Bristol's Idles filmed their video in independent venues

Trinity is proud to be an grassroots music venue and this Independent Venue Week Marketing Assistant, Sam Prosser, shines a light on some of the other brilliant independent venues the city has to offer and how gig-goers can support the venues in Bristol.

Strange Brew

Strange Brew, located on Fairfax Street in Central Bristol, is one of the city’s newest independent venues. Having opened in September 2020, Strange Brew has quickly become of the city’s key locations for DIY bands and promoters, providing an eclectic mix of club nights, gigs, exhibitions and talks. We’re very excited to be bringing Bristol’s own Waldo’s Gift to Strange Brew on 02 March as part of our in-house music programme, Trinity Presents.

The Louisiana

The Louisiana is a 140-capacity, family-run venue that takes pride in putting on the best musicians from Bristol and beyond for the last 35 years, becoming a vital space for emerging artists, as well as hosting some of the UK’s biggest artists in their early years, such as Coldplay, Muse and Idles. The Louisiana is now a key part of Bristol’s music scene, as part of Dot To Dot Festival and Harbour Festival.

Exchange

Located a stone’s throw from Trinity at the bottom of Old Market, Exchange is a Community Benefit Society focused on supporting a wide range of musical projects and creative endeavours. Exchange opened it’s doors as a Live Music / Club Venue in August 2012. Since opening they have played host to a wide array of artists including The 1975, Haim, Four Tet and many more.

How you can support independent venues:

It’s never been more important to recognise the massive contribution of independent venues and their role in the music scene. 2023 was the UK’s worst year for venue closures, with Music Venues Trust reporting that 125 grassroots venues closed over the last 12 months. More than ever, it is vital that we recognise and support the independent music venues that contribute so much.

Buying tickets directly from venues: By buying tickets directly from a venue’s website, or from a local ticketing platform, you are ensuring that a higher percentage of the ticket price goes directly to the venue, supporting their operational costs and staff. In addition to this, early ticket purchases also make a significant impact, providing venues with crucial upfront revenue and helping them plan and execute events seamlessly.

Supporting venues through bar sales: Bar sales are one of the primary sources of income for independent venues, so make sure you get down early and buy a drink or two to support your favourite venue. Choosing to enjoy refreshments at the venue, whether it be a locally brewed pint or a signature cocktail-for those who don’t drink, there’s never been more options for non-alcoholic drinks, with many venues providing a wide range of alcohol-free drinks.

Spreading the word: Many venues depend on word-of-mouth support to promote their events. Without the substantial marketing budgets of larger venues, it is crucial to actively express your support for your favourite independent venues. Sharing photos online and telling your friends about your favourite shows at local independent venues  boosts their visibility and can act as a vital lifeline for these independent establishments.

This July, Trinity Community Arts presents Cast Light, a new immersive installation by internationally acclaimed artists Squidsoup, transforming the historic Pump Room at Jacobs Wells Baths into a captivating environment of light, sound and space.

Taking place on 18 and 19 July, alongside Bristol’s annual Harbour Festival, the ticketed experience invites visitors into one of Bristol’s most significant heritage buildings as it undergoes ongoing restoration during the city's annual Harbour Festival. Designed as an audience-led encounter for small groups, Cast Light offers visitors the chance to move freely through an evolving landscape of illuminated forms and spatial sound.

Recognised as pioneers in the fields of light, sound and technology-based art, Squidsoup have created large-scale works experienced by millions of people worldwide, from Burning Man to Alexandra Palace. Their installations have captivated audiences across six continents.

Cast Light is a new artwork comprising an arching arrangement   of towering columns of light accompanied by an expansive soundscape. Installed within the atmospheric surroundings of the Pump Room, the work explores ideas of scale, connection and our relationship with the natural world. The result is an experience that shifts between moments of wonder and quiet contemplation.

“Cast Light began as an exploration of scale, presence and our relationship to the environments we inhabit. The work shifts as people move through it, creating moments that can feel vast and enveloping, but also deeply personal. The title is a nod to the venue - a play on the solidity of the space and its cast iron construction of areas previously never seen before, against the fluidity of light moving through it. The artwork asks you to explore how we appear in the light, and how it transforms the space around us. The Pump Room at Jacobs Wells Baths is a space shaped by human activity and industrial history, and we’re excited to invite audiences into that conversation through light and sound in such a unique heritage site.”

