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.

Keisha Thompson's Afrofuturistic Man on the Moon

Trinity’s new season of Theatre and Dance is all about celebrating change and features a strong cast of female led  performances - launching with Keisha Thompson’s Afro futuristic journey of displacement and family relationships, Man on the Moon (March 23) and Ella Mesma’s emotionally charged fusion of hip hop and latin dance, Ladylike (24 March).

Thompson’s Man on the Moon is a bruk down journey, through space and time, fuelled by love and fear. Using poetry, looped sounds and story-telling, Keisha’s intimate performance explores the Black British experience of mental health and how that can impact the family dynamic. While Ella’s Ladylike fuses Afro Cuban, Breaking, Rocking and Contemporary dance theatre to fight & undress preconceptions of what it is to be ‘Ladylike’.

Uchenna Dance’s The Head Wrap Dairies (13 April) is “ an amazing piece that I know that a lot of people have been dying to see” says Natasha Benjamin who runs the award winning weekly urban dance group Hype at Trinity.

“I think Head Wrap Diaries really embraces the struggle that the Afro Caribbean community is going through at the moment, especially young girls and women, for many years of growing up not knowing when or where the natural form of their hair will be accepted, so I think seeing this piece will be an eye opener to those that may not be aware or may not understand the struggle of this issue.”

Natasha, sits on Trinity’s programming forum – who share their thoughts on possible shows for our in-house programme. Collaboration is at the heart of what we do, so asking communities to help us shape our programme means the work we bring here is relevant to our audiences.

IGNiTE Launches with Man on the Moon, March 23. 7.30pm at The Trinity Centre. For tickets and more, head to IGNiTE's what's on.

About IGNiTE

Trinity's in house programme of world-class, innovative theatre and dance about issues that matter to people now, starting conversations and sparking debate. IGNiTE is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England

We’re looking for three exciting artists and / or companies with strong links to Bristol and its communities to take part in the Summer 2017 round of our flagship IGNiTE artist residencies.

In our next round of residencies we’re keen to work with artists or companies who:

• are working in the performing arts – theatre, dance, live art, or spoken word
• have strong links with Bristol and its communities
• put participation and engagement at the heart of their practice
• can demonstrate a willingness to engage people already using Trinity through workshops, open rehearsals, talk-backs or shadowing (or whatever feels appropriate to your work and the communities you want to engage)
• are at any stage of their career, but can make a strong case that this residency will have a big impact on their arts practice

For more information please click here.

The deadline for applications is 18 April 2017 at 5 PM.

If you have any questions please contact Fergus on 0117 935 1200 or fergus@3ca.org.uk

Interested in applying for a residency but want to find out more about what you'll get and how to make a great application? Come to one of our free information sessions led by Trinity's Producer Fergus Evans and Engagement Officer Edson Burton. 3 April 18:30 to 19:30 and 6 April 14:00 to 15:00

We aim to use resuable cups at all events to reduce waste and the impact plastic waste has on the environment

Having trialled our brand new reusable Trinity Cups at this year's Garden Party we're now rolling these out across all events. We want to make sure that Trinity does its bit to be green and what better way than introducing a system or reusable cups. We've already seen a reduction of of our waste by 80% after just one event.

In order to make sure that people don't take our cups home (they are pretty lovely so you might be tempted) we will be asking you for a £1 deposit when you place your first order at the bar. We will then return this at the end of the night when you bring your cup back.

If you decide you want one of our lovely cups for your own home (who wouldn't, perfect for camping and using for those long summer BBQs in your own Garden) you can choose to not get your deposit back. You can even swap your used cup on your way out at bar for a lovely fresh one. All proceeds from this are then fed back in to our fundraising efforts so it is a win win all round.

Last year's event will be a hard one to top – as we were blessed with glorious sunshine all day and a lovely crowd that joined us from dawn to dusk. However, you’ll be happy to hear that this year it is going to be even better [sadly we cannot guarantee the weather though, just the experience]. This year we’ve a delightful line up ranging from soul to- jaz to hip-hop to dub.

Headlining this year is Dubkasm (aka DJ Stryda & Digistep), who we have worked closely with over the years so it’s pretty special to be programming them to play on the Garden Party stage. This is a headline slot filled with live instrumentation and lo-tech dubwise textures, underpinned by a strong roots vibe. It is going to be smashing.

Across the rest of the day we’ll be filling the line up with a mix of artists from Bristol. We are starting the day with young people from our in house music course, everything from solo singer-song-writer to hip hop and beyond.

