Main House

Start time: 13:00
Price: Free

Strikingly theatrical take on that old Gipsy Cabaret style, still coming up with new spins of the wheel since the 19th Century. A clear vision of what they want to say and the musical ability to make it work. Will appeal to Euro intellectuals, goths and plain ol' weirdoes More info and booking...

Main House

Start time: 21:00
Price: Free

One of the myriad ways that British Folk Forms are spinning themselves in the modern world, the six B.Rads pack in influences from World, Rock and Early Music to form something that veers dangerously from the calm, considered or clever into jumping around raucously. They're really not much like anything else out there, though fans of The Moulettes and the folkier end of Prog will share aspirations. More info and booking...

Love Lounge (Back bar)

Start time: 20:00
Price: Free

FAB & Bath Fringe

Dance yourself Arty

It's where you head after the art openings close: we're still celebrating! Late licence and guest DJs/performers to be advised nearer the time. More info and booking...

Love Lounge (Back bar)

Start time: 15:00
Price: £10 (plus £3 drum hire if needed)

Amadou Diagne

Beginner/Intermediate level Djembe workshop. Connect to some new rhythms that - however simple or complicated - end up as an exciting whole experience within the group.
Bring your own drum or pre-book one for loan (£3 extra) if available. More info and booking...

Love Lounge (Back bar) Saturday 27th May 2017

Start time: 20:00
Price: £6 (£5 concs.)

Solo Kora Concert

Amadou's great contribution to a number of bands (including his own) tends to obscure the fact that he's also a fine solo artist with a number of strings to his bow (or Kora). A solo Kora concert could go in a number of directions, traditional from his griot heritage, or contemporary with pedals and loops - or conceivably both! Only one way to find out!!
See also Djembe workshop in the afternoon More info and booking...

Main House

Start time: 13:00
Price: Free

More usually seen with Canadian carney crew Blackberry Wood, musical omnivores to the max, this project sees frontman Kris making the style more straightforward but certainly not playing safe or straight. And he’s always been a great frontman too. Electro Blues this way! More info and booking...

Love Lounge (Back bar) Sunday 28th May 2017

Start time: 20:00
Price: £7
Doors open: 19:30

Bath Comedy presents

Cult favorite singer/songwriter, who has opened nationally for comedy iconoclast Doug Stanhope and is known as one of Johnny Depp's favourite artists. Gruff-voiced Mishka takes time out of touring dive bars in the USA to play dive bars in the UK... More info and booking...

Main House

Start time: 21:00
Price: Free

Mark Lewandowski Trio

The Fats Waller Project

Mark Lewandowski - double bass
Liam Noble - piano, Fender Rhodes
Paul Clarvis - drums
Exploring the catalogue of one of the early innovators of jazz - the great Thomas ‘Fats’ Waller - delving into his music and bringing their own personal spin on his repertoire in the intimate trio setting. Three musicians known for their intricate dialogues and strong humour, paying tribute to another musician who had these attributes. Mixing the traditional with the modern, this trio brings a little of 1930s Harlem into the 21st Century. More info and booking...

Main House

Start time: 21:00
Price: Free

Tuesday Choice

We’ve been awaiting great things from Declan since he won the Bath Folk Festival’s 2015 New Shoots competition against much more obvious & conventional singers & players: a mark of his strong individuality and appeal. Part faerie foundling, part 21st Century agitator activist, the traditions are well served by his hand. Though tonight the focus is on his songs, he will be accompanied by bandmates from new Trad Folk combo Gorias. More info and booking...

Main House

Start time: 21:00
Price: Free

Venezuelan psych-funk exiled to London for the predictable political/lifestyle issues as well as matters of the artistic economy, enigmatic frontman Baldo Verdú and his boys really do hit a time-slipped groove you won’t have encountered before, with rock’n’roll and street sass/suss. Big things are expected - and some sought-after festival dates in place - but still just breaking. Get in now! More info and booking...

Love Lounge (Back bar)

Start time: 19:30
Price: £6 / £4

With Polly Denny

We're giving two teams of incredible poets a topic to attack or defend and fight their corner, poetry style! Only one team can win, but who has the last word? You do, our wonderful audience! Bath Fringe young person Poet Laureate Polly Denny invites poets of all ages to this event. More info and booking...

