27 things to do in Bristol this week, May 16-22 2022

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Until May 29: Mayfest, various locations
Bristol’s trailblazing festival of international theatre makes a triumphant return this month, with a city-wide programme of performance, installations, parties and screenings spanning three weekends in May.

Brook Tate in Birthmarked, Mayfest 2022 – photo: Paul Blakemore

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Ongoing: You Choose Exhibition, Fashion Museum Bath
You Choose, a unique exhibition co-curated by local people, is on display at Bath’s Fashion Museum. Groups and individuals who experience fashion from different points of view have created 10 brand new displays now on view. You Choose runs alongside the current A History of Fashion in 100 Objects display.

Christelle – photo: Fashion Museum Bath

Monday: Uprooted: The Olympic Tribe, The Cube
A documentary about the dark environmental consequences of one of the greatest sporting events on Earth. The tale follows three Borneo indigenous tribesmen as they attempt to figure out what’s happening to their rapidly disappearing forest, by following the wood as it’s being stolen, unravelling a story far deeper than they could have imagined.

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Until June 19: Me, Myself, I: Artists’ Self Portraits, RWA
Join RWA in their newly-transformed space for Me, Myself, I: Artists’ Self-Portraits. Featuring work by major artists the exhibition, in particular explores the last fifty years and the ways artists have imagined and presented themselves: from the highly personal and psychological to the controversial and political. Discover the artists who challenged social norms and defied conventions, who questioned identity, gender and representation ahead of their time. Get into the exhibition for free on June 2 & 3 as part of the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.

Photo: RWA

Tuesday: Jinxed Comedy, Volunteer Tavern
The pub is holding it’s fifth edition of its monthly comedy series, bringing new acts and new material to their intimate outdoor space. This month will be MC’d by Bristol-based comic Eva Bindeman, and the night will be closed by newcomer Amy Mason.

Wednesday-Saturday May 28: A Crash Course in Cloudspotting, Bristol Old Vic
Originally scheduled for presentation at Mayfest 2020, A Crash Course in Cloudspotting combines stories from over 250 people living with invisible disabilities and chronic illnesses, creating an immersive audio installation based around the beauty of simply lying down. Part of the Mayfest 2022 programme.

Wednesday: John Grindrod: Iconicon, Design West
Renowned British architecture and nature writer John Grindrod celebrates the release of his latest book, Iconicon: A journey around the landmark buildings of contemporary Britain with a talk examining some of the most interesting architectural phenomena since 1980. There will also be an opportunity to purchase the book, as part of the ticket price.

Photo: Design West

Wednesday-Friday: What if All This is Real, Alma Tavern & Theatre
A witty, dark comedy about a not too distant future Earth hurtling towards its demise, and a new political party whose main policy is to increase the rate at which we are doing so. A study on the power of hedonism when you have nothing left to lose.

Photo: Bristol24/7

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Thursday: AVAWAVES, Bristol Beacon
AVAWAVES is made up of composer and violinist Anna Phoebe and pianist and producer Aisling Brouwer. Together this contemporary virtuoso duo makes striking cinematic ambient music. Following the release of their debut full-length album Waves, they released their second album Chrysalis last year, offering a further immersion into their otherworldly compositions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCDSCtxNua0

Thursday: Psyched: Ghoulish, LilyHuu, Fonzo & Ansza, Crofters Rights
A collection of some of the most exciting names in the underground UK garage scene, promoters Psyched invite Manchester’s Ghoulish down to Crofters to headline a bill of exciting talent in the scene, all of which happen to be a part of the pack-leading eminent agency roster.

Thursday: Debauched Tales, The Cloak & Dagger
Head to the Cloak & Dagger for a night of erotic storytelling, of both the fictional and confessional variety. Warming things up, there’ll be dedicated readers giving their renditions of some of their favourite raunchy tales, followed by the opportunity for you to take to the stage and heat things up. Or, if you’ve got a tale but don’t feel comfortable enough telling it, slip it in the confession box, and it might just get told for you.

Photo: Miles Arnold

Friday: Shall Not Fade Festival launch party, Thekla
As they gear up for their Propyard day festival in September, Bristol dance label Shall Not Fade host a knees-up at the boat club this Friday, presenting some of the top names from their bass driven sub-label Time is Now, along with some other exciting talent with a similar sound.

Friday: Livity Sound w/ DJ Plead, Tristan Arp & Anina, Strange Brew
Another big Bristol label, Livity Sound continue their residency at Strange Brew, bringing the Likes of DJ Plead & Tristan Arp playing their Bristol debut, bringing the house/techno vibes, with Anina coming up the rear with her signature experimental sound fusions.

