Things are hotting up for our M&S Energy Community Energy Fund campaign, we are currently in second place. Wohoo! With just a few more votes we could take a giant leap towards making the Trinity Centre sustainable for the future. Every vote counts and it only takes a moment.

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.

Trinity has been short-listed for the M&S Energy Community Energy Fund.

A public vote will decide which community groups win a share of the £400,000 available to enable more communities in the UK to generate renewable energy and become environmentally and financially sustainable.

If successful, the funds will contribute toward the installation of solar PV to Trinity Centre roof, to help support ongoing maintenance costs of this much-loved, grade II* listed, community arts centre.

We already have £1,000 committed from the Naturesave Trust toward the project and are seeking support from Heritage Lottery Fund as part of a wider building works programme to repair the windows and masonry.

Voting commences on the 17 August and closes on 30 September.

Cast your vote here!

You can show your support for the project directly by supporting our crowdfunding project here.

There's also still time to vote for Trinity as Just Giving's Charity of the Year.

Our current offer for young people, Sept-Dec 2015, includes:

1-2-1s & Music Outreach

Trinity offers 1-2-1 and music outreach sessions for young people on a referral basis Read More…

Free music drop-in

Free music sessions each Wednesday, for all ages and abilities Read More…

Music Production

DJing and music production sessions each Friday Read More…

Amplify: Accessible Music Production Course

A 6 week course by Drake Music for disable people 18+ on Tuesday evenings, starting 22 Sep Read More...

Our facilities

Trinity has a professional recording studio and live band room, fully equipped with:

• two drum kits
• three electric guitars
• two acoustic guitars
• two bass guitars
• two piano and keyboards

We have a music technology suite with five internet connected computers all running audio recording and sequencing software and a Graffiti Room with four additional machines. Read more about our recording studio here...

About Trinity

Trinity is a working live music venue - we regularly host national and international touring bands and world class musical artists, performing live throughout the year.

Recently we've had sold out shows from Mercury Award nominated artist FKA Twigs and rock legend Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders). This puts us in a unique position to provide students with front line industry work experience and contact with professionals in the industry who are able to share their experiences first hand.

If you are interested in coming along to one of Trinity's music sessions, or would just like to know more, contact davet@3ca.org.uk / 01179351200.

HYPE - stands for Helping young People Excel - are an urban, hip-hop dance troupe who rehearse at Trinity weekly, coming up with exciting and vibrant street dance routines that they can perform and compete with at both local and national level.

They consist of two groups for different ages and abilities - Li'l Hype & Hype Seniors - made up largely of local young people from the Easton, Ashley and Lawerence Hill area.

Running for over 7 years, the Hype troupes consistently qualify for local, national and international competitions, winning and bringing group and solo trophies as they go along: the World Dance Championships in August 2010, the XM British Open Street Dance Weekend 2014, the UDO and WDO Welsh Street Dance Championships in 2014 and more recently returned from Dance Camp Disney Paris with 15 dance trophies, including 1st place for over 14's advance teams and duos as well as 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in beginners and advance solos.

95% of Hype students have gone onto further education at College and University, and some have even chosen to study dance!

They are currently seeking help from Bristol businesses and individuals, to sponsor the costs of transportation for the group so that they can compete and perform across the country.

Tasha, Hype's dedicated dance instructor said; “We are going to the UK Street Dance Challenge in Alton this November - the cost of the coach is over £1,000 and the parents just can't afford it on top of the entry fee, which was £99 per person. It's events like this that we really need transport money for.”

If you would like to support these hard-working young people, please get in touch with us at karina@3ca.org.uk / 0117 935 1200 or contact the troupe directly via thype@hotmail.co.uk / 07717 574482.

You can also text HYPE00 [and the amount you want to donate] to 70070 to donate to they Hype dance project.

Click here if you are a young person and would like to join the troupe.

The count down is on to Make Sunday Special, Stapleton Road style – 10 days to go until The World on One Street! We're getting ready for a great afternoon of live music from 47SOUL, Batch Gueye Band, The Scribes, Linda B & The Tornados, Sasha Steppa, Area Boys. Activities and workshops from @Bristol, Afrika Eye, Invisible Youth, Mufti and Litterati to name a few. Plus lots of great stalls, check out the full programme and download your map here.

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.

As part of the event, we have been working with local traders, who will be providing a unique world food and trade offer for the street.

Traders involved as part of the event include Malik's Supermarket - a fantastic world food offer to rival the SweetMart on St Mark's Road - Hodgsons Furniture, Sun Hing Chinese, AS Shopping Precinct providing a café and clothing, the Leisure Café and Chez Saynab Café, A1 Health 4 U, the Post office and United Supermarket, Al Madina fruit and veg, A Khaliq and Sons, Star Coffee, Maheem Mini-Mart and The Best Supermarket.

