Hen & Chicken

Jazz: Ross Hicks Trio
2025-05-15 20:00 - 22:30 UTC | Chicken Shed
Ross Hicks is a young Cardiff based pianist who made a great impression on a short tour with saxophonist Simon Spillett in 2023 and played his debut trio gig at the Be-Bop Club in 2024.
“Hicks was a revelation, ideas emerged and developed and injected drama even as the pieces unfolded at near terminal velocity” – Mike Collins [jazzyblogman].
Presenting music from his first album ‘Three Elms’, Ross and his talented co-conspirators will play a mix of original compositions and some other contemporary tunes. The album is a series of original compositions and is the result of a wide array of influences with an original spin – “an intelligent and intriguing piece of writing” – The Jazz Mann.
Ross is a graduate of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama now working as a full time freelance musician, and has formed his trio featuring two of the Be-Bop Club’s favourite players.
Nick Kacal is a bassist originally from Trinidad, but has roots in London and a presence on the Manchester but now residing in South Wales. After studying with Tony Hougham, the principle bass of the Covent Garden Opera, he moved to London and has played as a sideman on the scene playing predominantly jazz and acoustic folk, occasionally touring to places such as Cape Verde, France and Spain. He formed his own group, Guerillasound, releasing a CD in 2008 and touring successfully in Japan.
Drummer Andy Tween is one of Bristol’s busiest musicians who has in the past toured with Pee Wee Ellis and Seth Lakeman, and more recently with rock band Curved Air. He teaches at Wells Cathedral School and is also a composer who has had his work used by the BBC and the Discovery Channel.
Have a listen to their album promo here: Three Elms

Comedy: Dan Tiernan & Guests
2025-05-16 20:00 - 22:30 | Hen & Chicken Studio
Stand Up For The Weekend with Dan Tiernan featuring Dave Chawner & compere Meryl O’Rourke

Headliner: DAN TIERNAN
Comedian Dan Tiernan made a big impact on the UK comedy circuit back in 2022 after winning both the BBC New Comedy Award and the British Comedian Of The Year, and if this wasn’t enough he was winner of the Best Newcomer at the ISH Comedy Awards in 2023 and nominated for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Festival the same year. Since then, Dan has also been nominated for the Next Big Thing by the British Comedy Guide in 2025. With all of these accolades it does make you wonder where Dan can go from here.
Dan is hugely in demand and has performed at the Melbourne Comedy Festival, the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival in Ireland, and the BBC Comedy Festival, and has appeared on various radio and TV shows including The Last Leg, Live At The Apollo, 8 Out Of 10 Cats does Countdown, and The Stand Up Sketch Show.
“Raucously entertaining” The Guardian

Comedy: Abigoliah Schamaun LEGALLY CHEEKY
2025-05-21 20:00 - 23:00 | Hen & Chicken Studio
Abigoliah Schamaun thought she had it all; the flat, the career, the life partner. This US transplant was living The American Dream…in London. Then one day, the Wicked Witch of Westminster, told Abigoliah to click her sparkly heels and go ‘home’. In that moment, everything changed. To lose would mean losing everything.
Much to her surprise, Brexit means Brexit, even for non-Europeans. Abigoliah’s quest for the HolyVisa began, and the fight was very much On.
Legally Cheeky charts Abigoliah Schamaun’s journey in a heart-warming tale of highs, lows, twists and turns as she recounts the year that shook her and her partner Tom to the core. Her natural lust for life and infectious positivity transforms the painful and frustrating horror of bureaucracy and red tape into a joyfully hilarious shared experience; you’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll cheer for her to win!

