Grove - Image Credit: Sophia Stefelle

Kahn ft. Rider Shafique - Image Credit: Sophia Stefelle

After The Fire - Image Credit: Sophia Stefelle

Rita Lynch - Image Credit: Marley Small

Hip Hop Garden - Image Credit: Sophia Stefelle

Image Credit: Sophia Stefelle

Solomon O.B - Image Credit: Sophia Stefelle

Irish Mellow + Cxption - Image Credit: Marley Small

Garden Party: Revolution Sounds was our second free-community event of the year where we said goodbye to the summer with a mix of live music, workshops, performances and an immersive exhibition: After The Fire.

As always we welcomed some of the best artists in Bristol and the South West all playing on The Den stage. From punk to experimental we had the likes of Rita Lynch, Talisman and Kahn. Kept a secret until they came on, headliner Grove closed out proceedings with an epic mosh pit.

"Inspirational people and artwork" Feedback, Garden Party: Revolution Sounds

In the Fyfe Hall, we hosted an immersive exhibition 'After the Fire', a thought-provoking odyssey through the sounds and sights of Bristol’s protest history in recent years. This exhibition allowed us to present a culmination of artwork made as part of the last two years of Art of Resistance - pieces created by participants including pottery and murals, alongside placards made as part of our Visions of Resistance including a mural made by Tanith Gould which was displayed outside People's Republic of Stokes Croft on Jamaica Street.

We also had a number of workshops running throughout the day, including Movema Dance Workshops and Button-Up Badge Making Workshop in the Main Hall, plus Hip-Hop Workshops in the Trinity Garden.

Big thanks once again to everyone that made this event possible - from the artists that performed, the exhibition curators, the workshop facilitators, the lighting and sound team working behind the scenes, the bar staff and Trinity Team, and of course all of you that came down on the day - over 1,200 of you came along, and we raised over £1,000 in donations so that we can put on more events like Garden Party for the local community.

If you'd like to stay in the loop with everything on at Trinity, head to our What's On page for all our upcoming events, or follow our Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and sign up to our mailing list to stay updated.

Art of Resistance is a two-year, National Heritage Lottery Funded project charting 100 years of protest in Bristol.

Photo Credit: Sam Howard

For the last 15 years, Teachings in Dub has been a staple of the Bristol dub scene and has become one of the longest running club nights in Bristol. Formed by Stryda (Dubkasm) and Pinch at Clockwork Nightclub on Stokes Croft until 2008 when Teachings found its new home here at Trinity.

Dub and soundystem cultures have been an integral part of Bristol’s music scene. During the 1970s and 1980's a DIY culture of soundsystems sprung up, particularly around East Bristol, allowing young people in Bristol to participate in the city’s music scene from the ground up.

Teachings in Dub has allowed for a new generation to participate in Bristol’s history of dub music. Teachings co-founder Stryda writes that the event has “always been about bridging the gap between the older generation and the new and ensuring the culture is maintained and respected but the vibes are passed on”.

"We aim to give elders a space to enjoy the music and vibes they grew up on as well as a window for newcomers to enter a music scene they may have otherwise not even known existed” - Stryda, Teachings in Dub co-founder

Stryda attributes Teachings’ long-standing popularity to providing “an authentic space to experience real undiluted soundsystem vibrations. The Bristol music scene is respected worldwide but is built on Reggae and soundsystem. We aim to give elders a space to enjoy the music and vibes they grew up on as well as a window for newcomers to enter a music scene they may have otherwise not even known existed”.

Teachings has hosted some of the biggest names in dub and roots reggae, including Jah Shakka, Iration Steppas, Channel One Soundystem and Aba Shanti-I, and will host celebrations for 50 Years of Jah Tubby this month on 17 Sep, before celebrating 15 Years of Teachings in Dub on 25 Nov.

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.

Don’t miss a rare chance to see Black Roots live at Trinity on 02 July as part of The Mid Summer Reggae Festival – hosted by Dub Legacy and one of Bristol’s top radio stations Ujima. Black Roots will be joined by some of the best soundsystems in the scene including Green King and Indica Dubs.