Sounds Of Harlowe bring live hip-hop/ soul to the line up this year and Sepia, will grace the Trinity stage for the first time with his forward thinking beats and rattling bass. Run Logan Run bring a sax and drums jazz outfit with added noise and expect jazzy wonky-pop from Toddler, fronted by Stevie-Jo Dooley. There’s afrobeat, soundscapes and improvisation from instrumental group Tezeta or for those of you who like something a little different we’ve got minimal / hypnotist-un-rock from Motes.

We have a couple more acts to announce (exciting stuff) plus workshops and family activities to add to the bill. Full info coming soon.

People gather in the main hall for this years drumming workshop Photo @Alexa Ledecky

Families taking part in the craft workshops in the Main Hall Photo @ Alexa Ledecky

Almatic's lead singer Katie during their set on the Main Stage Photo @ Alexa Ledecky

Children taking part in Cirque De Silk's aerial workshop Photo @ Alexa Ledecky

All the enjoyment early on in our community garden Photo @ Alexa Ledecky

Miss T, who attends sessions as part of our music making project plays the Making Tracks showcase Photo @Alexa Ledecky

Families enjoying the spring sun and vibes with Trinity and her iconic towers in the background Photo @ Khali Ackford

Wecil Collective perform in the Main Hall, including an cameo from Trinity's Engagement Coordinator Dr Edson Burton who MC'd on the mics Photo @ Khali Ackford

Bristol artist, DJ and producer Dutchie during her set Photo @ Khali Ackford

Rider Shafique and Sam Binga played the end set at this years Garden Party Photo @ Khali Ackford

Trinity T's everywhere! Photo @Khali Ackford

And it ends ... with Lottie Ball & Edson Burton hosts of this years Garden Party Photo @ Khali Ackford

Crowd throwing the Trinity T's 2017 Photo credit Khali Ackford

This year's Garden Party is on Sunday 13 May, we have a packed schedule of family-friendly activities and workshops running alongside a fantastic mix of local artists and bands.

Throughout the day we have lots of family and kids activities. From learning circus skills with Invisible youth to making a traditional Japanese puppet in the Bunraku Puppetry Workshop. Don't forget to head to the main hall and take part in a drumming workshop.

This year's main stage highlights include some of the most exciting music coming from Bristol & the South West right now. Headliner, Om Unit brings his unique take on sound-system culture, inspired by hip-hop, dubstep, ambient, jungle and footwork. Big party vibes coming from heavyweight live performance, UK Bass scene leader and lyricist Gardna whose taking the stage with DJ and producer, Kreed.

Bristol musician Sam Neal plays at garden party 2017 Photo credit @ Jessica Bartolini

We’re welcoming back Baraka, featuring musicians from Ghana, Senegal, Dominica, Trinidad and Southern Ireland to bring a sound influenced by Calypso baselines, Blues Harmonica, Soca with Balafon and Flute. Sam Neal who is just one of the talents we have seen grow from our Youth Music Scheme, will be performing songs from his up coming EP. It makes us very proud to see him doing so well. Nice one Sam.  Head to our main hall during the afternoon and catch  some of the young people attending music sessons at Trinity, Basement Studio and ACE.

We’ve got a great selection of stalls from Bristol makers, including women and men’s clothing stall Ashanti Empress , art work by Cosmic Soul Collective and cruelty free feather jewellery from Phat Feathers.

Volunteering: Trinity's Garden Party relies on volunteers to ensure that the 3k people who come every year have a great time (and, are is are also kept safe). We have a variety of stewarding roles and shifts across the day. If you fancy meeting new people, gaining new skills and getting 2 free gig tickets, then head over here to find out how to offer your time and sign up.

This year we are going to be shaking our buckets hard and asking everyone for a donation of £3 (or what you can afford). We recently launched the Trinity Conservation Campaign to raise the vital funds needed to repair historic damage to the building. Your donations will go directlytowards our campaign, ensuring we secure Trinity’s past, present & future.

Full line up:

Om Unit

Gardna x Kreed

Sunun

Baraka

The Brackish

Soma

Baast

Rhain

Sam Neal

Youth Music Showcase

Help us secure Trinity's past, present & future

Full Bloom Festival – led by Gerry’s Attic over 55’s Dance Company will feature an afternoon of workshops followed by an evening of discussion and performance.

Funded by Arts Council England and supported by Bristol Ageing Better this one day festival grew from a desire "to kick-start a conversation about dance and older people in Bristol" A discussion panel with speakers from Pavilion Dance South West, LinkAge and Lea Anderson, talking about dance for older people.

Come and see a dazzling performance showcasing the tireless work of Gerry’s Attic Dance company, including a new piece by Lea Anderson with guest performances from Yama and Striking Attitudes.

