This month, Trinity have invited lighting and sound specialists NSL to give an introduction to career paths in the live events industry, what types of jobs are available and what it's like to work in events, followed by Q&A and a hands-on demo of some live lighting equipment.

Although there is no charge to attend and no tickets are required, we do ask that you sign up for attendance tracking purposes.

Edinburgh meets Sheffield, as this Northern link up brings two of the UK's heavy weight sound systems together for the first time, arranged in a 4-point quad stack system arrangement. They are bringing all of their secret Dj's down into the dance floor level - true sound system style.

With 5 back-to-back sell out Wall of Bass shows which have been tearing down Bristol, you can expect this bank friendly dance to see you through this November.

Ear plugs advised

Please note this is a standing event

Cross Body Salsa On1&On2, Bachata, Kizomba, Cuban Salsa, Cha Cha, Pachanga, Latin Jazz, Musicality, Boogaloo, Dips and Tricks, Leading and Following Technique.

The workshops are designed for all levels - from beginner to advanced. Beginners will be able to get the right knowledge from instructors who have taught for years in different countries, but above all, they will understand all the techniques and tips necessary to get ready for the world of dance.

Line up includes

• Bristols Salsa Orchestra and
• On Sunday a very special guest

giving you the best dancing experience!

The Finale of the Sabar Family Workshop Series.
The BIGGEST celebration of African Diasporic Music & Dance / Bristol 2022
All Weekend

• Uniting over 25 artists from Africa and the wider African Diaspora
Senegal / Guinea / Ghana / Nigeria / Brazil and More

• Explore our Dance Workshops and Live Performances
Sabar / Djembe / Afro-Brazilian / AfriCaribbean / Contemporary / Afrobeats

• African Food & Crafts Stalls

Saturday Performance Evening & Party
• 7pm: Live Music & Dance Performance
• 9pm – Late: West African Drum & Dance Circle – aka Tanneber
DJ playing the best of Mbalax / Afrobeats / Amapiano / Soca and More

Early Birds £10 / More on the Door

This month, Trinity have invited Bristol-based emerging producer, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist t l k, joined by treasured live collaborators James Storm Otieno and Liam Twohig to deliver November's Music Masterclass. The group unravel their pathways to early careers in music, share their practice of translating t l k's recorded music from Ableton to the live stage, and reflect on their learnings as artists within an ever evolving music industry. They will also share the importance of improvisation to the music they play, holding a group workshop on listening and inviting participants to play together as a unit.

Although there is no charge to attend and no tickets are required, we do ask that you sign up for attendance tracking purposes.

An open evening to discuss how the work affects you, your relationship with photography and what taking photographs mean to you. Afrika Eye will be looking at rights of representation, questions of identity, and how images can take us to new and unknown spaces, opening up other worlds.

General Release Tickets £5

Doors 5:30pm

Start: 6pm

Event finishes: 7:15pm

Afrika Eye is South West of England’s biggest celebration of African cinema and culture. We present the 16th edition of the festival this year from the 7 - 17 November with a 11-day programme featuring new and classic films, street art, spoken word, dance, music, food and photography at city-wide venues! See the full programme here.

Ishmael Ensemble - Credit: Khali Ackford

We spoke to Pete Cunningham of Ishmael Ensemble ahead of their headline show at Trinity on 10 Nov as part of our in-house music programme Trinity Presents, to chat about the benefits of collaboration, Bristol's music scene, and what's next for Ishmael Ensemble.

Can you tell us a little about how Ishmael Ensemble formed?

I started the project in 2017 having spent years making more traditional sample based electronic music & feeling uninspired by the process so I started recording & sampling the wealth of musicians & vocalists around me in the Bristol scene. It was so refreshing to take things back to the source as well as push myself as a musician. It soon became a live band & the rest is history…

What have been your highlights of 2022?

Without doubt playing the West Holts stage at Glastonbury, I’ve been going since I was a kid & although I’ve played there before this felt like a real bucket list moment. Everyone brought their A-game & I couldn’t be happier with how the show went.

Aside from Glastonbury, we’ve been playing main stages at other festivals as well, it feels like we can finally present the project as I’ve always imagined it. I’ve definitely found a hunger to really hone the live show and dial everything in performance wise. I can’t wait to share what we’ve been up to since then.

It’s also been great to get back in the studio & work on new music.

Collaboration is clearly an important part of Ishmael Ensemble's musical identity - what benefits do you think collaborating with a range of artists provides?

It’s just a great way of staying inspired, it’s amazing to witness how different everyone’s approach to music making is. I’ve learnt so much & made some great friends through the process.