Jazz: Matt Anderson And Friends
2025-05-22 20:00 - 22:30 | Chicken Shed
London-based saxophonist and Dankworth Prize-winning composer Matt Anderson released his fourth album, Live at Leeds Jazz Festival, in 2024 with his long-running quartet. This live recording from the middle of their May 2023 U.K. tour is a snapshot of the band at their best: stretching out on a set of original tunes with a characteristically open, interactive and risk-taking approach. The roots of jazz are never far away, with a rhythmic feel and blues sensibility that is anchored in the tradition, however the music also expands into other areas such as modal and contemporary harmony and British folk-style melodies, giving the group a distinctive identity.
“a well-integrated, swinging and supremely confident ensemble… [with] a soulful depth to his musicality that underpins the academic attention to detail” – Jazzwise ****
“The band’s synergy as an ensemble shines brightly in this live setting… a must-listen album” – Jazz in Europe
Born in the North Yorkshire Moors, the son of a music teacher and based in Leeds for a time, Matt has lived in London since 2015. Becoming part of the fertile jazz scene in the capital, he has since performed with artists/bands such as Will Vinson, Greg Hutchinson (with the Jiannis Pavlidis Quintet), Ivo Neame, the Gareth Lockrane and Calum Gourlay big bands, Jamie Doe’s Magic Lantern and Hannes Riepler, and he has also toured in New Zealand, Eastern Europe and Scandinavia. In 2023, he became a D’Addario Woodwinds artist and was also made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music for contributions to the music industry.
For this appearance, Matt will be joined by some of his favourite musicians from the Bristol music scene, playing for the first time with pianist Rebecca Nash and drummer Andy Hague, alongside his long-time collaborator bassist Will Harris, who is a regular member of the Matt Anderson Quartet.

Comedy: Nathan Caton MY BIG FAT BLASIAN WEDDING
2025-05-22 20:00 - 23:00 | Hen & Chicken Studio
It’s official. Nathan Caton’s married and off the market – sorry ladies… and gentlemen! What should’ve been the happiest time of his life turned out to be the most stressful and expensive time ever. The end result? Well, it was either therapy or turn it into comedy. Nathan chose the latter…
Nathan is one of the most exciting young comedians on the scene. Gigging since the tender age of 19, over the last decade he has established himself both as a circuit headliner, and a name on TV and radio.

Nathan Caton is an award-winning comedian as seen on Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, Russell Howard’s Good News and BBC R4’s Can’t Tell Nathan Caton Nothing…

Comedy: Stand Up For The Weekend with TOM WARD & Guests
2025-05-23 20:00 - 22:30 | Hen & Chicken Studio
Stand Up For The Weekend with Tom Ward featuring Huge Davies & compere Jereny Flynn
Tom Ward is a hugely in-demand comedian and voice-over artist. He has voiced literally thousands of commercials, documentaries, training films etc from excitable salesmen to husky women – he can do them all. As a comedian, Tom has won numerous awards which has catapulted him to acclaimed solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and guest spots on various TV stand-up shows.
His stand-up is amazingly assured and he is a unique and genuinely exciting act, oozing confidence from every pore, with quirky, original sideways looks at sex, singledom and swearing.

Tom has appeared on ‘Live at The Apollo’, ‘Roast Battle’, and ‘Stand Up Sketch Show’ as well as the LAD Bible series ‘In My Personal Space’ interviewing celebrities such as Kyle Walker, Lady Leeshurr and Jamie Laing.

He’s supported Jack Whitehall, Joe Lycett and Sindhu Vee on tour and done three solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Music: Rosemary Wylde in concert
2025-05-23 20:00 - 22:30 | Chicken Shed
Rosemary Wylde is in concert to celebrate the Official Debut Single Release.
Timeless sounds from nomadic blues sister come protest-folk troubadour. London born and bred, Rosemary embodies British rhythm fuelled by Americana influences, gospel driven vocals, with lyrics of change and revolution. After time on the road, and now with roots in the West Country, her original material celebrates the traditional to the eccentric.
She transports you to a by-gone era with resonator guitar, washboard, harmonica and use of acapella, whilst representing a message for the present day. The evening will celebrate the official debut single release in the run up to the upcoming album ‘Peace Revue’. This full-length set will feature all 3 upcoming singles, including the debut single ‘Peace’ and the stories behind the songs. https://rosemarywylde.com
Rosemary’s special guest is Retini. She was raised in Queens, New York before settling in Bristol, UK. Having been influenced strongly by Singer songwriters of the 1960’s, her music explores a range of different acoustic styles, blending a range of vocal sounds and melodic instrumental styles. Retini’s songs are inspired by emotions of love, her personal experiences on life and global events
There will be a collection fo the rBrain Tumour Support Charity on the night.

Comedy: Elena Gabrielle LIVE
2025-05-24 20:00 - 22:30 | Hen & Chicken Studio
UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS SHOW IS BEING POSTPONED TO LATER IN THE YEAR. TICKET HOLDERS WILL BE NOTIFIED DIRECTLY.

