23 things to do in Bristol this week, August 28 – September 3 2023

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Monday-Thursday: Theater Camp, Watershed
After the indomitable and beloved founder of a scrappy theatre camp in upstate New York falls into a coma, its eccentric staff must band together with her clueless son to keep the thespian paradise afloat.

Monday: Grindhouse Cinema Club: Radio On, Sidney & Eden
Fast becoming known for their weekly screenings of low budget/lesser known indie cinema, Gloucester Road’s cosy cocktail bar screens the 1979 British road move and includes plenty of music from new-wave groups at the time, such as Kraftwerk, Devo and David Bowie – and Bristol’s former flyover and Grosvenor hotel.

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Monday-Thursday: Scrapper, Watershed
Living alone since her beloved mum died, 12-year-old Georgie (Lola Campbell) fills the flat they shared with her own special magic. But when her absent father Jason (Harris Dickinson) turns up out of the blue, she’s forced to confront reality.

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Now-September 10: Making The City Home, RWA
Discover the touching photography of Alice Hendy. Photographing Refugee Women of Bristol and Dhek Bhal, Hendy captured the joyful and tender moments shared by the women as they created artwork for the exhibition, Making the City Home. Women from Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Pakistan, India, and other countries worked together to create beautiful textiles that describe how they journey through the city and which places and things are important to them.

Making The City Home – photo: RWA

Tuesday: Foam clay creatures adult workshop, Clifton Suspension Bridge visitor centre
Toying with the notion that as adults we have lost touch with our ability to ‘play without judgement’, local artist Kazz Hollick hosts a workshop by the suspension bridge. Using prompts to keep you inspired, the session will be free flowing, and you’ll be able to take home whatever you create.

Foam clay modelling workshop – photo: Headfirst

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Tuesdays-Sundays: Family Room, RWA
Come and play in our amazing Family Room! For a while, this space was one of our best-kept secrets, but the word is out, and we love seeing how many people come and enjoy this purpose-built space. Designed for families of all ages, we have lots of drawing materials, giant interactive artwork, dressing up, puzzles, a chill-out reading area, and a brand-new puppet theatre. You and your family can create, learn, play and discover in this fantastic FREE space which is open every day that we are!

Family Room – photo: RWA

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Wednesday: The Courettes, Exchange
Armed with a volatile blend of frantic garage rock, doo wop, surf rock and echoes of the girl groups of the 60s, The Courettes are an explosive rock duo hailing from Denmark and Brazil. Described as the musical marriage of The Ronettes and The Ramones (if they met at a wild party at Gold Star Studios’ echo chamber, that is), the duo has become world renowned for their eclectic and cathartic sound, signing to legendary UK label Damaged Goods in 2020 – home to a plethora of legendary acts such as Buzzcocks, Manic Street Preachers and Amyl and the Sniffers. Their third LP, ‘Back In Mono’ was released in autumn 2021 to critical acclaim, with frequent spins from BBC Radio 6, as well as features in Mojo, Classic Rock and Shindig, showcasing the duo’s refined songwriting prowess across 14 tracks of infectious bubblegum punk.

Wednesday: Folk horror double book launch, Bookhaus
A celebration of the release of two fantastically exciting debut novels by two female writers. Nadia Attia and Kate Collins will be in conversation at Bookhaus, discussing their respective novels and the vast subgenre of folk horror literature.

Bookhaus can be found on Rope Walk in Wapping Wharf – photo: Bookhaus

Thursday: Rave It Up presents multi-genre rave, Four Quarters
If you’ve ever dreamt of playing some of your favourite vintage arcade and console games to the soundtrack of some of the Bristol underground’s finest electronic sounds, then dream no further. The Park Street arcade includes everything from Mario Kart to Time Crisis, and there will be no shortage of tunes to keep you energised.

Four Quarters interior – photo: Four Quarters

Friday & Saturday: Forwards, Downs
After an incredibly successful inaugural year on the Downs, Forwards festival returns, this time bringing an even larger and more diverse lineup of fantastic musical talent. Expect soulful grooves from Erykah Badu headlining the Friday, along with a lesson in electronic music from the genre defining Aphex Twin on the Saturday, and much more.

