95 things to do in Bristol in May 2019

Art / Painting

25 Years of Tobacco Factory

Works depicting the building and its activities

: Wednesday, May 1 2019 - Tuesday, Jun 4 2019

Art / Indigo Jax

Peculiar Portals

Surreal, esoteric and boldly colourful paintings

: Wednesday, May 1 2019 - Tuesday, Jun 11 2019

Art / Ceramics

Ceramics by Robyn Cove

Functional ceramics with a rustic warmth

: Monday, Apr 1 2019 - Thursday, May 30 2019

Art / Bedminster

The Last Stop

Works inspired by a ruined 13C pilgrims' chapel

: Saturday, Apr 27 2019 - Saturday, May 11 2019

Art / Art and Science

Creative Reactions Bristol

Exploring the relationships between science and art

Multiple venues: Thursday, May 2 2019 - Saturday, Jun 1 2019

Art / Painting

Zoë Power: Overlay

New paintings and prints by this striking local artist

: Thursday, May 2 2019 - Saturday, May 18 2019

Art / Racism

Why Are We Not Here?

Exploring institutional racism and marginalised representation in arts institutions

: Friday, May 3 2019 - Sunday, May 12 2019

Art / Open studios

Spike Island Open Studios 2019

Spike Island's big and brilliant annual open studios event

: Friday, May 3 2019 - Monday, May 6 2019

Art / Ceramics

The Golden Show

Featuring artists Tony and Glen Eastman plus 30 friends

: Sunday, May 12 2019 - Wednesday, May 22 2019

Art / Japanese art

Masters of Japanese Prints: Nature and Seasons

Third and final part of the Museum's Japanese print series

: Saturday, May 18 2019 - Sunday, Sep 8 2019

Art / Illustration

Original Paint: Siena Barnes

'Punk rock folk art' Indian ink panels

: Friday, May 24 2019 - Sunday, May 26 2019

Art / Martin Edwards

Retro

A celebration of silver-based photography

: Saturday, May 25 2019 - Saturday, Jun 15 2019

Art / Abstract Expressionism

Memory Data

Solo exhibition by Bristol artist and composer Jimmy Galvin

: Saturday, May 25 2019 11am & Sunday, May 26 2019 11am

Books & Spoken Word / Fiction

Inua Ellams

Award winning poet and playwright discusses his debut novel

Bristol Old Vic: Coopers’ Loft: Thursday, May 2 2019 6pm

Books & Spoken Word / Poetry

Satellite of Love: Helen Moore & Callum Wensley

Popular poetry and spoken word night

The Greenbank: Wednesday, May 8 2019 8:30pm

Books & Spoken Word / Poetry

That’s What She Said: Penny Pepper, Grace Cohen, Shagufta K Iqbal, Kat Lyons

Top drawer poetry and spoken word performed by women

Rough Trade: Tuesday, May 14 2019 7:30pm

Books & Spoken Word / Creative Writing

Tim Clare & Gareth L Powell

Live edition of creative writing podcast, Death Of 1000 Cuts

Storysmith Books: Wednesday, May 15 2019 6:30pm

Books & Spoken Word / Young Adult

Yassmin Abdel-Magied

Author, broadcaster, activist discusses her debut YA novel

Waterstones Bristol Galleries: Wednesday, May 15 2019 7pm

Books & Spoken Word / Cycling

Jet McDonald: Mind is the Ride

New book looking at cycling and philosophy

Foyles: Thursday, May 16 2019 6:30pm

Books & Spoken Word / Dialogue Books

Yvonne Battle-Felton, Niven Govinden, Season Butler and Saskia Vogel

Four superb writers published by game-changing Dialogue Books with Nikesh Shukla

Bristol Central Library: Monday, May 20 2019 7:30pm

Books & Spoken Word / Politics

Kenan Malik

Author and commentator discusses free speech

Waterstones Bristol Galleries: Tuesday, May 21 2019 7pm

Books & Spoken Word / Censorship

Naomi Wolf

Bestselling author discusses the impact of the Obscene Publications Act

Waterstones Bristol Galleries: Wednesday, May 22 2019 6:30pm

Books & Spoken Word / Poetry

Andrea Gibson

Award-winning poet performs from new collection

St George’s: Wednesday, May 22 2019 7:30pm

Books & Spoken Word / Fiction

Jeanette Winterson

Bestselling author introduces her latest novel

We The Curious: Tuesday, May 28 2019 6:30pm

Books & Spoken Word / Domestic Violence

Joan Smith