Prepare yourself for an uproarious evening with the one and only Elena Gabrielle. Known for her scandalously funny tales and unfiltered stories, Elena’s here to solve all your problems—or at least make you laugh about them! This time, she’s going beyond her usual wild adventures to dive right into the audience. Yes, that means crowd work, so be ready to get involved! Elena’s blend of quick wit, hilarious storytelling, and no-holds-barred interactions will leave you wondering, “Did she just say that?” and maybe, “Am I next?” Come with questions, leave with laughs—and possibly a little scandal.

Elena Gabrielle’s satirical look on modern relationships teamed with her uproarious musicality has seen her steal the show from Canada to South Africa.

This Australian born European based comedian appeals to sold out audiences across the globe with her witty, no-holds barred approach to stand-up comedy and because of this, has seen her go viral with 40 million plus views on YouTube to date.

Her embarrassing date stories are delivered in an intuitive storytelling style which cuts through cultural divides and is enjoyed globally. After touring non-stop for 3 years with ‘Story Party Tour’ (which saw her perform over 700 shows in that time and in 65 countries) and sold-out runs with her 2 solo tours “DIRRTY” in 2021/22 and “Addickted” in 2023, Elena is back on tour in 2024 with her new show “OK!?”

Talk: The History of Witchcraft and Feminism with Dr Jennifer Farrell
2025-05-27 19:00 - 21:30 | Hen & Chicken Studio
The image of a female witch, with broom and black cat serving the devil, is ingrained in pop culture. But where did this stereotype come from? The concept of witchcraft emerged slowly over the course of several centuries as a result of theological, intellectual, and cultural changes in ideas about demons and heresy.
Magical practices were varied – including love magic, healing, and various forms of prognostication. And it certainly wasn’t always associated with women. In fact, more ‘sinister’ magic like necromancy – which relied heavily on the power of demons – was mostly done by men. This type of magic involved a lot of education that simply wasn’t accessible to women at the time. So how come this image of evil women practising magic – witches – came about?
This talk will use feminist approaches to the past to explore medieval changes in ideas about magic, gender, and heresy in order to better understand the emergence of witchcraft at the end of the middle ages. We will also look at witchcraft in relation to female sexuality and fears about women’s access to ritual power throughout history.
Dr Jennifer Farrell is a lecturer in medieval history at the University of Exeter. With interests in both gender and the medieval supernatural, her research and teaching focuses on cultural developments and their relationship to socio-political changes in Western Europe during the high and late middle ages (c. 1000- c. 1500). She has published on subjects including medieval prophecy; fairies in medieval history and romance; the relationship between literary representations of fairies, the supernatural, and gender; and is currently working on a book focused on Geoffrey of Monmouth and the origins of the Arthurian legends. Her teaching has included undergraduate and postgraduate courses looking at medieval gender and sexuality, universities and learning in the middle ages, magic in the middle ages, sexualities across time and space, and the legends of King Arthur.

Theatre: Wednesday Night Improv - Triple Bill
2025-05-28 20:00 - 23:00 | Chicken Shed
Wednesday Night Improv kicks off with a triple bill packed with quick wit, bold characters, and stories made up on the spot.
Join us for a midweek comedy boost featuring three of Bristol’s sharpest improv acts—each one creating a brand-new show right before your eyes, all inspired by audience suggestions.
** JAZZ POLICE: THE IMPROVISED SKETCH SHOW **
American-style longform improv comedy troupe from Bristol. Having performed at the Edinburgh International Improv Festival and the Birmingham Comedy Festival, explore the world of improv through a hilarious compilation of scenes and bits as these masters of wit take one word and turn it into a show.
“Damn near perfect improv” – The Glasgow Improv Theatre
** PRESSURE COOKER: THE IMPROVISED RESTAURANT SHOW **
Pressure Cooker whisks you into the chaos of a fictional restaurant where chefs, customers, and kitchen staff are all played by a dynamic ensemble. Using YOUR stories as ingredients, our performers cook up hilarious, unpredictable scenes every night. From meltdowns to menu mayhem, it’s comedy served hot and fast.
** AFTER DUSK: THE IMPROVISED TWILIGHT ZONE **
You walk into a play, but none of the actors have learned their lines, because there are none. This show hasn’t been written yet. A nightmare or a dream? Who’s to say? Up ahead, there’s a sign. We take a turn through your imagination and arrive at your final destination: An improvised twist on The Twilight Zone!
Accompanied by a live violinist, some of Bristol’s best improvisers create a brand-new episode of the classic science fiction show which inspired Black Mirror. Suitable for all levels of nerdiness and Twilight Zone knowledge, including none!
★★★★★ “A beautiful demonstration of everything improvised performance can be.” – The Reviews Hub
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Whether you’re a seasoned comedy fan or just curious about what happens when performers make it all up as they go, this is a perfect night to dive into Bristol’s thriving improv scene. Expect laughter, surprises, and something completely different—every single time.
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Part of the Wednesday Night Improv series – also look out for The Bish Bosh Bash, our improvised gameshow spectacular, on 11th June!

