23 things to do in Bristol this week, July 4-10 2022

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Roxy Lanes now taking bookings
Roxy Lanes – which opened in May – boasts a huge variety of games, and massive rock and indie tunes. Including ten pin bowling, duck pin bowling, American pool, batting cages, ice-free curling, shuffleboard, beer pong, basketball and private karaoke rooms. The new location on Union Street also shows live sports.

The latest addition to Bristol’s night time entertainment scene is now open for bookings – photo: Roxy Lanes

Monday: Hidden Poetry Club, Cloak & Dagger
A continuation from the popular Hidden Comedy Club run at the Cloak & Dagger, the Hidden Poetry Club is hosted by stand up comic Angie Belcher (awarded Bristol’s second most influential woman), and gives budding poets an opportunity to share their work to a captive audience.

The Hidden Poetry Club is a new addition to the Cloak & Dagger Schedule – Photo: Miles Arnold

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Throughout July: Wim Wenders Season, Watershed
The first UK retrospective of Wim Wenders’ films in 15 years – experience Buena Vista Social Club, Paris, Texas, Kings of the Road and more on the big screen.

Tuesday: Horror Without End Presents… Alien, The Lansdown
Horror Without End is a series of film screenings, prefaced with talks from field leaders about class, capitalism and how they all link to horror cinema. This time around, it’s sci-fi horror classic Alien. There are a variety of ticket options based on food/drink, but all I need to say is that you can get the “unlimited popcorn” ticket for just £5.

Wednesday: Cocktail Class – Cloud Fruit Coffee Martini, Playground
Playground on St Nicholas Street holds a cocktail making masterclass, showing you how to make the perfect “Cloud Fruit Coffee Martini” – if you haven’t heard of it before, all the more reason to get down and try something new.

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Wednesday: Richard Hawley, Bath Forum
Richard Hawley has carved out a distinct and deserved legacy within rock’n’roll. His accolades are wide-ranging and impressive, from performing with The Longpigs and as Pulp’s guitarist to collaborations with Arctic Monkeys, Paul Weller, and Elbow. On his ninth solo album Further, Hawley’s timeless, evocative songwriting shines through, his lilting crooning conveying his astute lyrical romanticism and rich storytelling. An ever propulsive musician, Hawley holds a uniquely captivating magnetism.

Wednesday: Sudo Sound: Jook, Tailored Sound, Rex, Tres-2B, Crofters Rights
Rising Bristol 140 label Sudo Sound take to the Crofters Rights for a mid-week session of dark, stormy dubstep, mixed with a touch of breakbeat and UK Garage. And with a seasoned selector like Jook manning the wheels for the headline slot, you’re getting your money’s worth with tickets starting at £3.

Thursday: Wat(er) The Funk, Volunteer Tavern
Bringing together some of Bristol’s top jazz musicians and DJs, the Volunteer Tavern just off Old Market is hosting a fundraiser for Wateraid. Expect a range of vibes, from upbeat jazz to deep soul cuts.

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Begins Thursday: Summer Late Series, SS Great Britain
Beginning 7 July, expect delicious food, local music and a pop-up bar with Bristolian beer from Dawkins Ales.

The series aims to shine a light on local music and great beer – photo: SS Great Britain

Thursday: Omari & Friends, Four Quarters
One of the newest additions to Park Street, Four Quarters offers you the chance to hear some top class rising Bristol stand up comedy, whilst playing some of your favourite retro arcade games. Sold?

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Thursday-Saturday: Omid Djalili – The Good Times Tour, Redgrave Theatre
After experimenting with a Zoom gig where he got muted by 639 people and a drive-in gig where Omid witnessed an audience member get out his car, attach a hose pipe to his exhaust and feed it through the window; multi award-winning comedian and actor Omid Djalili is now where he belongs, on a stage and bringing back the Good Times.

Friday: Bristol HiFi With Don Letts (DJ set), Old Market Assembly
Dubbed “the DJ that single handedly turned a whole generation of punks onto reggae” during his heyday in the 70s, Don Letts has been selecting the finest deep reggae cuts for around 50 years. Now, he comes to the Old Market Assembly for a no doubt raucous evening of top tier reggae/dub selections.

