Garden Party 2024 - Image Credit: Alastair Brookes

On Sunday 12 May, we opened our gates once again for Trinity Garden Party – our, free annual day party, celebrating the start of the summer through music, dance and arts.

"It was a fabulous day - thank you to Team Trinity and everyone involved!" - Audience Feedback

In our outdoor venue, The Den, we programmed a diverse range of live music and DJs from across Bristol and The South West. The young musicians from our Next Gen Sounds programme kicked off proceedings, showcasing their musical talents that they’ve honed during the sessions. Following on, we had beautiful acoustic Folk from Eva Penney, groovy Latin rhythms from Los Gusanos, Moroccan Gnawa from Mohammed Errebba, and live Hip Hop from Komposa. Later on in the evening, DJs brought the energy, with an eclectic world music selection from Kesh, amapiano and UK Funky from Josephine Gyasi, and finally Selecta J-Man and Rider Shafique finished things off with a heavy selection of Jungle and Drum and Bass.

Inside, The Main hall was buzzing with performances from our resident dance group Hype Dance, a Turkish Belly Dance circle from Anna K, and finally The Greenbank Ceilidh Collective led the dance with a joyous ceilidh. Upstairs, Fyfe Hall hosted a range of creative craft workshops to keep the young ones busy.

We wanted to say a massive thank you to all who made Garden Party this year such a success; from the talented artists, workshop facilitators, stall-holders, local food vendors, the dedicated sound and lighting team behind the scenes, our hardworking bar staff, the entire Team Trinity, and, of course, all of you who joined us on the day. The event saw our largest ever turnout, with over 3,500 attendees, and thanks to your generosity we raised over £5000 in donations, allowing us to organise more community events like Garden Party as well as supporting our charitable mission of making the arts accessible to all. Garden Party just keeps getting bigger and better, with a 60% increase on last year's attendees, and a 65% increase on last year's donations. Thank you for coming down to support what we do and celebrating music, dance and the arts.

If you'd like to continue to support Trinity, click here to make a donation.

For five decades, Trinity has been a grassroots venue dedicated to supporting artists, preserving sound system culture, and respecting the rich heritage of this incredible space. Join us as we celebrate this milestone together.

Our annual free music and arts festival brings together a fantastic mix of local artists, bands, and performers, creating a vibrant day filled with live music, creativity, and community spirit.

As always, Garden Party is family-friendly, with workshops and activities running throughout the day, so everyone can get involved.

Line-up to be announced soon...

Stall application

If you are interested in having a stall please complete the stall application form: here. The closing date for stall applications is Mon 20 April 2026. We will be responding to applicants following the closing date. We will not be accepting food trader applications this year.

Access
If you have any access requirements, please speak to a member of our team. We’re here to help ensure everyone can enjoy the event.

Support Trinity
Help secure Trinity’s future and support events like this with a suggested donation of £3 per person on the door.

Important information
To keep the event safe and enjoyable for everyone, please note:

• No alcohol or unauthorised substances to be brought on site

• No dogs allowed

• Bag searches will take place on entry

We can’t wait to celebrate 50 years of music, culture, and community with you.

Trinity Presents - Celebrating 50 Years of Music

This event is part of Trinity Presents, our in-house series that bring outstanding performers and exciting new voices to communities at the heart of the city.

Our annual, free, music and arts event features a fantastic mix of local artists, bands, and performers. Garden Party is family friendly with workshops and activities running throughout the day, with food from local vedors

Line up:

• Krust
• Rea
• Joeti
• Rwkus
• Kaya Street
• Ember & Sentient Sound
• Stevie Toddler

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.

Stall application

If you are interested in having a stall please complete the stall application form. The closing date for stall applications is Mon 14 April 2025. We will be responding to applicants the week following the closing date. We will not be accepting food trader applications this year.

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.

Honouring the art of assembly, choreographer Dam Van Huynh explores alternative methods of dissent, drawing on noise to embody defiance and celebrating the power of coming together.