Jazz: Andy Urquhart Quartet
2025-05-29 20:00 - 22:30 | Chicken Shed
Andy Urquhart is the power house trumpeter who has played at the club many times with Sound of Blue Note. Tonight he appears for the first time as band leader playing a set of standards and contemporary jazz tunes by current luminaries. Based near Blandford Forum, Andy has for many years led the house band at Jazz Café Sandbanks near Poole, in which capacity he has played with most of the UK’s best known players as visiting guests, recent examples being Art Themen, Iain Ballamy, Liane Carroll and Vasilis Xenopoulos.
Pianist Phil Doyle also plays with Sound of Blue Note, and is a former forces musician who works with the famous Joe Loss Orchestra. Known as one of the best jazz pianists working along the south coast, he has accompanied visiting US artists such as Bobby Shew and Scott Hamilton.
The band is completed by Bristol rhythm team Chris Jones – bass and Andy Hague – drums.

Comedy: Jack Skipper SKINT
2025-05-29 20:00 - 23:00 | Hen & Chicken Studio
Carpet-fitter turned comedian Jack Skipper delivers his debut, Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated, stand-up hour with a show about how he went from a tradesman with no qualifications to a full-time comedian (with no qualifications) – offering insights into the endeavours of a working-class father struggling to navigate his way through life.
Seen on The Stand Up Sketch Show. Tour support for Michael McIntyre and Russell Kane. Over 16 million likes on TikTok.

Nominated for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards 2024.
Winner of Best Debut Show at Leicester Comedy Festival 2024.
Nominated for Next Up’s Biggest Award In Comedy 2024.
So You Think You’re Funny 2022 runner-up.

Comedy: Pierre Novellie and Guests
2025-05-30 20:00 - 22:30 | Hen & Chicken Studio
Stand Up For The Weekend with Pierre Novellie featuring Joe Wells & Jeremy Flynn

Pierre Novellie is a stand-up comedian, writer, radio host and podcaster. He was co-host of The Frank Skinner Show on Absolute Radio, and TV appearances have included World’s Most Dangerous Roads (Dave), The Mash Report (BBC2), and Stand Up Central (Comedy Central). On the radio, Pierre has performed on The Now Show (Radio 4), hosts the BBC Sounds podcast series Obsessed With… SAS: Rogue Heroes and co-hosts the hit podcast Budpod with Phil Wang. As a writer, Pierre was one of the regular writers on the rebooted Spitting Image (ITV/Britbox) and has also written on shows including Mock the Week (BBC2), The News Quiz (Radio 4) and The Mash Report (BBC2).​

One of the UK’s most acclaimed live acts, Pierre‘s latest show Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things? saw a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and was his third show to have been placed in the top 20 best-reviewed comedy shows across the entire festival. He first special, Quiet Ones, was distributed by US comedy label 800 Pound Gorilla Records and has amassed over 250,000 views online.​

Comedy: Ignacio Lopez SEÑOR SELF DESTRUCT
2025-05-31 20:00 - 22:30 | Hen & Chicken Studio
Spain’s Best Export(TM) Ignacio Lopez is on a mission to destroy himself, and build a better version. Leaner. Smarter. Funnier. Join the star of Live At The Apollo, Have I Got News For You, Comedy Central, QI, House of Games, & more, for a riotously funny exploration of vices, intrusive thoughts,
and self improvement.