Friday: Speak Easy 02: Silva Bumpa, Joe Koshin, Longeez, The Island
After their first packed out night at flash-in-the-pan underground venue The Warehouse, promoters Speak Easy turn to proven basement venue The Island for a showcase of some of the most exciting young talent in the scene right now. Expect large basslines on this one, and plenty of reloads.

Saturday: Bristol Pride Day, Downs
Whilst pride celebrations are happening across the city from June 25 to July 11, the main day of festivities takes place this Saturday on the Downs – following the parade through the city centre. It’s one of Bristol’s largest festivals, and it’s free. Split across five stages, there are more than 100 acts performing with a headline set from Carly Rae Jepsen.

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Opens Saturday: Forest: Wake This Ground, Arnolfini
The newest exhibition at the Arnolfini explores the world above and beneath our forests, examining folklore and tradition passed down through generations, and showing how we can reuse the resources that we take from this vital resource. The exhibition runs until October, and is accompanied by a series of workshops, live performances and other interactive activities.

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Saturday – September 11: Earth: Digging Deep in British Art 1781-2022, RWA
Opening this Saturday, our Summer Exhibition #RWAEarth surveys the representation of our environment across four centuries, inviting us to consider our planet in all its abundance, precarity and preciousness. Artists include J. M. W. Turner, John Constable, Thomas Gainsborough, Graham Sutherland and Laura Knight alongside contemporary artists Richard Long, David Nash, Anya Gallaccio, Yinka Shonibare, Mariele Neudeker, Tania Kovats and more.

The Exhibition shows how our planet’s environment has altered over the past four centuries – Photo: RWA

Saturday: Eat Up! Very Unofficial Pride Afterparty, Exchange
Head straight from the big pride party at the downs to the Exchange, for an unofficial DIY punk masterclass from disbanding group Charmpit, headed up by equally hedonistic vibes from Perkie, Sex Noise Choir and many more.

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Saturday: Climate Café, RWA
Join experienced facilitators in a simple, hospitable, empathetic space where fears and uncertainties about our climate and ecological crisis can be safely expressed over a hot drink. Climate Cafés at the RWA are open and free to anyone aged 18 or over who is worried about the climate and ecological crisis.

The Climate Café is the perfect opportunity to express your climate concerns with like-minded individuals – Photo: RWA

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Sunday: Kevin Figes Quartet, Bristol Beacon
Kevin Figes has matured into one of the UK’s finest musicians on a variety of saxes, from alto to baritone, as well as flute. His career has been constantly progressive over three plus decades, and his last few groups and recordings have received widespread acclaim for his compositions and performance.

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Sunday: Dr Who: Classic Movie Double Bill, Watershed
Lovingly restored and remastered in 4K, Gordon Flemyng’s cinematic adaptations of the fabled saviour of space and time warps onto our screens in this one-off double bill screening.

Sunday: Morgan and West’s The Three Musketeers, Eastville Park Swimming Pool
A fun Sunday family pantomime amongst the disused swimming pool of Eastville Park. Brought to you by masters of wit Morgan and West, this one’s appropriate (and entertaining) for all ages.

And coming soon…

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July 15: City of Bristol Brass, Redgrave Theatre
City of Bristol is a keen advocate and supporter of new music, and as such, is excited to present ‘Eastern Horizons’, premiering new music written for the band by up and coming composer Mandy Leung.

The event will be the first opportunity to hear newly composed music – Photo: Redgrave Theatre

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July 17: Sea Power, Trinity Centre
Sea Power are a conceptual indie band, with elements of post-rock and art rock experimentalism with an uncommon degree of imagination and dynamicity.

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July 30: Keep Hush Day Party, Trinity Centre
After the iconic scenes at Bristol’s ec2a Keep Hush Live, Dr Dubplate is teaming up with the Keep Hush crew for a massive summer birthday blowout. With a stacked line-up curated by the man himself, Keep Hush’s first open-air day party in Bristol isn’t going to be one to miss.

Main Photo: Bhagesh Sachania

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