Things To Do / Sponsored
23 things to do in Bristol this week, September 23-29 2024
Monday: The Waeve, Rough Trade
An in-store gig from The Waeve – made up of duo Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougall – to mark the release of their new album, City Lights.
SPONSORED
Monday-Thursday: The Substance, Watershed
“Have you ever dreamt of a better version of yourself? You. Only better in every way. Seriously. You’ve got to try this new product.”
SPONSORED
Monday-Thursday: Girls Will Be Girls, Watershed
16-year-old Mira crashes headfirst into teenage love, India’s oppression of female sexual agency, and her own mother’s stifled desires in this stellar debut feature from Shuchi Talati that won the World Cinema Audience Award at Sundance this year.
Girls Will Be Girls. Photo: Watershed
Tuesday-Saturday: My Mother’s Funeral, Bristol Old Vic
Kelly Jones’ new play tackles the inequalities around death and the cost of turning your loved ones into art.
Wednesday: Friends quiz, The Shakespeare
The Redland hostelry is hosting a Friends-themed pub quiz to celebrate the sitcom’s 30th birthday.
View this post on Instagram
EatDrink24/7 Launch Party is back on July 8 2026!Exclusive collabs from Bristol’s favourite food vendors, available for one night only. Be first to grab your free copy of the EatDrink24/7 guide – plus every ticket comes with a free limited-edition beer can.
SPONSORED
Wednesday: Daniel Norgren, Bristol Beacon
The music of Daniel Norgren reflects his surroundings and ability to capture intimate moments, brought to live by a captivating stage presence. For nearly two decades the singer-songwriter has worked independently through Östra Frölunda based Superpuma Records, most recently contributing all music for the 2022 film The Eight Mountains.
Daniel Norgren. Photo: Bristol Beacon
SPONSORED
Wednesday: Special equinox breath led with Lucy, The Mount Without
Join Lucy for an immersion in transformational breathwork, yoga and sound bath in the beautiful candlelit setting of The Mount Without. 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.
Image: Lucy Spragge
Wednesday-Oct 6: Revel Puck Circus, St Paul’s
The Nose Dive Assembly is the latest show from east London’s Revel Puck Circus, who promise “a world-class and playful production packed full of large-scale contemporary circus” in the big top off Wilson Street.
Expect high wire walkers, teeterboarders, bespoke apparatus and the only female wheel of death duo in the country at Revel Puck Circus’ new show – photo: Revel Puck Circus
SPONSORED
Wednesday: Buddy Holly & The Cricketers, Redgrave Theatre
Enjoy all of Buddy Holly’s hits, played live by five talented young actor-musicians. Featuring raw rock ’n’ roll, ballads, energetic performances, and hilarious moments, this show has audiences worldwide singing and dancing in the aisles. Wherever you are, Everyday is a Holly Day!
Buddy Holly & The Cricketers. Image: Redgrave Theatre
Thursday: Our City book launch, Waterstones (Galleries)
Former mayor Marvin Rees’ memoir was originally due to be called My City, prompting this response featuring a collection of essays from activists focussing on promoting inclusion, community campaigning and city planning.
Our City is edited by Suzanne Audrey and published by Tangent Books
Thursday: Brutalism: Ernö Goldfinger, Arnolfini
Join architectural historian and author Alan Powers to learn more about Ernö Goldfinger, one of the most celebrated modern architects to work in Britain in the 20th century.
Thursday-Saturday: Bristol Film Festival vintage screenings, Averys
Watch Kind Hearts and Coronets, A Shot in the Dark and The Godfather Part II within the subterranean Averys wine cellars.
Averys’ historic wine cellar can be found beneath their shop on Culver Street – photo: Bristol Film Festival
Thursday-Sunday: Bristol Cocktail Weekend, various venues
Enjoy signature cocktails and exclusive events at this celebration of mixology.
Blame Gloria is just one of the bars taking part in Bristol Cocktail Weekend – photo: Bristol Cocktail Weekend
Thursday-Oct 5: 50 Plaques & Places, Ashton Court Mansion
This travelling exhibition will feature 96 plaques of people from Bristol who were paid compensation for loss of “property” following the abolition of slavery.
View this post on Instagram
Friday: Bristol Bears vs Gloucester, Ashton Gate
The first home match of the new Premiership season for the Bears sees them take on their West Country rivals.
