Things To Do / Sponsored
24 things to do in Bristol this week, September 16-22 2024
Monday: Purdie Life Drawing, Jam Jar
A fun, friendly and relaxed session designed for everyone. “A can do attitude and the want to draw is all you need,” says class tutor Antionia Purdie. Models choose various poses that are held for two to 20 minutes over the hour and a half session. Basic materials are provided.
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is needed now More than ever
Monday: The Girls Bathroom, Bristol Beacon
The ‘Planet Tour’ of the hit podcast that reaches over a million listeners every month.
Monday: 90s vs 00s party with Dick and Dom, SWX
Putting the two decades to the test, with the best tunes of the 90s and 00s battling it out all night. Dick and Dom will be playing all the biggest tracks from their In Da Bungalow era, and there are cheesy bangers in the second room.
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Monday-Thursday: Sing Sing, Watershed
A stirring true story of resilience and humanity, starring an unforgettable ensemble cast of formerly incarcerated actors.
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Monday-Saturday: Wonder Boy, Bristol Old Vic
The smash-hit show returns, directed by Olivier Award winner Sally Cookson and written by Ross Willis (winner of the 2023 Writers’ Guild Award for Best Play). A heart-warming story about a teenage boy living with a stammer in a crippling school system, Wonder Boy is about the importance of finding your own voice and the beauty in what makes us different.
Wonder Boy – photo: Bristol Old vic
Tuesday: Autism is Not a Disease, Bookhaus
Jodie Hare appears to launch her new book on building a fairer, more inclusive society. While people are starting to recognise this is no such thing as a ‘normal’ brain, society is still structured around neuronormativity, says Hare, who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 23. She says the places we learn, work and socialise can be adapted to be more inclusive and accessible, to build a world where everyone can thrive.
Tuesday: Folkloric decorative mask making, Cafe Kino
Sadie Fox, aka Sad Baby Design, invites you in to get crafty on an autumn evening. Modelling clay, embellishments and paint will be used to create surreal, folklore inspired masks to hang on the wall or use as a prop or gift.
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Wednesday: Firewoodisland, Woodlands Church Bristol-based indie-folk outfit Firewoodisland, brainchild of Norwegian and Welsh songwriters Stian Vedøy and Abi Eleri, play a benefit gig organised by STEP UK in aid of Syrian refugee children in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Wednesday: Emily Magpie – Sylvan Esso Reworks, Gallimaufry
The final night of Emily Magpie and band’s residency and the launch of a new weekly night, Magpie Presents, which will showcase local female and non-binary artists “creating beautiful, interesting music that feels exciting”.
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Thursday: The Magic of Terry Pratchett, Redgrave Theatre
Join author and comedian Marc Burrows as he explores the life, work, and legacy of Sir Terry Pratchett. Based on his award-winning biography, this journey covers Pratchett’s career, from school librarian to Discworld creator, celebrating 40 years of wit, wisdom, and storytelling brilliance, officially endorsed by his estate.
Terry Pritchett – photo: Redgrave Theatre
Thursday: Cider vs Cheese, The Cider Box Taproom
The September edition of the cider and cheese tasting session features special guest Tom Oliver and four of his ciders. These will be paired with some award-winning seasonal cheeses. As always, the sessions starts with a toast of mead and concludes with a splash of Somerset cider brandy.
Thursday: The People’s Comedy, Tobacco Factory
An award-winning night that champions ‘revolutionary’ grassroots comedy – whether original, non-commercial, or didactic comedy with a message – comes to south Bristol. It’s MC’d by Kev Mud, this year’s UK Pun Champion and British Comedian finalist last year; and features a lineup of new talent including Alex Bertulis-Fernandes, Troy Orchard, Emma Coyne, Stephen Bisland (Chernobyl), Alice India and Joy Nolan.
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Thursday: Allysha Joy, Bristol Beacon
Allysha Joy’s potent lyricism, unique musicianship and incredible vocals, weave together a heartfelt mix of love, power, wonder, anger, faith and hope for change. An incredibly powerful live performer; Allysha’s husky vocals sonically sync with her formidable piano playing, arching across influences from jazz, soul, broken-beat and R&B with that uniquely inimitable “Australian” sound.
Allysha Joy – photo: Bristol Beacon
Friday: Rosie Emerson, 17 Midland Road
When Other Worlds Whisper, experimental printmaker Emerson’s solo exhibition, offers glimpses into unseen worlds via traditional printmaking augmented with natural materials. Opulent grottos, microscopic life and the hidden secrets of Victorian drawers are all revealed. The artist’s studio will also be open for visitors.
Rosie Emerson ‘When Other Worlds Whisper’ Artist Studio image – photo: Smithson Projects
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Friday: More Than AI Showcase, Watershed
Come and discover six new exciting prototypes from our latest Sandbox, More Than AI, in this free Showcase. Discover the inspiration behind the prototypes, meet the brilliant teams, and play with the creations from our latest sandbox. Be immersed in the year 2084, step into a robot’s habitat, encounter The Ministry of AI Spills and more.
More than AI – photo: Watershed
Friday: Love Thing, Star & Garter
A new club night at the legendary pub, serving up disco, boogie and acid house. DJs Nick Styles, of SWU.com, and West of England Authority Space Agency, formerly of the Basement in Stokes Croft, will be spinning tunes until 2am. Free entry.
