
Art / Pop Art
If You Hit Anything Call It The Target!
New works by Bristol artist RichT
: Thursday, Aug 1 2019 - Sunday, Aug 4 2019
Dance
SESSION returns to Bristol this summer
MAYK's acclaimed street dance / live music show is back at the Station
Theatre
Preview: Vet. Detective., Wardrobe Theatre
New company Bad Vs Evil parody the TV detective genre
Film
How Bait took 18 months to become an ‘overnight success’
Bristol-based co-producer Linn Waite reveals the extraordinary journey of this low-budget production
Summer is in full swing this month. There’s lots happening in the city, including the return of dance sensation SESSION. Vet. Detective. comes to The Wardrobe Theatre, small-scale film Bait is released and there’s plenty of outdoor cinema screenings too.
Here, we’ve rounded up the best events in Bristol this August.
Find even more things to do in our What’s On section.
Art / Pop Art
New works by Bristol artist RichT
: Thursday, Aug 1 2019 - Sunday, Aug 4 2019
Art / Active Ageing Bristol
Photographs of athletes competing well into their 70s and beyond
: Thursday, Aug 1 2019 - Wednesday, Aug 28 2019
Art / Art and Science
Striking photographs of the complex bacteria communities within us
: Wednesday, Jul 17 2019 - Tuesday, Aug 27 2019
Art / Chickasaw
Paintings by Native American artist
: Friday, Jun 21 2019 - Saturday, Sep 28 2019
Art / Ceramics
Reduction-fired tableware by Cardiff-based potter
: Thursday, Aug 1 2019 - Monday, Sep 30 2019
Art / Clifton Arts Club
Historic club's annual open-submissions show
: Saturday, Aug 3 2019 - Sunday, Aug 18 2019
Art / Centrespace
Exploring identity and how we see ourselves in our art
: Friday, Aug 9 2019 - Wednesday, Aug 14 2019
Art / 1969
Celebrating 50 years since the Moon Landing
: Friday, Jul 5 2019 - Sunday, Sep 29 2019
Art / Student exhibition
University Centre Somerset student show
: Friday, Aug 2 2019 - Wednesday, Aug 7 2019
Art / Free
Luke Jerram's seven-metre simulacrum of our planet
: Friday, Aug 16 2019 - Sunday, Aug 18 2019
Art / Royal West of England Academy
Experience the RWA galleries after hours
Royal West of England Academy: Thursday, Aug 15 2019 6pm
Art / Spike Island
Group show by artists who all volunteer at Spike Island Gallery
: Saturday, Aug 31 2019 - Sunday, Sep 8 2019
Books & Spoken Word / Fiction
Bristol writer introduces her new novel
Storysmith Books: Thursday, Aug 1 2019 6:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Children's Fiction
Launch of Bristol writer's debut novel
Waterstones – Clifton: Friday, Aug 2 2019 6pm
Books & Spoken Word / Gardening
Bristol gardeners and horticulturists discuss books that have influenced them
Redland Library: Thursday, Aug 8 2019 7pm
Books & Spoken Word / Poetry
Great line up of local poets plus open mic
The Crofters Rights: Tuesday, Aug 13 2019 7:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Flash Fiction
Stokes Croft Writers' regular storytelling evening
Leftbank: Tuesday, Aug 20 2019 6:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Magic
Two acclaimed poetry collections
Storysmith Books: Thursday, Aug 22 2019 6:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Fiction
Brilliant debut novel
Spike Island: Thursday, Aug 22 2019 6:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Cycling
New book on overcoming health problems through cycling
Storysmith Books: Wednesday, Aug 28 2019 6:30pm
Music / Clubs
Sizzling summer drum and bass
Lakota: Saturday, Aug 3 2019 1pm
Music / Clubs
The cure for your Boomtown FOMO
Motion: Saturday, Aug 10 2019 1pm
Music / Clubs
Plus special guests
Motion: Saturday, Aug 10 2019 10:30pm
Music / Clubs
This is their biggest lineup yet
Motion: Saturday, Aug 17 2019 12pm
Music / Clubs
The worldwide producer lands in Bristol
Motion: Saturday, Aug 24 2019 10pm
Music / Clubs
Celebrate the Bank Holiday drum and bass style
Lakota: Sunday, Aug 25 2019 2pm
Comedy / People's Republic of Stokes Croft
The UK's only sociopolitical comedy night
: Friday, Jun 7 2019 - Friday, Aug 2 2019
Comedy / BS2
Friendly open mic sessions at the Stag and Hounds
: Monday, Jun 10 2019 - Monday, Aug 26 2019
Comedy / BS4
Weekly comedy at The Star and Dove
: Monday, Jun 10 2019 - Monday, Aug 26 2019
Comedy / Open Mic
Stand-up comedy with host Liam Pickford
Smoke and Mirrors: Wednesday, Aug 21 2019 8pm
Film / Festival Screening
A chance to see the shortlisted short films in the festival's annual competition
Film / Comedy
Return of the classic 2004 teen clique comedy
Film / Animation
Animated trainee witch adventure from Studio Ghibli
Film / Action
The first film in the action franchise with Keanu Reeves as a pooch-loving ex-hitman
Film / Comedy
Peter Farrelly's Oscar winner screened al fresco in Bristol Zoo Gardens
Film / Drama
Al fresco screening of the Oscar winning hit Queen flick
Film / Horror
Neil Jordan's adaptation of Anne Rice's gothic vampire yarn
Dance / Afrobeat
