*Mara Simpson, the Prince Albert, Mon 8th May*

Bank Holiday Weekends in the Stroud District always brings forth the odd festival or two, a multitude of exhibitions, special gigs, comedy events and much more inviting locals to stick around for a staycation . This weekend with that extra Bank Holiday is no different featuring everything from beer festivals, gigs in churches, breweries and record shops, a pub quiz in a 500 capacity venue to Copperplate Calligraphy and sculpture exhibitions. So if the crown doesn’t fit and you’re hunting for something sans bunting read on for our Alternative Guide to the Coronation Weekend…

FESTIVALS

*Catch Dog of Man at the Crown and Sceptre for their Bank Holiday Festival*

THE BIG MAY BEER, CIDER, MUSIC AND FOOD FESTIVAL WEEKEND
MAY 5TH - 8TH
The Hat and Stick presents a weekend festival of Beer, Cider, Music and Food! Hot foot will be available all weekend plus live music from the likes of Dog Of Man, Chinese Burn, Lost Submarines, Portobello, The Pumps, Scrimshaw, Reduced To Clear, Mr Marko’s Outer Space Emporium, 3 Litre Capri and the Scrutineers. Sunday brings forth a Big Open Mic night hosted by the Reverend Stretch.
crownandsceptrestroud.com

MUSIC

*The Slimline Shufflers, the Ale House, Fri 5th*

THE ALE HOUSE
FRI 5TH Slimline Shufflers
New Orleans style Rhythm and Blues. 8:30pm Free
thealehousestroud.com

CHRIST CHURCH NAILSWORTH
SUN 7TH Bristol Ensemble Tea Time Concert: Music of America
The woodwind have their chance to shine in this programme of colourful music from around Europe including works by Rossini, Debussy, and Ponchielli. 3pm £15/£13concs (tea and home made cakes served at 4pm)
bristolensemble.com

KLANG TONE RECORDS
SAT 6TH Felix Jupiter
Guitarist and singer Felix Jupiter’s experiments are lo-fi, indie and folk alternating between found and constructed sound, often tender but sometimes abrasive. He effortlessly combining non linearity alongside classic folk structure, generating an intoxicating blend of fluid song forms and psychedelic soundscapes.5-6pm Free
instagram.com/klang_tone_records

LANSDOWN HALL
SAT 6TH VibeHive: U18s Stroud Edition
Bringing you the hottest talent, DJ’s and emerging artists to one place for a night of music, entertainment and vibes! Including sets of Dnb, jungle, garage, hiphop and more! Performances from Junglecast, Johnnie Darko, Esplexx, Lysergic, Cubs, Hedinashed, Duttygoonz, Giraud, Kagey and Tilda. Bar serving soft drinks and water. 8pm
lansdownhall.org

*Henry Priestman and Les Glover, The Prince Albert, Sun 7th*

THE PRINCE ALBERT
SAT 6TH Scustin
This Dublin band are purveyors of "Post - Funk" which they create by blending humorous storytelling with a jazzy funk take on indie rock. Their sound was created by imagining what would happen if Blindboy, Mike Skinner and Jamiroquai went for a boozy night out in Bray and wrote an album about it. 8pm Free
SUN 7TH Wee Shanties
Catherine leads the troupes into a fabulous afternoon of singing for all the family. Always uplifting, fun, noisy and busy. This is an inclusive come with the family event, aimed at toddlers and early school age kidlings.
SUN 7TH Henry Priestman, Les Glover
Million selling album songwriter Henry Priestman and his musical partner Les Glover bring their sellout show to Stroud. Henry wrote the classic songs; 'Forgotten Town' 'When The Finger Points' 'Ideal World' and 'Hooverville' when he was with Liverpool band The Christians. You can expect to hear songs from a 30 year back catalogue played with love and warmth and just a little bit of banter with his loyal sidekick Les Glover. 7:30pm £12
MON 8TH Mara Simpson
Mara Simpson is a composer and songwriter, based in Stroud. Through her solo work and collaborations with artists (including Poppy Ackroyd, Alexandra Hamilton-Ayres, Hidden Orchestra, Cerys Matthews), Mara paints a beautifully rich soundscape, setting the scene as she takes her audience on a journey with her, through the beauty of every day to the magic of remarkable. Her last album, '285 days' was included in Rough Trade's album club. 7:30pm £12
theprincealbertstroud.co.uk

