Festivals & Events
Strengthening community bonds, fostering connection, and spreading joy through live music
The Festivals & Events strand offers people in Bristol the chance to come together and create music, breaking down barriers and combating social isolation.
We work with communities who may feel disconnected from wider society, including cultural groups where collective music-making isn’t the norm, and intergenerational projects bringing together young and older people.
Our projects include mass participation events, large free festivals, and targeted initiatives for specific communities, such as refugees.
By making music together, we strengthen community bonds, foster connection, and spread joy. Ultimately, we believe music has the power to unite and create lasting change in people’s lives.
Everyone should be entitled to creativity, whether that’s being the owner of your own creativity or receiving other people’s creativity and art.”
Giulia Bianchini, Creative Producer
The impact we make
Bringing People Together Through Music
Our Festivals & Events programme reduces social isolation, celebrates Bristol’s diverse communities, and creates opportunities for people of all ages to make music together. Through Mail a Musician, Intergenerational Workshops, Family Events, and Mass Participation Workshops, we bring music to those who need it most—right to their doorsteps, local venues, and public spaces.
Key Impact Areas:
- Reducing isolation: 17 Mail a Musician concerts reached 400+ people experiencing loneliness.
- Community celebration: Our intergenerational workshops and festivals like Be Kind Bristol strengthen bonds between cultures and generations.
- Family engagement: Free and accessible events make music-making inclusive for all.
- Mass participation: 1,176 people took part in mass sing events since 2024, creating shared musical experiences.
Through Festivals & Events, music becomes a powerful tool for unity, joy, and inclusion.
Meet the people of Be Kind Bristol
Meet the people of Be Kind Bristol
Be Kind Bristol was day of creativity celebrating the lives and talents of Bristol’s refugee and asylum seeker community. Meet the amazing people who co-created this day celebrating creativity without boarders.
Projects in this area
Workshops, activities and events to enrich lives and strengthen communities
Intergenerational workshops
Intergenerational workshops
Bringing generations together through shared musical experiences. Collaborations with Dovetail Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, and the Be Kind Festival create connections, creativity, and joy through inclusive, interactive music-making.
Family events
Family events
Fun, interactive activities, workshops, and performances for all ages. From seasonal dance parties to our free Hoo-Ha! Festival, we make music accessible and inclusive for families.
Mass participation events
Mass participation events
Our large-scale music-making events bring communities together. From big sing workshops in Beacon Hall to city-wide singalongs, these joyful events welcome all, creating unforgettable shared experiences through music, performance, and connection. No experience needed, just enthusiasm!
Inclusive music-making clubs
Inclusive music-making clubs
Relaxed, inclusive and welcoming music-making activities for all musical abilities, instruments and voices.
Mail a Musician
Mail a Musician
Uplifting concerts in nurseries, hospitals, care homes, community centres across the city that spread connection and nostalgia.
Community events
We regularly hosts activities, workshops and events that bring people together through the joy of creating and making music together. Find out what you can take part in.
Community
Spoken Word
Bristol Refugee Festival presents: Noman's Land
Presented by Bristol Beacon, Bristol Sanctuary Theatre, City of Bristol College, UWE, Cotham Parish Church and Bristol Refugee Festival
Community
Education
Bristol Beacon Senior Youth Ensembles Open Morning
Contact us
Are you a member of a community group or local grassroots organisation, interested in collaborating, or looking for a space to host your activity?
Please get in touch with our Community team to find out more about how you can work with us.
Email community@bristolbeacon.org
Creative Health & Wellbeing
Creative Health & Wellbeing
Projects, groups and events that use music to support people’s physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing at every stage of life.
Care Experienced Young People
Care Experienced Young People
An award-winning programme empowering care-experienced young people and their carers through transformative music-making.
More community programmes
More community programmes
Our community programmes – Creative Health & Wellbeing, Care Experienced Young People, Music & Disability, Festivals & Events – bring people together through the power of music.