Sounds of protest against inequalities take centre stage, creating a unique sensory experience through music, lights and movement.

This is a dance between disruption and communion, an invitation to wake up our collective spirit in an act of solidarity and care.

“This is a performance which pushes at the boundaries of what dance can be (…)” **** To Do List, Re:birth, 2023

"A highly captivating, emotional and explicit work that challenges how we situate ourselves within(out) our society." Dance Art Journal, In Realness, 2022

Supported using public funding by Arts Council England with further support from The Arts Centre at Edge Hill University, Pavilion Dance South West and Centre 151

This performance is part of Trinity Presents

As part of our in house programme, Trinity Presents we welcome Gardna (Fr 14 Oct) who will be joining forces legendary reggae and punk veteran Don Letts.

Trinity's history has long been part of the cultural crossover of punk and reggae scenes which emerged in the late 1970s. Letts was instrumental in introducing reggae and dub sounds to the punk scene at the time. Given this rich history that we both share, we wanted to reflect on some of the key moments in Don Letts career.

• Don Letts was deeply inspired by the roots reggae from his parents' homeland in Jamaica, in particular the anti-establishment message of Bob Marley. After seeing Marley play the Odeon in Hammersmith in 1976, Letts snuck into Marley's hotel room and spent the night talking and befriending him.

"By 1977, the white teenage youths in London were looking for a new soundtrack and punk rock exploded on the scene. Problem was, this was so early in the scene, there were no punk records to play. So I'm spinning what I like, heavy dub reggae, and the punks were loving it. They dug the whole anti-establishment rebel vibe" - Don Letts

• During the 1970s, Don Letts rose to prominence as a resident DJ of The Roxy, a nightclub in London's Covent Garden. While The Roxy was known for being a hub for the punk scene that was growing in popularity at the time, Letts' sets at the venue featured mostly dub and reggae records.

• Letts recognised the natural similarities between punk and reggae, particularly in their shared, anti-establishment message, creating a crossover between the two cultures. Bands like The Clash were one of the first groups to incorporate elements of reggae music into their sound, seen most clearly through their cover of Junior Murvin's 1976 classic 'Police and Thieves'.

• Developing close relationships with punk bands such as Sex Pistols and The Clash led Letts onto creating films based around the punk scene at the time. Letts became the unofficial documenter of the scene, creating 'The Punk Rock Movie', mostly compiled from Super 8mm footage shot of live performances at The Roxy.

• Since then, Letts has gone on to direct over 300 music videos for a range of artists including Bob Marley, The Psychedelic Furs, Elvis Costello and long-time collaborators The Clash.

• Don Letts' life story was recently told in a documentary 'Rebel Dread', released earlier in 2022, featuring extensive footage from Lett's personal archive of videos.

Letts has continued to DJ throughout his career, and has been a regular feature on lineups across Bristol and the West. Don Letts will join Gardna at Trinity on 14 Oct for Trinity Presents: Gardna + Friends. Make sure to head down to catch this legend of the UK music scene (and his extensive vinyl collection) in action. Click here to get your tickets.

About Trinity Presents:

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

In Autumn 2024 we celebrated the rich creativity in Old Market through a programme of free creative happenings throughout the inner city suburb.

Amplifying the wide-ranging grassroots musicians in Bristol we took over shops and restaurants transforming them into pop-up DIY music venues hosting the likes of d Young Echo, TLK, EJ:AKIN and Rider Shafique and Sarahsson.

Audiences also explored Old Markets history through a promenade performance devised by writer Edson Burton and artist Tom Marshman. The performance uncovered the hidden stories of residents from Old Market’s past as well as exploring the sites and sounds of the area.

In addition to celebrating the rich cultural offerings in Old Market the programme of work intended to help encourage new audiences to Old Market – an often overlooked suburb of Bristol. Over 90% of audiences who came along to one of the free events shared that they were visiting the area specifically for the show or performance – and 55% shared that having come along to an event meant they were more likely to visit Old Market in the future.

