Here are a few of the FAQ that you may find useful when planning your trip to Bristol International Jazz and Blues Festival 2019!
Who is playing this year and where?
We are pleased to be partnering with St Georges Bristol, O2 Academy Bristol and Anson Rooms this year. Our full line up can be viewed in schedule form HERE to allow you to see who is playing at which venue and at what time. We also have a clashfinder HERE to help you. Our Free Stage listings are laid out HERE and these go on throughout the weekend (from 11am on Sat and 12pm Sun) at the Balloon Bar (Anson Rooms). Everyone is welcome!
You can also listen to our Spotify playlist below to give you a taster of who is joining us this year.
Our printed programme can be picked up during or before the event at any of our venues, and many local venues and cafes also stock these. Or alternatively, you can look online HERE.
Where is the Festival hub this year?
Our free stage will be at the Balloon Bar in the Bristol SU building, Anson Rooms, University of Bristol Students' Union, 105 Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1LN. The line up for that can be viewed HERE or within one of our printed programmes which can be picked up from any of the venues listed above.
We will have the usual market stalls, live music, street food, a BBQ and drinks available at Anson Rooms.
Merchandise stands will be at each individual venue.
We are also working in partnership with Jazz South and Colston Hall who will be presenting music from 12pm on Sunday. Listed here.
How far apart are the venues?
All venues are within a few miles of each other. We suggest you use Google maps as a handy way to work out how to get to each venue. Otherwise, the map here gives you an idea of where the venues are.
It's my first time at the Festival. What do you recommend?
Well there is something for everyone! We have the free stage that you can come to each day from 12pm (from 6.30pm on Fri 22). This you can dip into as you wish. Our dedicated blues venue this year is Anson Rooms. We have a Weekend Blues Pass that allows you to see six blues gigs for just £70 (+bf). There are many contemporary acts in the Winston Theatre (Anson Rooms) too which start at £12(+bf). Our team has varied taste and they have put together their Top Picks for 2019 HERE for you to see. We'd also be happy to advise if you'd like to contact us on info@bristoljazzandbluesfest.com.
Where can I get food and drink?
Our free stage will be at the Balloon Bar in the Bristol SU building, Anson Rooms, University of Bristol Students' Union, 105 Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1LN. We will have a BBQ, street food, market stalls, and drink available both in and outside.
St George’s Bristol has a newly refurbished cafe bar and there will also be street food vendors outside.
O2 and Colston Hall are in the centre of town and are situated very close to one of our business partners Bambalan who offer 20% OFF for Festival ticket holders, and a late night Jam Session during the Festival. Come and join in the fun with local and international Jazz Stars!
Plus, Browns Brasserie 38 Queens Rd, Bristol BS8 1RE are offering 10% discount for ticket holders between 5pm-7pm from our their alacarte menu.
Can I buy tickets on the door?
We advise you book for all our events to ensure you are not disappointed - or at the very least call the venues in advance of making your journey to check availability. You can book online HERE or you can call or book in person at our venue box offices: Bristol Ticket Shop – 0117 929 9008 / St George’s Bristol – 0845 40 24 001 / Anson Rooms – Please call in or book online but call 07555802664 for info before you travel / O2 Academy Bristol – 0844 477 2000.
I haven't had my tickets sent to me.
Bristol Ticket Shop - Order confirmation emails are not being sent out by Bristol Ticket Shop. To view all successful orders, please log into your account and visit the 'My Account' page. E-tickets will have the word 'View' next to each order, if not, then you have ordered physical tickets. Otherwise if you have selected postal orders then call them to find out where it is.
Bristol SU - Don't send out tickets, you should have received an email with your tickets inside. Please check your email inbox and check your spam folder. The email will be from Bristol SU and the subject will be "Your ticket is inside".
Will the gigs be seated?
- St George’s Bristol - as per seating plan on booking.
- Anson Rooms - all concerts offer unreserved seating for tickets sold, as well as room for standing, if preferred. Apart from The Big Swing Double Bill which will be standing/dancing!
- Winston Theatre - Unreserved seating
- O2 Academy - Standing
Can I buy tickets for the whole weekend?
This year we are offering a Blues Weekend Pass which gives you access to 6 of the blues gigs at Anson Rooms (our dedicated blues venue) for £70+bf. See HERE for full details. Other than that tickets are purchased separately HERE with 20% off for students, 10% off for NHS staff (via Bristol Ticket Shop) and 10% off for Friends of the Festival.
Do I have to have a ticket to come to the Festival?
Anyone is welcome to the Festival. We have our food, market stalls, and a Free Stage across the weekend at Bristol SU, Balloon Bar (see info above). This music is offered to you for free as part of our commitment to ensuring as many people as possible get access to music. We also have collaborated with Jazz South and Colston Hall and Platform South will be in Colston Hall. Details of the above can be found HERE.
We are a charity and we do welcome donations in order to ensure the ongoing success of the Festival. You can donate HERE or join up as a Festival Friend for £20 which gives you additional benefits. Thank you!
How will you accommodate people with disabilities?
