Born in Essex, raised by the Devon seaside, and making his bones in the bars and clubs of Liverpool, John Smith has performed at festivals and concert halls around the world, released six studio albums and is currently hard at work on album #7, having barely paused for breath during his eighteen-year tenure as a full-time independent touring musician.
Steeped in the lineage of British folk and American guitar music, Smith has evolved and pioneered a transatlantic blend of guitar techniques. His deeply romantic and vivid songwriting combined with his innovative guitar work having won him a loyal following.
His career began opening for folk greats including John Martyn, Davy Graham and John Renbourn, who called him “the future of folk music.” He has since opened for Iron and Wine, Patty Griffin and Ben Howard, and guested with artists such as Jackson Browne, Martin Carthy, Roseanne Cash, Jarvis Cocker and Rodney Crowell.
Presented by Bristol Beacon
Format: Reserved seating
Age: 14+ (U16s accompanied by an adult 18+)
Performance times
Doors: 19.30
Support: 20.00
John Smith: 20.50
Finish: 22.10
All timings are approximate and subject to change
“It’s rare these days to find an audience so wrapped up in a performance as this one.”
The Independent
About Lantern Hall
Bristol’s home of dazzling new music
Seating plans
Seating plans
Lantern Hall is a performance space with a flat floor that can be used in a seated or standing format. To find out more detail about our seating plans, auditorium entrances and exits and accessible viewing areas, view our seating plan page.
Venue information
Venue information
Take a closer look at our beautifully restored venue, see what’s on and view detailed information about the performance space.
The venue
Lantern Hall
at Bristol Beacon
Getting to the venue
Location: Lantern Hall is located within Bristol Beacon. Head to Level 1 and follow signs to find the auditorium.
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 200m 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
Most bus services stop in and around the city centre promenade, 250m from Bristol Beacon.
Access
Mobility
Spaces for wheelchair users are available within the first 10 rows on the flat floor of the Hall.
Assistance Dogs
Assistance dogs and emotional support animals are allowed in the performance space. Seats in rows AA-J on the flat floor are most suitable. If you prefer, you can leave your animal with a member of staff during the performance.
Hearing Facility
A Sennheiser MobileConnect assistive listening system is installed in the venue. Download the free App and use your own mobile device and headphones to listen to the performance. (Devices are available on request.)
Eat & Drink
Eat & Drink
We’ve got plenty of places for you to relax and refill. From coffee and cake, to delicious sharing boards, to full menus.
