Arnolfini
Bristol primary exhibitions space also hosts music events.
Known for its gallery space and exhibitions, it's easy to forget that the Arnolfini also hosts some unique music events (1 or 2 a month). Technically the venue excels with its main auditorium boasting a high spec PA, large stage and quality lighting setup.
Unsurprisingly the Arnolfini's (music) programming bears strong links with Bristol's arts scene. While shows are diverse, alt-indie, folk and electronica bookings are undeniably prevalent. Past guests include Dirty Projectors, Polar Bear, Tunng and Tim Hecker.Considering the popularity of experimental, modern music amongst Bristol's art crowd it's worth nothing that such events are popular and frequently sell out well in advance.
Unsurprisingly the Arnolfini's (music) programming bears strong links with Bristol's arts scene. While shows are diverse, alt-indie, folk and electronica bookings are undeniably prevalent. Past guests include Dirty Projectors, Polar Bear, Tunng and Tim Hecker.Considering the popularity of experimental, modern music amongst Bristol's art crowd it's worth nothing that such events are popular and frequently sell out well in advance.
What's On At Arnolfini
Get a feel for Arnolfini
Our recent recommendations for Arnolfini
"Walk so silently that the bottoms of your feet become ears" so sayeth Pauline Oliveros, zen prophet of electric-acoustic composition and architect of deep listening and sonic awareness as consciousness expanding practice. This deep celebration of her work includes live re-interpretations by Bristol luminaries and a screening of the 2022 feature-length doc by Daniel Weintraub. Essential.
Performance and film celebrating the iconic composer, performer, teacher, philosopher, innovator and humanitarian.
Sell out warning! This is Baldwin as you’ve never seen him before – Words of Colour’s ‘Conversations With Baldwin’ festival comes to an unmissable close with a live cabaret mash-up of performances responding to the seminal 20th century author’s life, work and legacy.
It's the biggie! Poetry, dance and drag combine in this literature cabaret celebrating James Baldwin.
Exceptionally curated festival of boundary-pushing sonics from the South West Asia and North African diaspora including a rare performance of pieces by musique concrète pioneer Halim El-Dabh. Elsewhere FRKTL immerses you with her ethereal generative soundscapes and celebrated composer Hardi Kurda weaves dissonant avant-garde classical from experiences of illegal immigration.
Experimental music from South West Asia and North Africa
Multi-disciplinary sonic ritual devised to confound language and to usher in the darkness that follows the equinox (in true Nordic fashion). Featuring new work by Gavin Bryars, Caroline’s performance weaves spoken word, song, film and sound design into a powerful meditation on migration politics and ancient unities.
A performance for spoken and sung voices, electronics and multiple languages
Ever get the feeling like you’re talking to a computer? Well with Echoborg you are - a totally unique piece of AI-driven, audience participation, performance art - letting you laugh uneasily in the face of the singularity, with all your questions answered!
The 100th performance of this a funny, thought-provoking live show created afresh each time by the audience in conversation with an A.I.