19 things to do in Bristol this week, May 1-7 2023

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Monday: Jem Southam: A Bend in the River, RWA
Join us on Bank Holiday Monday for the final day of A Bend in The River by Jem Southam and the Photo Open exhibition as our Season of Photography comes to a close. Don’t miss out on your chance to see this celebration of contemporary photographic practice. This will also be your last chance to see Strange Dance, a collaboration between musician and Radiohead drummer Philip Selway and abstract painter Stewart Geddes.

Jem Southam: A Bend In The River – photo: RWA

Monday: Bristol Vs Weston Poetry Slam, The Wardrobe Theatre
The ultimate showdown of city versus seaside town – top poets from each respective area go toe to toe on Old Market. For all those still craving poetry after Lyra Festival, this one will be for you.

The slam pits some of the best poets from Bristol and Weston against each other – photo: The Wardrobe Theatre

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Tuesday: Big Fish, Redgrave Theatre
Based on the celebrated novel by Daniel Wallace and the acclaimed film directed by Tim Burton, Big Fish tells the story of Edward Bloom, a travelling salesman who lives life to its fullest… and then some!

Big Fish at The Redgrave Theatre – photo: Redgrave Theatre

Tuesday: Eat Up! 100% Coulis, Exchange
Given its name because it’s a “loose jam” aka a coulis, Eat Up! Aims to allow instrumentalists of all ages and abilities to come together and get stuck into a big ol’ jam sesh. It’s loose and informal, and complete beginners are “strongly encouraged”.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CrLvRXyJdjQ/

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April 25-May 21: Artist Network Exhibition, RWA
Presenting the Artist Network Exhibition, a long-awaited showcase of multi-disciplinary work from our Artist Network Members. The Artist Network is a collective of artists, all at different points in their career and all working on unique projects. Come and view their work throughout our Lower Ground galleries.

Artist network exhibition – photo: RWA

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Wednesday: Bristol Beacon presents: Neue Grafik Ensemble, Strange Brew
Composer, producer and instrumentalist Neue Grafik is a master of his craft – having built a strong reputation for himself after years of high-profile releases on labels such as Rhythm Section, 22a, CoOp Presents and Wolf Music. His sound is a hybrid of jazz, house and hip hop intertwined with unique geographical flavors of African ethnicity, Parisian roots and a love for London sounds like broken beat & grime thrown into the mix. Featuring some of the London jazz scene’s biggest talents with Neue Grafik on piano, rhodes and synths, Emma-Jean Thackray on trumpet, Vels Trio’s Dougal Taylor on drums and Matt Gedrych from MaddAddam on bass, the group will be performing material from the recent Foulden Road Part II EP at Strange Brew this May. Support comes from Irish Mellow.

Wednesday: Clay Club – Self directed play time, Trylla Shop
The shop/ceramics studio on North Street opens its doors to aspiring potters, giving them the space and the materials to get creative to their heart’s desire. Create whatever comes to your mind, and the team will even fire it for you at the end of the session, for a small fee.

The club is accessible and open to all, and is located on North Street – photo: Yuup

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Until Thursday: How to blow up a pipeline, Watershed
Featuring a tremendous ensemble cast, How to Blow Up a Pipeline follows a crew of young activists who plan a mission to sabotage an oil pipeline.

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Thursday: Clifton High School Spring Concert, The Mount Without
Join us for this memorable night of musical performances by the very talented pupils of Clifton High School at this unique location, The Mount Without.

The concert will be filled with vocal and instrumental pieces from original film scores, classical compositions and contemporary numbers.

Clifton High School spring concert – photo: The Mount Without

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Thursday: The Comedy Box promotes: SCHALK BEZUIDENHOUT: I’LL MAKE LAUGH TO YOU, Hen & Chicken
Schalk Bezuidenhout is fresh from his Netflix Stand Up Special and embarks on his debut UK Tour with love in his heart and jokes in his pocket. Many say that this brand-new show is… funny. I mean, what else can we say? It’s a comedy show. You will laugh. It’s as easy as that.

“His joke-telling is superb… pure and simple stand-up, expertly performed” Chortle

“Fast-rising talent” The Guardian

“Definitely one to watch” London Evening Standard

Schalk Bezuidenhout at the Hen & Chicken Studio – photo: The Comedy Box

Thursday: Trauma Porn Symposium, PRSC
A series of talks and discussions on precisely what is the most effective way to approach the conversation of mental health at the Stokes Croft community building. These conversations will also be linked to ways that they can lead to systemic change.

