Colston Hall

Bristol’s ‘home of music’ since 1867, Colston Hall survived the Luftwaffe in WWII only to be burned down by a discarded cigarette in 1945 – but it rose from the ashes and twenty-odd years later The Beatles and The Stones were lighting up the stage.

Today, despite its controversial name (Google it, lazybones) the dear old Colsonall remains integral to cultural life in the city. More or less every night sees gigs and concerts from major names in rock, pop, jazz, folk, world and classical music, stand up comedy and light entertainment, as well as local choirs, orchestras and schools stuff.

The imposing copper-clad foyer has transformed the once modestly-fronted Colston Hall into a striking addition to Bristol’s skyline – the top deck terrace bar’s not a bad place for a pre-gig sundowner. Bath Ales have taken on the lower ground floor bar, rebranding it the Colston St. Bar & Kitchen and there’s a Barcelona-style tapas joint called Gordito up the stairs too. The warren-like deeper reaches of the Hall include conferencing and education facilities, providing a home for a host of youth-oriented music programmes.

In the last year or so, Colston Hall has hosted music from the likes of Emmylou Harris, Bastille, Richard Hawley, Sam Smith, Flying Lotus, Robert Plant and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra; comedy from Stephen Fry, Lee Mack and Micky Flanagan, as well as being a key player in many of Bristol’s wider events including Simple Things Festival, Bristol New Music, Bristol International Jazz & Blues Festival and the Slapstick Festival. Further back, little-known chancers including David Bowie, Elton John, Motorhead and Bob Dylan have stopped by for a sing-song. The perfect acoustics in the main auditorium have also attracted the world’s leading orchestras and classical soloists. With the launch of their digital archive in 2014, much of this musical heritage is free to explore via the Colston Hall website.

Meanwhile, the 1873-built Lantern room (complete with a more modern and frankly alarming carpet, last time B247 popped in) offers a thoughtful spread of world, folk, jazz, acoustic, new classical music, and comedy in a more intimate space, bringing ground-breaking and up-and-coming artists to the city.

And the Hall’s work doesn’t stop at the stage door. Bristol Plays Music at Colston Hall delivers music education as part of the city’s music hub, running the MixRadio Remix Academy programme, which offers creative development for 7 – 21 year olds, the Remix Youth Ensemble, one-off education projects, as well as the Remix studios and rehearsal space.

For more information, the latest artists announcements and tickets, see www.colstonhall.org