Bristol Beacon listings: May, June 2021

Bristol Beacon is excited to open its doors with an eclectic mix of streamed shows and in-person events from 20th May 2021.

The first in-person event taking place is the Super Cool Drawing Machine Musician’s Art Show in the Bristol Beacon Foyer, followed by several further events booked for the foyer in May/June, including comedians Daniel Sloss, Garrett Millerick with Chloe Petts and Luke Kempner and Pierre Novellie with Bella Hull and Travis Jay and music from Wyldest and Mesadorm.

Bristol Beacon’s upcoming programme will also feature lively jazz, amazing folk music and artwork making it one for lovers of all the arts.

Rock and Pop: Scott Matthews, ‘New Skin’ Virtual Album Launch, Saturday 15th May, 8.00pm, £17.42 inc booking fee, ZOOM

Ivor Novello award winning singer/songwriter Scott Matthews launches ‘New Skin’ with a live show from his home studio where the album was recorded during lockdown – a catalyst that forced him to reassess and set himself new challenges, digging deeper than before to find new ways to communicate through song. A daring and audacious record, ‘New Skin’ is swathed in Eno-esque electronica and Thom Yorke-centric uncovering. It is bold and fearless, experimental and compelling. Matthews will be performing live via Zoom.

Art: Super Cool Drawing Machine, The Musicians’ Art Show / Big Jeff Johns – Welcome To My World, Bristol Beacon Foyer, Thursday 20th – Sunday 23rd May 2021, £6.54 inc booking fee

Rising from the ashes of the covid-19 crisis, Super Cool Drawing Machine is a celebration of the visual art created by a host of internationally acclaimed, touring musicians.

Featuring renowned musicians from a wide spectrum of genres, Super Cool Drawing Machine features the work of trailblazing saxophonist and figure head of the UK Jazz scene Shabaka Hutchings, Mercury nominated Welsh singer/producer Cate Le Bon, experimental folk musician Richard Dawson, Turner Exhibiting African American experimentalist Lonnie Holley, celebrated drummer/composer Seb Rochford as well as members of This is The Kit, Mammal Hands, Haiku Salut, Snapped Ankles and many more. The exhibit will showcase paintings, photography, drawings, ceramics, digital instillations, recycled arts, sculpture and furniture.

Attendees also have the opportunity to take an in-person look at a selection of work from prolific art fan ‘Big’ Jeff John’s debut art exhibition, ‘Welcome To My World’, which will be on display in Bristol Beacon’s Glass Room. Intended to instigate conversations about mental health and inspire people in similar situations to make art themselves, the Welcome To My World collection highlights Jeff’s own issues with barriers and hidden anxiety and how art can be an expression of these emotions.

Exhibition: A Fine Balance – in Carlos’ Footsteps, Bristol Beacon, Wednesday 26th May – Sat 5th June, Free – ticketed

Carlos Trower escaped slavery to become one of the world’s greatest tight rope walkers and used this platform to promote the emancipation of enslaved people. A Fine Balance explores the remarkable story of ‘The African Blondin’ who once lived on Christmas Steps and performed with a Victorian Panorama show at Bristol’s Colston Hall (now Bristol Beacon) for over 3,000 people.

With funding from Heritage Schools and The University of the West of England’s Community Fund, Local Learning has been working with primary school and university students to create an exhibition and live show in collaboration with actors, activists, archivists, aerialists and acrobats.

Rock and Pop: Penelope Isles, Strange Brew (socially distanced), Wednesday 26th May, 8.00pm, Table prices £27.25 to £40.88 per table

Penelope Isles make music that reveals a curiosity and sensitivity to the world around them. Mixing waves of ambient delays and fuzz guitar noise, sonic dynamics and melodic pop, hooks entwined with girl-boy harmonies, the Bella Union band’s debut album Until The Tide Creeps In was met with a resounding positivity. Their live set is hypnotic, captivating and moving, with a potency that will transfix and satisfy.

Comedy: Garrett Millerick with Chloe Petts and MC Luke Kempner, Bristol Beacon Foyer (socially distanced), Thursday 27th May, 8.00pm, Table prices £14.72 to £58.86 inc booking fee

A night of socially-distanced comedy from the foyer with a trio of comedians – Garrett Millerick, Chloe Petts and MC Luke Kempner. Millerick’s breakout live show Sunflower led to acclaim which has seen him make TV appearances on both sides of the Atlantic, including on late-night talk show Conan. Opening is BBC Comedy Award nominee Chloe Petts. Compering the night is Luke Kempner, known for his celebrity send-ups in cult BBC Three comedy series Murder in Successville and more recently, co-presenting on Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch.

Rock and Pop: Wyldest, Bristol Beacon Foyer (socially distanced), Friday 28th May, 7.30pm, Table prices £10.90 to £43.60 inc booking fee

Wyldest is the musical project of London-based singer, songwriter and producer Zoe Mead. Drawing on a wide range of influences from Depeche Mode and Talking Heads to Alex G and Soccer Mommy, Mead has been honing her brand of alternative pop out of initial bedroom recordings into more polished shoegaze-tinged outings since 2014.

Rock and Pop: This Is The Kit, Lakota Gardens (socially distanced), Wednesday 1st (SOLD OUT) – Thursday 2nd June, 8.00pm, Table prices £43.60 to £130.80 inc booking fee

This Is The Kit is the musical project of Kate Stables, the band’s rootsy arrangements of banjo, horns, and gentle percussion provide a textured backdrop to her intimate tales of subtle chaos and immersive characters. Releasing her fifth album Off Off On in 2020 to critical acclaim, This Is The Kit plays Lakota Gardens with support from Rachel Dadd.

Jazz: Mesadorm, Bristol Beacon and Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival Presents, Bristol Beacon Foyer, Thursday 17th June, 8.00pm, £13.08 to £52.32 inc booking fee

Bristol Beacon and Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival are proud to present the welcome return of jazz to the Bristol Beacon foyer, with the aptly-named The Tonic Sessions – a celebration of women in music. Mesadorm concocts a diverse and heady combination of contemporary influences with those of legendary female luminaries, to provide the perfect tonic for the times we have been living in – in the space between the personal and the global, the throb of the night and the glint of the dawn, the crushing weight of a significant ending and the promise of a fresh start; Mesadorm’s music awaits.

Comedy: Pierre Novellie with Bella Hull and MC Travis Jay, Bristol Beacon Foyer (socially distanced), Thursday 24th June, 8.00pm, Table prices £14.72 to £58.86 inc booking fee

Bristol Beacon presents a night of socially-distanced comedy from the foyer with a triple bill of comedians– Pierre Novellie, Bella Hull and MC Travis Jay. Headlining the show is South African born Pierre Novellie. Novellie might be most recognisable as a correspondant on The Mash Report with Nish Kumar, but his assured live comedy is what has led to him being hailed as a “unique talent” (The List). Opening is emerging talent and Funny Woman Stage Award finalist Bella Hull. Compering the night is Travis Jay – an adept and at times, controversial storyteller.

Comedy: Daniel Sloss: HUBRIS, Bristol Beacon Foyer (socially distanced), Friday 25th June, 6.00pm & 8.45pm, £21.80 to £87.20 inc booking fee

Scotland’s international comedy superstar Daniel Sloss has attracted sell-out tours across the globe and two acclaimed Netflix specials ‘Dark’ and ‘Jigsaw’. Never afraid to tackle edgy subject matter, Sloss’ material has become infamous at the annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe and international comedy festivals. Sloss returns to Bristol with his extraordinary new show “HUBRIS”.