How domestic violence turns men into terrorists

Waterstones Bristol Galleries: Wednesday, May 29 2019 7pm

Circus / Circomedia

Group 1 Final Major Project – Circomedia Graduates

Third year students present their approaches to performance

: Wednesday, May 29 2019 7:30pm & Thursday, May 30 2019 7:30pm

Theatre / Burlesque

Dismantle: A Fierce Circus Cabaret

Circus and burlesque, dissecting stereotypes of gender and sexuality

The Station: Saturday, May 25 2019 8pm

Circus / Circomedia

Ensembles

Second year Circomedia students showcase their skills

: Friday, May 17 2019 7:30pm & Saturday, May 18 2019 7:30pm

Circus / Circomedia

Circomedia Youth Circus Showcases 2019

Circomedia's nine Youth Circus classes come together to perform

: Tuesday, May 7 2019 - Saturday, May 11 2019

Music / Techno

Lock Yard x Deep Discs

A big summer refresher with techno and jazz maestro Harri Pepper

Motion: Friday, May 3 2019 5pm

Music / Techno

Ben Nicky presents TECHFK

A full spectrum of genres including trance and techno

Motion: Friday, May 3 2019 10pm

Music / Techno

Open Air Club: Joseph Capriati

Motion welcomes a new era of open air clubbing in Bristol

Motion: Saturday, May 4 2019 1pm

Music / Drum and Bass

THEKLA 35: Laid Blak + Dr Meaker

Two Bristol legends come together to celebrate 35 years of Thekla

Thekla: Saturday, May 4 2019 7pm

Music / Soul

Oh my God! It’s The Church

All singing, all dancing, party church service

Thekla: Thursday, May 9 2019 7pm

Music / House

SOLD OUT: Boiler Room Bristol

A no nonsense Boiler Room session spotlighting some of the UK's rising selectors

Motion: Friday, May 10 2019 10pm

Music / House

Love Saves The Night (Saturday)

Love Saves The Day continues into the night

Motion: Saturday, May 25 2019 10pm

Music / House

Love Saves The Night (Sunday)

Love Saves The Day continues into the night

Motion: Sunday, May 26 2019 10pm

Music / House

Lock Yard x Club Blanco x Strange Frequency

Another collaborative party at Motion's Lock Yard

Motion: Friday, May 31 2019 5pm

Music / Dance

Cafe Magna parties 2019

Ibiza Nights Presents: Cafe Magna

: Friday, May 31 2019 6pm & Saturday, Jun 1 2019 2pm

Comedy / Chuckle Busters

Kiri Pritchard-McLean: Victim, Complex

Angry, passionate set from rising star

1532 Performing Arts Centre: Thursday, May 2 2019 8pm

Comedy / Stand-Up

Stand Up for Beer, Comedy and Curry

With Bristol comics Becky Brunning and Martin Pilgrim

Bristol Spirit Bar & Kitchen: Friday, May 3 2019 8pm

Comedy / Alex Horne

The Horne Section

More comedy, songs, dancing and general silliness

Bristol Old Vic: Sunday, May 5 2019 7:30pm

Comedy / Observational comedy

Reginald D Hunter

Honest, uncompromising comic marks 20 years in the UK

Anson Rooms: Thursday, May 9 2019 7:30pm

Comedy / Observational comedy

Stand Up for the Weekend: Joe Sutherland & co.

Caustic, catty and confident newcomer

The Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken Studio: Saturday, May 11 2019 8:30pm

Comedy / Chuckle Busters

Lloyd Griffith: All Rounder

Comedian, choirboy and host of Soccer AM

Bristol Improv Theatre: Thursday, May 16 2019 8pm

Comedy / Confessional Comedy

Lou Sanders: Shame Pig

Confessional tales from an original comic voice

Bristol Improv Theatre: Saturday, May 18 2019 8pm

Comedy / Sketch comedy

Foil, Arms and Hog: Craicling

YouTube-conquering sketch trio

Bristol Old Vic: Sunday, May 19 2019 8pm

Comedy / Clerks

Jason Mewes Live

Yes, the potty-mouthed vocal half of Jay and Silent Bob

: Tuesday, May 21 2019 7pm & Tuesday, May 21 2019 9:30pm

Comedy / Character comedy

Tom Neenan: It’s Always Infinity

Character comedy about toxic masculinity

The Wardrobe Theatre: Sunday, May 26 2019 8:30pm

Comedy / Observational comedy

Cancelled: Ashley Blaker & Imran Yusuf: Prophet Sharing

"Two great religions. Two great comedians"

The Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken Studio: Thursday, May 30 2019 8pm

Dance / Ballet

Birmingham Royal Ballet: Beauty and the Beast

BRB visit with David Bintley's gothic ballet

: Wednesday, May 1 2019 - Saturday, May 4 2019

Dance / Dance

Testing Ground

Circomedia's showcase of dancers and choreographers testing out new ideas

Circomedia: Thursday, May 2 2019 7:30pm

Dance / Circus

ANIMA by Joli Vyann

Joli Vyann’s new show explores the simple act of breathing

: Friday, May 24 2019 7:30pm & Saturday, May 25 2019 7:30pm

Dance / Ballet

La Fille mal Gardee & Shades of Blue double bill

New Works Ballet Theatre kick off their Spring/Summer season

: Saturday, May 25 2019 3:30pm & Saturday, May 25 2019 6:30pm

Dance / Musical

In The Willows

Metta Theatre return with their new street dance musical

: Wednesday, May 29 2019 - Saturday, Jun 1 2019

Film / Action

Godzilla-Geddon: Godzilla/Destroy All Monsters

A Kaiju double bill to celebrate Godzilla's 65th birthday

Film / Event Cinema

National Theatre Encore: All My Sons

Sally Field and Bill Pullman star in a revival of Arthur Miller's tragedy

Film / Documentary

The Ponds + Swimming talks and exhibition

Gentle documentary about the bathing ponds of Hampstead Heath and the people who use them

Film / Documentary

Jimi Hendrix: Electric Church

Restored film of the guitar great's full performance at the 1970 Atlanta Pop Festival

Film / Documentary

Bristol Bad Film Club: Kung Fu Elliot/The Insufferable Groo

A big-value delusional director documentary double-bill

Film / Science Fiction

2001: A Space Odyssey

Stanley Kubrick's science fiction classic is back on the big screen where it belongs

Film / Comedy

Homesitters

Disaster befalls a pair of professional housesitters in this locally filmed blackly comic thriller

Film / Comedy

Thunder Road + Director Q&A

Award-winning, low-budget tragicomedy about a Texas cop having a mental breakdown

Film / Drama

The Harder They Come

The return of Jamaica's first - and arguably best - feature film in era-defining soundtracks season

Film / Comedy

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

4K restoration of Kubrick's cold war classic

Film / Documentary

Asbury Park: Riot, Redemption, Rock’n’Roll

The story of legendary New Jersey music venue The Upstage

Film / Ballet

Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake

Blokes get to be the swans in Matthew Bourne's hit makeover of the romantic ballet

Food & Drink / Beer

St Nick’s Night Market – May 2019

Running from 5pm-10pm.

St Nick’s Market: Friday, May 10 2019 5pm

Food & Drink / Beer

East Bristol Brewery Trail – May 2019

Five breweries once again join forces

: Saturday, May 4 2019 12pm & Sunday, May 5 2019 12pm

Food & Drink / Vegan

Spring Feast

Multi-course vegan fundraiser at Cafe Kino

Cafe Kino: Tuesday, May 14 2019 7:30pm

Food & Drink / Beer

Inn on the Green Beer Festival 2019

The 15th annual festival at the Horfield pub

: Saturday, May 4 2019 12pm & Sunday, May 5 2019 12pm

Food & Drink / Pop-Up

Pobi Kitchen pop-up

Debut event for new pop-up

The Rose of Denmark: Friday, May 10 2019 7pm

Food & Drink / food

Kensington Arms foraging workshop

Explore natural spots and taste different features of wildlife

: Saturday, May 11 2019 9:30am & Saturday, Aug 3 2019 9:30am

Food & Drink / cider

Pasetti & Boote present ‘A Tasting’