*La Serenissima, St Mary’s Church Painswick, Sat 6th*

ST MARY’S CHURCH PAINSWICK
SAT 6TH Painswick Music Society Presents: La Serenissima
La Serenissima presents a wonderful programme of life afﬁrming Italian Baroque music. They have twice won the Gramophone Award for ‘Baroque Instrumental’ in 2010 and 2017 and have topped the UK Specialist Classical Chart. Works by Vivaldi, Telemann, Sieber, Schreyfogel & Brescianello. 3pm £5-£25
painswickmusicsoc.co.uk

*The Activators, Stroud Brewery, Sat 6th*

STROUD BREWERY
FRI 5TH Folk Music
Come and listen to a local folk group performing on the stage for the musical pleasure of all within earshot. Grab a pint, sit and enjoy. Great way to start the weekend. 3:30pm Free
SAT 6TH The Activators, Portobello
The Activators are an 11-piece band whose eclectic style transcends Ska, Reggae, Celtic, Punk and Dub, even venturing into Balkan folk and Tango! Their energy, style and liking for utter mayhem have led to them becoming regulars on the live music circuit in the UK and in Europe. With support from Stroud based Portobello. 8pm £15
stroudbrewery.co.uk

SVA
FRI 5TH Back 2 Back
Launch night of a new monthly residency at SVA John Street ft deep disco and soulful house from Dom Thompson, Dan Monkman and Mat Blythe. 8pm Free
SAT 6TH Big Boss Man
The UK’s premier punks of funk make their long-awaited return to SVA providing a fine mix of funk, soul, heavy beats, jazz, indie in a 60s Hammond groove. 8pm £8-£12 (Goods Shed) Tickets: £8-£12
sva.org.uk

UNDER THE EDGE ARTS WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE
SAT 6TH The Barefoot Bandit
A heavy-weight ensemble based in the South-West. The band mixes various musical styles, incorporating elements of reggae, punk rock, dub and world music. Building a strong and loyal fan base, TBB have spread their sounds far and wide.8pm £10
utea.org.uk

*Catch Champion Roots at Waterloo House in Nailsworth on Sun 7th*

WATERLOO HOUSE
SUN 7TH Champion Roots
Champion Roots heads to Waterloo House in Nailsworth for a free Bank Holiday skank (reggae/dub/roots) powered by Skulk Audio…4-11pm Free
waterloo-house.co.uk

THEATRE

*Let’s Talk About Philip, Cotswold Playhouse, Fri 5th - Sat 6th*

COTSWOLD PLAYHOUSE
FRI 5TH - SAT 6TH HW Productions: Let’s Talk About Philip
When 30 years of family silence is broken Helen begins a detective-like quest to discover the hidden story behind her brother’s suicide. The journey takes her back to her childhood, exotic Asian locations, a coroner’s court and the place where her brother died. As surprising details are uncovered, Helen grapples with loyalty, long-held beliefs and how much we ever really know about those we love. A fast-paced, candid, darkly comic and gripping play written and performed by Helen Wood and Gregor Hunt. Directed by 2022 Olivier Award nominee Derek Bond (Dragons & Mythical Beasts; Jess & Joe Forever). 7:30pm £12
cotswoldplayhouse.co.uk

ART

GALLERY PANGOLIN

SAT 25TH MAR - SAT 8TH JULY Almuth Tebbenhoff: Unsentimental Beauty
Almuth Tebbenhoff’s first solo exhibition at Gallery Pangolin. Inspired by nature and fascinated by the way objects of beauty and intrigue can emerge from industrial processes; creates work in a variety of different materials, including bronze, silver, ceramic and fabricated steel. Newly realised works carved in exquisite Portuguese Pink Marble from her latest time at the studios near Carrara, Italy will take centre stage.Mon-Fri 10am-6pm/Sat 10am-1pm
gallery-pangolin.com

