Tiffany Daniels

Starting this month, Bristol will be laying on some amazing gigs to draw music fans in from the harsh winter winds. So, here are some eagerly anticipated performances that will give you the chills (in the best possible way): Flo Morrissey     See you In a few 🇬🇧☔️💗 A photo posted by Flo Morrissey (@flomorrissey) on Nov 27, 2015 at 6:44am PST   It may be mid week, but Flo Morrissey’s performance at The Louisiana is a must-see. Flo is a pianist with an ethereal vocal to match her otherworldly talent, put to good use on her debut album 'Tomorrow Will Be Beautiful'. When coupled with the intense yet comfortable atmosphere of the venue, this evening will be a great demonstration of her talents. Flo Morrissey. December 1, 7.30pm. The Louisiana, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 6UA Benjamin Clementine    The sound traveller... A photo posted by Benjamin Clementine (@benjaminclementine) on May 12, 2015 at 6:51am PDT   Another pianist to visit Bristol this month, Benjamin Clementine recently won the Mercury Award for his debut album 'At Least For Now'. Clementine has made a name for himself thanks to his deep, velveteen vocal and tales of life on the streets of Paris. A romantic at heart, his performance in such a grand venue as Colston Hall will no doubt be magical. Benjamin Clementine, December 4, 8pm. Colston Hall, Colston Street, Bristol. BS1 5AR Jeffrey Lewis     #jeffreylewis @sidewalknyc A photo posted by Toby Goodshank (@tobygoodshank) on Nov 5, 2015 at 10:48pm PST

Ladies and gentlemen, we've entered the era of the Christmas meal out. If you've yet to tuck into your first Christmas dinner of the year, it's bound to happen very soon. Most likely, you'll sitting down to eat with your office colleagues at the boss's favourite restaurant or pub. And there's nothing wrong with that – after all, you've heard that Sue from accounts has got a wild streak once she's downed a few glasses of Chablis and seeing her dance on the table is a great way to get into the festive spirit. But what if you could have your Christmas meal somewhere a little more out of the ordinary? Here are six suggestions that may have still have a table for this year, or give you some great inspiration for 2016:  On the SS Great Britain SS Great Britain   Albeit limited to two days, the SS Great Britain is laying on a Christmas feast this December that'll be ideal for history and maritime lovers alike. Held in the rather grand First Class Dining Saloon, the lunch promises a unique dining experience, where you'll be surrounded by the height of seafaring luxury. Alongside the meal attendees will also be treated to a tour of the ship, the Dry Dock and the Dockyard Museum. SS Great Britain Christmas Lunch. December 11-12. Find more about the event here. Inside a 1920s ballroom  Bristol Spiegeltent   The Spiegeltent is located just off Canon's Way at Bristol's Harbourside, with the's party season inside this opulent travelling ballroom beginning on Thursday December 3. An eve

As winter creeps closer and memories of summer festivals fade away, there are few better ways to enjoy live music than at one of Bristol's many open-mic nights. You really can't go wrong with a cosy atmosphere, plenty of cushions and, of course, the occasional pint to accompany an evening of great live music - and, as you'd expect, the fiercely independent Gloucester Road has plenty of regular events to keep you entertained during the long winter evenings. Here are five of its most popular regular open-mic nights:  To see emerging talent: The Gallimaufry The Gallimaufry hosts open mic nights every Monday evening. This free event is hosted by musician Chuman and boasts George Ezra in its alumnus, setting a great standard for a talent-fuelled local showcase. The Gallimaufry, 26-28 The Promenade, Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8AL. Mondays, from 8.30pm  To see poetry and spoken word: Halo Café Open-mic nights aren’t always synonymous with guitars. Halo Café proves this with its sporadic poetry and spoken word nights, Milk. These 'slams' are hosted behind Halo's main room, in a function room space that better resembles a town hall than an independent restaurant. Halo, 141 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8BA. Mondays, from 7.30pm  To see alternative acts: The Golden Lion A well established pub up in Horfield, The Golden Lion has a fast growing reputation on the Bristol music scene. The Lion's esteemed open-mic nights,  Live in the Lion’s Den, are run by local acoustic musician Nua

A night out in Bristol has a lot going for it, but some might argue the city's nightlife isn't what it once was.  Clubs and venues have always come and gone, but that doesn't ease the disappointment when a musical mecca closes its doors for good. Here are 12 long-gone venues that deserve never to be forgotten:   The Croft <img id="3961458e-c6cd-8d38-34c1-97c8f673812b" data-caption="" data-credit="Flickr: Paul Townsend" data-width-class="100" type="image/jpeg" total="361240" loaded="361240" image_id="102845986" src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102845986/image.jpg" class="photo lazy inline"> Flickr: Paul Townsend The Croft helped to promote rising and established talent for 11 glorious years, as well as hosting the legendary Dubloaded parties that were instrumental in the rise of the city's dubstep scene, before its closure in 2013. The team behind the venue went on to open The Exchange in Old Market, but needless to say Stokes Croft still smarts from the venue’s disappearance, even if its new life, as The Crofters Rights, means steps are slowly being made to bring music back to its dark rear room.   The Dug Out <img id="7636a8af-75b7-cd0a-f6ae-cb2c98c5ba8b" class="photo lazy inline" src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102844747/image.jpg" alt="" data-caption="" data-credit="" data-width-class="100" data-mce-src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102844747/image.jpg" image_id="102844747"> The Dug Out is often talke