We'll also be providing space for traders from the top-end of Stapleton Road to join in the fun - Cleo's Kitchen, Bikkle The Mighty Food Fight and Ambala will all be providing some tasters and demonstrations on the day.

We also have a range of food-stalls, who will be providing delicious food from across the globe.

R.M.Taz catering will be cooking up some traditional Jerk chicken while Rana's Dhaba Junction will offer a taste of India with some curry-delights and Malioboro Corner will serve traditional kebabs. Hussein will be providing falaffal, Arabic coffee alongside other Moroccan treats.

Viva La Mexicana will bring Mexican food to the event and Flamers will bring the spirit of British summer with some real BBQ food.

After all that hot food you can cool down with Lucilles ice-cream, milkshakes and more - they're delicious and have attended our garden party a lot!

As well as drinks served by local traders, you can also quench your thirst with Sugarloaf's Alcohol free RumShack, serving alcohol-free cocktails. Plus, the Trinity bar-team have teamed up with the Thali Café and will be providing traditional drinks including Mango Lassis – you can also join in one of our workshops to make your own! Yum!

There will be art from Guy Watts , crafts and more provided by Young Bristol's 'Do15 Project', handmade jewellery from Ashanti Empress, stall from Dexterity Designs, Fugee clothing and Miss Rochie Makes handmade clothing and accessories.

This is all alongside the wider programme of 'Get Active' workshops offered along the street and in various locations including Stapleton Road Chapel, Easton Leisure Centre and Easton Family Centre.

Plus performances by some of Bristol's best loved organisations and our live-music stage with a packed-out line-up.

So join us, 12pm-6pm for the first – and best – Make Sunday Special on Stapleton Road!

Click here for more info about the programme.

Hope you are all enjoying the summer out there? We've been keeping busy with some great workshops out in the garden, from Cob Oven Building and Foraging Walks for the grown ups (don't miss the next Foraging Walk, Wednesday 19th August) to Children's Adventures in Nature, Little Green Warriors and Holiday Lunch Club for the kids. Plenty more on offer to keep the younger ones entertained with our list of Summer Activities.

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

We hope you are all enjoying the mix of rain and sunshine! In order to celebrate the never boring weather in Bristol, we have a wide range of summer activities for children and young people starting this week, so don't let them get bored this summer! Get creative at Trinity whatever the weather!

Children's Adventures in Nature

Mon, Wed & Thu from 27 Jul to 31 Aug, 2pm-4pm

Children aged 6-12 can join the fun at the Trinity Community Garden, where they can connect with nature through all weather activities, like forest school, bushcraft and play. Free  - suggested donation £5. Contact Lisa: lisat@3ca.org.uk / 07791 140 916

Outdoor Adventure Youth Group

Mondays, 6pm-8pm

12-18 year olds can join us every week to learn about bush-craft, fire-lighting, shelter building, foraging, food growing and cooking at the Trinity Garden. No need to book, just come along, its free! Contact Lisa: lisat@3ca.org.uk / 07791 140 916

Holiday Lunch Clubs

Wednesdays: 29 July, 12 & 26 Aug, 10am-12pm

A cookery club for parents and children of all ages. Come and enjoy cooking with other local families, and enjoy your creations in our beautiful garden. Free (donations welcome) - Booking essential, contact Helen: helenw@3ca.org.uk / 0117 935 1200

World's Largest Samba Dance!

Wednesdays 29 Jul; 5, 12 & 19 Aug, 5.30pm-6pm

Help us beat the current Guinness World Record for the World's Largest Samba Dance at the Stapleton Rd Make Sunday Special event on Sunday 23 August. Join the free dance workshop sessions and learn the simple routine created by World Jungle Samba Dancers. Contact Ripley: ripley@3ca.org.uk / 0117 935 1200

Hype Dance Street Dance

Wednesdays, 6pm-7pm and 7pm-8pm

Exciting and vibrant street dance training, which is not only fun but a good way of keeping fit! for ages 5 to 11 and 12 to 25 yrs old. £5 per session (please arrive 10 minutes early to sign in). Contact Natasha: thype@hotmail.co.uk / 0117 935 1200

Little Green Warriors

Fridays, 12.30-2.30pm

A weekly meet for parents, carers & their preschoolers to enjoy seasonal activities and the urban outdoors in our beautiful community garden – Free! Contact Helen: helenw@3ca.org.uk / 0117 935 1200

Music Open Day!