Renowned choreographer Lea Anderson is a founder member of dance companies The Cholmondeleys and The Featherstonehaughs whose 'accessible, irreverent' work grew popular onstage and in dance films for TV in the 80's and 90's, including 'Flesh and Blood' (1989) and 'Cross Channel' (1991). Anderson is currently Artist in Residence at the Southbank, and recently created a performed exhibition of choreography and costume at the V&A.

Striking Attitudes are a total theatre dance company based in Cardiff who make approachable, theatrical dance.

Yama are an over 60's dance group from Bath led by Artistic Director Anna Heighway.

Gerry's Attic was founded in 2016 by Julia Thorneycroft Dance Theatre in partnership with Trinity. Since 2016 the Company has run weekly classes and performed in varied contexts including Sadler's Wells Elixir Festival, Joie De Vivre (PDSW) and Bristol Harbour Festival.

Full Bloom brings together these different perspectives to discuss dance for older people and perform brand new work. Expect great visuals and humour in equal amounts.

Prices and Admission: Tickets for the evening performance are £7, daytime workshops are free but you will need to register as places are limited. Find out more about the daytime workshops here.

Things are hotting up for our big Guinness World Record attempt for the largest Samba Dance which is now officially registered. Bristol is home to a number of Samba artists, dancers & drummers, who provide a vibrant backdrop to some of the city's key events including Harbourside Festival and St Werburgh's Farm Fair. If, like us, you feel we can beat this record, join in and learn the simple routine, created by World Jungle Samba Dancers and head on down to Stapleton Road Make Sunday Special.

Last week we popped along to Circomedia to hear all about Bristol Circus City who have now announced their full programme. We are very pleased to have Bromance, by barely methodical theatre, in Fyfe hall, 21^st – 23^rd October ‘a jaw-dropping magnificent show.’ Lots more great shows to catch in this new month long festival.

For those creatives out there we are hosting a very special meeting with MAYK, Situations and Dr Edson Burton to share the word on Theaster Gates new commission here on Tuesday 18^th August – amazing opportunity to find out how you can work get involved and be part of this incredible event.

Just added Nitin Sawhney to our live listings, one of the most distinctive and versatile musical voices around today headed our way in November.

Also, if you have a moment please vote for us as Just Giving's Charity of the Year 2015 From free music courses for young people to arts, heritage and permaculture projects for wider community, Trinity offers something for everyone. Each year the centre is used by over 40,000 people and we give over 1,000 hours of free space to other grass-roots groups to run their projects and activities for the community.

Finally still time for any last applications to our Operations Assistant vacancy – closing Friday 31 July

Celebrating EID Night, Bristol Somali Youth Network are hosting a very special fundraiser at Trinity, Wednesday 23 September. An evening of live music with Kultuun Bacado, Faysal Yare and Aiderus Malibu, accompanying them will be DJ Hajji playing a mix of RnB, Dancehall, Afro Beats plus Somali mix. Join us from 10pm.

New live music announcements include Devin Townsend, who earlier this year capped off a European headline tour with a sold-out show at London’s legendary Royal Albert Hall venue, will be performing a very special acoustic night on Saturday 10^th October.

A little later in the year we are pleased to confirm Netsky will be visiting the Centre. Pioneer of liquid drum 'n' bass, this Belgian based musician has now evolved an incredible new live show.

As part of celebrating Black History Month in October we have two excellent solo performances coming up. She Called Me Mother stars BAFTA and Golden Globe nominee Cathy Tyson, and invites the audience into the life of Evangeline Gardner – a homeless, 70 year old African-Caribbean woman, estranged from her daughter, who finds herself living on the streets. With the “potential to be a modern classic - the emotional potential of the play is boundless”. Catch this show Wednesday 14.

Saturday 17 October we host Nine Lives, written by Zodwa Nyoni, performed by Lladel Bryant and directed by Alex Chisholm. Threading together humour and humanity to tell the real personal story behind asylum headlines. “Fleeing from his home in Zimbabwe where homophobia threatens his life, Ishmael has sought sanctuary in the UK”. Described by Adam Bruce, A Younger Theatre as “ a cracking piece of theatre that offers a glimpse into an issue that’s present in the country and around the world today.”

We also have social dances as part of Celebrating Age Festival this September - a perfect opportunity to dance, meet people or just enjoy the music over tea and cake. The first, LGBT Tea Dance hosted in partnership with Bristol LGBT Forum, is Wednesday 30 September. The second, Celebrate with Dance in partnership with Link Age, will feature live music on Friday 9 October.

