St. Francis’ Church, Ashton Gate, North Street BS3 1JP, nr. Tobacco Factory
Performance diary
Performances take place on the second Friday of each month.
Pricing: The concession price is available for children, students and those of limited means. We have a policy of not refusing entry if you are unable to pay but numbers are strictly limited and ticket holders are given priority.
Past performances
Dec
9
Moving On
Chamber music group Speranza returns to Lunchtime Live to trace the transition from Baroque to Classical at the turn of the 18th century, featuring multiple flutes, cello and harpsichord, in works by Telemann, C.P.E. Bach and others.
Friday 9th December 2022
1.10pm - 1.50pm
Tickets £5 (£3)
Book online or pay on the door
Book online or pay on the door
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Programme
Nov
11
Shropshire to the Somme
Niall Hoskin baritone and Robert Marson bass-baritone present a recital of English art songs by Somervell, Butterworth and Gurney, with strong themes of remembrance and many inspired by A.E. Housman’s A Shropshire Lad. They are joined by John Lambert piano.
Friday 11th November 2022
1.10pm - 1.50pm
Tickets £5 (£3)
Book online or pay on the door
Book online or pay on the door
Proceeds to the Royal British Legion
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Programme
Oct
14
The Newland Ensemble
Autumn from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons (soloist: Lisa Orton) opens a delightful programme by this flexible ensemble, appearing today both as a string quartet with harpsichord in Pachelbel’s Canon and as a string quintet by Boccherini.
Friday 14th October 2022
1.10pm - 1.50pm
Tickets £5 (£3)
Book online or pay on the door
Book online or pay on the door
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Programme
Sep
9
Richard Leigh Harris piano
Having previously delighted the Lunchtime Live audience with his playing, Richard Leigh Harris returns with a feast of French piano music. Both familiar and less known pieces by Debussy, Satie, Ravel, Koechlin and Poulenc.
Friday 9th September 2022
1.10pm - 1.50pm
Tickets £5 (£3)
Book online or pay on the door
Book online or pay on the door
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Programme
Jun
10
James Watson guitar
Highly accomplished classical guitarist returns to Lunchtime Live to present more gems from his wide repertoire, ranging from the timeless beauty of Bach to the passion of Spanish and Latin American music.
Friday 10th June 2022
1.10pm - 1.50pm
Tickets £5 (£3)
Book online or pay on the door
Book online or pay on the door
Tea and coffee available before the performance
May
13
Songs from a woman’s heart
A celebration of love songs written by women composers featuring Amy Beach, Alma Mahler, Pauline Viardot and Liza Lehmann performed by Rebecca Chellappah mezzosoprano and Claire Alsop piano.
Friday 13th May 2022
1.10pm - 1.50pm
Tickets £5 (£3)
Book online or pay on the door
Book online or pay on the door
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Apr
8
Allan Schiller piano
Schumann’s delightful Kinderszenen and Beethoven’s monumental Waldstein sonata feature in this programme brought to Lunchtime Live by a renowned Bristol pianist, with hundreds of BBC broadcasts to his name as well as numerous recordings. He has recently published memoirs of his distinguished career.
Friday 8th April 2022
1.10pm - 1.50pm
Tickets £5 (£3)
Book online or pay on the door
Book online or pay on the door
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Nov
12
The Invisible Apples jazz duo
John Baggott piano and Pete Judge flugelhorn (previously Los Clandestinos) make a welcome return to St Francis’. Their heartfelt musical dialogue draws together Baggott’s beautifully lyrical compositions with an unexpected selection of jazz standards.
Friday 12th November 2021
4.00pm - 4.40pm
Tickets £5 (£3)
Book online or pay on the door
Book online or pay on the door
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Oct
16
Helen Reid piano
A selection of romantic piano music, to include Schumann’s dramatic, fiery and beautiful Kreisleriana and works by Debussy and Poulenc. Helen Reid has performed all over the UK and is a former BBC Young Musician keyboard finalist.
Saturday 16th October 2021
1.10pm - 1.50pm
Tickets £5 (£3)
Book online or pay on the door
Book online or pay on the door
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Oct
1
Songs of Robert Schumann
Robert Marson bass and John Lambert piano perform a selection from Liederkreis Op.24 followed by the sublime Dichterliebe complete. Lieder all from Schumann’s outpouring in his “Year of Song”, 1840, the year in which he finally married Clara Wieck.