Fri 14 Aug, 10am-4pm

Are you 13-21 yrs old? Try something new for free! Drums, Guitar, DJ, MC, Vocals, Production; followed by a BBQ and your chance to perform on our stage!

Contact Karina: info@3ca.org.uk / 0117 935 1200

Nominations are open for Just Giving's Charity of the Year 2015. If you'd like to make Trinity Community Arts your winner, visit Just Giving's Facebook page to cast your vote today.

If you’re not a Facebook user, you can email your nomination to Just Giving at awards@justgiving.com

Voting closes Sunday 23 August 2015.

There's also time to vote for Trinity to win a share of the M&S Community Energy Fund.

A Centre for the People

Trinity Community Arts' mission is to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to access and shape arts and culture in Bristol. We provide a progressive programme of live music and creative activities, as well as space for individuals to follow their passions and flexible facilities to suit almost any event or activity.

Based in The Trinity Centre, this much-loved historic landmark is a cultural hub for the city, where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together - connecting communities and developing people's skills through the arts.

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.

On January 30th 2015 there came a Teachings like no other. There had been talk for a while about Dubkasm vs Gorgon Sound and then they through OBF Soundsystem into the mix with Solo Banton on the mic. It was a night that will be hard to forget. The quality of sound is always perfect but this was next level plus the beautiful orange OBF system.

Peng Sound have been pushing things forward for many years in Bristol and teaming up with Teachings In Dub gave this event another element of excitement. The place was rammed from start to finish until the lights came on for the final track. The 2 hours that Dubkasm & Gorgon Sound played for was dubplate after dubplate, some now release and some will never be but this is the beauty of dubplates.

So  6 months later we thought we had heard the last of this night when out of nowhere Peng Sound let the world know that this 2 hour set was to be release on cassette!! You can listen to side A tape 1 to get a taster of the night.

You can snap up the cassette for yourself at RWDFWD

With 40,000 coming through the doors every year, many Bristolians are familiar with The Trinity Centre - a converted church-cum-community arts centre at the top of Old Market high street

In the words of one online reviewer, “Trinity is very much a part of Bristolian culture, and is typical of the values and aspirations of many of the creative types that live here...with a multi-purpose remit, the programme is pretty varied.”

Sunday began in the garden with a Foraging Walk - part of the Bristol 2015 funded Grow it, Cook it, Eat it! Project - led by Project Coordinator Helen. Foragers explored the garden and surrounding for natural edibles, before heading back to eat seasonal foraged salad washed down with elderflower cordial. Foragers commented; "it inspired me to be more self sustaining" and that it was "a great way to feel out of the city just walking round the corner".

What followed was “A Showcase of Physical Theatre” from Attack! Pro Wrestling - perhaps one of Trinity's more unusual activities, As Alex, Trinity's Assistant Bar Manager said; “No two events are alike - you go from having a wrestling ring in the middle of the hall, to having a sound-system stack - it keeps you on your toes!”

Upstairs, saw the staging of Current Location - a performance set in the aftermath of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, presented by Fellswoop Theatre. Bristol Evening Post describe the company as, “one of the most exciting companies to come out of the South West”. Reviewer Claire Haynes (The Public Reviews) thinks that, while the performance still has areas for development before presenting at this year's Edinburgh festival in August, it “unquestionably it has the potential to create a truly haunting and unforgettable production.”

This is one of the key purposes of Trinity - a space for incubation and to test and develop work. It is these raw performances that make Trinity an exciting arts development space - as Mayfest recently tweeted, “A salute to @TrinityBristol for always being generous, clear, good at listening, and genuinely committed to community. A force for good.”

Monday activities in the garden continued, with an Outdoor Adventure Youth Group in the afternoon, led by the Trinity Community Garden. Young people aged 12-18 learnt about bush-craft, fire-lighting, foraging, food growing and wild-cooking.

As well as gardening activities, Youth Music Training also took place throughout the week. Training team, Al, Ed, Josh and Pete, led by Coordinator Dave, work with over 60 young people each year across a range of sessions. They provide both 121 and group sessions for young people from a range of challenging circumstances. The team have also been working with the Teenage Cancer Trust (TCT), to provide music sessions remotely to young people receiving treatment at Bristol Children's Hospital. Speaking about a recent session, TCT Youth Support Co-ordinator said; "We all loved the last workshop, it was fantastic, Dave and Al were both brilliant with the young people, and engagement was brilliant - I think pretty much everyone on the Unit had a go at something!” 

Often known for its activities for young people, Trinity also has an expanding programme of activities for older people. The growing Gentle Dance group is testimony to this. Initially started as a Link Age funded project in 2012, the small group of six regulars kept the group going after funding stopped and it now attracts up to 30 people over 55s each week.