This October 23-24, Simple Things festival returns to dominate Bristol city centre with an intensive weekend of live music. The inner-city event takes place across 14 stages, and boasts 18 hours of performances from electronic, alternative and progressive acts. Founded in 2011 by culture publication Crack Magazine, eTeam Love and promoters No Need to Shout, Simple Things has grown into a significant event on Bristol's bristling festival calendar. Well known for supporting emerging talent alongside established acts, Simple Things 2015 has a bill to envy. In fact, with so much going on at venues including Colston Hall, The Old Firestation, Lakota and O2 Academy, there's is a bewildering amount of choice. We take a look at ten must-see acts at this year's festival below...   Penguin Café Penguin Café have a long history of impressing live audiences. Originally formed by Arthur Jeffes in the 1980s, the project was revived by Jeffes’ son, Simon, in 2009. Experimental jazz at its finest.   HEALTH One of the few bands to capitalise their name and live to tell the tale, LA four-piece HEALTH have developed a reputation as one of the noisiest, most experimental bands of the twenty-first century.   Micachu and the Shapes After some time away from the limelight, Micachu and the Shapes make a welcome return to Bristol by way of Simple Things this year. A pop artist at heart, front woman and namesake Mica Levi records with everything from a vacuum cleaner to sticky tape, creating an int

Bristol has long boasted a music scene that's among the very best in the world, from the emergence of punk and reggae in the '60s, to the 'Bristol Sound' and trip hop of the 1990s and its significant role in the rise in popularity of drum & bass and dubstep. Needless to say, this means that Bristol offers a wealth of places to see live music from an impressive variety of music genres. So, if you're new to the city, just visiting, or are just embarking on a mission to go to as many gigs as you can but don't know where to start, we're here to help. Here are a few suggestions for some of the best places to catch live music in Bristol - and what you can expect when you get there:      To see the next big thing: The Louisiana <img id="7b58182c-8cd7-5508-e02f-459628215753" class="photo lazy inline" src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102850389/image.jpg" alt="" data-caption="" data-credit="Flickr: Robert Cutts" data-width-class="100" data-mce-src="http://media.timeout.com/images/102850389/image.jpg" image_id="102850389"> Flickr: Robert Cutts Famed across the city for giving a stage to burgeoning new acts, The Louisiana on Wapping Road is an indie and folk venue that's played host to some very impressive names in the past. A quick glimpse at the many posters on its walls reveals a rich history of performances from internationally renowned bands and artists including The Libertines, The Strokes, Kings of Leon and Coldplay. Head there and who knows which stars of tomorrow you

There’s a rumbling on the streets of Bristol, and talk of change in more than just politics. From multiple Ladyfest gatherings, to the Festival of Ideas and Bristol Women’s Literature Festival; the city continues to address gender inequality in the arts. Now, the music industry has joined in on the fun with the recent launch of the Bristol Women in Music initiative. 'We felt the need to pull together,' explains Lizzy Bowman, one of the founding members of Bristol Women in Music. 'I think it’s important in Bristol and the South West specifically because we are somewhat removed from the London scene, and the centralised hub where the majority of music business takes place.' 'The music industry can, at times, feel like a bit of an ‘old boys club’. We want to highlight and celebrate women who are doing amazing things to push music forward in their own unique and vibrant way.'   Evie Woods Launched in May with an evening of live music and spoken word at St George's , the movement now supports a wide range of programmes, from live performances to workshops and even apprenticeships. To achieve their goals, BWIM work with multiple music industry professionals in Bristol. One such like minded maven is Rob McGee from booking agency, Electric Harmony. 'I've seen the likes of artists, promoters and managers stick their middle finger up to gender equality and smash through it, but it still seems to be a growing issue,' he says, drawing attention to the use of language in the industry. '

We all know Bristol has an amazing music scene. From independent festivals and all-day gigs, to underground parties, open mic nights and even street busking; there’s always something for music fans to drool over in a BS postcode. Sometimes, though, there’s a little too much choice. Which is perhaps why these five local acts failed to receive the attention they deserved before sadly deciding to call it quits.   You & the Atom Bomb Formed through the University of Bristol in the mid-noughties, this angular indie pop outfit created utterly addictive, punk tinged goodness from the word go. You & the Atom Bomb released two albums, 'Shake Shake Hello?!' in 2006 and 'The Spirit of Things' in 2007, before silently breaking up a few years later. Various band members have since reprised their musical role through projects such as Glis Glis and Bravo Brave Bats. However, Bristol is yet to discover the same joyous 'sleepeasy' delirium it felt under You & the Atom Bomb’s rule.   Strangelove Patrick Duff is now a permanent fixture on the Bristol scene, but before he went solo he performed alongside his band, Strangelove. Confined to the '90s, the alt-rock four piece went so far as to support Radiohead and Suede on tour – but it wasn’t enough. They split shortly after the release of their self-titled third album. Band members had previously performed in The Blue Aeroplanes and The Jazz Butcher, so it’s no surprise few packed away their instruments following Strangelove’s demise. Besides D