Friday 1st October 2021
1.10pm - 1.50pm
Tickets £5 (£3)
Book online or pay on the door
Book online or pay on the door
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Nov
13
Speranza: Music of Hope
Recorded live online
Music by Schubert, Chopin, Piazzolla and others performed by Kath Sugden flute, piano and Charles Sugden cello with contributions from Dan Lloyd piano, streaming live from their homes.
Friday 13th November 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
Jul
31
Richard Leigh Harris piano
Recorded live online
Live from St Francis’ Church for the first time in many months, albeit behind closed doors. Much admired Lunchtime Live regular Richard Leigh Harris brings us piano music by Scarlatti, Haydn and Beethoven.
Friday 31st July 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
Jul
24
Recorder Duo: A Biber Bubble
Recorded live online
The Biber Recorder Duo have taken full advantage of the household bubble guidelines, and have prepared a mix of baroque and modern material to delight the ears. Jennifer Mackerras and Timothy Lanfear.
Friday 24th July 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
Jul
17
Nicola Woodward flute
Recorded live online
The second recital in Nicola’s series of new and unusual works for unaccompanied flute in support of UNHCR refugee charity. Freedom, movement and migration are the themes in a programme which spans from Telemann to the present day.
Friday 17th July 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited all proceeds to UNHCR refugee charity
Jul
10
Rustom Battiwalla piano
Recorded live online
A programme of piano solos, opening with a Haydn sonata, ranging over music by Janáček, Mendelssohn and Kabalevsky, before concluding with a sublime Chopin nocturne. Played by a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music, now based in Bristol.
Friday 10th July 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
Jul
3
Will Pound harmonica, melodeon
Recorded live online
One of the finest players of his generation, Will Pound has pushed the boundaries, working with a range of other musicians, including Eddy Jay, Martin Simpson, Guy Chambers and Dame Evelyn Glennie and on projects including The Hillsborough Charity Single.
Friday 3rd July 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
Jun
26
Hark: Harp and Horn
Recorded live online
Emmy Broughton harp and David Mowat trumpet and flugelhorn explore some of David’s richest tunes, finding ecstatic moments and spoken insights for our times from his walking pilgrimage through the war-ravaged Balkans, a journey made sixteen years ago.
Friday 26th June 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
Jun
19
Teri Bramah
Recorded live online
Guitarist singer-songwriter inspired by Dylan and Joni Mitchell and the counter culture of the 60s and 70s, will be playing some of her favourite covers and some of her own songs.
Friday 19th June 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
Jun
12
Dan Lloyd piano
Recorded live online
A programme of reflective piano music by composers from England (Elgar), France (Debussy, Poulenc), Spain (Albéniz) and the USA (Joplin, Bolcom). The perfect music for a “lockdown holiday”.
Friday 12th June 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
Jun
5
Redbanks Duo
Recorded live online
Dan Watts flute and Brady Pohle harpischord have been performing together for many years throughout the UK and abroad. They are excited to bring their varied repertoire to an online audience.
Friday 5th June 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
May
29
Rob Johnston guitar
Recorded live online
A seamless blend of classical, world and roots using rhythm and guitar percussion to drive the music and songs. “Staggering playing... He is a mighty, mighty fine player.” Phil Jackson, Live BBC Radio.
Friday 29th May 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
May
22
Opera from home
Recorded live online
An amorous monster; a charlatan magician; a matchmaker. Spanish hills; Russian flowers; heavenly spirits. An old count, newlywed. Be transported by a programme of vocal and instrumental music performed by Robert Marson, assisted by his family.
Friday 22nd May 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
May
15
Red Deer Sleeping
Recorded live online
Mog Fry brings an understated magic in performing her songs inspired by elemental nature on ukulele and cuatro, based on poems of the imagist poets of the early 20th Century, including D. H. Lawrence, and of the Victorian and Romantic poets.
Friday 15th May 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
May
8
Peace and Joy
Recorded live online
Streaming from home, pianist Sandie Middleton performs her compositions evocative of emotional and natural landscapes plus arrangements of a Celtic blessing, and Ode to Joy. Look out for Sandie’s first public accordion performance!
Friday 8th May 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
May
1
Jennifer Mackerras recorders
Recorded live online
Musical evocations of nature will transport you to other lands and times in this short recital. Jennifer (Pink Noise Recorder Quartet, Biber Duo, Rosafresca) will play a range of recorders, including the scaffolding-pole-sized contrabass.
Friday 1st May 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
Apr
24
Bill Roberts piano
Recorded live online
Bill’s mood picture compositions show influences from Philip Glass, Brian Eno and Nordic jazzers like Tord Gustavsen and e.s.t., and many are numbers he plays with mellow jazz rock five-piece UltraBeige.