In total over 700 audience members attended one or more of the events as part of Destination Old Market. As part of the programme we created paid opportunities for 48 musicians, 5 actors and 15 creative practitioners.

About Destination Old Market

Destination Old Market is produced by Trinity Community Arts and is part of the City Centre and High Streets Culture and Events Programme, funded by Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority. The initiative aims to attract more visitors to the City Centre, boosting local businesses and the economy.

Rub shoulders with bewildered characters as they navigate their once-familiar streets now transformed by time. Listen to their tales of bustling market days where fortunes were made and lost through clever bartering and sharp wit.

This extraordinary walking tour won’t just tell you about Old Market's history—it brings you face-to-face with the very people that lived it.

Tour Times

12pm – 12:30pm

1:30pm – 2pm

2:30pm – 3pm

3:30pm – 4pm

4:30pm – 5pm

A ticket to the promenade gains you access to the fayre (timings 12:30pm - 5pm). More info here.

Further Info

A £5 deposit is required when booking. This deposit can either be refunded or exchanged for a voucher that can be spent in Old Market business taking part in the Destination Old Market.

To sign up for vouchers, after attending the event, a form will be sent to you so that you can choose your business of choice to get a digital code to redeem over autumn!

Please be aware that media (including video, photos or audio) may be collected at this event. If you do not wish to be included, please stand aside and/or make yourself known to the photographer or videographer.

Destination Old Market is produced by Trinity Community Arts and is part of the City Centre and High Streets Culture and Events Programme, funded by Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority. The initiative aims to attract more visitors to the City Centre, boosting local businesses and the economy.

Feast like nobility or dine as a humble peasant - the choice is yours. From succulent spit-roasted pig to delicate mushroom tarts, our period-inspired fare satisfies every palate.

All while our town's finest jester keeps spirits high whilst Bristol's most talented musicians fill the air with melodies that transport you to days of old.

Line Up

True Strays • SOULBEE • Aileen Kelly

Further Info

A £5 deposit is required when booking. This deposit can either be refunded or exchanged for a voucher that can be spent in Old Market business taking part in the Destination Old Market.

To sign up for vouchers, after attending the event, a form will be sent to you so that you can choose your business of choice!

Please be aware that media (including video, photos or audio) may be collected at this event. If you do not wish to be included, please stand aside and/or make yourself known to the photographer or videographer.

Destination Old Market is produced by Trinity Community Arts and is part of the City Centre and High Streets Culture and Events Programme, funded by Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority. The initiative aims to attract more visitors to the City Centre, boosting local businesses and the economy.

Old Market is set to undergo a vibrant take-over this Autumn as the city-centre location becomes host to, Destination Old Market, a programme of public events showcasing the area's cultural and creative scene.

Taking place throughout October to November 2024 we have created a programme that will feature pop-up gigs and performances in secret locations in the area - shining a spotlight on the many artisans, makers and independent businesses based in the area.

"Living in Old Market for nearly a decade has made it feel like a part of me. I love the blend of its buildings, the unique characters, and the deep historical significance it holds for Bristol. My goal is to share with audiences a side of the city that’s often overlooked or taken for granted." - Tom Marshman, Artist

Businesses and shops will transform into DIY venues and will host pop-up performances from some of Bristol's finest live music, experimental sonics sounds & DJs. Line up so far includes Bristol's t l k, Copper Sounds + Sarahsson, Josephine Gyasi and James Storm. Pop up venues so far include pubs, hairdressers and retail shops.

Audiences can delve deep into Old Market's rich contemporary history through a new theatrical promenade performance devised by writer and artist, Edson Burton, in collaboration with artist Tom Marshman. Taking place in locations throughout Old Market, the audiences will uncover the captivating lives and stories that have shaped Bristol's Old Market into one of the city’s most memorable streets.

People can book Destination Old Market events through our website. A £5 deposit is required when booking. This deposit can either be refunded or exchanged for a voucher that can be spent in Old Market business taking part in the Destination Old Market.

