterpiece by the Bristol Ensemble, the city’s leading professional orchestra.

You’ll also get to taste four exquisite Italian wines, carefully selected by Oboe Fine Wines, who are known for their quality, sustainability and biodiversity. They’ll take you on a journey through each wine, and share the stories behind the music and the regions they come from.

Wine tasting with Vivaldi – photo: Bristol Ensemble

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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 mets Richter by candlelight – photo: Bristol Ensemble

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May 18-June 2: SABOTAGE by No Fit State Circus, No Fit State Big Top
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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May 26: Six Chick Flicks, Redgrave Theatre
Fresh from a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe, this smash hit comedy parodies your favourite chick flicks in one hysterical, fast-paced show. From the deck of the Titanic to the glittery pink halls of Harvard Law, watch as New York City comedians Kerry Ipema and KK Apple transform the stage with songs, dance breaks and pop culture hilarity. If you love chick flicks, you’ll love this show. If you hate chick flicks… you’ll love this show!

Six Chick Flicks – photo: Redgrave Theatre

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June 1-9: 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: Natural History Consortium

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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

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June 8 & 9: App-Fest Somerset, The Blue Bowl Inn
Set in the beautiful British countryside, App-Fest Somerset returns with headliner Starsailor, an incredible lineup of acts, and some of the finest tribute artists on the scene today. With a great selection of food and drink, family activities and much more to come, there really is something for everyone!

Appfest Somerset – photo: AppFest

Main photo: Bristol Cycling Campaign

Read next:

• 45 things to do in Bristol in April 2024
• Save Our Scene & Nia Archives team up for 2,700 person underground rave
• Upfest 2024: full lineup announced

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