The Public Consultation for the Bristol Festival took place on Thursday, 25th October, from 6pm at the Trinity Centre, St Phillips, Bristol. The consultation raised and discussed many issues and ideas. A vote was held on the festival name, and it was decided to stick with the Bristol Festival, whilst some of the other names suggested may be used for stages. An online forum has been set up to allow the discussions to continue, so everyone is encouraged to visit the website, sign up and add their voice and opinions. A Bristol Festival logo is needed, so a competition has been launched for which submissions are invited. Read on for further details.

Not entirely music related, but we really like the sound of Bristol Radical History Week 2007 which started yesterday (28/10/07 - 6/11/07). This year Bristol Radical History Group turns its single beady eye on Pirates, Witches & Smugglers, icons of the past, so deeply reviled by the rulers of their time. Who were these 'outcasts'? Why are we so fascinated by them? Do their villainous representations carry clues to their real nature? Get answers to these questions and more during this year's Bristol Radical History Week, more details after the link.

Another excellent movie/sountrack night in Bristol, the original and most notorious cult film of all time is scored by rather magical art house electronix outfit Bronnt Industries Kapital (duo Guy Bartell and Nick Talbot aka WARP's Gravenhurst) for a one off performance in a beautifully faded gothic cathedral. HÄXAN: Witchcraft Through The Ages with live soundtrack by Bronnt Industries Kapital, plus support from Grouper takes place on Saturday 10 November 2007 at The Pro Cathedral, Park Place, Clifton, Bristol. Doors open at 7.30pm and tickets are £7 in advance. 

A musical collaboration by stars of the Bristol music scene will be performed in Bristol and London in early December. Will Gregory (Goldfrapp), Adrian Utley (Portishead), Tony Orrell, Andy Sheppard and the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Charles Hazlewood will be playing Will Gregory's exhilarating score alongside the 1924 silent classic "He Who Gets Slapped". This historic film, directed by Victor Sjostrom, stars Lon Chaney, Norma Shearer and John Gilbert, was the first feature filmed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Catch this monumental multimedia Bristol music collaboration at Colston Hall, 1st Dec 2007. 

The Cabot Circus Cantata is a collaborative project developed by Neville Gabie, Bristol Alliance’s Artist-in-Residence and Bristol composer and conductor David Ogden. With fifty-nine nationalities represented on site, construction workers from the Cabot Circus development, including builders, secretaries, foremen, security guards, and canteen staff have been invited to contribute traditional songs from their native countries. The songs are combined into one set, and performed either by the contributor from the construction site or the City of Bristol Choir. If you missed the performance on 14th Oct there is now a video available online.

Bristol's Lazarette Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday 20th and 21st of October 2007 across two of Bristol's most popular dockside live music venues - The Louisiana and The Thekla. An impressive lineup of somewhere between 40 and 60 bands (depending on who you believe) will play over the two day event, running between 2pm and 11pm with accoustic sets upstairs at the Thekla. The weekend culminates in a Sunday night after party on Thekla with special guests Ash playing a DJ set.  Read on for the lineup.

BBC Radio Bristol, Bristol Uncovered: Richard Pitt and Gary Smith host a weekly two-hour show playing music from the best bands in the area. Starting October 7th the shows are featuring The Uncovered Sessions - local bands visit the studio for an interview and to play a session live on the show. The first band up for the Uncovered treatment is Angel Tech, and the session is now available to listen to on-demand. 

A weekend of Louisiana-style music, dance, food, drink and people. As well as dance classes, bands include The Flatville Aces, Hottboxx, R Cajun & The Zydeco Brothers, Petite Et La Grosse, Zyderythmics and Whiskey River Boys. The 4th Bristol Cajun & Zydeco Festival takes place at the Folk House, Park Street 19-21 October 2007. Laissez les bon temps rouler!