23 things to do in Bristol this week, April 24-30 2023

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Now – April 30: Aphelion Exhibition: Amy Koenig, The Mount Without
Aphelion is an exploration of the human experience in relation to the vastness of the universe, and how our beliefs are often shaped by that. Why are we here? What is our purpose? What comes after this? These are the questions that both keep me up at night, yet comfort me. This work isn’t about trying to find all the answers, but more so about finding peace in the uncertainties. By seeking out the magic in our everyday surroundings, my aim is to bridge the gap between what is known to be real and what is yet to be discovered.

From Aphelion – photo: Amy Koenig

Monday-May 1: Lyra Poetry Festival, various locations
Having already kicked off proceedings on Saturday, Bristol’s premier festival of all things spoken word takes over the city for a whopping ten days of workshops, demonstrations and performances from some of the best in the business.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqvoQD0vNHt/

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Now-May 1: Season of Photography, RWA
Photography Season is coming to an end here at the RWA. It’s your LAST CHANCE to view the RWA Photo Open, a celebration of contemporary photographic practice in all its forms from over 100 different artists, and A Bend In The River by Jem Southam, an exhibition of photographs taken of the same river bend over five years, capturing the ever-shifting surface of water, the change in light at dusk and dawn, and swans flying to roost. Both shows end on May Bank Holiday Monday, 1 May. Don’t miss out!

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

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Monday-Wednesday: The Smeds & The Smoos, Redgrave Theatre
Soar into space with this exciting adaptation of the award-winning book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. On a far-off planet, Smeds and Smoos can’t be friends. So when a young Smed and Smoo fall in love and zoom off into space together, how will their families get them back?

The Smeds & The Smoos – photo: Redgrave Theatre

Tuesday: Graveyard bat walk with Steve England, Greenbank Cemetery
Now that days are getting longer and the nights (slightly) warmer, what better way to end a day than with one of Steve England’s incredibly popular bat walks, with this session’s location being Greenbank Cemetery. You’ll join Steve as he attempts to find bats in the cemetery, and he’ll teach you how to use his “bat detector”.

Greenbank Cemetery was the first large cemetery after Arnos Cemetery to be set up in Bristol in 1871. In the north eastern section of the cemetery are the memorials to the civilians who died during the Bristol Blitz – photo: Martin Booth

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Tuesday-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: Scott Matthews, Redgrave Theatre
Following Scott Matthews’ critically acclaimed album, New Skin, lauded by Robert Plant, Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien and Bella Union’s Simon Raymonde as his most courageous move yet in its Eno-esque electronica and Thom Yorke-centric uncovering, comes the sequel to its story, and the Ivor Novello award-winner is not afraid to evolve once more. From within this freshly paved electronic landscape, Matthews’ new album, Restless Lullabies, emerges with a stark boldness that is breathtaking. These phoenix songs, born from New Skin, have more to give, worthy of reincarnation, entirely reimagined by Matthews who appears dauntless, they are restless with good reason.

Wednesday: Mix Nights T23 Showcase, The Love Inn
Saffron Records, the female/nb scheme aiming to get even the gender imbalance in the dance music space, once again hold their end of term showcase at the Stokes Croft venue. It will be all of the DJs’ first sets, so if you’re looking for some fresh faced Bristol talent, all roads lead to the Inn on Wednesday.

Mix Nights T23 Showcase – photo: Mix Nights

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April 27: Love Letter to the Moon, The Mount Without
A fundraising concert for Bristol Drugs Project in the stunning setting The Mount Without.
The concert will feature
JIMMY GALVIN / Solo Piano Performance
REVERB / Harp and Voice duo
KETIBU / Acoustic Set
MARK ELY/ Featuring a 20 Piece Choir
COLIN MOODY / Films

Love Letter to the Moon – photo: The Mount Without

Thursday: 5×15 Bristol, The Station
5 inspirational figures from across the city come together to each share a 15 minute talk on something related to their practice. This time around, there’s a writer, an actor, a historian, a CEO, and a volunteer who’s spent seven years helping refugees across Europe.

