21 things to do in Bristol this week, May 8-14 2023

Monday: Ramshackle Comedy, Dareshack
The Wine Street cafe/venue opens its doors to comedy fans as they continue their Ramshackle Comedy nights, showcasing some of the finest stand-up comics from Bristol, and sometimes further afield. This week’s edition features Bristol rising name Dani Johns and past Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Nick Page.

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Now-May 25: Artist Network Exhibition, RWA
It’s time for a change in our galleries. While we work hard setting up a brand-new exhibition for you, remember that you can still come along and enjoy our free spaces. Our café, Spicer and Cole, is open for all your coffee and cake needs, our Gallery Shop is fully stocked with bespoke pieces and unique gifts, and the Lower Ground Floor will remain open as usual, giving you access to the Artist Network Exhibition and the Family Activity Space. The main galleries will re-open on 20 May.

Artist Network Exhibition – photo: RWA

Tuesday: Natasha Carthew: Why Have Rural Communities Been Ignored by Politics?, Waterstones
Bristol Ideas are joined by author and memoirist Natasha Carthew to examine the socioeconomic inequality that is so rife in our UK holiday spots – and why these rural communities have been ignored by the political system for too long.

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Now-July 5: RWA 170 Annual Open – Submissions Open!
Submissions for the 170th RWA Annual Open Exhibition are OPEN! We welcome submissions from visual artists working in any medium and at any stage of their career. Whether you are an established artist, or just beginning your creative career, this is your chance to have your work exhibited in a world-class gallery. You could be in with a chance to win some amazing prizes! Entry is open from 28 April – 5 July.

RWA 170th Annual Open – photo: RWA

Wednesday: Film screening: From The East (1993), The Cube
A collaboration with Spike Island, the microplex is showing a special screening of Chantal Akerman’s poetic documentary. The film consists of a series of travelling and static shots of the masses across Eastern Europe, from Germany to Moscow, following the demolition of the Berlin wall.

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Wednesday: Louis Brennan & Holly Carter in the Crypt, The Mount Without
London-based Dubliner Louis Brennan is a singer-songwriter in the folk tradition. His folk however aren’t the field hands and travelling minstrels of yore but the repressed middle managers and ennui-ridden urbanites of late-stage capitalism. They populate tales of bad sex, half-drunk commutes and interpersonal claustrophobia delivered in Brennan’s cracked baritone, at times embarrassingly intimate, at times spuriously broad, peppered with pitch-black humour.

Holly Carter is a Bristol based songwriter and award-winning multi-instrumentalist specialising in fingerstyle guitar and pedal steel. Drawing inspiration from a varied musical upbringing steeped in the likes of Gillian Welch, Paul Simon and The Clash, her songs weave joyously catchy melodies with lyrics that pay homage to a diverse collection of musical and personal heroes.

Louis Brennan at The Mount Without – photo: The Mount Without

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Thursday: Bristol Beacon Presents: Submotion Orchestra with Strings, St. George’s
Submotion Orchestra return to Bristol for a special, one-off performance to celebrate the release of their ‘Unplugged Vol.ii’ EP, featuring the prism string ensemble, alongside the live band. Since their inception in 2009, the genre-defying Submotion Orchestra have moved seamlessly between deep electronica, jazz and ambient downtempo, mesmerising audiences from Iceland to India. Now, to mark their second EP of acoustic reworkings of their back catalogue, they expand their lineup with a specially-formed string quartet for this one-time tour. Performing tracks from across their entire career, the band transport their bass-heavy and soulful sound to intimate sit-down venues, highlighting stunning string arrangements alongside the fragile beauty of Ruby Wood’s celestial vocals. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to experience Submotion Orchestra as you’ve never heard them before.

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Screening now: Return to Seoul, Watershed
An unpredictable and refreshingly authentic story of a young woman’s search for identity, and the ever-shifting relationships that shape it, from director Davy Chou.

Thursday: UWE Fashion Communication Collective Exhibition, Centrespace Gallery
A self-directed exhibition from some of the final year Fashion Comms students at UWE, exploring how they wish to be seen as creatives after they graduate. There will be everything from VR to toys on display, and all funds raised will go towards their official end of year graduation show.

The exhibition will help fund the students’ end of year show – photo: UWE Fashion Communications

Friday: Virtual Realities as Time Travel: hybrid workshop, UoB Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
A day of workshops and talks from 9.30am-5pm exploring the world of virtual reality and its capabilities, centred around the idea of being able to travel into the past. There will also be figures from the historical video game industry present, providing their insight into historical storytelling, alongside members of academia.

Virtual realities as time travel – photo: University of Bristol

Friday: StepTwice x Belters: Phasmid, Longeez & more, Exchange
Two of Bristol’s hottest new rave crews butt heads, showcasing a who’s who in the rising UK garage/breaks scene. Expect hefty breakbeats from Phasmid fresh off his Boiler Room debut, with the B3B to end all B3Bs coming up the rear with Longeez, Lily Huu and Belters.

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Screening now: Little Richard: I Am Everything, Watershed
Uncovering the alternative origins of rock’n’roll through its most influential pioneer Little Richard, with a wealth of archival footage and interviews with artists including Mick Jagger, Tom Jones, Billy Porter and Nile Rodgers.

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Saturday: The Comedy Box promotes: Stand Up for the Weekend with PAUL MYREHAUG and GUESTS, Hen & Chicken Studio
Canadian born and currently living in France, Paul Myrehaug is a multi-award winning stand-up comedian and, as he says himself, a mediocre actor. He is a sharp performer with a great stage presence and is an extremely fun comic to watch.

