All Events
Proper Jokes Comedy Club: Chortle
28 Feb // Anson Rooms Bar
The Bristol heat of the Chortle Student Comedy Awards is heading to the Anson Rooms Bar!
Nish Kumar: It's in your nature to destroy yourselves
07 March // Anson Rooms
Double Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominee Nish Kumar is taking his brand new show on a national tour of the UK! The title is a quote from Terminator 2. There will be jokes about politics, mankind’s capacity for self-destruction, and if this will lead to the end of days. GOOD FUN STUFF.
COLORS Presents: R&B ONLY
09 March // Anson Rooms
Our founder Jabari Johnson says, "I was at too many parties where people were just standing around staring at each other. I wanted to create an environment that encouraged people to talk, dance, and enjoy the company of one another. All while experiencing amazing music."
David Starkey: A Monarchy of Misfits
12 March // Anson Rooms
David Starkey delivers a talk that traces the radically shifting marriage customs of the British monarchy, from the laxity of the Middle Ages, through the stringencies of the Hanoverians, to the house of Windsor and its sometimes contorted adaptations to the realities of modern family life.
Hal Cruttenden : Chubster
15 March // Anson Rooms
Hal's literally filled our screens recently on Have I Got News For You, The Apprentice: You're Fired, Bake Off: Extra Slice, and Live at the Apollo. His daughters chose the title of his new stand-up show. He's now on a diet.
Kendal Mountain Festival UK Tour 2019
17 March // Anson Rooms
Calling all adventure lovers! The award winning Kendal Mountain Festival is back on the road with its UK Tour featuring incredible speakers Kenton Cool and Jenny Graham.
Alborosie & Shengen Clan
20 March // Anson Rooms
Alborosie is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, engineer and a dynamic talent in the contemporary reggae scene.
Bristol International Jazz & Blues Festival
22-24 March // Anson Rooms
Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival are back! For the seventh edition, Bristol International Jazz & Blues Festival will be taking over St George’s, the Anson Rooms, and O2 with a programme of jazz and blues from Europe, US and the UK. From swing to funk, bebop to blues, Gypsy jazz to gospel, soul to rock ‘n roll, Bristol Jazz & Blues Festival never fails to surprise and delight music lovers.
Elles Bailey
22 March // Anson Rooms : Winston Theatre
They say you get a lifetime to write your first album, then the blink of an eye to make your second. Elles Bailey wins either way and now stands poised to follow her debut hit album Wildfire with Road I Call Home out March 8th 2019. The album’s first single, Medicine Man, dropped in Nov 2018, charting to No.1 in the iTunes Blues Charts, as well as being added to the Nu Blue playlist on Spotify! Medicine Man also peaked at No.7 in the Amazon Blues Charts and No.2 on their Hot New Releases. The single is also getting Radio 2 support from Cerys Matthews.
Soft Machine
22 March // Anson Rooms
As part of the Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival the legendary jazz-rock band Soft Machine will take to the stage in the Anson Rooms. With sounds spanning powerful progressive jazz fusion to atmospheric psychedelia and free improvised jazz-rock Soft Machine will deliver an evening of unique and totally contemporary music.
Hannah Williams and the Affirmations
22 March // Anson Rooms
Darlings of the soul scene Hannah Williams and the Affirmations will be joining us as part of the Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival. Described as the “Stomp-your-feet and clap-your-hands type of soul music that lit up the 60s and 70s” this is one not to be missed.
Little Swing
23 March // Anson Rooms: The Pegg Theatre
Family Swing Dancing! Join swing dance band Paper Moon fronted by jazz singer Lucy Moon for a toe tapping, leg wiggling and finger clicking workshop for families with children aged 5-11.
The Bristol Bluesmen
23 March // Anson Rooms
In a unique collaboration for the Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival, six of the South West’s premier blues players will recreate the sounds of an era that saw the blues explode into the mainstream, bringing the electric guitar to the fore and changing the face of popular music forever.
Rebecca Nash
23 March // Anson Rooms: The Winston Theatre
Exciting new British band ATLAS, led by pianist Rebecca Nash, bring a fresh sound to the UK music scene and will be joining us for Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival
In Conversation with Pee Wee Ellis
23 March // Anson Rooms: The Pegg Theatre
Pee Wee will take you on a trip through his musical life and times with the likes of James Brown and Van Morrison along with a rare glimpse into the musical genius that have kept him at the top of his game for over 50 years.
Dennis Rollins - The ‘Funky Horns’ Masterclass
23 March // Anson Rooms: The Pegg Theatre
Open to all brass and woodwind players interested in making their horn section performances more dynamic.