The people of Bristol are well known for thinking outside of the box. From squeezing a 100-piece orchestra inside the abandoned Clifton Rocks railway station during World War II, to hosting a mobile cinema on the floating harbour, we’ve defied tradition for decades.  Needless to say, putting gigs on in extraordinary places is par for the course. If you’ve got a mic and an amp, Bristol has got a will and the way. Below we list 10 of the weirdest, but most ingenious stages bands have played in Bristol.   …On the Clifton Suspension Bridge  Isambard Kingdom Brunel probably didn’t have soaring pop music in mind when he built his famous Suspension Bridge on the Avon Gorge. Nevertheless, Bastille took up the challenge on August 21 2012, performing material from their freshly released debut album, 'Bad Blood'.    …In a launderette    At The Well   A few years ago launderette-cum-café-cum-venue The Well launched to the tune of a regular acoustic open mic night. At home in Stokes Croft’s creative quarters, the unconventional venue is well known and used by folk and country musicians from across the South West.     …In a police station    Cops and artists don’t often go hand in hand. However when indie rock darlings The Joy Formidable undertook a guerrilla tour of the UK in 2012, they pegged the old Bridewell Police Station as an appropriate setting. As you can imagine, chaos ensued.    …In a public toilet    Forget the toilet circuit – Bristol has its very own ‘Edwardian Cloakroom

Charity and the arts often go hand-in-hand, as the two combine to raise public awareness about issues affecting communities across the world. With its vast ethnic makeup, Bristol doesn’t shy away from fundraising, putting added emphasis on the first three letters. Refugee Week is one such celebration of the city's rich cultural heritage. Taking place from June 14-22, there were a number of festivities held across the country that celebrated the contribution of refugees and asylum seekers to the UK. Don’t worry if you missed the party though, as fundraising events continue to take place in Bristol throughout the summer. One such event is nearly upon us. On 26 June, The Greenbank in Easton will host an event led by local group The Great Sea Choir, in aid of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Nepal appeal. The a cappella folk choir will be joined by shanty vocalists and festival favourites The Longest Johns, to fundraise for Nepal following the country’s devastating earthquake in April 2015. The event will close with a DJ set from Mister Morgan, providing entertainment well into the night. Tickets for the event are £5 apiece and available to purchase here. Doors open at 7.30pm, and more details can be found here.

In 2017, Bristol will have its very own entertainment arena. While Colston Hall and the O2 Academy have long been host to some of Britain’s best musicians and performers, the new 12,000 capacity Bristol Arena means the city will now be able to compete with the likes of Cardiff and Birmingham for drawing in huge audiences and the biggest bands. Details of Populous’ winning design were announced earlier this year, following a selection process conducted by the Royal Institute of British Architects. With private companies now bidding to operate the arena, Bristol’s dream of an arena to call its own seems closer to reality than ever before. This is thanks, in part, to Bristol Mayor George Ferguson. An enthusiastic campaigner for the local arts scene, he’s worked to secure funds for the project since his election in November 2012. Although it’s been estimated the arena will cost £91 million, Ferguson insists the vision is worthwhile, helping Bristol to stand out as a cultural hotspot while boosting the region’s economy. A quick amble down Feeder Road in the direction of Temple Meads towards the arena’s Temple Quarter location reveals that building work is well underway. So, what impact is the arena likely to have on the local music scene – for both fans and Bristol’s word wranglers and performers?     No more late night drives up the M5 &amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;img id="3644ff84-f1a5-3931-3b89-1a9a9a8dfde7" data-caption="" data-credit="ALI MAC 55, Flickr" data-width-class="100" type

Dot to Dot returns to Bristol on May 23 2015. Multiple venues across the city are taking part, boasting performances from new music darlings and some of Britain’s best loved alt-pop acts. But planning for the inner-city festival isn’t just about working out who to see – you need to know your way around to make the most of your time.  Here are our top tips to help you tackle the day, alongside choice highlights for your viewing and listening pleasure. 1. Head over to Thekla early You’ll need to head over to Thekla early to avoid a long queue to pick up your wristband, but that’s not all the venue has to offer. You’ll find all sorts of useful information about the day in the venue’s car park, where you can stop for a pint at the cider bar and fuel-up on Pieminister grub! 2. Work out a schedule It might sound boring, but planning your day is key to getting the most out of Dot to Dot. Bring a pen with you to mark off the gigs you want to attend on the official timetable that comes with your wristband. Don’t forget to factor in the distance between venues! You'll thank our nerdy planning advice later. 3. Follow the #d2dfest hashtag There’s nothing worse than storming across the city to a venue, only to find a set time has been changed without your knowledge. Follow the #d2dfest hashtag on Twitter to keep up to date with timetable amendments and announcements made throughout the day.   SECOND WAVE OF ARTISTS ANNOUNCED FOR #D2DFEST 2015 http://t.co/pGOR94XRoz pic.twitter.com/pWaq5X