The history of Black Roots is intertwined with Bristol’s relationship with reggae and the reggae scene as a whole. Formed in St Paul’s in 1979, the group were an integral part of the early sound system culture in the late 1970s/early 1980s that defined Bristol’s music scene at the time. Set against a backdrop of rising racial tensions in the city, seen most clearly through the St Paul’s Riot in 1980, the emerging sound system culture was a way for young Black people in the city to carve their own space within the local music scene.

While discriminatory entry policy barred entry for many young Black people in a number of Bristol’s venues, Trinity opened its doors and soon became renowned for hosting reggae and sound system events.

Sound system culture was part of a wider DIY scene that still exists in Bristol today and the grassroots approach to music allows for local people to define their city’s music scene from the ground up. After garnering international acclaim for their raw, honest approach to roots reggae, Black Roots went quiet until 2004 when they went on to drop 4 new albums ‘On the ground’, ‘Ghetto Feel’, ‘Son of Man’ and ‘Take it’. Their newest release was in 2021 ‘Take it Easy’.

This event is not to be missed - click here below to check out the full line-up and get your tickets.

Joy Crookes. Credit: Khali Ackford

Kokoroko. Credit: Luke Macpherson

Ezra Collective. Credit: Ash Harnett

With Self Esteem’s recent sold-out gig and Wet Leg coming up (21 Apr), we thought we'd take a moment to reflect on some of the best acts who've played at Trinity on their breakthrough tours in the last few years.

Alt J (2012)

Indie pop makers Alt-J came to perform live to a sell-out crowd the day after they won the Mercury Prize for what was to be one of their last intimate gigs.

Ezra Collective (2019)

London jazz collective Ezra Collective fuse Afrobeat, Hip-Hop and Soul to create a distinct sound. Known for “pioneering the new-wave of UK jazz music” (Boilerroom) their sell-out gig was yet another sell-out in 2019.

Freddie Gibbs (2019)

American rapper Freddie Gibbs is known for his technical proficiency and provocative lyrics as well has two collaborations with critically acclaimed Madlib.

Loyle Carner (2019)

One of the most popular rappers to come out of the UK in recent years, Loyle Carner played here following the release of his second album ‘Not Waving, But Drowning’.

Mick Jenkins (2019)

American rapper Mick Jenkins had released two far reaching albums, The Healing Component (2016) and Pieces of a Man (2018) prior to playing to a very ecstatic hip-hop loving audience.

Kokoroko (2020)

London-based eight-piece musical group Kokoroko play a fusion of Jazz and Afrobeat and came to us just before Lockdown restrictions in Mar 2020. Despite this, they are making waves in the UK Nu-Jazz scene.

Joy Crookes (2021)

An essential new voice in the burgeoning UK Neo-Soul scene, Joy Crookes played an incredible sold-out show in November last year.

Self-Esteem (2022)

Hot off the press, we knew Self Esteem was going to be popular by early requests for press passes and how quickly it sold out. The crowd jumped to the performance of I Do This All The Time and we think this will be a gig that forges itself in many memories. We are sure this will be one of her last gigs playing to smaller crowds.

Not-to-miss breakthrough gigs coming up:

Bakar (03 Apr)

A melting pot of indie, rap, rock, and punk, Bakar's music bridges the gap between genres, drawing influence from a wide range of artists such as Madlib and Foals.

Wet Leg (21 Apr)

The Isle Of White two-piece drew international acclaim with their breakout single Chaise Lounge, which went viral last year.

Yard Act (11 May)

Spearheaded by James Smith (vocals) and Ryan Needham (bass), the four-piece have built a sound that explores observations from all walks of modern British life.

In Lockdown in early 2020 we teamed up with some of the most exciting names in Bristol's music scene, from St Paul's Carnival to Mini Rig to Nozstock Festival, to bring online audiences live streams.

In October 2020, our socially-distanced Trinity Presents: Garden Sessions where the first opportunity to welcome audiences back to Trinity to enjoy live music, in person.

“I’ve always known how much I value shared human connection on a dance floor but since March I’ve been trying to get this in other ways, dancing on zoom with friends, dancing to my mini rig with 5 friends in a wood. But tonight I experienced again the incredible wonder of the talented DJs of @bootybass playing tunes and responding to a crowd, feeling my insides vibrate with bass, glancing up and smiling at a stranger as you connect, arms in the air in synchronicity and I cried a little tear of joy. This is the stuff of life, creative shared human experience. My heart is full. Thank you the Trinity Centre creating such a beautiful safe space.” Feedback from audience member Oct 2020

We put together an exciting series of events in a special, Covid-secure outdoor area in Trinity's historic grounds.