- Squidsoup

The installation is situated in a space that once powered the building itself;. The Pump Room housed the furnace boilers that heated the natural spring waters flowing through Jacobs Wells Baths, making it the operational heart of the Victorian complex.

Visitors are invited to experience both the artwork and the architecture in a setting that encourages personal exploration and reflection.

As part of Jacobs Wells Baths radical citizen-led approach, Trinity Community Arts have created opportunities for local residents to inform its design and development. In recognition of the relationship with its closest members, free tickets for Cast Light will be offered to residents living in neighbouring Brandon House and St Peter’s House.

Cast Light forms part of Trinity’s Art of the Possible series at Jacobs Wells Baths, a programme that opens the site to artists and audiences during its transformation. It is one of a small number of public events taking place ahead of the building’s major reopening in 2029 as a landmark cultural venue and centre for citizen-powered arts in the South West.

The event is proudly presented as part of the Bristol Harbour Festival fringe activity.

About Squidsoup

Squidsoup are internationally recognised artists working with light, sound and digital technologies to create immersive environments and participatory experiences. Their work has been presented worldwide at festivals, galleries and public spaces, earning critical acclaim for its innovative approach to audience engagement and sensory experience.

What the critics say

“The Best Live Show in the World”

Mixmag on Squidsoup’s collaboration with Four Tet

”…a sincere and disarming electronic experience”

The Guardian on Squidsoup

Select slots will feature a live dance performance.

Event Information

Cast Light

By Squidsoup presented by Trinity Community Arts

Dates: 18–19 July 2026 | Private View 17 July

Venue: Jacobs Wells Baths, Bristol

Tickets availble via Headfirst: Booking required | £3

Saturday | Sunday

Access document can be found here

Part of the Art of the Possible series and Bristol Harbour Festival Fringe programme.

Made possible thanks to National Lottery players.

We present to you a deep exploration of what our heritage was, is and could be, recontextualising songs of our culture in an environment where we hope you all feel most comfortable.

Expect 80s Bollywood bangers, Arabic funk, fresh UK Bass interpretations of South Asian rhythm and melodies & so much more.

Featuring the Brown Excellence duo + Special Guest REA

Please note this event takes place at Queens Square

Wedding songs & wicked bass,

Our skin to our soul,

Our soul to yours.

We present to you a deep exploration of what being South Asian was, is and could be, recontextualising songs of the heritage in the setting we hope you feel most comfortable.

• Arabesque
• Rea
• Brown Excellence ft Vishnu (live tabla)

Powered by Sinai Soundsystem

If you want to hear:

• Bhangra & bollywood bangers on a rig
• Arabic funk run loud through a system
• Fresh UK Bass interpretations of South Asian rhythm and melodies

Then get involved x

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

Last entry: 2 hours before curfew

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.

Artists Rider Shafique and Khali Ackford (I-Dentity) & Trinity team up to bring a monthly meet-up to a offer a place of support, reflection, reason & opportunity for Black Creatives (all disciplines welcomed).

Supported by Trinity, the meetups have been inspired following feedback from online workshops, delivered by Rider and Khali, as part of Trinity's community arts project What I Want To See, What I Want To Be.

Meetups are on every fourth Monday of the month.

To find out more or to register to take part, get in touch.

Their debut album Wolo So and follow-up When The Dust Settles explore collective polyrhythms, emotional themes, and personal stories, capturing the journey of Black identity and community in the diaspora.

+ support from Kesh

Please note this is a standing event, accessible seating is available. To reserve a limited seating spot and/or arrange a companion ticket, please contact info@trinitybristol.org.uk

Venue levy: Trinity has introduced 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 building and grounds.

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.

Image: Sould and Cells

We are thrilled to announce our Autumn Theatre and Arts programme, a dynamic exploration of grassroots social justice which celebrates underrepresented voices and shares untold stories from Bristol and beyond.

“This season is an ode to the underrepresented voices and cultures that make up our social fabric, redefining and exploring contemporary arts through the lens of social justice.” Esther Afikiruweh, Combined Arts Producer, Trinity

The series features film screenings, spoken word performances, theatre and dance and kicks off with an immersive audio trail, 'Duppy Hunter: A Local's Guide to St Paul's' on 03 Oct. Audiences are invited to embark on a playful exploration of St. Paul's, assuming the role of Duppy Hunters in pursuit of an elusive spirit hidden amongst the streets and sights of this vibrant neighbourhood. This unique ‘listening experience’ is a collaboration between Trinity and the renowned Tamasha Theatre Company whose work supports both emerging & established Global Majority artists and arts organisations Coney who create playful digital experiences.