Expect an armada of playful, wicked humour from the exotic outsider comedian, as he tries to identify his faults and how to improve. Is it worth going to the gym? Can you be addicted to technology? Do you know what happens if you give spiders drugs? Ignacio uses his razor-sharp wit, and effortless charm to tackle these questions and a bunch of other irrelevant horsesh*t.
★★★★★ “CHARMING, CHARISMATIC, HILARIOUS. WILL HAVE YOU LEAVING WITH A SMILE ON YOUR FACE” DEADLINE

The Shroomshop: DIY Mushroom Cultivation Workshop with Darren Le Baron
2025-06-03 18:30 - 22:00 | Chicken Shed
Learn how to grow edible, nootropic and medicinal mushrooms at home from expert cultivator Darren Le Baron.Darren has been educating and growing mushrooms for over thirteen years, welcoming thousands of budding mycologists to his famous Shroomshop! This event will sell out, so grab your ticket now!
Mushrooms have been growing wild since prehistoric times. Their therapeutic value has been prized in indigenous cultures for thousands of years. They play a critical role in medicinal practice and were noted in some of the first books on herbal medicine written thousands of years agoIn the past few decades, mushrooms have become more popular for their therapeutic qualities in the west as a result of an expanding body of scientific research supporting their numerous health benefits.Come and learn the basics of mushroom cultivation, explore various techniques for growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms such as Oyster, Reishi, Lions Mane and many other magical varieties of mushrooms.This will be a hands-on experience and will cover everything you need to know to get you started. What will you learn?

What are Mushrooms?
How do Mushrooms grow?
How to cultivate Mushrooms at home!
How to make your very own grain spawn!
Making a mushroom fruiting tub!
Mushroom Aftercare!
Where to get everything?
Each participant will leave with a mushroom grow kit and access to digital notes.

Music: Dana Sipos
2025-06-03 20:00 - 23:30 | Hen & Chicken Studio
Known for crafting music that is both fragile and orchestral, acclaimed Canadian songwriter Dana Sipos invites the listener beneath the surface through a nuanced lens that isn’t afraid to be out of focus at times. Sipos’ talent for earthen imagery, rich spiralling vocals, and textured instrumentation sets the stage for a deeply moving performance. She is a consummate performer, having brought her her unique brand of cosmic folk to living rooms, concert halls and festivals stages across North America, Europe and Australia. Her 2021 release, The Astral Plane, was lauded as a “mesmerizing jewel of an album” (No Depression) and garnered Sipos a Solo Artist of the Year nomination at the 2022 Canadian Folk Music Awards. With a new collection of captivating songs that hold the complexity of the human experience up to the light, her new album Golden Molten will be released in spring 2025.

Jazz: Fini Bearman
2025-06-05 20:00 - 22:30 | Chicken Shed
Fini Bearman is a superb vocalist who took over from Brigitte Beraha as vocal tutor for the last few years of the Falmouth Jazz Summer School, and is Professor of Jazz Songwriting at London’s Guildhall School. Visiting the club for the first time, she is touring nationally with her band of A-list London jazz musicians.
Fini tours regularly across Europe and notable performances include Ronnie Scott’s, The Sage Gateshead, The Barbican, The A-Trane (Berlin), Cafe Mercedes Jazz (Valencia), Manzioli (Izola, Slovenia) and Dizzy’s (Jazz at the Lincoln Center, New York). Festival highlights include the London Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, Berlin Jazz Festival, ‘Jazz Voices’ in Lithuania and ’Voicingers’ in Poland.
For this tour she is presenting music from her 5th studio album “Last Night of the World” (Pastiche Records). An eclectic collection of jazz, folk & pop-infused songs, Last Night of the World draws on Fini’s experiences of motherhood & new beginnings, of love & loss, sometimes of a new-found sense of meaning, sometimes an existential lack thereof! The record was conceived using writing exercises created for her work teaching songwriting, and these seeds grew over time, coming to fruition in tandem with her pregnancy; final vocal and instrumental takes often taking place with Bridget asleep in a sling… Inspiration for the songs is drawn from a diverse spectrum of influences: the melodic inventiveness of Madison Cunningham, the esoteric jazz/folk realms of Becca Stevens, Chris Thile, Paul Simon and the electronic, minimalist songwriting voice of Bjork.
This album marks a departure from Fini’s last LP (the solo record La Loba, 2020) and acts as a return to her true ‘musical north’- a jazz-meets-indie-pop rhythm section playing lyric-based songs, with nuanced and at times complex harmonic structures and rhythmic idiosyncrasies. Each song is individual and unique in its own right, with space for improvisation, interaction and connection.