Dedicated volunteer dance instructor Barry Shields leads the group each week though music across the decades, including a range of ballroom, salsa and club style social dancing. Regular dancer Jean said, “its a nice crowd of people and I've made good friends since I've joined the group.”

Upstairs Liz Clarke began her rehearsals in run up to workshops and live-performance in July - Cannonballista - giving the audience an opportunity to explore their inner superhero.

In the evening the venue was taken over by the rhythmic beats of Bristol Samba drummers and dancers rehearsals. Anyone who has been to the annual St Werburgh's Farm Fair or St Paul's Carnival will be familiar with the vibrating volume of this stalwart of Bristol community events. The group see Trinity as their home, having rehearsed at the venue for well over 10 years.

The garden keeps on going on Tuesday, with Gardening for Health - a weekly session, free for anyone wanting to benefit their physical and mental well-being. People learnt how to grow different herbs and enjoyed seasonal jobs in the garden, cooking and eating what had been grown from previous sessions.

There was also a lot of excitement about the live performance of Ariel Pink, LA singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist & producer, programmed at Trinity by Bristol music venue giant Colston Hall - a first collaboration of the two venues, with possibilities of future gigs to follow.

On Wednesday, Fareshare - a local charity that combats poverty and food waste - took advantage of the sunny garden to hold a volunteer barbecue: “We had a really really lovely time, Trinity's garden is beautiful and all of the staff were really helpful. We can't wait to come back again!”

New Youth Bloco Samba project rehearsed outside in the glorious sunshine while inside, the Main Hall was filled with Hype Dance energy – one of Bristol's finest urban dance groups, competing regularly at national level and recently winning over 15 dance trophies at Dance Camp Disney‬ Paris. Tasha Benjamin is the most committed dance instructor and her dedication rubs off on her 60 strong troupe, from age five up to 19+ rehearsing each week. Young dancer Leanna said; “Trinity is, like, a place for the whole dance group - it holds us up and it's where we can do what we do.”

Alongside Youth Music Training, the building came alive on Thursday with City of Bristol College rehearsals and performance. Josh Cooper, leading his BTEC Performing Arts students, said, “through the provision of subsidized performance space for our end of term college performances we have been able to allow our students to perform in a new and vibrant venue, giving them invaluable experience as they develop their professional performing skills.”

Garden Coordinator Anita led people round the garden for her Herbal Sessions, teaching how to grow different herbs, their medicinal benefits. The group said they had a great time walking around the "beautiful abundant location" and that the course was, "open and accessible” allowing people to “touch, eat and learn directly from nature". Also, as part of Bristol's Big Green Week 2015, Bristol based firm gcp Chartered Architects, hosted PassivHaus Thursday - a free exhibition and conference about environmental standards and sustainability for new construction and building refurbishments.

The sun was shining and visitors Selina and Helen from the Ludlow Assembly Rooms got to see first hand how the building comes alive with an array of different activities and people. The pair were paying a visit to discuss their plans to develop their venue and were inspired by the variety, stating, “it's been a great form of motivation for us.”

The garden team ran Little Green Warriors Stay & Play sessions on Friday. Parents, carers and their preschoolers came together to share their lunch and enjoy sensory activities, seasonal art, nature play and the urban outdoors in the beautiful community garden.

Music Sessions were in full swing with Josh, Music Tutor, delivering 121 sessions for young people excluded or at risk of being excluded from school. Pupils from the Oasis Academy and Include come throughout the day to learn how to use music software, produce music and master the drums.

Saturday saw the marriage of Mel and Andy. In its heyday as a parish church, Trinity was the go-to church for all weddings. With a new licence for civil ceremonies, Trinity is re-emerging as a popular Bristol wedding venue for people wanting a unique, DIY experience.

This is just one small glimpse into the life of Trinity. It is a snapshot of a cosmopolitan community and it shows that, while a building can be great, it is nothing without the people who bring it to life.

This week it is all about the film – Dear White People, premièring in Bristol here at the Trinity Centre in collaboration with Come The Revolution, this social satire “follows the stories of four black students at an Ivy League college where controversy breaks out over a popular but offensive black-face party thrown by white students. With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the film explores racial identity in acutely-not-post-racial America while weaving a universal story of forging one's unique path in the world.”

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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Vice & Virtue: Discovering the story of Old Market will be officially launched at an event at Trinity on Thursday 16th July, 6:30-9pm.

The event which also includes the launch of an on-going exhibition and website has been organised by Trinity Community Arts and is part of their commitment to celebrating the heritage of Bristol’s legendary Old Market high street.