Ant Law Trio
23 March // Anson Rooms: The Winston Theatre
Described as “An innovator” and “A game changer” by The Guardian, British guitarist Ant lives in London and leads his quintet “An exciting band to hear live” John Fordham.
Kirk Fletcher Trio
23 March // Anson Rooms
Described by Joe Bonamassa as “one of the greatest blues guitarists in the world today” Fletcher is one of a new generation of young African-American blues artists. He will be performing in Bristol as part of an increased, by popular demand, blues programme
Kirk Fletcher - The Blues and Beyond Masterclass
23 March // Anson Rooms: The Pegg Theatre
Kirk will demonstrate how he negotiates the blues with his own brand of scale choice, passing tones and substitutions. Feel free to bring your guitars along but, no amps please.
Julian Siegel
23 March // Anson Rooms: The Winston Theatre
With the Julian Siegel Quartet, the BBC Jazz Award winning saxophonist and composer Julian Siegel has chosen to work with some of this generation’s most distinctive voices to create an in-demand Quartet on the UK and European Jazz scene.
Ray Gelato & The Giants
23 March // Anson Rooms
The legendary ‘Godfather of Swing’ and his world class band The Giants deliver a high energy, footstompin’ show that never fails to get a crowd on its feet and leaves them feeling uplifted and inspired.
Yazz Ahmed
23 March // Anson Rooms: The Winston Theatre
Her music, through which she seeks to blur the lines between jazz, electronic sound design and the music of her mixed heritage, has been described as ‘psychedelic Arabic jazz, intoxicating and compelling’.
The Big Swing feat: Jonny Bruce Big Band
23 March // Anson Rooms
Dust off your dancing shoes because Bristol’s biggest swing dance is back! With music from the 16-piece Jonny Bruce Big Band playing authentic and classic arrangements from the swing era of the 30’s and 40’s.
Little Swing
24 March // Anson Rooms: The Pegg Theatre
Family Swing Dancing! Join swing dance band Paper Moon fronted by jazz singer Lucy Moon for a toe tapping, leg wiggling and finger clicking workshop for families with children aged 5-11.
Liane Carroll - Jazz Vocal Workshop
24 March // Anson Rooms: The Pegg Theatre
Explore all aspects of jazz singing with multi-award winning vocalist Liane Carroll. Phrasing, dynamics, melody, lyrics and stagecraft will all be explored in this interactive workshop.
Josh Smith Trio
24 March // Anson Rooms
One of the greatest blues guitarists/vocalists on the scene today Josh Smith, even at 14 years old, was “three heartbreaks away from being a true blues genius” by Jimmy Thackery. Several years and several albums later, Smith fulfils that prophecy night after night. See for yourselves with this rare UK visit when Josh and his power trio will raise the roof!
Andy Hague Sextet play Kind of Blue
24 March // Anson Rooms: The Winston Theatre
Hear one of jazz’s most important works played live by a band of Bristol jazz greats! Stalwart Bristol trumpeter/composer Andy Hague leads a stellar cast of local legends through a complete track-by-track re-interpretation of the 1959 Miles Davis classic Kind Of Blue.
Josh Smith - Blistering Blues Guitar Masterclass
24 March // Anson Rooms: The Pegg Theatre
Josh will talk about his life, his music and influences and will discuss and demonstrate how he developed his amazing guitar technique. This masterclass also includes a Q&A. Feel free to bring your guitars along but, no amps please.
Ian Siegal
24 March // Anson Rooms
In 2019 Ian will tour an unplugged presentation of songs from his latest album All The Rage including a beautifully adapted acoustic version of the soul stunner, Sweet Souvenir. Classic Rock tags Siegal “a national treasure,” America’s blues bible “vast talent” and MOJO magazine ranks him “the cleverest writer and most magnetic blues performer in the UK.”
Elftet
24 March // Anson Rooms: The Winston Theatre
Share Jonny Mansfield’s Elftet was formed in September 2015. They have performed around the UK and have been played on BBC Radio 3 and WBGO (New York jazz station).
Jam It! (Workshop) - with Red Roots Jazz
24 March // Anson Rooms : The Pegg Theatre
The workshop will include useful tips and tricks to use when improvising and jamming with a new group of musicians and will also explore issues around gender in jazz.
Aynsley Lister
24 March // Anson Rooms
Award-winning blues-rock aficionado Aynsley Lister continues his ‘Eyes Wide Open Tour’ following the release of his eighth studio album, released on October 7 2016 on Straight Talkin’ Records.