Friday 24th April 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
Apr
17
Nicola Woodward flute
Recorded live online
A programme featuring two great works for solo flute – J.S. Bach’s Partita in A minor and Chants de Nectaire by Koechlin. Plus a homage to birds and some folk-inspired music played on Flute, Alto and Piccolo.
Friday 17th April 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
There was no recital on Friday 10th April 2020.
Apr
3
Pete Judge piano
Recorded live online
More usually seen behind a trumpet, Pete Judge (Get The Blessing, Three Cane Whale, etc.) surprises himself and everyone else by also composing and performing lyrical solo piano miniatures, which he brings us today.
Friday 3rd April 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE TO VIEW ONLINE
Online donations invited £3 suggested
There was no recital on Friday 27th March 2020.
Jazzical Swing are not able to perform today but they hope to bring you their programme of music mainly from the 20s and 30s by composers such as Gershwin, Cole Porter and Ellington, later in the year.
There was no recital on Friday 20th March 2020.
Unfortunately Three's Company wind trio are unable to perform as planned. We look forward to rescheduling their performance of light classical music for later in the year.
Mar
13
Partita baroque ensemble
A welcome return visit by this established chamber group. Trevor Furness recorder, Catherine Maytum flute, Hugh Herzig cello and Ben Brown harpsichord perform beautiful music from the baroque period.
Friday 13th March 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE ENTRY ·
Retiring collection £5 suggested
Tea and coffee available before the performance
There was no recital on Friday 6th March 2020.
Feb
28
Avellana jazz duo
Following on from their successful Lunchtime Live debut last summer, Simon Greening saxophones and John Lambert piano return to play a relaxed programme of jazz standards and originals.
Friday 28th February 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE ENTRY ·
Retiring collection £5 suggested
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Feb
21
Dan Phelps piano
Award winning pianist and established composer, whose works have been performed on BBC Radio 3 and described as “utterly beautiful”, performs a selection of light, romantic piano works.
Friday 21st February 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE ENTRY ·
Retiring collection £5 suggested
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Feb
14
A Murmuration of Starlings
Sandie Middleton performs a recital of solo piano works, including her own compositions evocative of birds, water, and natural and emotional landscapes, together with favourites by Débussy and Ravel.
Friday 14th February 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE ENTRY ·
Retiring collection £5 suggested
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Feb
7
Nicola Woodward flute
A fascinating and informative journey across several centuries via bamboo and baroque flutes, flute, alto flute and piccolo. Works by Telemann, CPE Bach, Debussy, and some lesser-known gems by Koechlin.
Friday 7th February 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE ENTRY ·
Retiring collection £5 suggested
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Jan
31
Fuga voice and violin duo
Talented musicians, Jenna Brown mezzo soprano (Opera in a Box) and Amelia Goodall violin (Bristol Ensemble), join forces to explore songs by Holst and Vaughan Williams, and folk songs arranged by Rebecca Clarke.
Friday 31st January 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE ENTRY ·
Retiring collection £5 suggested
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Jan
24
Matthew O'Connor piano
A programme of film music played by versatile pianist, tutor and composer, Matthew O’Connor. He has been involved in all aspects of music from pop, rock and experimental bands, through ambient to classical.
Friday 24th January 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE ENTRY ·
Retiring collection £5 suggested
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Jan
17
Celli Amici
Enjoy the rich sound of two cellos, played by good friends Jonathan Palmer and David Ellery. Also with Jolyon Laycock piano and Rachel Woolmer cello. Baroque, 19th Century and Contemporary.
Friday 17th January 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE ENTRY ·
Retiring collection £5 suggested
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Jan
10
The Biber Recorder Duo
Jennifer Mackerras and Timothy Lanfear play a wide range of recorders in virtuosic music ranging from pre-Baroque to contemporary classical. This performance will include works by Telemann, Quantz and Vivaldi.
Friday 10th January 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE ENTRY ·
Retiring collection £5 suggested
Tea and coffee available before the performance
Jan
3
Los Clandestinos jazz duo
Legendary Bristol pianist John Baggott, known for his work with Portishead, Massive Attack and Robert Plant, joins Pete Judge flugelhorn (Get the Blessing) to explore music from the Great American Songbook.
Friday 3rd January 2020
1.10pm - 1.50pm
FREE ENTRY ·
Retiring collection £5 suggested
Tea and coffee available before the performance