We teamed up with some of our favourite artists & Soundsystems for 9 full days sell-out live music & DJ's : Waldo's Gift, Hodge & Danielle, Dubkasm, Ashanti Selah, Young Echo, Sinai Soundsystem, Booty Bass, Bandulu, Sofa Sound, Afrobeat Fridays.

People commented that the space felt magical and like something special that you discover in a hidden corner of a festival.

We're very much looking forward to be able to present our postponed November line-up as soon as lockdown restrictions ease. Keep an eye on our website and social media info and announcements.

#TrinityPresents

#HereforCulture

Trinity Presents Garden Sessions. Design by Adam Menzies

Drum roll please… We are ready to welcome you back music lovers! In a specially erected tent in the historic grounds of Trinity, we will be running weekend sessions throughout the Autumn and we cannot wait.

Trinity Presents Garden Sessions will run throughout October, launching its first weekend with Bristol's experimental trio Waldo’s Gift (Oct 16), Livity Sound's Hodge & Danielle (Oct 17), and Dubkasm meets Ashanti Selah (Oct 18).

With Saturday & Sunday being powered by Sinai Soundystem.

“We cannot wait to welcome our music-loving audiences back to Trinity and have worked hard to make sure that we can provide a safe space for our audiences to come and enjoy what they love most - music. We cannot wait to bring well-loved artists, from Bristol and beyond, back to Trinity.” Jamell Ackford, Venue Manager

Ticket buyers can book a table for up to 6 people (from £48 +bf). Drinks will be served via Love My Local and there will be options to purchase food.

Tickets go on sale Sep 16, 10am.

This is brought to you by Trinity Presents. Click here to see more arts, community, well-being and education content or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Trinity are working with external artists, partners and organisations as part of Trinity Presents Online to provide exciting content, relevant to Trinity's diverse audiences and in line with our Equal Opportunities and Free Speech Policies. Click here for more information about our Policies. While we endeavour to ensure content we share is relevant and appropriate, Trinity is not responsible for individual content created by third parties.

So put on your dancing clothing on, be entertained and join us for a fun night at Trinity!

A great and fun way to meet new people and have a chat over a drink or two, along with some great music from our regular DJs to do some dancing and socialising.

Disco starts at 7.00pm

Tickets £7.50 - on the door

Bar open - note that you have to be over 18 to buy alcoholic drinks from our bar. You will be asked for an ID, so please bring one with you

Please note that Trinity has a public pay and display car park that works with an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. All visitors, including blue badges, need to purchase a ticket on arrival for the duration of their stay. There is a grace period of 10 minutes for people who need to drop off/pick up.

Payments can be made by card, via a smartphone app, online or cash on our existing P&D machines. Trinity receives all revenue from P&D parking which goes back into the charity and help us support groups and events like Misfits.

Trinity does not receive any revenue from Charge Notices and therefore we have no powers of waiving fines for non-payment of parking. More info about Trinity's car park can be found here: https://www.trinitybristol.org.uk/contact/parking

Bump Roller Disco

If you're interested in having fun on roller-skates, then you have come to the right place!

Don't worry if you can't skate or don't have your own skates, we have got loads of skates available and our lovely Roller Boys & Girls will help you round if your a bit wobbly on your wheels... And if it all gets too much, then you can just chill out and get a large drink to get over the experience!

Expect a mixture of DJ's bringing you lots of energy and good sounds, with also live acts and entertainment to just complete your roller-disco night.

Please note roller-skating is at your own risk!

Adults including Skate Hire - £10 adv / £12 on the door
Got your own Skates - £8

or you can pay on the door, but to avoid disappointment if this event sells out...get a ticket!

Strictly over 18's (bar open all night), last entry 1am.

Time to don your fancy dress costumes and get freaky on your skates! Doors open at 9pm - 1am, last entry at 12pm. This is an over 18's event.