The Trinity show is going to be special as we’re able to invite pretty much all the vocalists & musicians I’ve worked with over the years. A real celebration of the project as a whole.

In your opinion, what makes the music scene in Bristol so special?

I think it’s big enough to attract a large amount of creative people but small enough for everyone to get to know each other. You can go to the pub & the rooms full of people doing interesting stuff & chances are you know most of them (& if you don’t yet, you will soon). It’s also a super-supportive community. Everyone goes to each other’s gigs & sings each other’s praises - there’s no room for inflated egos here.

What should the audience expect from your performance at Trinity?

It’s going to be a one off that’s for sure - it’s our largest headline show so we’ll be playing a super special extended set with loads of special guests joining us on stage as well as the amazing Jelly Cleaver on support.

I also feel we’re playing the best we ever have. It’s been great to really focus on the live show this year, upping the production & just getting the overall live sound & visual aesthetic right.

What's next for Ishmael Ensemble?

There’s lots of new music in the pipeline, some of which we’ll be debuting at Trinity. There’s lots of other exciting stuff but you’ll just have to wait and see for now!

Ishmael Ensemble will play Trinity on 10 Nov as part of Trinity Presents, our in-house programme of music and arts. Click here to get your tickets.

As part of our in house programme, Trinity Presents we welcome Gardna (Fr 14 Oct) who will be joining forces legendary reggae and punk veteran Don Letts.

Trinity's history has long been part of the cultural crossover of punk and reggae scenes which emerged in the late 1970s. Letts was instrumental in introducing reggae and dub sounds to the punk scene at the time. Given this rich history that we both share, we wanted to reflect on some of the key moments in Don Letts career.

• Don Letts was deeply inspired by the roots reggae from his parents' homeland in Jamaica, in particular the anti-establishment message of Bob Marley. After seeing Marley play the Odeon in Hammersmith in 1976, Letts snuck into Marley's hotel room and spent the night talking and befriending him.

"By 1977, the white teenage youths in London were looking for a new soundtrack and punk rock exploded on the scene. Problem was, this was so early in the scene, there were no punk records to play. So I'm spinning what I like, heavy dub reggae, and the punks were loving it. They dug the whole anti-establishment rebel vibe" - Don Letts

• During the 1970s, Don Letts rose to prominence as a resident DJ of The Roxy, a nightclub in London's Covent Garden. While The Roxy was known for being a hub for the punk scene that was growing in popularity at the time, Letts' sets at the venue featured mostly dub and reggae records.

• Letts recognised the natural similarities between punk and reggae, particularly in their shared, anti-establishment message, creating a crossover between the two cultures. Bands like The Clash were one of the first groups to incorporate elements of reggae music into their sound, seen most clearly through their cover of Junior Murvin's 1976 classic 'Police and Thieves'.

• Developing close relationships with punk bands such as Sex Pistols and The Clash led Letts onto creating films based around the punk scene at the time. Letts became the unofficial documenter of the scene, creating 'The Punk Rock Movie', mostly compiled from Super 8mm footage shot of live performances at The Roxy.

• Since then, Letts has gone on to direct over 300 music videos for a range of artists including Bob Marley, The Psychedelic Furs, Elvis Costello and long-time collaborators The Clash.

• Don Letts' life story was recently told in a documentary 'Rebel Dread', released earlier in 2022, featuring extensive footage from Lett's personal archive of videos.

Letts has continued to DJ throughout his career, and has been a regular feature on lineups across Bristol and the West. Don Letts will join Gardna at Trinity on 14 Oct for Trinity Presents: Gardna + Friends. Make sure to head down to catch this legend of the UK music scene (and his extensive vinyl collection) in action. Click here to get your tickets.

About Trinity Presents:

Gardna + Friends is part of Trinity Presents - our in-house programme of music, bringing world-class artists and emerging talent to inner-city audiences.

This year’s programme combines urgent contemporary political subjects with an eclectic mix of archive gems, including a revisit to the successful campaign against Margaret’s Thatcher’s Poll Tax, Eric Cantona’s celebration of politically militant footballers, struggles against gentrification in contemporary Marseille, and a resistance/revenge thriller set in 19th Century Ireland.