Theatre: Tales From The Wasteland: Post-Apocalyptic Improv
2025-06-07 20:00 - 22:00 | Hen & Chicken Studio
Tales From The Wasteland is an improvised post-apocalyptic adventure comedy. This twisted and talented cast of wastelanders will take a single suggestion from you and craft an entire narrative show with no pre-prepared characters, story or dialogue.
If the world was ending, what would be the one thing you’d want to survive? Join us as we explore a new world and find out what’s left over after Earth’s devastation. Expect raiders, mutants and violence over scarce resources in this absurd dark comedy inspired by classics of the genre such as Mad Max, The Last of Us and Fallout.
Warning: this show tends to have dark themes, violence and cannibalism. Seriously, cannibalism comes up way too often.
“I’m still reeling at how such an intricate tale was woven on the spot, it’s truly a gift this cast has been blessed with.” – Obscure Reviews

WITH SUPPORT FROM: Blame of Thrones

A gripping political court drama! The beloved Monarch has suffered a terrible “accident,” leaving the royal court teeming with Machiavellian schemers, each vying for power. As the Monarch lingers on their deathbed, who will outmaneuver the rest to save their own skin? And who will seize the crown to become the all-powerful successor?

Entry requirements: 16+

Theatre: Wednesday Night Improv presents.... The Bish Bosh Bash
2025-06-11 20:00 - 23:00 | Chicken Shed
The Improvised Game Show!
Step into the exhilarating world of The Bish Bosh Bash, where two teams of quick-witted improvisers go head-to-head in a series of spontaneous games and challenges, all fueled by your suggestions. Familiar with ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ You’ll feel right at home! ​
In the first half, enjoy rapid-fire games that showcase the performers’ versatility and comedic flair. Then, brace yourself for the knockout round, where the teams craft mini-plays on the spot, inspired by audience prompts. Your votes determine the night’s champions, making every show a unique and interactive experience. ​
Whether you’re an improv aficionado or a first-timer, The Bish Bosh Bash promises an easy-going and mischievous evening filled with laughter and surprises. Don’t miss this Bristol institution show, where the script is unwritten, and anything can happen! ​
★★★★★ “A good value evening’s entertainment and plenty of playfulness.” – Bristol 24/7

Jazz: Hopkins-Hammond Trio with Gary Alesbrook
2025-06-12 20:00 - 22:30 | Chicken Shed
The Hopkins-Hammond Trio was formed in 2016 to explore the classic organ trio line-up popularised by Jimmy Smith of Hammond organ, guitar and drums. It was immediately apparent that the players generated a special chemistry, and they have gone on to become one of the hardest grooving bands on the Bristol scene, playing tunes by the likes of John Scofield, Larry Goldings and Pat Metheny and their own originals. For this special event they are joined by outstanding trumpeter Gary Alesbrook.
Matt Hopkins – guitar. Matt’s inventive and melodic guitar playing has been featured in groups as stylistically diverse as Andy Sheppard’s Hotel Bristol and Emily Wright & The Royals. He also takes the lead role in the “Music of Pat Metheny” project alongside pianist Dave Newton. Matt is also known as an instructor and educator, specialising in jazz improvisation.
Scott Hammond – drums. Scott is probably best known for playing rock music with Ian Anderson/Jethro Tull all over the globe since 2010 but he’s not just a rocker. Jazz, especially in the organ trio setting, has always been close to Scott’s heart and this trio shows a more subtle side to his playing. In the jazz world Scott has worked with Alan Barnes, Tina May, Herb Geller, Bobby Wellins, Jason Rebello, Pee Wee Ellis and many others. More recently Scott has formed funk band Jingu Bang to play early Herbie Hancock and Weather Report type material.
Ruth Hammond – organ. Ruth has many strings to her bow as she is equally adept on organ, piano, saxophones, accordion and vocals. After graduating from Leeds College of Music in 1998, she became Runner Up in the Young Jazz Musician of the Year (on tenor saxophone). She has released a solo album “All The Good Things” which features her singing her own songs. She also plays sax in Jingu Bang alongside Scott, and is often heard around town with the Brass Junkies.
Special guest: Gary Alesbrook – trumpet/flugelhorn. Gary studied jazz trumpet at Leeds College of Music. His debut jazz album, “Jazz In Movies,” was released in 2018 and his second album “The Stories We Tell Ourselves” was released in 2019. Alesbrook started his session career in 1999 with the Super Furry Animals, touring and playing on the albums ‘Mwng, Rings Around the World, Hey Venus! and Phantom Power. He also played on Gruff Rhys solo album, Hotel Shampoo. Alesbrook recorded with Kasabian in 2006 playing “The Doberman” on their second album “Empire.” He toured next with the Scissor Sisters on their UK dates and for their live DVD recorded July 2007 at London O2 arena. He then joined Kasabian for recording and touring from 2007 until the present day, recording on Empire, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, Velociraptor! 48:13 and most recently For Crying Out Loud. In between Kasabian commitments Alesbrook also toured and performed with US RnB artist Raphael Saadiq, Kelis, Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, Nadine Coyle and recorded on albums KT Tunstall, Tiger Suit and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.

