Understory Workshop. Photo credit: Alastair Brookes/KoLAB Studios

In Oct 2023 we collaborated with Onion Collective to deliver 'Understory' - an interactive workshop in which participants collectively create a digital map of social connections within the local community. The workshop, which took around 1.5hrs, was hosted by Georgie from Onion Collective.

We invited a wide range of local cross-sector organisations to participate in the workshop. Organisations represented ranged from those who are known to us to many had not connected to Trinity but are working within the local community. These included statutory services, Grassroots and DIY networks as well as community activists who are working in areas including health, activism, human rights and education.

During the workshop, the group answered a series of questions that created, in real-time, an interactive map projected throughout the session. The map, accessible to organisations who have taken part in the workshop will be an invaluable tool to help inform our plans as we go forward, and for all the other organisations who participated too.

Following the session, we hosted an informal networking opportunity which allowed people, many of whom had not connected with each other before, to meet and connect. In total, 63 people took part representing 38 organisations.

We will be hosting a follow-up for anyone who came along and people who were named on the map (and did not attend) so they can add to and build up the network.

This workshop is part of our wider commitment to working with our local community to create a relevant and responsive cultural offer. You can find out more about this vision here.

Classes will run from 5:15pm - 6:45pm on:

• Wednesday 01 November
• Wednesday 08 November - cancelled
• Wednesday 15 November
• Wednesday 22 November
• Wednesday 29 November
• Wednesday 13 December

Julia has worked extensively in dance over the past 30 years She trained at the Laban Centre and received an MA in Creative Producing from UWE. Julia is the Artistic Director of Julia Thorneycroft Dance. Under the umbrella of JTD, she has devised and produced many funded projects including Full Bloom, a festival of dance for and by older people. This project developed from working with older Bristol residents to set up Gerry’s Attic Dance, a performance company for over-55’s in partnership with Trinity Arts Julia is currently working with Untold Dance Theatre. Having toured with the company as a performer for Woman Wise and Ties that Bind, Julia recently co-directed the companies new show On the Inside which toured in 2022.

Over 25 mutual aid and campaign organisations from across the South West are coming together in the warmth of the Trinity Centre, for an afternoon of stalls, big ideas and chat focused on the intersections of migrant justice and climate justice.

Including:

Know Your Rights Update – what to expect in the post Police and Crime Bill Landscape

The Impact of Seasonal Worker Visas - with the Landworker's Alliance

Freedom of movement, a practical solution - with No Borders in Climate Justice

Big biofuels 101 - with the Stop Burning Trees Coalition

Subvertising as a campaign tool - with Adblock

The Tech Clinic – free bespoke answers from activist tech professionals

Bike Maintenance - with folks from BASE Bikes

How to Stop an Immigration Raid - with the Anti Raids Network

Rural Organising - a skillshare for small town activists

Making Herbal Medicines - with Herbalists Without Borders

Please see full rundown of workshops and activities here

A Lecture with Elijah: Building off his Yellow Square practice, Elijah’s thoughts and ideas have evolved into an educational and motivational hub for artists and creatives. He will speak to taking a hold of your creativity and passion for music, and how this can serve as a solid foundation to build out your creative practice.

The Studio Masterclasses with LCY and Mantra: Two masterclasses led by two prolific figures in UK club music; both DJ’s, producers and label bosses, LCY and Mantra have paved their own way.. These will be two, in-depth, intimate and hands-on studio sessions focusing on production techniques, different processes, creating their own sound & live track breakdowns.

*Masterclasses are suitable for those with an intermediate skill set, who have familiarity with production so they can use this session to strengthen and interrogate their own practice *

We want to encourage those in attendance to innovate and utilise tools taught by those with experience in the industry, with the view to using it as guidance towards taking the creative next step.

The day at Trinity will run from 12:00 - 18:00. There will be a networking hour with refreshments from 12:00 - 13:00 to connect and chat with others, and to prepare for the day ahead.

A Lecture with Elijah: 13:00 - 14:30

Studio Masterclass with LCY: 16:30 - 18:00

Studio Masterclass with Mantra: 14:30 - 16:00

Please note the studio masterclass capacity is very limited so we are prioritising attendees from colleges and schools around Bristol. However, the Lecture with Elijah is open publicly but will operate on a first come/first served basis on the day.

Waldo’s Gift is the result of three like-minded musicians that have been given the time and space to go towards true sonic representation of themselves. Their sound hurtles from the sophistication of Jazz, through to the most cutting edge experimental electronic music – all with the unhinged energy of the most powerful rock and metal. They are quickly establishing themselves as one of the most exciting new jazz acts in the UK today. Their debut studio EPs, recorded and released during the pandemic, gained wide support from tastemakers across BBC Radio 1 and 6Music, while their lockdown live sessions racked up big numbers online, both of which have earned them a fervent following internationally. After a string of one off shows, Waldo’s Gift return to their live roots and finally embark on their debut headline tour in early 2024, promising a wealth of new music alongside established tracks from their first 2 EPs. All designed to be experienced live.