There will be prizes for Best Costume, Best Effort, Originality and Best Pumpkin! Time to get creative with the costumes...

If you can't skate or don't have your own skates then don't worry, we have got loads of skates available and our lovely Roller Boys & Girls will help you round if your a bit wobbly on your wheels... And if it gets too much, then you can just chill out and get a large drink to get over the experience.

Expect a mixture of DJ's bringing you lots of energy and good sounds.

Tickets are £10 in advance inc skate hire & £8 if you have your own skates. On the door £12 including skater hire & £9 if you have your own skates.

So put on your dancing clothing on, be entertained and join us for a fun night at Trinity!

A great and fun way to meet new people and have a chat over a drink or two, along with some great music from our regular DJs to do some dancing and socialising.

Disco starts at 7.00pm

Tickets £7.50 - on the door

Bar open - note that you have to be over 18 to buy alcoholic drinks from our bar. You will be asked for an ID, so please bring one with you

Please note that Trinity has a public pay and display car park that works with an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. All visitors, including blue badges, need to purchase a ticket on arrival for the duration of their stay. There is a grace period of 10 minutes for people who need to drop off/pick up.

Payments can be made by card, via a smartphone app, online or cash on our existing P&D machines. Trinity receives all revenue from P&D parking which goes back into the charity and help us support groups and events like Misfits.

Trinity does not receive any revenue from Charge Notices and therefore we have no powers of waiving fines for non-payment of parking. More info about Trinity's car park can be found here: https://www.3ca.org.uk/contact/parking

Bump Roller Disco

If you're interested in having fun on roller-skates, then you have come to the right place!

Don't worry if you can't skate or don't have your own skates, we have got loads of skates available and our lovely Roller Boys & Girls will help you round if your a bit wobbly on your wheels... And if it all gets too much, then you can just chill out and get a large drink to get over the experience!

Expect a mixture of DJ's bringing you lots of energy and good sounds, with also live acts and entertainment to just complete your roller-disco night.

Please note roller-skating is at your own risk!

Adults including Skate Hire - £10 adv / £12 on the door
Got your own Skates - £8

or you can pay on the door, but to avoid disappointment if this event sells out...get a ticket!

Strictly over 18's (bar open all night), last entry 1am.

If you're interested in having fun on roller-skates, then you have come to the right place!

Don't worry if you can't skate or don't have your own skates, we have got loads of skates available and our lovely Roller Boys & Girls will help you round if your a bit wobbly on your wheels... And if it all gets too much, then you can just chill out and get a large drink to get over the experience!

Expect a mixture of DJ's bringing you lots of energy and good sounds, with also live acts and entertainment to just complete your roller-disco night.

Please note roller-skating is at your own risk!

Adults including Skate Hire - £10 adv / £12 on the door
Got your own Skates - £8

Or, you can pay on the door, but to avoid disappointment if this event sells out...get a ticket!

Strictly over 18's (bar open all night), last entry 1am.

"Controversial American rap group Public Enemy will play a rare British gig in Bristol next month.

The legendary group, fronted by outspoken rappers Chuck D and Flavor Flav, are appearing at the Trinity Community Centre on May 26.

Public Enemy are widely regarded as the most influential group on the genre, pioneering a hardcore rap sound which has been copied by numerous acts over the past 15 years.
Their Bristol gig is the first date of a short European tour and will be a warm-up for Winchester's Homelands festival.

Promoter Malcolm Haynes of Good Groove Promotions said tickets for Public Enemy's appearance in Bristol are expected to sell out quickly.

He said: This is a real scoop for us and it was simply a case of us being in the right place at the right time.

“They are only doing one gig in England apart from the Homelands festival, so we expect it to generate a lot of interest.

Public Enemy were formed in 1982 by Chuck D and their début album, Yo! Bum Rush The Show, was released by Def Jam Records in 1987.

The follow up, It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold us Back, pushed the cult group into the mainstream and coincided with Chuck D's notorious statement that rap was “The black CNN”.

Public Enemy went on to record classic rap albums like Welcome To The Terrordome and Apocalypse 91...The Enemy Strikes Black, recorded with thrash metal band Anthrax, and work with film director Spike Lee.

They continued to court controversy with lyrics which have been labelled anti-Semitic."