Trauma Porn Symposium – photo: Peoples Republic of Stokes Croft

Friday: The Mouse Outfit, The Jam Jar
Known for their slick, soulful brand of UK hip-hop, the Manchester based group come to the Jam Jar for an intimate show, accompanied by their own live band. For fans of their music and UK hip-hop in general, this won’t be one to miss.

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Friday: Mestizo, Bristol Beacon
For the past four years, Steam Down founder and saxophonist Ahnansé and Mambo Negro Records head and multi-instrumentalist Daniel Michel have been building a musical bridge between their two worlds, creating a beguiling new interpretation of Colombian folk traditions, London jazz and hip-hop. Mestizo artfully mix Colombian traditions of currulao and cumbia with hip-swaying salsa, head-nodding rap verses, shards of electronica and jazz improvisation. Bringing the London scene’s knack for genre-hopping to bear on a new realm of kinetic sounds, Indigenous traditions are blended with British diaspora music, producing a fusion of Afro-Caribbean rhythms, UK rap flair and percussive intensity – kicking off the bank holiday weekend in style.

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Saturday: The Comedy Box promotes: THE KING’S CORONATION COMEDY SHOW with JOEY PAGE and GUESTS, Hen & Chicken
Accomplished and hilarious with a unique take on the everyday, Joey Page’s career so far has been studded with rave reviews, award nominations and TV appearances. Over the last few years, Joey completely overhauled his writing process and comedic style building a reputation as both a circuit favourite and is well on the way to being a treasured regular headliner. What hasn’t changed is his truly captivating stage presence and ability to make an audience feel that they have seen something very special.

“Laugh-out-loud. Page is the cheeky master of the alternative – a genuine master of his craft” Australia Times

“Surreal, charming and hilarious…one of comedy’s most unique and exciting new talents. This innately likeable young man has an instinct for funny” – Chortle

“Absolutely amazing” – XFM

“A leading name in British cult comedy” – ThreeWeeks

Kings Coronation comedy show at Hen & Chicken studio – photo: The Comedy Box

Saturday: Ambient Cafe, Friendly Records
Soundtracked to the tones of the Muzak Concrète gang, Friendly Records transforms itself into an ambient modular hub this Saturday afternoon. There’ll be local ambient artists keeping the levels rolling all day, so pull up a chair, bring a book, or just soak in the sounds.

Ambient Cafe at Friendly Records – photo: Friendly Records

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May 7: ‘All Cut Up’ Exhibition by DiSect, The Mount Without
Introducing Stroud based, DiSect to The Mount Without, with an incredible exhibition of collages consisting of imagery from old books, magazines and pure imagination. His work is all hand cut and glued giving a rawness to his pieces, escaping the modern claws of the internet when creating his vibrant imagery.

“No Google, No Photoshop, No resizing, No colour adjustment. No computers of printers”

With his work, he aims of telling a story, with every piece consisting of an abundance of clues for the viewer to speculate and decipher with their “hidden subtle stories”. His work holds common themes of mushrooms, space and more, digging into inspiration mostly from music, graffiti and ironic humour.

All Cut Up exhibition at The Mount Without – photo: The Mount Without

Sunday: Dom Whiting Presents: DnB at the Courtyard, Coroner’s Court
You know him from shutting down Bristol city centre multiple times whilst DJing drum & bass on his bike. Now he comes to Coroner’s Court, curating his own day party lineup – bringing much the same vibes, but with far less bikes.

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Sunday: Comedy Icons – Richard Blackwood and Slim, Redgrave Theatre
Two heavyweight legends of comedy embark on a 5-city tour with the massive COMEDY ICONS show. The urban comedy scene has no bigger names than these two stars of TV, cinema and stage. This is one that can’t be missed, celebrate comedy greatness and laugh the night away.

Richard Blackwood and Slim – photo: Redgrave Theatre

And coming soon…

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May 28 onwards: Polite Society, Watershed
A merry mash up of sisterly affection, parental disappointment and bold action in writer-director Nida Manzoor’s (Channel4’s We Are Lady Parts) feature debut.

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June 9-18: Festival of Nature, Millennium Square
Join the celebration for Festival of Nature’s 20th anniversary with its unmissable programme of vibrant city-centre events, family nature parties, wildlife workshops, walks and talks, film screenings, and spectacular performances across 10 days. Don’t miss out on the festival’s feature Bristol event at Millennium Square and Anchor Square 17th & 18th June – two days of free nature activities, stalls, food and drink, and special guest talks.

Festival of nature – photo: Natural History Consortium

Main photo: Dom Whiting 

Read next:

• 46 things to do in Bristol in May 2023
• Found cities, lost objects: Women in the city opening at RWA
• Australian sketch comedy phenomenon Aunty Donna to visit the South West

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