*Sister Act, Lansdown Hall, Weds 3rd - Sun 7th*

LANSDOWN HALL
WEDS 3RD - SUN 7TH Sister Act
Sisters Nadine and Jessie James will be exhibiting paintings and rugs, born 17 years apart Nadine and Jessie come together in this exhibition linking their use of colour and inspiration from the landscape. Nadine has been walking and painting the local landscape for many years using pattern, heightened colour and expressive brushstrokes to produce an emotional response to what she sees around her. Jessie has been making rugs for the last 5 years in a purpose-built studio in her garden (Open to visitors in this year’s open studios in June). Her use of colour and pattern produce striking and sumptuous rugs.10am-4pm
lansdownhall.org

*Nest’ by Jane Randfield, Society of Wood Engravers’ Annual Exhibition, the Museum in the Park*

THE MUSEUM IN THE PARK
SAT 22ND APR - SUN 11TH JUNE Society of Wood Engravers’ Annual Exhibition
This international exhibition features original prints stringently selected from an open submission. It showcases all forms of relief printmaking and is the Society’s 85th Annual Exhibition. All work is for sale and entry is free.
museuminthepark.org.uk

PREMA
WEDS 19TH APR - SAT 27TH MAY Lee Kirby
The artwork of maker Lee Kirby is bold and compelling and strongly influenced by graffiti art, characters and geometric forms and shapes. His style is bright, brave, and eye-catching, always transforming the dullest of space into a vibrant and dynamic focal point. The current series of work reflects his use of symmetrical and geometric shapes as well as abstracted fragments of characters using technical drafting tools.
WEDS 19TH APR - SAT 27TH MAY Louise Abel
Louise’s current focus is on creating contemporary watercolours with mixed media, painting utopian scenes of peace, solitude, and nature. As an autistic person with sensory processing difficulties and frequent sensory overload, she finds comfort in the tiny remote houses often seen in her work and enjoys the therapeutic nature of simplicity and repetition.
WEDS 19TH APR - SAT 27TH MAY Peter and Naomi Kendall: Colour and Form
Father and daughter, Peter and Naomi Kendall, return to Uley to exhibit their work at Prema. Peter’s work is mostly abstract, and the plaster gives his working process flexibility and speed and he uses the material to guide how the pieces progress. His work in stone is a slower process which responds to the texture and patterning within, and his carving slowly reveals the form which is already hidden inside. Naomi's work is mainly focused around cutting, folding, layering, and weaving paper by hand. She mostly works in colour, but also makes monochrome pieces and adds her own marks to the paper with inks and paints.
prema.org.uk

RUSKIN MILL
WEDS 3RD - SUN 28TH Miranda Songer: Calligraphy Contemplations
Miranda Songer is a local Copperplate Calligrapher. All her work is done with a nib and handmade paint using traditional techniques and a simple dip pen. Copperplate calligraphy is a creative discipline which can trace its heritage back to the 1700s and William Hogarth, who is credited with formalising it as a script. Generally considered to be the hardest script to master, it is nonetheless a beautiful and versatile practice which lends itself to both words and drawings.
rmt.org

*|My Body In My Hands, SVA John Street Gallery*

SVA JOHN STREET GALLERY
FRI 5TH - SAT 13TH My Body In My Hands
My Body In My Hands curated by artists Sam Lucas and Nick Grellier is an exhibition of images from their call out on instagram to post an image of a piece of work held in the hand…
sva.org.uk

*Annemiek de Beer: Schemering, Two Bedford Street*

TWO BEDFORD STREET
MON 1ST - SAT 20TH Annemiek de Beer: Schemering - A Period Of Partial Darkness
Rotterdam-based artist de Beer, graduate De Ateliers, Amsterdam, explores the life force of plants perceived in the half light at dusk.
cococaravan.co.uk

COMEDY

*The Thinking Drinkers Pub Quiz, the Sub Rooms*

THE SUB ROOMS
FRI 5TH The Thinking Drinkers Pub Quiz
Fancy five free drinks? Two of the world’s leading alcohol experts return with a hilarious quiz show
that gets the rounds in – in more ways than one. With a pen and question sheet in one hand and
several world-class drinks in the other, join them on a uniquely absurd, fact-filled journey through
time. You will learn and laugh a lot as the answers to life’s most important and unusual questions
appear at the bottom of your glass. And did we mention the five free discerning drinks? 7:30pm £18
thesubrooms.co.uk