The book is currently on sale at the Trinity Centre and via Bristol Books, who describe the book as follows:

‘Medieval market,’ ‘bustling High Street’, ‘wild west’, ‘a wasteland’, ‘massage parlours’, ‘gay area’, ‘up and coming.’ Old Market conjures a myriad of conflicting associations in the minds of Bristolians. There is some truth to all these associations. They reveal the story of Old Market’s brightest hour as part of Bristol’s shopping Golden Mile, the riotous inter war years, the impact of war, post war decline brought on by the redevelopment of the city centre, and revival as Bristol’s gay quarter.

Vice and Virtue details each phase, introducing the reader to the people, the institutions and the processes that have created Old Market’s rich heritage. The title is a playful nod to complex and interlinked themes that have defined this area for centuries.

For more information, visit our Marketplace.

The book was written by Dr Edson Burton and Mike Manson and has been produced thanks to funding from Heritage Lottery Fund and with support from The Old Market Community Association and Quartet Community Foundation.

For more information about the launch event on Thu 16th July, click here. If you would like to attend the event, please send an RSVP to info@3ca.org.uk or call the Trinity office on 0117 935 1200 and leave your name.

Make Sunday Special - Stapleton Road

The World On One Street

Sunday 23 August, 12pm-6pm
Contemporary World Music headlined by 47 Soul
Food, Stalls, Dance, Performances and Film
'Get Active' workshops including Sport & Fitness, Science & Nature and Art & Craft
Plus, an exciting World Record breaking attempt for the world's largest Samba Dance! More details coming soon!

Alcohol free event

This year Make Sunday Special is coming to Bristol's neighbourhoods as well as keeping the fun going in the city centre. On the first Sunday of the month from May through to September there will be music, food, fun and shopping in and around Corn Street in the Old City, but you will also be able to make your Sunday special in our local event in Lawrence Hill where Trinity, Up Our Street and The Stapleton Road Working Group & Traders Association are holding an event as part of the programme on 23 August, 2015.

"We welcome this opportunity to work in partnership with others to make Stapleton Road ‘Make Sunday Special’, a true reflection of the diverse community in which Stapleton Road serves. We aim to showcase and celebrate local talent, skills and community spirit." Pat Usherwood, Chair of the Stapleton Road Working Group

"Come along for family fun, music, dance, workshops and more - there will be something for everyone and the event will be a great opportunity to have some Sunday fun in your neighbourhood!" Emma Harvey, Centre Manager of Trinity

For more details about the programme, click here.

The event has been made possible thanks to support from Bristol City Council. Visit www.bristol.gov.uk/sundays for all the latest news on everything that is going on as part of Make Sunday’s Special.

We're looking for people to get involved with the first ever Make Sunday Special on Stapleton Road and help us make it the best one in the city!

The theme of the event is 'The World On One Street' so we're looking for people who can provide world foods, crafts and produce to give people a taste of BS2/BS5! The event is alcohol free, so we're also looking for traders to assist us in providing tasty alcohol-free drinks options (lassis, smoothies, mocktails etc).

If you are interested in having a stall, please email Ripley: ripley@3ca.org.uk

Make Sunday Special, Stapleton Road - The World On One Street
Sunday 23 August, 12pm-6pm
Contemporary World Music headlined by 47 Soul
Food, Stalls, Dance, Performances and Film
'Get Active' workshops including Sport & Fitness, Science & Nature and Art & Craft

Plus, an exciting World Record breaking attempt! More details coming soon!

Click here to find out more about the event.

Could you give a brief history of the venue?

The Trinity Centre is a much-loved historic landmark and has been hosting live-music events since it ceased to be a church in 1976. The venue was pivotal in the 80s Punk, Reggae and Ska scenes, with performances from New Order, Eek-A-Mouse and post-punk stalwarts The Stingrays performing alongside newcomers U2. A predominant Bristol music venue in the 90s, the venue quickly established a reputation as the birthplace of 'the Bristol Sound', for its role in early performances from Massive Attack, Portishead, to international artists Public Enemy.

Today the venue is host to performances from both of home-grown and international talent and, with performances from the likes of Damon Albarn and Duran Duran, is fast becoming a space for larger touring artists to reach their fan-base in an intimate setting.

What is Trinity's USP?

As a former converted church the space offers a unique setting with great acoustics. Alongside our main hall, Fyfe Hall - our newly renovated upstairs hall-space - provides a great alternative for acoustic performances. The venue has a great reputation as one of Bristol's best venues, helping to attract audiences from Bristol and beyond.

Who is Trinity owned/operated by?

Trinity Community Arts is a registered charity with a trading subsidiary running the centre on a long-term lease. As a community asset the building itself is owned by Bristol City Council. The team running the venue have many years experience in the delivery of live-music events and are well linked with other venues, groups and artists across the city.