Music: Gee Baby I Love You - Summer Sundowner
2025-06-13 21:00 - 23:30 | Hen & Chicken Studio
After their sell-out show in December, legendary Bristol band Gee Baby I Love You, return to the Hen & Chicken to perform a Summer Sundowner of soul/funk / r’n’b.

TALK: The Science of ADHD: Navigating Neurodiversity in a Neurotypical World
2025-06-16 19:00 - 21:30 | Hen & Chicken Studio
A simple scroll through Instagram or TikTok and you’ll be left questioning: do I have ADHD? The rise in ADHD in adults is undeniable. But only over the last decade has ADHD been formally recognised in the UK. It has been suggested that about 1.5 million adults in the UK have ADHD but only 120,000 have been diagnosed. Waiting times to access an adult ADHD specialist clinic in the NHS can be up to 2 years or more. It’s hard to find support and help.
From dopamine dips, hits and myths, how ADHD can present differently in women than men, and the neuroscience of neurodiversity; this talk is designed to give you an increased awareness and understanding of an ADHD brain. It will include advice and tips on how to navigate a neurotypical world as a neurodivergent person.
This talk will also highlight how society is demanding change. People are increasingly recognising and accepting neurodiversity and self-defining as neurodivergent. Surely, it’s time for the world to alter neurotypical societal standards as they are fast becoming outdated.
Follow us on IG @seedtalks
Professor James Brown is an academic researcher and science communicator. James was diagnosed with ADHD in 2021. Subsequently, James co-founded and is Chair for the registered UK charity ADHDadultUK, set up the evidence-based online ADHD magazine focusmag.uk and is a co-founder and co-host of The ADHD Adults Podcast. James is also an ADHD Coach and Mentor and provides training, guidance and assistance to organisations around adult ADHD for his company JBHD Ltd.

Comedy: Daliso Chaponda & Guests
2025-06-20 20:00 - 22:00 | Hen & Chicken Studio
Stand Up For The Weekend with Daliso Chaponda featuring Erich McElroy & Clint Edwards
Stand Up For The Weekend is our flagship weekly comedy show featuring top circuit headliners and guest acts plus incredibly funny and engaging comperes who host the show. A choice of table seats, reserved row seats and unreserved row seats are available to book online.
Headliner: DALISO CHAPONDA
Daliso Chaponda shot to fame on Britain’s Got Talent, making it to the final of the 2017 series and establishing himself a firm favourite with the judges and the British public. He became a Facebook and YouTube star amassing over 300 million views of his performances.

Daliso is also the writer, creator, and host of his Rose d’Or nominated BBC Radio 4 show Citizen of Nowhere that has aired for two series.

As seen and heard on The Royal Variety Performance 2020 (ITV), Britain’s Got Talent 2017 (ITV), Britain’s Got Talent Champions 2019 (ITV), QI (BBC2), The Apprentice: You’re Fired (BBC2), Good Evening Britain (ITV), The News Quiz (BBC Radio 4), and The Now Show (BBC Radio 4).

Daliso Chaponda is a hugely engaging and highly intelligent stand-up comedian. He explores all sorts of challenging subjects including race, politics, religion, pandemics etc but always endeavours to seek the funny.