Chemical Brothers at Forwards festival in 2022 – photo: Khali Ackford

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Saturday: Stand up for the weekend with Steve Bugeja & guests, Hen & Chicken
Steve Bugeja is one of the circuit’s most exciting comedians. Steve hosted the BBC Radio 4 series Economics with Subtitles and has made numerous appearances on TV shows including The Russell Howard Hour (Sky One), Love Island: Aftersun (ITV2), Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central (Comedy Central) and Zoe Ball on Saturday (ITV1).

A prolific writer, Steve was a key member of the writing team for The Russell Howard Hour (Sky One) and for Iain Stirling’s CelebAbility (ITV2) and has contributed material to Mock the Week (BBC2), 8 Out of 10 Cats (Channel 4) and BBC Radio 4.

“Bugeja has an eye for original comic detail that’s all his own” The Guardian
“Plentiful jokes and compelling storytelling” — The Scotsman
“Drum-tight, as if polished by a sitcom writers’ room to cram as many jokes in as humanly possible” — Chortle
“Blends the intelligence of a well-crafted hour with some touching emotional honesty” — The Scotsman

Steve Bugeja at the Hen & Chicken – photo: The Comedy Box

Saturday: Free roller disco, Filwood Community Centre
A free roller disco is coming to the heart of the Knowle West community this weekend, bringing with it disco grooves to keep you skating, along with a tuck shop to keep you satisfied throughout the sessions. There’s even an adults only session in the evening, and it’s all free.

Roller disco at Filwood Community Centre – photo: Filwood Community Centre

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Saturday & Sunday: Tales from Acorn Wood, Redrgave Theatre
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s beloved Tales from Acorn Wood stories are brought to life on stage for the first time in an enchanting lift-the-flap experience by Norwell Lapley Productions. Packed full of toe-tapping songs, puppetry, and all the friends from Acorn Wood, this beautiful show from the team that brought you Dear Zoo Live and Dear Santa promises to be the perfect treat for children of all ages.

Tales from Acorn Wood – photo: Redgrave Theatre

Sunday: Lower Redland Road Market, Lower Redland Road
The independent businesses of Lower Redland Road are once again joining forces for this free event between midday and 6pm. The market will include local designer makers, florists, antiques and vintage, locally grown produce, cakes and cocktails from Wild Oats, and hot food from Burra.

Lower Redland Road Market is a celebration of their community of independent shops, local makers, producers and performers – photo: Lower Redland Road Market

Sunday: Tommy’s Waffle Club, The Wardrobe Theatre
With the magic of PowerPoint at his fingertips, watch as Tom Rolfe brings up audience members on stage for a wild variety show, the likes of which have never been seen before (and will probably never be seen again) – an open mic for those who aren’t a fan of the traditional open mic format.

Tommys Waffle Club – photo: The Wardrobe Theatre

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September 3-8: Streets of Beezer Exhibition
Showcasing new print mediums of unseen work alongside iconic classics.

The Streets of Beezer – photo: The Mount Without

And coming soon…

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September 6: Blissful sound bath & guided meditation journey, The Mount Without
Come and join Annette and Rounik for a deeply relaxing and reflective Sound Bath in the breath-taking, mystical Bristol venue, The Mount Without.

Sound healing is a wonderfully restorative and relaxing experience, nourishing us on so many levels. It can also be the catalyst for timely change , shifts and further awakening.

Sound Bath at The Mount Without – photo: The Mount Without

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September 8: Paul Young – Behind the Lens, Redgrave Theatre
Paul Young has been a major star for four decades. He broke into the big time 40 years ago when No Parlez went to number one and spawned iconic hits like Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home). Now, on the 40th anniversary of No Parlez, he’s releasing a remarkable new record and publishing his extraordinary memoir, both called Behind The Lens.

Paul Young Behind The Lens – photo: Redgrave Theatre

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September 9: Stand up for the weekend with Sara Barron and guests, Hen & Chicken
Sara Barron is a relentlessly honest and desperately funny comic, relating brutal and sometimes filthy truths in a warm and welcoming way.

After a number of years in the UK, any semblance of American positivity has been stripped away, replaced by withering British cynicism. There’s certainly more than a hint of Joan Rivers’ cold contempt as she sneers at the joyous affirmations of others.

