What's On in Bristol

Sparks — Ron and Russell Mael have been confounding expectations and delighting audiences for over five decades, and a Sparks show remains one of the most gloriously unpredictable nights in live music. Bristol Beacon is the perfect stage for their theatrical, sharp-witted pop-rock spectacle — grand enough to match the ambition, intimate enough to feel electric. Doors are at 7:00pm, so check the website for tickets and do not leave it too late.

Bristol Comedy Garden: Ivo Graham & Fern Brady — Two of the sharpest, most distinctive voices in British comedy share a bill at the Bristol Comedy Garden, and this is the kind of pairing that has audiences comparing notes on the walk home. Ivo Graham brings his self-deprecating, razor-precise wit, while Fern Brady is fiercely funny and utterly herself — between them, the laughs are guaranteed to be both varied and plentiful. Kick-off is at 7:30pm, so check the website for tickets before this one sells out.

Gretel — The Louisiana is one of Bristol's most beloved grassroots venues, a cosy upstairs room above a pub where great artists feel just an arm's length away, and Gretel promises exactly the kind of intimate live music experience that makes the city's scene so special. With a sound that rewards close listening and a 7:30pm start, this is a perfect mid-week escape for anyone craving something heartfelt and unhurried. Check the website for ticket prices and availability.

Dubside — When the rest of the city is heading home, Lakota opens its arms to the night owls, and Dubside is the kind of deep, bass-heavy session that turns a Thursday into a proper occasion. Rooted in the warm, cavernous frequencies of dub and sound system culture, this is dancing as a full-body experience, with the music doing the heavy lifting. Doors at 10:00pm and entry from just £3–£7 makes this one of the best-value nights out in Bristol this week.