Friday 21 Oct

From 2016 to the end of 2019, Place Jean Jaurès in Marseille was the scene of a tumultuous battle, and the setting for The Battle of La Plaine. On one side, the town hall were determined to carry out an extensive program of “requalification” of the district, On the other, the local community considering it a gentrification operation, decided to resist. The film, refusing to be a story of defeat, tells of an exciting subversive campaign opposing the moves and arguing that “another city is possible”

Saturday 22 Oct

A festival highlight on Saturday evening is Black ’47. Set in 19th century Ireland during the Great Potato Famine, the drama follows an Irish Ranger who has been fighting for the British Army in Afghanistan. Abandoning his post, he returns home to find the destruction of his homeland and the brutalisation of his people and his family. Part history lesson, part revenge western, Black ‘47 is a brilliant and rare film about an especially dark moment in British and Irish history.

Two film shorts focus on the situation of Asylum seekers in Europe. Shelter: Farewell to Eden featuring the journey of trans migrant Pepsi, is both a very personal story of survival in the face of abuse and discrimination and revealing of the wider obstacles facing refugees struggling for a better life in Europe. Nothing About Us Without Us, is made by asylum seekers in Greece telling their own stories and creating counter-images to mainstream media's stereotypical representations.

The International Short Films Submissions showcases the new work of radical film makers from around the world. A trip into the past is scheduled in British Radical Newsreels of the early 20th Century to introduce and explore some of the first campaigning films made by activists in Britain alongside a discussion of videomaking today.

Factory to the Workers tells the inside story of the Croatian workers who challenged the dominant economic narrative with their self-owned cooperative . After a decade, the same question remains: can a factory in the hands of workers survive at the periphery of capitalism, or do we need a bigger dream?

Gardna - Image Credit: Khali Ackford

Ahead of Gardna's headline show at Trinity on the 14 Oct, we sat down with the man himself to chat humble beginnings, highlights from 2022, and what makes Bristol such a special city to perform in.

Trinity are collaborating with Gardna as part of Trinity Presents, our in-house programme celebrating our diverse city and platforming emerging talent.

Can you tell us a little about the origins of Gardna?

This question immediately took me back to being a young wild and free G Man aged 13, I'd always be blue toothing grime riddims to my mateys on my flip up Sony Ericson phone outside the local skatepark standardly. Then bars became a hobby then it became something more serious, making tracks regularly so on and so forth, then gigs, hundreds of free gigs, and then yeah I haven't really stopped since.

How's 2022 been for you so far? Any particular highlights?

It's been absolutely crazy to be quite honest. The albums done alright, my tune R.A.V.E.A.S.A.P has had over 100 plays on Radio 1, it's even been getting smashed out on the Breakfast Show, my tune is on the Playstation game FIFA 23, I am currently BBC Radio 1 Future Artist of the month this month? Tore up Glastonbury, opened Boomtown and did 30+ festivals. Toured America with Mungo's Hi Fi. Been on one this year mate.

How has your relationship with Trinity developed over the years?

I've been coming here for a while now. Loads of unreal nights here over the years, the venue and it's love for sound system music is unmatched in this city. Jamell has had my back and put me on for a few things at the venue including their legendary Garden Party. He believed in me to put on my headline show at Trinity, it's a big leap of faith, but its happening.

In your opinion, what makes Bristol such a special city to perform in?

Bristol is Bristol innit. We know what we're doing here in this city. No messing about. There's really no place like home.

The lineup for your event at Trinity is quite something - how did you choose who to include?

First and foremost, I'm just a massive fan of everyone playing at this event. I've booked them to be there because they're flippin great and they know how to really work the dancefloor in true Gardna & Friends style and flavour. Whether I've met them this year, or we've known each other our whole teenage lives - this line up is my musical family and it's a representation of emerging artists, long time collaborators, Radio 1 DJs and absolute foundational legends. Everyone on this line up has in some way single-handedly changed the game for me at some point and I owe them ALL a pint. Or just a good gig in October.

What should the audience expect from your night at Trinity?

A celebration of the spectrum of sound system music. My biggest headline Gardna show to date. Amazing guests. Oh, and tears. There will be tears. And rum.

What's next for Gardna?

We have some banging R.A.V.E.A.S.A.P remixes and we're already deeply in the zone writing my next album right now. Can't stop won't stop. See you in October gang.

Gardna + Friends will play Trinity on 14 Oct as part of Trinity Presents, our in-house programme of music and arts. Click here to get your tickets.

Tickets on sale Thursday 6th October 10am

General access – Last entry 11:30pm

Please note this is a standing event

It is time we unite because we are all connected and influenced by one another.

The team has a shared mission: to educate and experience the history and culture of West Africa, and how these rhythms and dances have been passed from Africa to the wider diaspora.