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Opens Friday: Benediction, Watershed
Terence Davies (A Quiet Passion, The Deep Blue Sea) evocatively explores the turbulent life of Siegfried Sassoon, known for his poetry on the horrors of the Great War, and also his love affairs with other notable men.

Friday-Sunday: Bristol Foodies Festival, The Downs
The UK-wide touring Foodies Festival comes to Bristol this weekend, taking over the the Downs with live music, cooking demos, and most importantly, food.

Photo: Black Circus Food

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Opens Friday: The Innocents, Watershed
Eskil Vogt’s (Blind) chilling Nordic supernatural thriller, about a group of children who secretly discover that they share dark and mysterious powers, is a strong contender for the genre film of the year.

Saturday: Drag Boot Sale, Strange Brew
Looking to fill out your drag wardrobe? Look no further than Strange Brew this Saturday, as they will be hosting their first ever Drag Boot Sale. Whether you’re a performer looking to grab some new garments for your persona, or just enthusiastic about all things pink and fabulous, you will find what you’re looking for at the Brew.

Saturday: Crafts & Resistance: Screen Printing Workshop, PRSC
As part of Trinity’s Art Of Resistance project, they have teamed up with Peoples Republic of Stokes Croft to deliver Crafts & Resistance, a series of craft projects with a focus on activism. In this workshop, you’ll be using the PRSC’s screen printing facilities to screen print your own quote on a tote bag.

Photo: Oggadoon

Saturday: Tarot: Cautionary Tales, Bristol Improv Theatre
An interactive sketch show based around the art of tarot reading. With a focus on the occult, expect things to get a tad dark, but remain hilarious throughout.

Photo: Tarot

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Sunday: Dubioza Kolektiv, Trinity
Dubioza Kolektiv are established as among the best and most popular live outfits in Eastern Europe. Along with local Balkan flavours, their musical influences come from all over the world: ska, punk, reggae, electronic, hip-hop. Don’t miss this life-affirming band and their explosive live show.

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Sunday: Sam Sweeney Band, Folk House
Part of renowned contemporary folk band Bellowhead, Sam Sweeney’s debut solo offering Unfinished Violin saw him nominated for Musician of the Year at BBC Radio 2’s Folk Awards in 2019. Sweeney’s second album Unearth Repeat explores new sound palettes and incorporates a different line-up of instrumentation with the addition of double bass, keys, and both acoustic and electric guitars. Live, Sweeney and his band’s inimitable musicianship makes for “an outstanding and deeply moving experience” (Songlines).

Sunday: Film-Themed Ceilidh, SouthBank
Southbank continues to host its regular themed ceilidhs, this one with a film focus. For the uninitiated, a ceilidh is a group dance that originated in Mediaeval times, in which people dance in circles around the room, changing partners often. Don’t worry if you’re intimidated, there’ll be instructors guiding you through, and bumping into one another is all part of the fun.

Photo: Bristol ceilidh collective

And coming soon…

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Opening May 27: Roxy Lanes opening
Roxy Lanes is bringing the playground to the bar, with 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.

Photo: Roxy Lanes

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May 28: Simon Amstell: Spirit Hole, Redgrave Theatre
With his first stand up tour since the release of internationally acclaimed feature film Benjamin and Netflix Special Set Free, Simon Amstell brings Spirit Hole to a theatre near you.

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May 30: So You Think You Know About Dinosaurs…?!, Redgrave Theatre
So You Think You Know About Dinosaurs is the hit stage show starring dinosaur aficionado Professor Ben Garrod. Get ready to go on an exciting pre-historic adventure as Ben explores the biggest, deadliest and weirdest predators that ever roamed the planet.

Photo: Redgrave Theatre

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June 1: Junior Drawing School – Portrait Collage with Kate Newington, RWA
Join the Junior Drawing School this half term for a fun and playful workshop for families to make portrait collages inspired by early twentieth century cubist collages. Parents/carers will receive complimentary exhibition entry.

Junior Drawing School – photo: RWA

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June 10-18: Festival of Nature, Bristol & Bath
The UK’s largest celebration of the natural world is back. Join an exciting week packed full of in-person, digital and hybrid events across the region, all aimed at helping people take action for nature.

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August 11: MC Yallah & Debmaster, Trinity
MC Yallah is a Kenyan artists based in Uganda, and an affiliate of the big Nyege Nyege crew. Her fierce and intense lyrics are drawn from real-life experiences and often address women’s issues, spreading a powerful message of integrity and self-determination. Plus support from Grove.

Main Photo: Bristol ceilidh collective

Read more: Multi-talented performer and puppeteer Freddie Hayes presents: Potatohead

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