Taste around 50 wines from all over Europe as well as ciders and perry

The Forge: Sunday, May 12 2019 12pm

Food & Drink / chocolate

Cheese and chocolate pairing

Zara joins forces with The Bristol Cheesemonger

Zara’s Chocolates: Wednesday, May 15 2019 7pm

Food & Drink / Supper Club

Syrian Supper Club – May 2019

All money raised goes towards helping people affected by the conflict

Hart’s Bakery: Thursday, May 16 2019 7:30pm

Food & Drink / Beer

Summer Brewhouse Session 2019 I

Lost and Grounders welcome Pressure Drop Brewing and Loka Polly

Lost and Grounded Brewers: Saturday, May 18 2019 1pm

Food & Drink / wine

Cornish wine tasting dinner

With the owners of Polgoon winery

Clifton Sausage: Thursday, May 23 2019 7:30pm

Food & Drink / gin

The Milk Thistle Gin Club

Centred around the inimitable Thomas Dakin

The Milk Thistle: Thursday, May 30 2019 7pm

Food & Drink / Coffee

Meet the Maker: cooking with coffee

Pigsty host Clifton Coffee for a three-course meal

Pigsty, Gloucester Road: Friday, May 31 2019 6:30pm

Music / Alternative Rock

SOLD OUT: Built To Spill

Legendary alternative rock band

Thekla: Thursday, May 2 2019 7pm

Music / Indie

Fat White Family

Chaotic and sophisticated indie

O2 Academy: Friday, May 3 2019 6:30pm

Music / Indie Rock

THEKLA 35: October Drift

Series celebrating 35 years of Thekla as a venue

Thekla: Friday, May 3 2019 7pm

Music / Alternative Rock

THEKLA 35: Soeur + No Violet + Cruelty

Excellent bill of emerging Bristol alternative bands

Thekla: Sunday, May 5 2019 2pm

Music / Indie

Peter Doherty

Famed for his work with The Libertines and Babyshambles

O2 Academy: Sunday, May 5 2019 7pm

Music / Jazz

Kiefer

LA-based jazz pianist and beat maker

Thekla: Wednesday, May 8 2019 7pm

Music / Indie Pop

Better Oblivion Community Center

Heartfelt and dreamy indie pop

O2 Academy: Friday, May 10 2019 6:30pm

Music / Rock

Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul

Legendary rock and roll icons

O2 Academy: Wednesday, May 22 2019 7pm

Music / Jazz

Kamasi Washington

Modern day jazz wizard

O2 Academy: Thursday, May 23 2019 7pm

Music / Indie

Dot To Dot Festival 2019

Award winning indie orientated multi venue festival

Various venues: Saturday, May 25 2019 11am

Theatre / Inua Ellams

Barber Shop Chronicles

Inua Ellams' new play begins in a Peckham barber shop and heads round the world

: Thursday, May 2 2019 - Saturday, May 18 2019

Theatre / All-female cast

The Greatest of the Greatest

When two creative geniuses met - and failed to spark

: Tuesday, May 7 2019 - Saturday, May 11 2019

Theatre / Dennis Kelly

Matilda the Musical

RSC / Tim Minchin musical of Roald Dahl's beloved tale

: Tuesday, May 7 2019 - Saturday, Jun 8 2019

Theatre / 1970s

After Today

Bill Grundy reflects on *that* Sex Pistols interview

: Tuesday, May 7 2019 - Saturday, May 11 2019

Theatre / Blackboard Theatre

Stardust

Journey into the dark heart of cocaine production

: Wednesday, May 8 2019 - Saturday, May 11 2019

Theatre / Bristol Improv Theatre

The Oxford Imps

Acclaimed improv troupe

Bristol Improv Theatre: Friday, May 10 2019 8pm

Theatre / Brunel's SS Great Britain

STEAMED: a Dickensian Improvised Tale

Dickensian fun from the brilliant Closer Each Day team

: Sunday, May 12 2019 7:30pm & Monday, May 13 2019 7:30pm

Theatre / Autobiographical

The Stranger on the Bridge

An act of kindness that changed two lives forever

: Tuesday, May 14 2019 - Saturday, May 18 2019

Theatre / Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

Poison

Searing play about grief, love, and the will to move on

: Tuesday, May 14 2019 - Saturday, May 18 2019

Theatre / New Writing

amendments: A Play on Words

New play examines language, censorship and offence

: Thursday, May 16 2019 - Saturday, May 18 2019

Theatre / Bristol Old Vic Theatre School

How My Light is Spent

Comedy about love in unexpected places

: Tuesday, May 21 2019 - Saturday, May 25 2019

Theatre / Adaptation

The Remains of the Day

Out of Joint adapt the Ishiguro classic

: Tuesday, May 21 2019 - Saturday, May 25 2019

Theatre / Burlesque

Dismantle: A Fierce Circus Cabaret

Circus and burlesque, dissecting stereotypes of gender and sexuality

The Station: Saturday, May 25 2019 8pm

Dance / Musical

In The Willows

Metta Theatre return with their new street dance musical

: Wednesday, May 29 2019 - Saturday, Jun 1 2019