Sara couldn’t be brassier, sassier or louder-mouthed if she tried. She parades her sex life, friendships and militant subjectivity across the stage.

“Gleefully profane comic” The Guardian
“Barron proves herself an entertaining, no-nonsense presence” Chortle
“Explosive energy and beautifully crafted, no-nonsense stand-up… a masterful performance. Highly recommended” Sunday Times

Sara Barron at the Hen & Chicken – photo: The Comedy Box

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September 19: Erland Cooper & Ensemble, Redgrave Theatre
Hailed as ‘nature’s songwriter’, for his work celebrating themes of the natural world, place, people and time – Scottish composer Erland Cooper pushes his connection to the environment even further into unchartered realms on his latest album, ‘Folded Landscapes’. Cooper, who has always been comfortable merging music with evocative storytelling and conceptual art, now sets his sights on working through a lens of urgent observations surrounding climate change as the focal point for his upcoming album. Notably, his belief in finding solutions to complex problems between despair and the spirit of hope. Using drastic temperature changes – from sub-zero to hottest on record – he developed this piece for chamber string ensemble, piano, voice, harpsichord, electronics & field recordings.

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September 23: Bristol Ensemble: Classics by Candlelight, Red Lodge
Be bathed in the warming glow of a candlelight concert! Step into the hidden gem of the 1904 Arts Club, Clifton, and experience a beautiful evening of classical music surrounded by stunning candlelight in one of the most unique, quirky spaces in Bristol.

The 1904 arts club is a unique ‘tithe barn’ styled performance hall hidden away behind the Red Lodge Museum just off Park Street. This space is full of quirky artefacts and is the perfect backdrop for a relaxing evening of stunning music to candlelight.

Arranged for string quartet, flute and piano, the programme includes compositions from Mozart, Bach, Handel, Gambarini & Haydn. Be delighted by new arrangements of well-known pieces in a huge range of musical styles! Baroque and classical era works have been honed in arrangements that give familiar music a new lease of life.

Enjoy a glass or two of your favourite drink accompanied by a light snack from the bar before the concert and during the interval.

Classics by candlelight – photo: Bristol Ensemble

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September 24: The Hunchback of Notre Dame, St George’s
Come and experience this epic story and production with the Bristol Ensemble – A Flicker Alley restoration with live orchestra celebrating 100 years since it was first released in September 1923.

Hunchback is a huge production: the sets depicting 15th-century Paris covered nineteen acres of Universal Pictures’ back lot and included the façade of Notre Dame Cathedral. Filming took six months and the climactic sequence employed two thousand extras, but it’s Lon Chaney’s performance that makes the character unforgettable.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame premiered at New York’s Astor Theatre on September 2,1923.The success of the film was immediate; it made Carl Laemmle and Universal Pictures a fortune, and turned Lon Chaney into a screen legend. This edition is restored and mastered by Flicker Alley from a multi-tinted 16mm print struck in 1926 from the original camera negative. Screened with a symphonic score by Robert Israel.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame – photo: Bristol Ensemble

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September 29: Alexander O’Neal (full live band) + Support from Laid Blak (full live band), Central Warehouse
After nearly five decades in the business it is with great excitement that legendary singer Alexander O’Neal heads out on his Time to Say Goodbye: Farewell World Tour.The beloved soul star is hitting the road one final time with this show being his final Bristol appearance, with a full live band.

Alexander O’Neal at Central Warehouse – photo: Central Warehouse

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October 18: Children of Zeus  + Support from Eva Lazarus, King Original and Hold Tight Records, Central Warehouse
Manchester’s kings of neo-soul Children of Zeus return to Bristol for a headline midweek concert, alongside Bristol’s stage queen Eva Lazarus, East London’s King Original (Footsie, Sir Spyro & Jah Model), Hold Tight Records and upcoming afrobeats selectress Leiko, in Bristol’s newly licensed ‘Central Warehouse’ event space.

Children of Zeus – photo: Central Warehouse

Main image: James Basely

Read next:

• Popular UK choir comes to Bristol this September
• New art exhibition explores childhood trauma recovery
• First Bristol art district weekender comes to streets of Bedminster

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