+ support: Bethany Ley & Moral Fibre will be joining forces to bring together a mixture of songs, and improvised electronics for an exclusive one-off performance.

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

Please head to strangebrewbristol.com for more info

Strange Brew: 10-12 Fairfax St, Bristol BS1 3DB

About Trinity Presents:

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

He has 400 million streams while still yet to release his debut album. Kamal has been co-signed by the likes of Dua Lipa, Dave and Billie Eilish. Influenced by the likes of Radiohead and Sade, he occupies a unique space between both R&B, pop alternative music. In 2021 he was nominated for a prestigious Ivor Novello award with GQ dubbing him a ‘teen prodigy turned Britain’s king of bedroom Pop’. This summer he featured on the Central Cee and Dave Split Decision EP as the sole feature, and released his second EP ‘So here you are, drowning’

+ support: Leonie Biney

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

Last entry 2 hours before curfew

The band is composed of lead singer and guitarist Izzy Baxter Phillips, guitarist Chris Ostler, bassist Tommy Taylor, and drummer Alex Woodward. Fantasy and escapism are a well and good, but what happens when you strap in, buckle up and set a course straight to the core of your own cold, hard reality? For 2 albums, the band has been living in a glitter-specked, sepia-tinged magic kingdom of their own making. They have amassed a legion of fans to their constantly shifting canon of fizzing, visceral indie and nostalgia-soaked pop; In the past year alone they have supported Liam Gallagher, The libertines, IDLES, The Vaccines and more.

+ support: Picture Parlour and Kynsy

Doors: 7pm

Kynsy: 7.45pm

Picture Parlour: 8.15pm

Black Honey: 9.30pm

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

Last entry 2 hours before curfew

Kabaka Pyramid 2023. Photo credit: Khali Ackford

We are introducing a £1 Restoration Levy on every event ticket sold. This income will be used to create a dedicated fund for critical building works that will protect and maintain the Trinity Centre, a Grade II* Listed building and the grounds.

In Sept 2023, Music Venue Trust announced the UK is set to lose 10% of its independent venues by the end of the year. Like many grassroots music venues and arts centres across the country, Trinity faces unprecedented challenges due to the cost-of-living crisis, rising overheads and ongoing upkeep as a Grade II* Listed converted former-church.

The Trinity Centre is a space for a diverse multidisciplinary arts programme for over 73,000 people every year. Since the building has been in our guardianship, we have raised and spent over £3m in its restoration, to improve accessibility, maintain and enhance this vital community asset and invest in green energy solutions to reduce our carbon footprint.

As a registered charity, this Restoration Levy will be treated as a restricted heritage fund that will be dedicated to fulfilling our charitable mission, to preserve, protect and improve for the public benefit the Trinity Centre, formerly the Holy Trinity Church, and promote the heritage of this building.

Our aim is to continue to provide a vibrant hub where today’s and tomorrow's generations can find joy in unforgettable concerts, electrifying club nights, community gatherings and immersive, impactful experiences. Your support through the Restoration Levy will help us to continue this legacy, helping us to raise over £40,000 each year, to:

Maintain and improve the Centre: In a typical year, we spend over £100,000 on maintenance, repairs and facilities management and our 2022 conservation survey estimates over £400,000 additional repair works will need to be delivered over the next decade. This Levy will help us to ensure our doors can remain open now and for future generations.

Improve accessibility: As a locally rooted community arts centre, we are committed to ensuring our activities are accessible. These efforts have been recognised by the Attiute is Everything Bronze Award and we continue to strive to remove barriers to taking part to ensure everyone has access to great arts and cultural experiences.

Enhance sustainability: We have installed solar panels and LED lighting to reduce running costs and carbon emissions and will continue to work to improve the efficiency of the building and ensure that our programme for the people comes not at the expense of the planet.

Thank you for being part of the journey.

Joining hosts Oliver Assets and Fluxx Wyldly under the tree will be:
- The jovial Gender Criminal!
- The effervescent Ernest!
- + More TBA

Tickets:

General Release tickets are £13 + bf, or £8 + bf for concessions of any reason. Tickets are £5 + bf for People of Colour who are also Queer or Trans or Intersex (QTIPOC). There is no limit placed on how many tickets we sell from each category individually. Any remaining tickets will be sold for £15 on the door, but please note that if we sell out in advance no tickets will be kept back for the door.

What is Brizzle Boyz?

The South West's premier queer punk drag king cabaret night and one of the largest king nights in the UK, Brizzle Boyz is an electrifying LGBTQIAAP+ variety performance night. A true melting pot of local and national talent, Brizzle Boyz brings together a carefully curated line up of some of the best and boldest drag performers in the country. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll leave wanting a glittery moustache!