Jake Heenan touches down for Bristol in a previous encounter against Gloucester – photo: JMP
Friday: Siobhan Davies, Arnolfini
Renowned choreographer and artist Siobhan Davies presents two of her collaborative short films, Transparent and All This Can Happen, with the screenings accompanied by a short talk with the artist.
Friday & Saturday: Qu Junktions at 20, Cube & Strange Brew
A special Cube event dreamt up by collaborators past and present is followed the next day by a special 20th birthday party gig at Strange Brew featuring a lineup of more than a dozen artists.
Saturday: Ashley Down station opening
The first passenger train to arrive at Ashley Down from Temple Meads is due to arrive at the new station at 7.33am on Saturday morning. Initially, the station will be served in each direction by hourly services between Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood from Monday to Saturday, with limited services on Sundays to follow.
Access to the station will be via an entrance by Concorde Way off Station Road with a footbridge between platforms – photo: Martin Booth
SPONSORED
Saturday: Jamz Supernova, Bristol Beacon
Multi-faceted creative force Jamz Supernova is a label head, radio host, DJ, podcaster, and true tastemaker, and she’s heading back to Bristol for an unmissable party! Jamz and Jubilee will tag team their sets – stay right ’til the end for a special B2B for the last ravers standing!
Jamz Supernova. Photo: Bristol Beacon
Saturday: Overmono, Prospect Building
The opening event at the Prospect Building on Feeder Road welcomes Overmono as part of their Pure Devotion tour, with a supporting lineup including Blawan, LSDXOXO, Jossy Mitsu and DJ Python.
Saturday: Ola Labib, Wardrobe Theatre
Ola Labib’s debut standup show takes audiences through her Sudanese upbringing in Portsmouth, her time working as an NHS pharmacist and how a near-death experience landed her into a comedy career.
Saturday: Dubs & Plates, the Friary
A six-course tasting menu will be provided by BLAZÉ with drinks paired by Native Vine while Mystic State perform a five-hour DJ set that promises to move and develop with each course, with guests immersed in a “sound bubble” provided by Scotland Yard SoundSystem alongsde an art exhibition curated by Together We Make.
View this post on Instagram
Saturday & Sunday: Docks Heritage Weekend, various venues
A celebration of the living memories of the docks with events for all ages at M Shed, Underfall Yard, Albion dry dock and Brunel’s Other Bridge.
Volunteers restoring Brunel’s swivel bridge will run tours of the bridge, Brunel’s lock, and other heritage around the entrance locks to the Cumberland Basin – photo: Martin Booth
SPONSORED
Sunday: The anxious and addictive mind: seeking blissful states, The Mount Without
Join Lucy for a transformational workshop exploring the anxious and addictive mind, using breath and yoga to calm the nervous system, releasing stress and tension. If you’re reaching for ways to soothe yourself like binge eating, smoking, social media, alcohol, rage etc, this workshop will give you the tools to reset and calm the system
Sunday: England vs Australia, Seat Unique Stadium
Yes, you read that date correctly: a one-day international being played in Bristol on the penultimate day of September. If the weather holds, it will be the final game in England of the international summer.
Gloucestershire have played county cricket in Ashley Down since 1889 – photo: Gloucestershire Cricket
Coming soon…
SPONSORED
September 30 Steve Hofstetter, Redgrave Theatre
Hofstetter, a Nobel Peace Prize-nominated comedian with over a billion views across YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, authored the Amazon top 5 book Ginger Kid. He hosted and produced Laughs (FOX), appeared on The Late Late Show and E! True Hollywood Story, and has two top 20 comedy albums, including a #1 on iTunes.
Steve Hofstetter. Photo: Redgrave Theatre
SPONSORED
October 1-3 Festival of Economics, Watershed & Wills Memorial Building
Hear from leading experts on sustainability, inequality, geopolitics, fairness, trade and the new government’s priorities. This year’s packed programme includes a live podcast recording of Cautionary Tales from Tim Harford, author of The Undercover Economist and presenter of the BBC’s More or Less.
Festival of Economics 2023, Bristol
SPONSORED
October 16: 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
SPONSORED
October 19: 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
Main photo: Ola Labib / UTC Group
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
