20 things to do in Bristol this week, August 14-20

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Monday: Tango dance, dinner & live music, The Mount Without
Come be moved in Bristol… eat, sing and learn Tango Therapy created to encourage hearts to beat closer & bond, be in tribe.

The Mount Without has a beautiful interior space for a variety of events – photo: The Mount Without

Monday: Summer school (Ages 8-10), Tobacco Factory Theatres
Every year, the Tobacco Factory Theatre’s summer school programme is incredibly popular, and this year looks to be no different. This week marks the 8-10 year old class, where they’ll be guided through the creation of a fantastic work of theatre in the professional main Factory Theatre, led by experienced practitioners who’ve been working with a range of age groups for years.

There are also summer schools available for children of different age groups – photo: Tobacco Factory Theatres

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Now-September 3: Find Shaun the Sheep at Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm!
Download the free Hide & Sheep AR trail app and find Shaun the Sheep around the Zoo. Included free with admission.

Aardman x Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm – photo: Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm

Tuesday: Everything Everywhere All At Once, Averys Wine Merchants (Bristol Film Festival)
If you haven’t yet seen the film that took best picture at last year’s Academy Awards – fear not! Running as part of the seemingly endless string of fantastic flicks being screened by Bristol Film Festival in collaboration with Averys Wine Merchants, the multi award winning movie gets a special screening in the depths of their wine cellars.

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Tuesday-Sunday: Ratatouille, Watershed
Set in one of Paris’s finest restaurants, Remy, a determined young rat, dreams of becoming a renowned French chef.

Wednesday: Too Many Zooz, The Fleece
A combination of every genre, from house to avant-garde jazz, Too Many Zooz stop off at the Redcliffe live music venue on the Bristol leg of their UK/European tour. Bring your dancing shoes, because if there’s one thing Too Many Zooz know how to do well, it’s get you on your feet with their energetic rhythms.

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Until Thursday: Kokomo City, Watershed
With this luminous, directorial debut, Grammy-nominated producer and singer-songwriter turned documentarian D. Smith opens a window into the lives of Black transgender women sex workers in America.

Thursday: Summer Lates Series, SS Great Britain
Throughout summer Thursdays have started to become the best day of the week for lovers of good food, live music and Victorian era civil engineering. For most Thursdays since June 15, Brunel’s SS Great Britain opens its doors past closing time, letting ticket holders in to explore the ship when it’s quieter, accompanied by a different live act each week, and a fully stocked bar/bbq.

Summer Lates Series at the SS Great Britain – photo: SSGB photography

Friday: Disaffected (All Night Long), Crofters Rights
If you know anything about your Bristol rave music, you’ll know about Disaffected and their seemingly unending string of high energy breakbeat productions. They’ve managed to bag themselves a Friday night at the infamous Crofters Rights, and they certainly aren’t holding back, as the duo will be playing from open until close.

 

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Saturday: RWA: Scribble & Sketch, Faithspace Redcliffe
Head over to Faithspace in Redcliffe this Saturday for Scribble and Sketch. Join artist Vicky Willmott for an arty workshop that everyone can get stuck into. These sessions are designed for children and grown-ups to take part in together, everyone is welcome. Suitable for all ages, children must be supervised.

The morning is part of RWAs work in communities across Bristol – Photo: Alice Hendy

Saturday: Bristol sketching tour for beginners and improvers, Queen Square
Hosted by Cai Burton, a local illustrator, you’ll be guided around the city centre on this art-driven tour. But fear not, even if you’ve never touched a pencil in your life, Cai will give you tips and fun, helpful artistic prompts to get you inspired. What’s more, all materials are provided, so just grab a ticket, rock up and enjoy.

The tour aims to be inclusive and accessible for all, and is available on Yuup – photo: Yuup

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Saturday: Bristol Beacon presents: Jake Xerxes Fussell, Strange Brew
Singer, guitarist, and folk music interpreter Jake Xerxes Fussell has distinguished himself as one of his generation’s preeminent interpreters of traditional (and not so traditional) “folk” songs, a practice which he approaches with a refreshingly unfussy lack of nostalgia. By recontextualizing ancient vernacular songs and sources of the American South, he allows them to breathe and speak for themselves and for himself; alternately inhabiting them and allowing them to inhabit him. In all his work, Fussell humanises his material with his own curatorial and interpretive gifts, unmooring stories and melodies from their specific eras and origins and setting them adrift in our own waterways.

Sunday: Teachings in Dub x Trinity presents: Day Party, Trinity Centre
An obvious linkup, but one that is always welcome, as the sound system temple Trinity Centre team up with legends in the making for a lesson in real, authentic dub music. Powered by the mighty Firmly Rooted Soundsystem, expect truly earth shattering bass and absolute vibes all day.

Teaching in Dub at Trinity Centre day party poster – photo: TID/Trinity Centre

And coming soon…

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August 22: Breath led Tuesdays, The Mount Without
Immerse yourself in the power of breath where altered states are only an exhale away & experience yourself in a natural state of euphoria.

Breath Led Tuesdays – photo: The Mount Without

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August 30: Bristol Beacon presents: 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 have 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.

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Deadline September 1: Unicorn Colouring Competition, RWA
Have you caught unicorn fever? Well, we certainly have! Come and meet our two magical friends; Risa, created by Kate Elkington, and Dance Dance Dance, by Zoe Power, who will be staying with us until the end of summer as part of Bristol’s Unicornfest! Come and take part in our Unicorn Colouring Competition. Head to the Family Room and pick up a blank unicorn colouring sheet and use all the colours of the rainbow to decorate it. All kids (and unicorn-loving grown-ups) are invited to take part.

Unicorn colouring competition – photo: RWA

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September 2: 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

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September 2 & 3: Tales from Acorn Wood, Redgrave 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

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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

Main photo: SS Great Britain

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