Safer policy and content warnings:

Brizzle Boyz is an LGBTQIAAP+ event and we aim to promote a welcoming space for all that attend. There will be a programme on the night to alert attendees to which acts contain potentially upsetting or controversial subject matter. This can be accessed in advance on the day of the show by our digital programme at linktr.ee/brizzleboyz. If you have any concerns on the night please find either Fluxx, Oliver, Kurt, or the person who checked your ticket and let us know so we can help you. The line up is subject to changes.

For more information about accessibility, please click here or go to Brizzle Boyz Facebook page.

She first exploded on to the national protest scene in 2012, with the emotive anthem Farewell to Welfare, which captured perfectly the spirit of the new wave of dissent in austerity Britain. Since then, she has written, recorded and toured relentlessly. Her unique takes on life, love and politics, and the warmth and wit with which they are delivered, have won over audiences everywhere. She has quietly become one of the most respected and prolific songwriters working in the Uk today.

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

Last entry: 2 hours before curfew

They were formed by brothers Jan and Hamilton Wilkinson in 2001 along with Mathew Wood on drums and Martin Noble on guitar. Releasing their debut album “The Decline Of” in 2003 on Rough trade records, the band garnered a legendary live reputation as well as much critical and commercial success. 2022 saw Sea power at the peak of their creativity releasing the album “Everything was forever” which also included songs originally used in the Disco Elysium soundtrack. It received much praise and found its way on to many top albums of the year list.

+ support: Callum Easter has always been a force of nature. The Edinburgh-based singer and multi-instrumentalist thrives on impulse and spontaneity, balancing that with an impeccable song writing craftsmanship that makes even the more outré moments of his current batch of mutated soul punk/rock‘n’roll instantly arresting.

1900: doors

2000: Callum Easter

2100: Sea Power

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

Last entry: 2 hours before curfew

Jalen Ngonda is an east coast American singer-songwriter based in Liverpool.

He is one of the most captivating performers on today’s soul scene. His voice, equal parts raw feeling and elegance, exudes confidence and charm. Jalen grew up in a music loving family on the outskirts of Washington D.C. He began musical studies in grade school, where he dabbled in violin, ultimately moving on to the guitar and piano. His inspiration came from listening to his father’s collection, guiding him along a path of constant study and discovery, from early blues to gospel to jazz to rock and soul.

+ Support: Olive Jones is a London-based singer, songwriter and guitarist, Olive Jones draws on soul, jazz and rock-folk to produce her sumptuous melody driven music.

7pm: Doors

8pm: Olive Jones

9pm: Jalen Ngonda

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

Last entry: 2 hours before curfew

Gerry's Attic - Image Credit: Alastair Brookes

This World Mental Health Day, we are shining a light on some of the activities at Trinity that are specifically programmed to offer support and help improve mental wellbeing.

Next Gen Sounds

Our weekly, drop-in music sessions for young people, Next-Gen Sounds, serves as both a place for young people to collaborate on their musical projects in Trinity’s music studio, but also acts as a safe space for young people to seek support and engage with musicians as a way of improving mental wellbeing. Supported by Bristol-based Mental Health charity ‘Off The Record’, Next-Gen Sounds has played a vital role in supporting young musicians – many of whom are from challenging circumstances – by harnessing the transformative potential of creativity to enhance their mental and emotional resilience.

Community Volunteer Gardening

Trinity's fortnightly Community Volunteer Gardening sessions are relaxed, informal, practical gardening sessions to support the Trinity Community Garden's maintenance and upkeep. Gardening is known to have a profoundly positive impact on mental health and wellbeing. The act of nurturing plants and witnessing their growth fosters a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Gardening encourages mindfulness, reducing stress and anxiety while promoting relaxation. Trinity's Community Volunteer Gardening sessions are very important to people living in the local area, many of whom live in high-rise flats and therefore may not have access to green space of their own, and without Trinity's Community Garden may not gain the positive effects that gardening has on improving mental health and wellbeing.

FAB Disco

FAB Disco is a disco for anyone over the age of 50, delivered in partnership Friends Ageing Better (FAB) and Eastside Community Trust. Isolation and loneliness are all too common among older people, and FAB Disco offers a space for people to socialise, listen to music, and dance together, all of which are proven to have a positive impact on mental health. Music can significantly enhance the mental health of older people by offering emotional support, triggering positive memories, and promoting relaxation. It fosters social connections, reduces stress, and provides an avenue for self-expression, contributing to improved emotional well-being, cognitive function, and overall quality of life.

Creative Wellbeing Workshops

At Trinity, we run Creative Wellbeing Workshops in collaboration with Age UK and Alive Activities. These workshops are a safe and welcoming space for people to take part in arts and crafts activities and to learn more about ways to look after themselves and relax. The sessions are aimed at bringing together individuals from different cultures within the community to explore and share their emotions in a creative and fun way. Using different art materials to express emotion acts as a valuable means of expressing and connecting with emotions, and engaging in this process in the company of other people from the local community can provide the opportunity to increase our understanding of and empathy for each other