Dennis Rollins' Funky-Funk
24 March // Anson Rooms : Winston Theatre
Fresh from the Maceo Parker ‘School of Funk’, Dennis joins an elite lineage of trombone players responsible for changing it’s perceptions.
Lucky Peterson
24 March // Anson Rooms
With over 30 albums to his name since his debut in 1969, Peterson is one of the genres true living legends. A rare visit to the UK, and Bristol in particular, is highly anticipated.
Soweto Kinch
24 March // Anson Rooms: The Winston Theatre
Multi-Award winning saxophonist and MC, Kinch has made huge impression in both the jazz and hip-hop community. Now he's coming to Bristol as part of the Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival
Proper Jokes Comedy Club
28 March // Anson Rooms Bar
The Proper Jokes Comedy Club continues with our March showcase! Join us in the Anson Rooms Bar for a jam packed night of comedy courtesy of Tom Lucy, Njambi McGrath & Kae Kurd!
Mo Amer & Guz Khan
06 April // Anson Rooms
Mo Amer & Guz Khan join forces to tour the UK!
Lefty Scum: Josie Long/ Grace Petrie/ Jonny & The Baptists
09 April // Anson Rooms
Music! Comedy! Revolutionary socialism! Following sell-out tours in 2017 and 2018, Lefty Scum are back on the road for another year: limited dates only, early booking essential.
Tommy Tiernan: Paddy Crazy Horse
12 April // Anson Rooms
Back on the road again Tommy Tiernan has a new show, Paddy Crazy Horse. He rants and raves, he dances and acts. He tries to be very silly and very serious at the same time.
Jay Foreman
19 April // Winston Theatre
Jay Foreman provides a devilishly cheeky hour of songs, poems and comedy for children of all ages in this family friendly show which regularly sells out its entire runs at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Lost Voice Guy : I'm Only In It For The Parking
19 April // Anson Rooms
Following the unprecedented success of his appearance on the final of Britain’s Got Talent 2018, BBC New Comedy Award winner and star and writer of BBC Radio 4’s comedy series, Ability, Lee Ridley (aka Lost Voice Guy) is setting out on a tour of the UK
Morgan & West
20 April // Winston Theatre
Time travelling magicians Morgan & West present a jaw dropping, heart stopping, brain busting, opinion adjusting, death defying, mind frying, spirit lifting, paradigm shifting, outlook changing, furniture rearranging magic extravaganza!
Idlewild
20 April // Anson Rooms
Having taken a break in 2010 (the previous fifteen years seeing them turn from raucous cult curiosity to chart bothering national treasures) Friendship and the bind of their creativity brought Idlewild back together for 2015’s Everything Ever Written.
Midge Ure
4 May // Anson Rooms
Midge Ure with support from India Electric Company
Reginald D Hunter - Facing The Beast
9 May // Anson Rooms
Celebrating his twentieth anniversary as a comedian living and performing in the UK, Reginald D Hunter sets out on a forty date tour of the UK and Ireland in 2019 with his highly anticipated new show.
Dan Cruickshank: The Road To Palmyra
11 May // Anson Rooms
Earlier this year Dan Cruickshank embarked upon a perilous journey to Syria, in order to discover what had happened to the ancient city of Palmyra during the three years of Islamic State control. The aim was to not only assess the destruction but to reveal the human suffering of those who died protecting the ancient city and its history.
The Noise Next Door At Sea
06 July // Winston Theatre
The Noise Next Door are the U.K’s premier improv comedy troupe who have taken the comedy world by storm. The boys are back and will once again be delighting family audiences with a shiny new family show THE NOISE NEXT DOOR AT SEA!
The Noise Next Door - Remix!!!
06 July // Winston Theatre
The Noise Next Door are the U.K’s premier improv comedy troupe who have taken the comedy world by storm. The boys are back with a brand spanking new, full length adult evening show The Noise Next Door – REMIX!!!
Hawkwind: 50th Anniversary Tour
19 November // Anson Rooms
Hawkwind have announced a 50th Anniversary tour to accompany their concert at the world famous Royal Albert Hall, London in November. The legendary pioneers of space rock will be performing across the UK in celebration of half a century of their musical journey so far.
Ardal O'Hanlon: The Showing Off Must Go On
6 December 2019 // Anson Rooms
Ardal O’Hanlon, star of Death in Paradise, Father Ted, and My Hero (BBC), continues to tour his acclaimed stand-up shows worldwide. Because he loves it. And it’s a compulsion. And the world is a funny place.