Destination Old Market will take place on the following dates:

A Sound Odyssey:

Saturday 12 Oct

Saturday 02 Nov

A Theatrical Promenade

Sunday 13 Oct

Sunday 20 Oct

Sunday 27 Oct

Sunday 03 Nov

About Destination Old Market

Destination Old Market is produced by Trinity Community Arts and is part of the City Centre and High Streets Culture and Events Programme, funded by Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority. The initiative aims to attract more visitors to the City Centre, boosting local businesses and the economy.

We are excited to launch our Spring Theatre and Arts programme at Trinity that offers audiences an exciting exploration of themes around counterculture and alternative lifestyles, queer untold stories, creative play and the power of movement.

The programme kicks off with Igloo on 16 Feb. Igloo is a non-verbal, playful theatrical experience filled with warmth, sensation and gentle exploration, suitable for babes in arms and pre-schoolers aged 0-3 accompanied by their carers. As part of each performance there will be a facilitated play session. The performance is non-verbal, but the play session contains some words. Audience members will also be given an Igloo picture book and other creative ideas to enable families to continue with creative play at home. Igloo is originally a Travelling Light and Bristol Old Vic co-production. Spaces are very limited, click here to sign up.

Later in February, on 23 Feb, we have Kill The Cop Inside Your Head, a theatre piece from spoken word and performance artist Subira Joy, exploring their experiences of being targeted by the police as a Black, queer and trans person in the UK. Combining striking visual imagery with powerful language, this new work examines the impact of the police in our communities and how we internalise their role to repress and suppress ourselves into submission. This is a rescheduled event, originally scheduled for November 2023. Click here to get your tickets.

Full Bloom Festival of dance for and by older people returns to Trinity on 16-17 Mar. Throughout the day, participants can take part in artistic workshops and dance performances including matinee and evening performances showcasing the work of Gerry's Attic Dance Company, a resident dance company who run weekly sessions at The Trinity Centre. Click here to get your tickets.

Closing out our Spring Theatre and Arts season, we have Roadside on 05 April, a solo theatre show inspired by interviews with roadside dwellers across the South West and drawing on the musical history of this new traveller community, from festivals to free parties, to songs around the fire. Click here to get your tickets for Roadside.

Trinity launches Seedling Sessions 2026 with International Women’s Day showcase celebrating women shaping Bristol’s music scene

Trinity will mark International Women’s Day 2026 by launching a new chapter of Seedling Sessions, spotlighting women shaping Bristol’s grassroots music scene both on and off stage.

Taking place on Sunday 8 March 2026 in Trinity’s Fyfe Hall, Seedling Sessions: Celebrating Women in Music continues the Trinity Presents 2026 programme with a bold, women-led showcase as part of Trinity’s 50th year of community arts.

Founded in 2016 by Bristol artist MĀDŁY, Seedling Sessions was created to address the lack of accessible platforms for emerging artists and creatives, particularly women and people from underrepresented backgrounds. This celebration builds on that legacy with a renewed focus on off-stage pathways, alongside live performance for women and non-binary local talent.

This iteration of Seedling Sessions launches at a time when gender inequality remains deeply embedded across the UK music industry.

Despite women making up over half of the music workforce, they hold just “27% of CEO roles” within the UK live music sector (LIVE & Women in CTRL, 2025). On stage, representation remains similarly uneven, “63% of acts were male, compared to around 21% female or female‑fronted acts,” equating to roughly one woman for every three men booked (A2D2, 2024). Behind the scenes, the imbalance is most extreme, with women making up just “5–7% of audio engineers and producers” (Birmingham City University / UK music technology sector estimate).

This edition of Seedling Sessions showcases local independent artists working across hip hop, pop, dance, punk and alternative music, while recognising the technical, creative and organisational roles that make grassroots music possible, reflecting the depth and diversity of women driving the city’s grassroots music scene today.

Line-up announced:

Badliana

A Bristol-based artist known for her dark and alternative sound, blending grime, rap, and alternative R&B with haunting vocals. A fearless performer, she has gained support from BBC Radio 1, BBC 1XTRA, and BBC Introducing. Currently part of Big Team's Next Level program, she is gearing up for 2026 with new releases, including the single "Bright Lights."