Dance performance, gig, social, and rave, 'Session' returns to Bristol
: Wednesday, Aug 7 2019 - Sunday, Aug 11 2019
Dance / Afternoon tea
With a live jazz band
The Park Local Community Centre: Tuesday, Aug 6 2019 2pm
Dance / Dance
Dance at venues across the city
: Friday, Aug 2 2019 - Sunday, Aug 4 2019
Film / Drama
Much-acclaimed Cornish fishing village drama from Bristol-based Early Day Films
Film / Horror
Cult 1983 slasher boasting gore, nudity and controversial transgender psychopathy
Film / Documentary
Hilarious documentary about the prankstering US Satanic Temple's war on fundamentalist bigots
Film / Action
Annual event in which boffins gleefully pick apart the bad science in a Hollywood blockbuster
Film / Animation
Nick's Park's great prehistoric romp, back on screen to complement the M Shed exhibition
Film / Drama
Fact-based drama about a Pakistani drug salesman who exposes deaths caused by baby milk formula
Film / Drama
Drama about a Scottish student dealing with the untimely death of her father
Film / Event Cinema
Cracking archive 1991 Giants Stadium show now remixed in surround sound
Film / Documentary
Drama-doc about an alleged Nazi war criminal who played a key role in the Apollo 11 mission
Film / Art House
Suitably summery, award winning erotic comedy launches Éric Rohmer season
Film / Drama
New 4K cut of Sofia Coppola's dad's napalm-inhalingly magnificent 'nam classic
Film / Art House
Nostalgic drama set against the backdrop of Leningrad's 1980s underground rock scene
Film / Event Cinema
Canuck prog-metal titans' newly expanded "exercise in fan indulgence"
Food & Drink / Beer
With Cloudwater and Burning Sky
Lost and Grounded Brewers: Saturday, Aug 31 2019 1pm
Food & Drink / Wapping Wharf
The Wapping Wharf favourite is celebrating in style
Wild Beer Co: Monday, Aug 5 2019 6:30pm
Food & Drink / Supper Club
Four course menu served in Easton
The Sundial Kitchen: Friday, Aug 16 2019 8:15pm
Food & Drink / food
Celebrate The Cowshed's 10th anniversary
The Cowshed Bar & Grill: Tuesday, Aug 6 2019 6pm
Food & Drink / Beer; cider
Three Brothers Burgers and The Apple are joining for another weekend of cider, burgers and boats
The Apple: Thursday, Aug 22 2019 12pm
Music / Reggae
The vocalist is joined by his full band and support from Gardna
Fleece: Friday, Aug 2 2019 7:30pm
Music / Indie Pop
Australian indie pop duo from Sydney
Louisiana: Monday, Aug 5 2019 7:30pm
Music / Grime
Spitting bars and throwing shade
Fleece: Thursday, Aug 8 2019 7pm
Music / Blues
A blues band with a Latin influence
Canteen: Friday, Aug 9 2019 9:30pm
Music / Bristol music
Canadian roots singer-songwriter
Bristol Folk House: Saturday, Aug 10 2019 5:30pm
Music / Alternative
Join Marika for an afternoon of live music followed by an album signing at Rough Trade
Rough Trade: Sunday, Aug 11 2019 3pm
Music / Hip-Hop
With support from Remi
Fleece: Monday, Aug 12 2019 7:30pm
Music / Reggae
One of New Zealand's favourite live acts
Fleece: Wednesday, Aug 14 2019 7:30pm
Music / Rock
Kicking off a summer celebration
O2 Academy: Monday, Aug 19 2019 7pm
Music / Hip-Hop
Rapid fire lyricist from Texas
O2 Academy: Saturday, Sep 30 2017 7pm
Theatre / Andrew Kingston
New detective-drama parody from some Wardrobe favourites
: Thursday, Jul 25 2019 - Saturday, Aug 17 2019
Theatre / Emma Rice
Wise Children stage Enid Blyton's girls' school adventures
: Friday, Jul 19 2019 - Sunday, Aug 18 2019
Theatre / Bristol Old Vic Young Company
BOV Young Company enter Sherwood Forest
: Thursday, Aug 1 2019 - Saturday, Aug 3 2019
Theatre / Children's Theatre
Playful family comedy explores our impact on the environment
: Sunday, Aug 4 2019 11am & Sunday, Aug 4 2019 2pm
Theatre / Bedminster History
Show of Strength lead us around Bedminster's dark past (and several pubs)
: Tuesday, Jan 29 2019 - Thursday, Dec 17 2020
Theatre / Blackbeard
Show of Strength lead you around piratical Bristol
: Saturday, Apr 13 2019 - Saturday, Oct 26 2019
Theatre / Bristol Improv Theatre
Longform improv from acclaimed troupe
Bristol Improv Theatre: Friday, Aug 9 2019 8pm
Theatre / Bristol Improv Theatre
Sci-fi improv at the BIT
Bristol Improv Theatre: Saturday, Aug 10 2019 7:30pm
Theatre / Family storytelling
Tuesday morning summer holiday sessions
: Tuesday, Jul 23 2019 - Tuesday, Aug 27 2019
Theatre / Alice in Wonderland
Immersion Theatre lead us down the rabbit-hole
Tyntesfield: Friday, Aug 16 2019 6:30pm
Theatre / Brunel's SS Great Britain
Darkstuff spin the whaling yarn around the ss Great Britain
: Sunday, Aug 18 2019 - Monday, Aug 26 2019
Theatre / Le Navet Bete
Swordsmanship and gallantry from comic masters Le Navet Bete
: Thursday, Aug 22 2019 - Saturday, Aug 24 2019
Theatre / Children's Theatre
KC reprises his very first kids' theatre show
: Wednesday, Aug 28 2019 - Saturday, Aug 31 2019
Theatre / Do Not Adjust Your Stage
Acclaimed longform improv troupe
Bristol Improv Theatre: Friday, Aug 30 2019 8pm