Meanwhile behind the scenes Liz Clarke is working away in Fyfe Hall on her new show Cannonballista ”Part installation, part workshop programme, part intrigue, Liz has invited local women to engage in three day-long workshops sharing her making processes and practices. They will discover participants' individual Super Hero Alter Ego- or the parts of themselves that are extraordinary, untapped and unexpected. Participants will be invited to play their own unique part in the final show, Cannonballista Friday 17th & Saturday 18th July.

2015 is the UNESCO International Year of Light and on Saturday 10th July South West Dance Theatre are preparing a Sci/Art showcase day, Light Lab, to celebrate fusing arts and science. “There will be a light lab of workshops to play with ideas behind the physics of light and how they can be used in dance and other arts, as well as hosting an exhibition where artists and scientists from academia and industry can show off some of their great light-inspired work. The day will culminate in a show by several dance companies, including SWDT, performing light inspired repertoire.

Fancy joining the team? We are seeking an Operations Assistant to join the Operations Team to help with the ongoing upkeep, maintenance and repair of the Trinity Centre and with the administering of our car park – an essential revenue stream that supports our community, arts, education and heritage activities.This post is a 6mth Internship for 18-24-year-old, currently on JSA. Check out the website for more info.

Also new to the website – Mercury Rev coming to Bristol Monday 5th October. More announcements in the pipeline too so keep an eye on the website.

Please note Bump Roller Disco, Friday 10th July has been cancelled, next event is Friday 4th September

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If that was not enough we've now announced our Make Sunday Special After Party featuring Zhou ft Rider Shafique (Young Echo Sound), Evermoor Sound (Dub Theories Records), Sasha Steppa to keep the vibes going just that little bit longer – best of all its free.

Looking further ahead we have an ever expanding Autumn programme. Latest additions include Bristol Stands Against Modern Slavery: An evening of film and Q&A with anti-slavery experts and the premiere of Unchosen’s Films Against Slavery.

We are also proud to present Nine Lives by Zodwa Nyoni. This new show, performed by Lladel Bryant, tells the story of Ishmael, fleeing from his home in Zimbabwe where homophobia threatens his life as he seeks sanctuary in the UK. Nine Lives threads together humour and humanity to tell the real personal story behind asylum headlines.

For the dancers out there we have a fantastic new mini programme of contemporary dance classes now open to bookings with Laïla Diallo and Lisa May Thomas. Both offer contemporary dance techniques including released based practice and drawing from their own experiences as artists, practitioners and teachers.

Finally as the summer season turns from planting to harvesting we have some final exciting workshops out in the garden. If you've always fancied making your own chutney, whittling a spoon, weaving a willow basket then check out the regular events page or our Garden Project Page for more info.

Presented by Diverse City and Bristol City Council, Doing Things Differently is a new festival coming to Bristol that takes a playful look at experiencing, learning and doing something different. In September audiences will be able to see shows from a range of performing companies. A playful look at doing something different this autumn…

Doing Things Differently is about celebrating, learning and talking about equality in the arts. Experience great shows from a range of performing companies, including Weighting from the UK’s integrated professional circus company, Extraordinary Bodies in Castle Park.

Our strap-line 'A Centre for the people' came directly from our experience of facilitating and supporting 'communities' regardless of age, gender, sexuality ethnicity, income & ability such as theatre group the Misfits and their monthly Rhythm of The Night accessible disco. As well as providing a carefully managed and lovingly maintained spaces, we support groups which, with a little additional support, can expand their activities to something extraordinary. As part of the festival Misfits have partnered with Funky Llama, all the way from Plymouth to bring an alternative version of this ever popular event.

On Friday 16 we invite you to an intimate performance of On the Edge of Me in which the voice of one actress echoes the struggles of an entire generation of people facing unemployment, anxiety and depression...a solo dark comedy about the life of recent graduate, Remi, who confronts life as she knows it.“Brilliant, poignant and touching.’”

That same night we will also be hosting “one of the most incredible stories ever committed to film”. From the lawless streets of Kinshasa, Congo, comes Benda Billi, five years in the making which follows a group of street musicians as they struggle to record their first album. Hailed as the new Buena Vista Social Club, “Benda Billi is an inspirational, infectious, hilarious and life-affirming story of a dream that becomes reality”.

As this is a festival of doing as much as watching and learning we are pleased to be hosting Cardboard Citizens as they bring their celebrated 2 day workshop How to use Forum Theatre as a tool for social change with communities. This training is ideal for Arts and Social Sector practitioners who want to develop their practice to support working with disengaged groups from an organisation which has been making life-changing theatre with and for homeless people and disengaged groups for 25 years.