What recent music events have you held and what's been your biggest music show to date?

Notable performances this year have been from American singer-songwriter Banks, indie-rockers British Sea Power, electronic-rock from Awolnation, choral-symphonic-pop The Polyphonic Spree, an epically loud performance from noise rock band Swans and international drum and bass musician LTJ Bukem.

Any particular promoters/companies you work with?

Promoters include DHP, Metropolis and Live Nation – we also work a lot with the team at Fleece Bristol who have promoted some great acts at Trinity, such as tUnE-yArDs. There are a number of local promoters we work with including newcomers Goldtopp and the fantastic Teachings in Dub crew, who pull together the best Sound System nights in the South West. Most recently they brought Mungos Hi-Fi - a bunch of Scottish guys who turn up in their kilts and tweed and bring sounds from the original Jamaican sound system tradition - performing alongside Classic Wonder Vetrans, who made their name during the 90s at the peak of the dancehall scene.

How many live music events, on average, do you hold a year?

We hold around 50 events every year and this number is growing year-on-year. With the addition of our new upstairs hall space, we anticipate this number increasing.

How has live music been for you over the past year? Where are we heading - do you anticipate an increase in live music at Trinity?

Audiences are spoilt for choice where live-music is concerned. It's not enough to just like the artist's music - they have to put on a great performance. One of the most charismatic performers we've had was Lianne La Havas - she really reached out to the audience and everyone really felt part of that energy. People want to feel part of something – a shared experience that goes beyond the tracks themselves. With millions of tracks being readily downloadable, it's what makes the live-music scene so special.

Are you seeing any particular trends of musical genres at Trinity, or what works best with your audiences?

With a venue our size we tend to see artists 'on their way up' so to speak. You always get the sense that, once you've seen them at Trinity once, you'll be lucky to catch them again in such an up-close-and-personal setting. That's what makes the fan-club nights so epic! Reggae, electronic and Americana feature quite heavily – music that stems for the DIY scene, coming up through independent channels.

How would you describe your 'typical' audience?

Trinity has such a range of acts that it's hard to say what our typical audience is. I think there is an audience base that has a love of the venue. They're probably 30s-40s with a couple of kids that can still remember the time they came to Tribe of Frog late 90s when 2000+ people were packed into the venue and sweat was pouring off the ceiling! Lots of people have a lot of love for the space from that era in particular. Others will come along for a sound-system clash, or to see Seth Lakeman, and have a very different perspective. When you have a gigs in one week with artists such as Therapy? and Morgan Heritage in one week and then a Cameroon National Day with live music and traditional dance you think, wow these are very different audiences!

Do you ever have large well-known musical names wanting to play a warm-up or more intimate show?

Damon Albarn appears to be a fan of the venue which is great! He's performed here as The Good, The Good, The Bad And The Queen and, in 2010 as part of a Gorillaz fan-club tour and most recently to coincide with the release of Everyday Robots. This in particular was special as they needed someone locally to MC for the Clint Eastwood track. So a Bristol based MC, K*Ners, turns up in his work uniform, does the rehearsals and then bam! A few hours later he's performing live on stage with Damon. That was something special.

What threats/risks are out there for live music at arts centres?

Money, lack of money, venues competing for acts, audiences - the cost of putting nights on increases, but there's only so far you can push a gig-goer in terms of ticket price. But people still want the live experience so I think venues will be ok as long as they have a good sound and a good reputation. Even if you like the artist, a bad experience at a venue can put you off going back there.

Does the music industry need to do more to support live music at arts centres? If not the music industry, who else should be supporting arts centres?

We could see more involvement from the music industry in terms of supporting young talent. There are mechanisms there such as BBC Introducing, but it's getting that live-music presence that can be challenging for a new artist. Businesses in the creative industries and businesses more widely could support arts centres. It's where people have a lot of memorable experiences and a place where businesses could reach new markets. Last year we had a great gig with Aar Maanta's as part of his UK tour, brought to us by a local promoter. Bristol has a large Somalian community and it was the first time a musician from Somalia was touring the country. We were rammed! It was a great night and there's an audience there that certainly wants more, it's just finding and programming the right acts and having the resources to put behind something of this scale.

Do you think it's the role of the arts centre to support up and coming musical talent?

Absolutely. But it's finding out the best way to do this. We get calls all the time from people wanting to perform at the venue, but they don't have a track record. We're a 600 capacity venue so if someone's only going to pull 50 or 100 people then that's not the best way to support them in their development. I think it's about venues linking up a lot more and promoters being willing to use local support either in place or alongside their current support.

What marketing methods do you use to attract audiences to live music events?