RED

RED is an exciting new voice in pop and dance music. Based in Bristol, this singer, songwriter, and producer blends infectious beats with emotionally charged songwriting and self-created 3D visuals. Her unapologetically queer, genre-defying music fuses glossy pop, underground club energy, and personal storytelling.

Moxie Dolls

An all girl alt/indie rock band from Bristol, advocating for feminist change in the music industry. Known for their catchy riffs and heavy sound, they have sold out venues like The Louisiana and Café Kino while building a strong presence in the local scene.

Speaking about Seedling Sessions, founder Cassie MĀDŁY commented:

“Seedling Sessions started 10 years ago as a response to seeing how many talented people were being overlooked or excluded from opportunities in music, especially women and people from underrepresented backgrounds. This International Women’s Day show isn’t about box-ticking – it’s about recognising the women who are already shaping our scene, on stage and behind the scenes, and creating space for them to thrive.”

One previous sound technician, Eleri Hewitt commented:

"Breaking into live sound can feel really closed-off, especially if you don’t already have connections. Seedling Sessions opened a door for me, it wasn’t just about helping out, it was about being supported and taken seriously."

This show forms part of Trinity Presents, Trinity’s in-house programme bringing outstanding performers and exciting new voices to communities at the heart of the city. The announcement follows previously revealed Trinity Presents shows, including Grove (sold out), and Mia Kodan & Friends.

As Trinity celebrates 50 years of music, community and empowerment, Seedling Sessions 2026 reinforces its ongoing commitment to nurturing talent, amplifying underrepresented voices, and supporting the future of grassroots music in Bristol.

Event listing details

Seedling Sessions: Celebrating Women in Music 
Date: Sunday 8 March 2026 
Time: 5:00pm – 8:00pm 
Venue: Trinity Centre, Fyfe Hall 
Tickets: Available via Headfirst
Age: 14+ (under 16s must be accompanied by an adult) 
Last entry: 2 hours before curfew

Festus Market. Photo credit: KoLAB Studios

Throughout 2023, we celebrated the 75th Anniversary of Windrush through our community arts programme. Working with key partners including St Paul’s Carnival, Ujima Radio, Eastside Community Trust and the Malcolm X Centre, we created a community-led project to celebrate the communities who moved to Bristol during the 1950s and to give voice to Caribbean elders' experiences, resilience and memories.

"I had wicked fun. When are you doing it again?" Feedback, Festus

In partnership with Tamasha Theatre and Coney, we supported the creation of 'Duppy Hunter', an audio adventure set on the streets of St Paul’s. The script was developed during the summer of 2023 with the support of current and former St Paul’s residents and members of Malcom X elders. The listening experience went live in October to coincide with Black History Month. We organised a special listening party in November for the Malcolm X Elders who were unable to experience the walking tour due to their access needs.

In partnership with Eastside Community Trust, we programmed a screening of 'Barrel Children' at Easton Community Centre. The film explores the challenges of Black families separated by migration during the Windrush era.

In December, we hosted 'Festus' - an all-day event celebrating Caribbean/Black British culture. During the day we open the door for an indoor craft market led by Black traders and invited acclaimed, locally-based poet, Zaykia Mckenzie to perform to traders and visitors. Alongside this, Ofeila Balogun from Irie Dance Company led a Caribbean/African dance workshop.

As part of the evening's celebrations we screened 'Inna Wi Carnival', a documentary film commemorating the role of Bristol’s Caribbean elders in establishing the first St Paul’s Carnival. This was followed with a quiz, party games, dance floor 'foolery' and a performance by rapper/spoken word artist Jonny Steel.

Across the year the project connected with over 500 people - using arts and entertainment to share, explore and celebrate the history and experiences of the Windrush generations in Bristol. Due to the success of the Festus market, we will be working with stakeholders to bring additional events in 2024 - watch this space.

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.

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.