Jean-Michel Blais

Plus Follow The Sun

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A person in a white t-shirt poses in front of a window

Being an accomplished piano player can be a profoundly lonely experience. Take it from classical piano icon Jean-Michel Blais – the 37-year-old began his relationship with the instrument aged 9, writing his first compositions at 11, and eventually releasing a stream of piano-focused albums which earned him a Libera Award, two Polaris prize nominations, a #1 on the Billboard Classical chart and more.

To be a pianist of such eminence takes dedication and practice, spending four to six hours every day engaged in solitary dialogue with music. It’s a fantastic privilege to be so ensconced in the world of the piano. But as the pandemic took hold in 2020, Blais started to wonder if there was more to music than this, leading to a time of great catharsis that paved the way for the bold new direction of his next album, ‘aubades’.

Named after the Middle Ages notion of romantic music written for dawn and daybreak, with this new record Jean-Michel Blais has created 11 aubades for 12 musicians, all of which celebrate rebirth, a season in bloom and the expectation of a new day to come. Having spent most of his career playing, writing and performing music alone, the circumstances of life around April 2020 suddenly put this solitary way of working into stark relief.

Presented by Bristol Beacon

Unreserved seated event

Age: 14+ (Under 18s to be accompanied by an adult)

Doors: 19.30
Start: 20.00
End: 23.00

“Maximum minimalism, […] shimmering plucked strings […] and a concluding message that conveys that hope makes life worth living even in sorrowful times.”

High Res Audio

Support from

Follow The Sun

Bath-based artist and multi-instrumentalist James Thornton creates sweeping, cinematic soundscapes under the moniker Follow The Sun – where distant swells of coarse lo-fi ambience hark back to Thornton’s hazy childhood memories of the Jurassic coastlines of Dorset where he grew up.

Thornton’s breakthrough track, ‘Open Skies’ has cemented Follow The Sun as a staple of the experimental scene in the South West – rich with lysergic guitar and warped, hypnotic rhythms. The song moves at a glacial pace as it descends further and further into abrasive psychedelia – culminating in a live experience that provides anyone willing to listen with a means of escapism.

The venue

Bridgehouse

at Bristol Beacon

Our foyer space located within Bristol Beacon where we host events, performances and conferences.

Getting to the venue

Location: Bridgehouse is located within Bristol Beacon with entrances on Colston Street and Trenchard Street.

Address: Bristol Beacon, Trenchard Street, Bristol, BS1 5AR

Bicycle

Bicycle racks can be found in front of the main entrance on Trenchard Street, Colston Street, and on the city centre promenade. Find your nearest cycle routes using Cycle Planner.

Car parking

Trenchard Street multi-storey car park is 50m away directly behind Bristol Beacon.

Bristol Clean Air Zone

Bristol Beacon is inside the Bristol Clean Air Zone. Check if your vehicle will be charged and how much you’ll have to pay.

Bus

The city centre bus stop is 250m from Bristol Beacon where most bus services stop.

View detailed travel information

Access

Mobility

Bridgehouse has level access from street level with lifts to all levels. For unallocated seated performances, seats can easily be removed to accommodate wheelchairs.

Assistance Dogs

Registered assistance dogs and emotional support animals are allowed in the venue.

Hearing Facility

There is an induction loop at the box office. You can use this by adjusting your hearing aid to the ‘T’ setting. There is no hearing loop facility for the foyer stage.

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