We place ads in local publications such as Crack, Bristol Live Magazine and Metro. We also push online quite heavily on multiple listings sites and our own website, which is currently undergoing a facelift. Promoters will do their own marketing and we'll flyer and poster in other venues. Our Twitter and Facebook followers have grown rapidly and this seems to be a great way of letting people know what's happening.

Do you live stream your music events, or any plans to?

Not yet but we have talked about it. There are some Bristol based people who are keen to make this something Trinity could offer – a sort of 'Late Night With...' as a regular broadcast, but I think it's a way off – plus you need the buy-in from the artists and their team. It's not always something people are going to want to do, but it is a great way of reaching new audiences.

If you could make one prediction for innovation in live music at arts centres, what do you think will become popular/will we see more of soon?

More collaborative works where live-music takes place alongside other performing arts – dance, circus, theatre. More live-music happening in unique settings and larger artists performing in intimate venues to reach out to their core audience and test new material.

How have ticket sales been for your live music events over the past year? Have you seen an increase?

Ticket sales have been very good. That's thanks to working with established promoters who know what they're doing and can help to ensure a night's success. Sometimes they've been too good – we've lost a couple of nights where they've sold out early and moved the gig to a larger venue in Bristol. It's a bit disappointing - but then I guess that's business!

Are there any bands or artists that you'd love to have play a show at Trinity?

Well, Prince has been doing a spate of fan-club nights in smaller London venues, so it would be amazing if the South West could get a taste of the action! Failing that, I'd love to see a Bristol Sound revival night with Tricky, Massive Attack and Portishead. K'naan performing Wavin' Flag live for our local audience would be brilliant. Requests from the Trinity Team include Di Antwood, Beck, Pixies, Arcade Fire, These New Puritans, Kraftwerk, Indigo Girls, David Byrne – in fact, anyone from Talking Heads. So, if anyone's reading and would like to make it happen, please give us a shout!

What changes have there been to your venue over the last year? Are there any plans for significant developments over the next year?

The biggie has really been the renovation of our upstairs hall – Fyfe Hall – we've taken essentially a rather large, cold, echoy box and turned it into a beautiful hall with stained glass windows, underfloor heating and sprung wooden floor. The addition of full-height drapes have resolved acoustic issues making it a stunning setting for live-music sets.

Next steps will be to invest in our sound-system and in some much needed ventilation – now we're getting busier and with good weather it can all feel a bit clammy at a sell-out performance. With a big old converted church it's all about 'that's great, now what's next?'.

Anything else you'd like to mention?

We're working on projects that give more opportunities for upcoming artists to perform and build their audience and their links with other artists, promoters and organisations.

I think artists understand that when they visit Trinity, they are playing somewhere a bit different, somewhere where art forms cross over with community activities all under one roof – and we want to find more ways of making this happen and in a more meaningful way.

Our next stage is to support opportunities for the creation of new music from Trinity - Some of this comes through new initiatives such as partnerships with Tomorrows Warriors and their new Connexions workshops, as well as proposed residency and performance programme for 2015.

Watch this space.

Review from Theatre Bristol Writers in Residence: Bella Fortune

Stand is the product of conversations. The conversations continued long after leaving the Trinity centre, but in silence; an inner-monologue set to my footsteps, set to snippets of strangers passing conversations. Stand made me consider myself, my actions.

It made me proud of that time I stood up to the racist man in the restaurant in Edinburgh and made me see my Mother’s pleasure in witnessing this in a new, brighter light. Stand made me hope that in the future I will be braver in making positive choices and not stop myself due to fear of an unsuccessful ending. Stand made me miss my younger self- the one who could be so riled up about the wrongs of the world.

Stand made my friend sad when she realised later that these were actors, not the activists, performing the verbatim transcript. Stand impressed me that the quality of performance made her think this.

Stand meant I was sure to find a bin to put my cigarette butt in and to feel guilty for all of the discarded ones that came before it and every dropped one that is sure to come. Stand reminded me that I am only human. Stand made me plump-up with pride for people. It made me deflate with despair in humanity.

Stand made me think of my friend who spends weeks, months living in protest sites; of the arrests, beatings, losses and wins. It made me question why I have been so hesitant to join him.

Stand made me wish I’d ordered the vegetarian quiche instead of this open-top ham sandwich but feel a little more at ease that at least the meat is locally sourced. Stand reassured me that standing-up can come in many forms. Stand is simple. It is sensitively, sometimes joyously performed. Stand made me want to know more, to do more. Stand made me want to be better.