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Friday: The Magic of The Beatles, Redgrave Theatre
Come together for the concert show of the year! The Magic of the Beatles features a cast that looks and sounds like John, Paul, George, and Ringo, recreating the excitement and humor of the Fab Four. Experience the energy and magic of the greatest band the world has ever seen.
The Magic of The Beatles – photo: Redgrave Theatre
Saturday: Pem, Dareshack
Bristol’s Emily Perry brings her distinctive voice and blend of emotion-fuelled theatrical alt-folk to the Wine Street venue. Promises to lull listeners into “warm hazes of vulnerable contemplation”.
Saturday: Ceilidh for Medical Aid for Palestine, St Bonaventure’s Parish Hall
The All At Sea ceilidh collective – featuring professional musicians and keen amateurs – are throwing a shindig at the parish hall in Bishopston to support British charity Medical Aid for Palestine. It’s an all-star cast of an event, with Aardman illustrator Marie Lechevalier taking time out from animating the latest Wallace and Gromit film to design the poster, Arbor donating some ales, and Essential and Jeevans providing snacks.
Saturday: Good Chemistry taproom opening, St Phillip’s
The taproom is open to visitors from 2pm to 8pm, following their special womencentric brewday and celebrating their third birthday in their east Bristol location.
Saturday: Silent disco, Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
“Your favourite school yard anthems” in an unusual setting. Pick from a variety of channels with DJs playing tunes to fit all tastes and moods – from pop to punk and everything in between. The museum will be lit up to provide a spectacular backdrop to the boogie. A fully licensed bar operates all night.
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Saturday: Mary Lattimore, Bristol Beacon
Mary Lattimore is a classically trained harpist and composer, working experimentally with her Lyon and Healy Concert Grand harp, using electronic effects to create fascinating sonic vistas which emphasise the harp’s ethereal qualities. Based in Los Angeles, Lattimore has recorded harp parts with great artists such as Sharon Van Etten, Jarvis Cocker and Kurt Vile. ‘Silver Ladders’ is Mary’s third LP and arrives as her most confident work to date, expanding her style of instrumental storytelling.
Mary Lattimore portrait – photo: Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago, IL.
Sunday: The Lodger, Cube
A new theatre show about self-discovery, belonging and hidden homelessness from Dora Colquhoun, creator of ADHD the Musical. Part comedy, part tragedy, the show explores the question ‘do we ever own anything?’ and invites the audience to look at their own ‘mask’ and see if it still fits.
Sunday: Max Fosh, Hippodrome
The popular YouTuber, comedian and prankster makes a stop in Bristol on his ‘world-ish’ tour.
Coming soon…
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October 1-5: Me and My Girl, Bristol Hippodrome
BLOC Productions is delighted to bring Stephen Fry’s acclaimed revival version of Me and My Girl to the Hippodrome. Hilarious characters, catchy tunes, witty one-liners and spectacular choreography, this is a show not to be missed.
Me and My Girl – photo: Bristol Hippodrome
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October 5: The Home of Halloween, Wookey Hole
Wookey Hole’s 2024 Halloween festivities run weekends from 5th October, and daily from 26th October to 3rd November. Enjoy spooky shows, the Giant Pumpkin Trail, Spooky Golf, and a Halloween-themed 4D movie. The Wookey Witch, fancy dress contests and over 600 pumpkins await! Book online.
The Home of Halloween – photo: Wookey Hole
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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 whilst fully integrated into the symphonic sound.Having given sold-out performances and 5 Star reviews of Dark Side of the Moon, Tubular Bells and The Beatles at St George’s Bristol, this will be another epic night to remember with the Bristol Ensemble.In August 2018, The Greatest Hits was certified 38 times platinum under a new system that tallies album and track sales as well as streams, surpassing Michael Jackson’s, Thriller (certified 34 times platinum) to become the highest-certified album by the RIAA.
Be Eagles – photo: St George’s Bristol
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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
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October 1-3: Festival of Economics
If you are interested in what’s happening in the UK and around the world – whether issues of sustainability, inequality, geopolitics, fairness, trade or the new government's priorities – join us at the Festival of Economics. Across a series of book talks, podcasts and panel sessions, the Festival will address these topics and more, and give you a chance to hear from leading experts and those working at the forefront of these issues. Our packed programme also 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
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October 26: LWE Presents Floating Points, The Prospect Building
Floating Points Is bringing his incredible live show to The Prospect Building on Saturday 26 October, headlining a massive LWE Presents show. Also on the lineup are the likes of Daphni (Caribou), Sofia Kourtesis, Sedef Adasï, the formidable combination of Jossy Mitsu and Bluetoof under their BLUMITSU moniker and Surusinghe.
Floating Points Live – photo: The Prospect Building
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November 23: FUSE, The Prospect Building
This November, Enzo Siragusa leads a powerhouse lineup featuring the scene’s leading selectors. Following a sold-out show in Bristol in 2022, FUSE is elevating the experience at The Prospect Building. Equipped with state-of-the-art visual production and sound system, the stage is set for their highly anticipated return to the city.
FUSE – photo: The Prospect Building
Main photo: Sing Sing
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