Main House

Start time: 13:00
Price: Free

Gerry Colvin made a lot of friends in Bath and The Bell some years ago with Colvin Quarmby, but now he’s back with a revival of his much loved ‘80s skiffle combo who recorded 3 Peel sessions and scored Indie Chart hits with straight-to-the-point tales like ‘Clothes Shop’ and ‘Last Bullet in the Gun'. Great writing and no-fuss delivery. More info and booking...

Main House

Start time: 21:00
Price: Free

Formerly Soweto Entsha (played Fringe a few years ago), these guys are a phenomenon: acappella singers bringing a wide range of Afro-American vocal styles together to show continuity in the traditions and the value of sheer style and skill. Traditional to Doo-Wop to Soul to RnB. Close-up they'll be dynamite! More info and booking...

Main House

Start time: 21:00
Price: Free

A product of the restlessly recombinant Bristol funk/jazz/soul scene, Jackson sprays colours from all over the musical spectrum onto the canvas, featuring faces that the truly alert will have seen before: Jack Baldus, Asian Hawk, Rich O’Brien, Joe Price and other hotshots. A very contemporary sound that is not afraid of its own intelligence, nor of shaking that thing or rocking it out. And already better than their acclaimed debut EP. More info and booking...

Love Lounge (Back bar)

Start time: 19:00
Price: £4 / £2 Concs

Tinned Pizza Theatre Presents An Evening Of

A student theatre company - comprised of recent graduates and some still studying - present new writing inspired by their day to day lives. Poetry, stand-up comedy, and monologues that will have you laughing, crying, and questioning all at the same time! More info and booking...

Main House Friday 9th June 2017

Start time: 20:00
Price: Free

As a prelude to the Walcot Nation Day celebrations, The Bell will be buzzing to an upgrade on the usual already-groovesome vinyl DJ malarkey, and, we are assured, some popup events to match. More details on their website and ours nearer the time. More info and booking...

Main House

Start time: 14:00
Price: Free

K'Chevere, Nathan, Mick & Bruno

To celebrate 20 years of the re-birth of Walcot Nation and its sensational street party, on top of the Bell's usual eclectomaniac Saturday formula we're adding a classic Bath live band and then on into 2 rooms of major DJ action from some of our traditional longterm local favourites. Lineup to be announced, see our website and The Bell's. More info and booking...

Love Lounge (Back bar)

Start time: 20:00
Price: please make a donation (£3 suggested, price of a pint)

Comedy & Music

featuring Calico Jack

The Fringe of the Fringe gets excited round the back of the pub tonight: a phalanx of performances from the truly alternative edge of the city, featuring:
Onanism - Matt Cranium - The Whistleblowers - Arnold Kuenzler-Byrt --- plus a little bit more.
The night culminates with a show from yer actual Pirates of the Kennet & Avon, Calico Jack More info and booking...

Main House Sunday 11th June 2017

Start time: 13:00
Price: Free
Doors open: 12:00

It was 20 years ago today...

Walcot Nation Day festival - run by Bath Fringe, The Bell, and key local traders - was 20 years ago on the Sunday at the end of that year's Fringe. We reckon that's a major excuse for a party. Already confirmed: an afternoon of top local live music, events in the yard, archive film showings of past local misdemeanours, pop-up art, and the unpredictable. See our website and The Bell's for details nearer the time. More info and booking...

Main House

Start time: 21:00
Price: Free

6 piece from Portland Oregon who had such a ball last summer they were begging to be back this year. Balkan, Klezmer, Hot Jazz, Swing and other stuff that makes air and feet move in an inescapably joyous fashion, with the commitment and hard work on presentation and motivation that our transatlantic cousins do so well. More info and booking...

Main House

Start time: 21:00
Price: Free

A festival perennial for 30-odd years and always a guarantee that summer is finally here - not least because they used to work the double-summer trip so beloved of performers with a strong antipodean connection. Celtic and tranced-out grooves, future primitive eco instincts and a shot of the mystic derived from their Planet Gong connection. Plenty have tried to copy but none hit it like they do. More info and booking...