On 12 October, we welcome community artists Carlota Matos and Hiba Elhindi, who, in collaboration with the refugee and asylum seeker support charity Borderlands, will host 'Theatre of Migration'. This evening promises engaging panel discussions, screenings, and sharings, delving into the world of participatory theatre and the ethical considerations of creating theatre based on lived experiences, particularly from the perspective of refugees and asylum seekers.

The powerful documentary, 'I am Judah', will be screened on 20 October. The film tells the poignant story of Easton resident Ras Judah, who was unjustly tasered by the police in 2017. Despite a criminal trial, the officer responsible was found not guilty, and in September 2018, she was also cleared of misconduct. "I Am Judah" critically examines this case, giving voice to Judah as a community elder and shedding light on the broader issue of police injustices affecting many others.

Returning to Trinity on 05 November, dance artist Akeim Toussaint Buck and Crystal Zillwood present their performance, 'Souls and Cells'. This mesmerising showcase delves into themes of heritage, ancestry, and moments of inter-connectiveness through the medium of movement, dance, and sound.

As a culmination of the season, we join forces with the Afrika Eye film festival on 17 November for the 17th festival edition. Together, we will present a screening of 'Neptune Frost', the 2022 science fiction romantic musical film co-directed by Saul Williams and Anisia Uzeyman, alongside performances from spoken word artists.

Our Autumn Theatre and Arts programme promises to be a season of thought-provoking and inspiring events, celebrating diversity, social justice, and artistic expression. Join us as we elevate underrepresented voices and share powerful stories that resonate with the many communities who live in Bristol.

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.

Firmly Rooted Soundsystem

The series opens on Saturday 18 Oct, one of Bristol’s most vital contemporary bands, SCALER celebrate the release of their new album Endlessly with a special ‘In Conversation’ event. This will include an album playback on the Firmly Rooted Soundsystem, a track-by-track discussion, and a Q&A hosted by Alastair Shuttleworth (BBC, Guardian, Pitchfork) all based around the importance of community and collaboration.

Join us in Fyfe Hall, reimagined as a sonic lounge with warm lighting, seating, and space for dialogue. Together we’ll listen, reflect, and connect.

"Archival Sounds is about reframing how we experience music, not just as entertainment, but as cultural memory. Each vinyl carries stories of struggle, resilience, and connection. We wanted to create a space where audiences can slow down, really listen, and discover the politics embedded in sound." - Jamell Ackford, Director of Culture, Trinity

Keep an eye out for the full series dropping soon...

Dates: Oct 18 | Nov 8 | Dec 13

This is to say a huge thank you to the Festival crowed, which made the weekend an unforgettable one.

Come join us in the sun for a skank, drinks and food.

Papa Steve will be warming the dance with Downbeat Melody Soundsystem.

Donations welcomed on the door

As they take a summer break from their monthly sessions at Lost Horizon, they couldn’t resist throwing a one-off day party with a twist, bringing the lounge setup to The Den, set against the backdrop of the garden for an all-day celebration in the sunshine.

Expect the usual shenanigans: SpaceJams in the round, Brakery hosting an all-vinyl dance, and a very special guest

• Cuppa (Brighter Days Family)
• Miss Mash

Join us as special guests as we team up with our friends at Trinity to bring the lounge setup to The Den, set against the backdrop of their beautiful garden for an all-day celebration in the sunshine.

Under 18s have free entry, and under 14s to be accompanied by an adult.

Please note this is a standing event, accessible seating is available. To reserve a limited seating spot and/or arrange a companion ticket, please contact info@trinitybristol.org.uk

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.

Venue levy: Trinity has introduced 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 building and grounds.

Set in our historic grounds this family friendly day will have creative arts workshops, performances from local and emerging artists and activities for children and young people.

Featuring:

• live music and performances
• youth programme performances
• workshops for all ages
• shop local: featuring a fantastic mix of stalls
• local food vendors

Are you interested in volunteering with us, please head to our volunteer page to find out more.

Stall applications are now open, applications will close on Mon 18 Aug 2025

Access - if you have access requirements please let one of our team know how we can help.

Play your part in Trinity's future and support events like Garden Party, with a suggested donation of £3 per person.

Please note that no alcohol and no dogs can be brought on site. Bag searches will take place.

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.