Review from Theatre Bristol Writers in Residence: Bella Fortune

Dear Dance Marathon,

Thank you. I know we only spent a few hours together but I wanted to let you know how wonderful you are. Despite my aching calves and mysterious bruise, I miss you. You were a joy to be with. The friends I made through you might not last a lifetime but, for that one, lovely night, they meant so much. You made a team of two from strangers; we laughed, we tried and held on to each other.

At first I thought you were too good to be true and in a way I was right. Your trickery at first was subtle but once I realised the kindness in your lies I knew I had to forgive you. For some you made them feel inadequate; for others you gave them the courage to shine. And even though we floundered and fell, after knowing you for such a short time we all became champions. Even when our number was up we spurred each other on. Even when you stripped me of my purpose; an indignity which led me to the regrettable act of betraying my sister, still then, I fought on.

I saw so much through you. I witnessed amateurs evolve into experts. I saw kindness morph into competitiveness. I sensed strangers becoming friends and family turn into temporary enemies. You made me race to the finish line, flail in an attempt to regain my status, squish my sweaty body against an unknown other. And even though you may have turned me into a loser, well, I forgive you. You showed me humility; the sigh of relief in letting go of hopes of a trophy and cheering for our new, winning, friends.

So thank you Dance Marathon. Thank you for the fun, thank you for the music. Thank you for the artistry, thank you for the effort; I'm sure you must be tired so please go a take long and well deserved rest.

But know that - If we meet again - I'm on to you. And as I have already proved, I'm not above doing whatever it takes to leave our next night together as your dancing queen.

Love and very, very sweaty hugs,
Your not-so-bitter Loser.

Well we have been super busy this month, three amazing shows from Mayfest, a super line up for Dot to Dot and our biggest Garden Party yet which saw over 6000 people through the gate in one day...plus a Cider Festival and the usual live gigs, classes rehearsals and workshops.

Still to come before the end of the month we have a fabulous Roaring 20s Fundraiser this Friday, including live music, bar, games, raffle, best dressed prizes, mini vintage treatments and much much more! Tickets available on the door.

Next week we kick off June with Earl Sweatshirt, “talent so boisterous and music so innovative”, making an appearance all the way from LA “displaying grade-A lyricism in brilliantly dark fashion that you'd only associate with hip-hop's elite”, Odd Futures greatest asset launches out on his first solo UK tour.

Next week we also welcome the start of a two week run, returning from its UK tour and sell-out run at Edinburgh Festival 2014, the award-winning FellSwoop Theatre (Ablutions, Belleville Rendez-vous) present Current Location; an allegorical response to the ongoing and ever-increasing number of ecological disasters. A site specific production, developed specifically for Trinity Centre, Current Location will immerse and enlighten audiences in the significant issues and questions surrounding climate change:

“Quietly gripping and thoroughly unsettling, this piece climbs inside you, like the best examples of sci-fi”. Wildfire / Exeunt

Also announced on the website last week and coming up in July we have the UK’s sell out beer festival, Craft Beer Rising, launching its first cider event in Bristol this summer. Already confirmed: Prince Fatty & MC Horseman, Don Letts, Portishead sample digger Andy Smith, DJ Format & Boca 45. The Nextmen have just been added to the bill too so this is certain to sell out - get your tickets in early.

Also, don't forget the monthly regulars, Bump Roller Disco, Lil' Bumpers and Rhythm of The Night.

The need for Solar PV has been identified as an essential measure in a recent 'Green Audit' carried out by UWE graduates, to improve our long-term sustainability.

Installation of Solar PV will compliment other recently funded improvement works - including roof insulation, improved heating controls and new LED lighting - leading to significant improvements to the energy performance of the building, enabling us to ensure the building's future.

The installation will form part of a wider capital project, for which we are seeking support from Heritage Lottery Fund, to repair our windows, roofing, stonework and towers.

The proposed installation will help us to:

• reduce our carbon footprint, conserve energy and improve our efficiency
• reduce financial costs of energy, with electricity generated at the point of use
• enable us to continue to provide free and subsidised hall space to community groups
• invest in ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the Grade II* Listed building through the feed-in tariff generated

Solar PV is one of the most expensive options available to TCA for energy and carbon reduction, but is one of the most effective options - providing an effective technology for reducing carbon output and improving the level of renewable energy available. After installation there is very little effort required to support and maintain the system, making it a perfect carbon and cost saving measure.

Support from the Naturesave Trust to deliver this project will enable us to achieve sustainability through reducing our overheads and developing our revenue streams to ensure future core funding is not required to cover increasing centre running costs.

During his visit last year, Andrew Vines, Planning and Conservation Director, English Heritage, South West commented: “The Trinity Centre is a case in point of how old historic buildings can be given a new lease of life and once again become a key part of the community.”