Clifton Life

Music

12 DECEMBER
Tracy Chapman
A household name after her debut album, which spawned such classics as Fast Car and Baby Can I Hold You, Tracy Chapman is playing just three UK dates as part of an extensive European tour. 7pm, Colston Hall; 0117 922 3686

Joanna Macgregor
Pianist Joanna Macgregor celebrates Olivier Messiaen’s centenary with a performance of his Vingt Regards sur l’Enfant Jesus by candelight. 7pm, £8-£20. St George’s, Great George Street; 0845 4024 001

13 & 14 DECEMBER
Handel’s Messiah
Bristol Cathedral Chamber Choir and the much-loved Emerald Ensemble perform Handel’s stirring classic together with four outstanding soloists. 7.30pm, £9-£24. Bristol Cathedral; for tickets tel: 0117 922 3682

14 DECEMBER
Gasworks Choir
Bristol’s 150-strong a cappella community choir sings an exhilarating repertoire of pop, folk, soul, jazz, classical and world music. 2.30 & 8pm, £4-£6.50. St George’s, Great George Street; 0845 4024 001

Keith Warmington & Steve Payne
Virtuoso harmonica player, guitarist, soulful blues singer and BBC Radio Bristol presenter Keith Warmington teams up with roots, country and blues guitarist and singer-songwriter Steve Payne.
4pm, The Cori Tap, 8 Sion Place, Clifton; 0117 973 9617

15 DECEMBER
David Rees-Williams Trio
St George’s International Jazz Season concludes with a magical jazz foray into the classical repertoire; pianist Rees-Williams, bassist Neil Francis and drummer Phil Laslett reinvent the music of Chopin, Ravel and other masters. 7.30pm, £6-£18; St George’s, Great George Street; 0845 4024 001

16 DECEMBER
Get the Blessing
This foursome take riffs and rhythms from rock and dance music and artfully weld them into catchy genre-bending sounds – and their debut album All is Yes won The BBC Jazz Awards Best Album
2008. 8pm, The Cori Tap, 8 Sion Place, Clifton; 0117 973 9617

17 DECEMBER
Jason Donovan
Everyone’s favourite Aussie actor-turned-pop-singer-turned-musical-star Jason Donovan is back on a nationwide tour, having sold over 13m records, drawn sell-out crowds to The Rocky Horror UK Tour and most recently been nominated for an Emmy Award for his role in MDA. 7.30pm, £24.50. Colston Hall; 0117 922 3686

 

18 DECEMBER
Waterson:Carthy
The folk family supergroup, together with the three singers of The Devil’s Interval, return with their Christmas show, Frost and Fire: earthy, mysterious, poetic, bleakly witty and subtly erotic. 8pm, £6-£18. St George’s, Great George Street; 0845 4024 001

20 DECEMBER
Handel’s Messiah
Bristol Choral Society perform Handel’s masterpiece with its spine-tingling chorus. 7.30pm, £8-£21. Colston Hall; 0117 922 3686