1-1.15: Introduction with Batch Gueye

1.15-2.45: Afrobrazilian Dance with Irineu Noguiera

3-4.15: Sabar Dance: Thieoboudienne Rhythm with Batch Gueye

4.30-6: Afrobrazilian-Sabar Fusion Dance with Irineu Noguiera and Batch Gueye

Live Drums with Dembis Thioung, Baye Ngom, Batch Gueye, Mac Dende, Jon Hardeman, Wagner Santos

Featuring huge effects show throughout the event with dancers, bubbles, confetti blasts, multi-coloured lasers and lighting, giant balloons, licensed bar, and face painting.

Line up:

• Nicky Blackmarket
• Dani Whylie
• Maddy V

Event Times:

• 12.30pm - 2.30pm
• 3pm - 5pm: SOLD OUT

Entry fees are as follows: under 18 months - free, 18 months to 12 years - child ticket, over 12 years - adult ticket

Terms and Info:

Strictly no adults admitted without a child (maximum 3 adults to 1 child)
Parents remain responsible for children at all times. Children must remain under adult supervision. We kindly request no running
Music is kept at safe levels at all time. Please note, it is still loud so, bring ear defenders if you wish. Ear plugs available to purchase at the bar
By attending, you give permission for Raver Tots to take photos and videos of the event for press purposes. If you wish to have photos of yourself/your child removed, please contact Raver Tot's via their Facebook page
Buggies are welcome but should be kept off the dance floor
No external food or drink permitted
Tickets are non-refundable and not to be resold

Ahead of their day party takeover at Trinity on 27 Aug, we sat down with Club Djembe co-founder Ryan Foster (DJ Stolen) to chat about the label's beginnings, thoughts on the Bristol music scene and what's next for Club Djembe.

Trinity are collaborating with Club Djembe as part of Trinity Presents, our in-house programme celebrating our diverse city and platforming emerging talent, to host a day party in The Den, our new seasonal outdoor venue situated in the historic grounds of Trinity.

How did Club Djembe start?

Ryan: Club Djembe started all through a lack of events within Bristol that were pushing & promoting our music. We were playing UK Funky, Afro House & a lot of percussion led music on radio but never heard/saw of anything happening within the clubs in Bristol, so myself (DJ Stolen) & Jake decided to launch Club Djembe. Luckily for us at the time Josie was working behind the bar at The Love Inn so we managed to throw our first party and it all kicked off from there back in 2017.

What do you think Club Djembe offers to the Bristol music scene?

We know for ourselves and hear from our community that it is hard to find these genres of music in the events scene. Consistency (which is always key), as we guarantee that no night will stray from the vibe and atmosphere that we like to create - we have an open the door attitude and welcome a variety of people/cultures We also want ticket prices and venues to be affordable and accessible for everyone. And mostly, which we are most proud of, is that we love to support and put on new artists, that's something that excites us the most.

What kinds of events do you think are missing from the Bristol club scene?

Bristol has pretty much been the epicentre for Drum & Bass in the UK for as long as I can remember. It’s really refreshing to see a few more nights popping up that are pushing and promoting the same kind of music as us, Amapiano, UK Funky, Afro House like Lockmars for example. However it would be good to see more of these across Bristol, I think a lot of would be promoters get afraid by the prospect of an event not going well, however the best events from our experience are the ones you put on through a love & passion for the music rather than focusing on the monetary side of events.

What's next for Club Djembe?

The remainder of 2022 is looking RAMMED for us can’t lie. We’re throwing our first proper London event in September which is going to be massive, it’s falling inline with the release of our next compilation, Club Djembe Vol. 3 which is also huge! We then have one more release to go for the year which is from one of our favourite Bristol producers and we also have three more Bristol events in the pipeline including a big Christmas knees up with another sick London/Bristol based promoter so keep your eyes firmly planted on Club Djembe socials over the next few months as we have a lot going on.

Club Djembe will be playing at Trinity's outdoor venue The Den on Sat Aug 27. Click here to grab your tickets.

Brooklyn based, Washington DC born, rapper Oddisee comes backed by his 5-piece band Good Company. Reflecting the rich, musical landscape of their hometown, Oddisee & Good Company bring a vibrant mixture of jazz, funk, go-go, gospel, hip-hop, and soul. This high energy and versatile group have a tight dynamic sound and with their killer guitarist, booming drums, and falsetto vocals they are a catchy and groovy bunch who humbly aim to be heard.

Oddisee's music draws inspiration from his youth, bearing witness to stark inequality as the sights and sounds of Washington DC surrounded him. Since then, he has used his own experiences to reflect on the greater state of humanity, in all its beauty and flaws.

Please note this is a standing event, accessible seating is available

Last entry: 2 hours before curfew