Cariad Lloyd will be talking about her latest book You Are Not Alone, amongst other guests – photo: Cariad Lloyd

Thursday: Walking Tour: What Can Weeds Tell Us About Migration?, RWA
From Mexican fleabane to Himalayan honeysuckle, you will learn about the ecology, pollinators and histories of weeds. professor Memmott, professor of ecology at the School for Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol, will be in conversation with Bridget Anderson, professor of migration, mobilities and citizenship, and together will all interrogate ideas of native-ness and the alien, and how they connect to migration and invasive species.

Weeds walking tour – photo: Bristol Ideas

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From Friday: 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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Friday-May 1: City Nature Challenge, Various Locations
Join residents across the West of England in an exciting, collaborative mission to record as much nature as possible between Friday 28th April – Monday 1st May. Over the four-day bank holiday challenge, people across the region will be coming together to share observations of the natural world in gardens, green spaces, and city streets. Family-friendly activity across Bristol and Bath will be taking place, including expert-led wildlife walks and nature recording training.

City Nature Challenge – photo: Natural History Consortium

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From Friday: Rodeo, Watershed
Newcomer Julie Ledru excels as a young tearaway with a passion for motorbikes who finds herself drawn into a local bike gang’s dodgy dealings.

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Friday: Absolute Reggae, Redgrave Theatre
The music that has filled the airwaves since the 1970s is brought to life on stage as the Absolute Reggae show continues its 2023 national tour. This high energy show with a 10 piece band, includes a three piece horn section and four vocalists.

Absolute Reggae – photo: Redgrave Theatre

Friday-Sunday: Bristol Folk Festival, various locations
The weekend-long festival takes place across some of Bristol’s most opulent venues, including Trinity Centre, Bristol Cathedral and St George’s. Experience some of the finest in UK folk, from theatre-filling headliners to the most exciting rising stars in the scene.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Coh0b1-DMcn/

Saturday & Sunday: East Bristol Brewery Trail, various locations
Many of Bristol’s most popular and revered breweries are located on the East side of the city. From the bottom corner of St Philip’s to the top end of Easton, seven such brewers will be opening their doors to the public this weekend – so head on in and sample the delights of East Bristol for yourself.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqXtYuhMC3v/

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Saturday: Stand up for the weekend with PAUL McCAFFREY and GUESTS, Hen & Chicken Studio
Paul McCaffrey is an award-winning comedian and headlines at the biggest comedy clubs in the country, shining with his totally natural, utterly unique storytelling which is never anything less than gut-bustlingly hilarious. He has performed critically acclaimed Edinburgh shows as well as at major music festivals: Reading, Leeds, V Festival, Bestival and Latitude.

In 2019 he debuted on the flagship BBC stand-up show Live At The Apollo, and has previously starred in BBC Three’s Impractical Jokers and Russell Howard’s Good News.

“The relaxed, assured confidence of a stadium filler” Chortle

“Charm, charisma and success written all over him” London Evening Standard

Saturday: Cutting the Mustard 002, The Cider Box Taproom
The second edition of a series of knees-ups from Bristol’s premier cider taproom, hosted in the St Philip’s taproom itself, soundtracked by some top quality house, techno and disco from the coveted Grace Sands, Winona and many more.

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

Saturday-Sunday: Astral Festival 2023, Strange Brew
For fans of all things psych/hard rock, there’s no place to be other than Strange Brew this weekend. Showcasing the names you know and the ones you’d better get to know, the lineup boasts over 20 bands spread across the two days, all situated at the Fairfax Street venue, with tap takeovers from some of the finest to brew it in the city.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpc2KIVshzl/

Sunday: Snuff Mills Paranormal Investigation, Snuff Mills
Interested in ending the week on a spooky note? Experience the darker side of one of Bristol’s most expansive and picturesque walking spots with the Haunted the Truth team. They have extensive experience of conducting paranormal investigations in the area, so will be guiding you to all the right locations most likely to elicit a ghoulish encounter.

And coming soon…

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May 3: Bristol Beacon Presents: Neue Grafik Ensemble: Foulden Road Part II, 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.

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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: Bristol Folk Festival

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• New walking tour showcasing Bristol’s music venues past & present
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