Carers are able to accompany patrons free of charge. Please contact us on info@bristoljazzandbluesfest.com to arrange or speak to the venues.
Click HERE for Accessibility info at Anson Rooms
Click HERE for Accessibility info at St George’s Bristol
Click HERE for Accessibility info at O2 Academy Bristol
How will I get to the venues? Where do I park?
There is very limited street parking available around all of our venues. - we suggest that you come by public transport or on foot where possible.
Bristol SU
By Bus: The number 8 bus stops outside the SU and you can catch it from the city centre or from Bristol Temple Meads train station.
By Train: Clifton Down train station is the nearest stop and is a 15 minute walk away.
By Bike: There is plenty of bike parking outside the SU.
You could also stay at one of the local hotels and walk to and from the Festival. We have partnered with Clifton Hotels to offer 10% off your stay at any of the hotels. Simply enter the promotional code JAZZFEST online:
Berkeley Suites
Berkeley Square Hotel
Clifton Hotel
Rodney Hotel
Washington Guesthouse
St George’s Hall
By Bus: The number 8 bus stops on Park Street, a short walk from the venue.
The o2 Academy
By Bus: The number 8 bus stops on Park Street, a short walk from the venue.
The nearest car park to St George’s Hall and the o2 Academy is on Trenchard Street, and the nearest car park to Bristol SU (for Anson Rooms, Winston Theatre, Pegg Studio and Balloon Bar) is the West End Car Park on Jacobs Wells Road
The First Bus number 8 service will take you directly from Temple Meads Station to the Anson Rooms, their journey planner site can be found here . For St Georges, there are several options that will take you close to the venue either ask at the station or check First Bus journey planner. Taxis are available at the station and Bristol is well served by Uber.
It is advised that you view the Visitor Info pages of each individual venue for maps and detailed information before visiting. See below:
Click HERE for full visitor info on Anson Rooms
Click HERE for full visitor info on St George’s Bristol
Click HERE for full visitor info on O2 Academy
Will I still be allowed in if I am late?
Latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance unless the artist has requested something different, such as no admittance until the interval (if applicable).
Can I book a pre-show meal?
We work with Bambalan who are opposite Colston Hall and who offer discounts to ticket holders. There are lots of cafes and restaurants on Park Street (near St George's Bristol) and in Clifton Village/Whiteladies Road/Clifton Triangle (near Anson Rooms) and our venues have street food or cafe/bars.
What else is happening in Bristol that weekend if I visited?
Bristol is a vibrant and exciting city and there is always lots to do. Both Bristol247 and Visit Bristol have websites dedicated to this question and lots of info on hotels, places to eat and so on. Our partners are Clifton Hotels and we thoroughly recommend you check them out.
Click HERE for Visit Bristol
Click HERE for Bristol247
Are there jam sessions this year?
The late-night jam sessions are back again and are open to all. They will continue to be at Bambalan and you can find out more HERE.
Will the artist take requests or sign autographs?
This is up to the artists, who will usually announce any meet and greets on their websites. This is something we have no control over and we are unable to give artists items to autograph. It is quite unusual for artists to do request songs; usually, their set is worked out in advance.
Can I take photos at the gigs?
Best to check with door staff at each gig. We will have official photographers and press at the gigs being accompanied to the front of stage at the start of the gigs and then leaving. You are welcome to take shots from the crowd as long as you are not a nuisance to other guests. If you upload to social media please tag us @bristoljazzfest (Instagram/Twitter/Facebook) and use the hashtag #Bristoljazzfest.
Can I bring my children to the Festival?
Children are very welcome at the Free Stage in the Balloon Bar (Anson Rooms). We also have a specific family swing dance event for children aged 5-11 this year. For ticketed events we would expect under-14s to be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Are there any age restrictions on ticketed events?
We would expect under-14s to be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Can I bring my own alcoholic drinks?
Our venues are all licensed to sell alcohol, so customers cannot bring their own alcohol into the building.
Can I get a refund on my tickets?
We cannot refund tickets. If you bought directly from us, not through an agency, and the show is sold out, then we will endeavour to re-sell your tickets for which we take a 10% commission. We are not able to offer this service in the last 48 hours before a show. Plea se contact the Box Office as soon as possible; we will need the physical tickets returned before we can start the process. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to sell for you but we will try. If the show is not sold out, then your best course of action is to try and offer them to family and friends.
What happens if a show is cancelled?
If a show is cancelled then your tickets and booking fees will be refunded. If you book on our website please note that your refund is for the face value of the tickets, booking fees are not refunded. If a show at another venue for which we have ticketed cancels then your booking fees are non-refundable, again, face value is refunded.
Are there lockers available at the venues?
Regrettably, lockers are not available at St George’s or Bristol SU. The O2 Academy does, however, have a cloakroom facility.
Are there any discounts available?
We offer 20% off for students online and at the Festival. Select the student ticket options on our partner websites and bring your NUS card along. We also offer 10% off for NHS staff if you take your NHS card into Bristol Ticket Shop before the 22 March.
If you have any other questions then do not hesitate to contact us on info@bristoljazzandbluesfest.com or call one of the venue box offices.