He has 20 years of stand up comedy experience, over a dozen televised appearances and over 40 different countries toured around the globe.

“Dry, dark but with an irrepressible youthful charm” Toronto Star

“An impressive, power packed set” – Chortle, United Kingdom

“Idiosyncratically prowling the stage, Myrehaug’s charisma captivates the audience” – Giggle Beats, United Kingdom

Paul Myrehaug at Hen & Chicken – photo: The Comedy Box

Saturday: Eurovision final 2023 watch party, Sidney & Eden
If you’ve been swept up by this year’s Eurovision mania, the cosy Sidney & Eden is the place to spend your Saturday night this weekend to watch the final of the always popular continent-wide singing contest. With their ten foot screen and a selection of fantastic cocktails, why would you be anywhere else?

“A warm bar, with an excellent beer range, but which isn’t too macho or beardy and which also does great cocktails, events and live comedy,” says Darran McLaughlin of Bookhaus about Sidney & Eden – photo: Sidney & Eden

Sunday: AJ Bell Great Bristol Run, city centre
Returning once again, the Great Bristol Run is back. Hosting both a 10k and a half marathon, it’s available to all skill levels, and is a great way to push yourself to get fit for the summer.

The AJ Bell Great Bristol Run – photo: Great Bristol Run

And coming soon…

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May 15: The Comedy Box promotes: CIRCUIT BREAKERS with DANI JOHNS & GUESTS, Chicken Shed at the Hen & Chicken
Join us for a fantastic night of comedy in the Chicken Shed at The Hen and Chicken!

Circuit Breakers is a monthly night which showcases the best up-and-coming talent on the UK comedy circuit. Each month we invite a comedian to host the show and book a line-up of acts of their choosing.

This month’s curator and host is rising Bristol comedian Dani Johns who will be introducing:

Headline Act – Fred Cooke

Fred Cooke delivers a unique brand of comedy through his musical prowess and wildly crafted physical story-telling.

An unmissable act, Fred brings a special brand of comedic chaos to every show, and is hugely entertaining. A night with Fred is a night not to forget.

Fred will be joined on the bill by up-and-coming talent Alasdair Wallace, Louise Leigh and Mark Hurman.

Circuit breakers at Hen & Chicken – photo: The Comedy Box

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May 24: Wine & Calligraphy Night, The Mount Without
Join us at The Mount Without for a night of wine & calligraphy, led by ‘uklettering’ who has worked with clients such as Dior, Harrods, Jo Malone & Harvey Nichols!

This workshop will revolve around the art of modern calligraphy, all skill sets are welcome!

Beautifully curated and put together our Calligraphy workshop designed for all but focussing mainly for anyone who would like to dwell in slowing down and enjoy the art of writing. This course will help you take home an absolutely aesthetic and creative art – Modern Calligraphy. This workshop will open and widen your vision to a solid foundation of Modern Calligraphy detailing different aspects of the art.

Wine and Calligraphy at The Mount Without – photo: The Mount Without

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May 24: Aspects multi-sensory album launch party, Lost Horizon
Bristol based producer, podcaster and promoter Vice beats, the creator of the only official UK based J Dilla tribute to date, returns with his second full length album – Aspects – which explores connection in a wide variety of forms.

The multi-sensory launch party will take you on a journey, turning Lost Horizon into a creative galaxy with lots of surprises in store, alongside great music from some of the collaborators on Aspects, and the album played in full with live visuals. This is also an opportunity to hear the album and grab a limited edition vinyl and merch before the public release on the 26th May.

Aspects album launch party at Lost Horizon – photo: EQ Music

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May 25: Bristol Beacon Presents: Siv Jakobsen, The Louisiana
Norwegian musician Siv Jakobsen ushers in a hushed and breathtaking reverence with her songwriting. Her delicate vocals convey an emotive poignancy, underpinned by instrumental accompaniments that take in Jakobsen’s finger-picked guitar playing, soaring strings and striking harp and brass arrangements. Now gearing up to release her third album ‘Gardening’, Jakobsen wrote the recent single ‘Romain’s Place’ whilst touring. The track, taken from her upcoming record highlights Jakobsen’s acute, affecting lyricism and her gracefully haunting folk intonations. Jakobsen has also spent a lot of time on the road, playing shows alongside the likes of Damien Jurado, José González and Susanne Sundfør.

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May 27: Whole Lotta Shakin’ – The Shakin Stevens Story, Redgrave Theatre
The Award Winning tribute to the UK’s biggest selling singles artist of the 1980’s – Whole Lotta Shakin’ is a nostalgic celebration, jam packed with feel-good Rock ‘n’ Roll!

Whole lotta shakin’ at Redgrave Theatre – photo: Redgrave Theatre

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May 28: The Young’uns, Redgrave Theatre
The Young’uns live shows are renowned. With heart-on-the-sleeve storytelling, beautiful lyrics, warm harmonies and relentless repartee, Sean Cooney, Michael Hughes, and David Eagle (the award-winning stand-up comedian) sing life-affirming folk songs for today.

The Young’uns at Redgrave Theatre – photo: Redgrave Theatre

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June 9-18: Festival of Nature, Millenium 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: Great Bristol Run

Read next:

• 46 things to do in Bristol in May 2023
• Bristolians flock to buy tickets for the return of Bristol Comedy Garden
• Crime-(Fiction) wave heads to Bristol

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