TALK: The History of Folklore and Feminism
2025-06-23 19:00 - 21:00 | Hen & Chicken Studio
For centuries, feminist writers and thinkers have turned to myths, legends, fairytales, religious stories, and cultural traditions to make sense of women’s experiences. All of these come under the umbrella of ‘folklore’. This talk will explore the enduring relevance of folklore, asking how these stories can be reclaimed and reimagined for the 21st-century feminist.
We’ll trace figures like the witch, the shapeshifter, and the maiden across different traditions, examining the societal norms they were created to enforce and how feminist thinkers have reshaped them into symbols of resistance and possibility.
Finally, we will ask why we continually return to ancient stories to tell new ones — does this suggest that we’re out of new stories, or is it a part of a longstanding literary tradition in women’s writing, to look back, to subvert dominant myths, and to challenge the patriarchal ideas embedded in our society?
Speaker Bio:
Dr Shelby Judge is a Lecturer in Creative and Cultural Industries at the University of Derby,
where she researches digital feminist and popular feminist responses to Incels and the
Manosphere. She recently completed her PhD in English Literature at the University of
Glasgow, for which she produced the thesis Contemporary Feminist Adaptations of Greek
Myth. Due to the proliferating nature of this genre, Shelby’s work in this field is ongoing. She
has published work on #MeToo and the Trojan War, 21st Century adaptations of Helen of
Troy, transgender adaptations of Frankenstein, and transgender readings of Ovid. She has
previously given public lectures on toxic masculinity in Greek myth and sea monsters in Scottish folklore. She is a regular contributor to the Literary Encyclopedia, for which she has
written articles on the poetry of Carol Ann Duffy and Margaret Atwood, as well as entries on
Laura Bates and Janice Hallett. Shelby is a committee member for the Transatlantic Literary
Women network, funded by the US Embassy and BAAS.

Talk: Trump & Vance
2025-06-24 19:30 - 23:30 | Hen & Chicken Studio
Trump & Vance- with friends like these, who needs enemies?
Altered State welcomes General Sir Timothy Radford and Richard Graham, former diplomat and MP, to the panel to discuss the impacts of America First foreign policy on the UK, NATO as is, geopolitics and any likely realignments and new alliances that it might beget

Music: The Pine Hill Haints
2025-06-25 20:00 - 23:00 | Hen & Chicken Studio
Alabama Ghost Country Music
Alabama’s favourite haunted artists The Pine Hill Haints return with their latest long player, Shattered Pieces Of The True Cross, on Single Lock Records, available in stores physical and digital on May 30.
The collection of southern psychedelic tunes were recorded at the legendary Muscle Shoals Sound on Jackson Highway, captured and mixed by Ben Tanner, Grammy-winning producer/engineer and Single Lock co-founder.
The Haints have long represented a 21st century chapter in the Muscle Shoals music legacy, applying a DIY ethos to folk and blues traditions. Not unlike their Swamper forebears in the same studio, the Haints transcend their myriad influences to sculpt a sound of their own.
The album bears their signature sonic palette – washtub bass, snare drum (no bass drums allowed!), washboard, and the occasional singing saw – and combination of styles: Scotch Irish traditional music via Appalachia (“Ki Yi Woopi Ti Yay” and “Henry My Son”, classic country (“Honky Tonk and Dance With You”) and punk rock (“Svenghoolia”), plus a fresh take on the Grateful Dead song “Loser”.

Have a listen here

Music: Bobby Bare Jnr. (with Matthew Paige)
2025-06-26 20:00 - 23:00 | Hen & Chicken Studio
Unfortunately, this tour has been cancelled due to unforeseen family reasons.

Nashville, the son of country music icon, Bobby Bare singer-songwriter Bobby Bare jr cites influence by the songwriting of Shel Silverstein, encapsulating humour and references to popular culture within his songs.
Bobby has been in bands such as Young Criminal Starvation League and Guided By Voices.
He is accompanied on this tour by Matthew Paige.
Matthew is from East Nashville and is a member of the band, Dee-oh-Gee.
Matthew will perform with Bobby, but will also open the show, performing solo material that will be a contrast from his work with Dee-oh-Gee.
Have a listen here

Comedy: Andrew Bird & Guests
2025-06-27 20:00 - 22:00 | Hen & Chicken Studio
Stand Up For The Weekend with Andrew Bird featuring Tadiwa Mahlunge & Emma Coyne plus compere Meryl O’Rourke

Stand Up For The Weekend is our flagship weekly comedy show featuring top circuit headliners and guest acts plus incredibly funny and engaging comperes who host the show. A choice of table seats, reserved row seats and unreserved row seats are available to book online.
Headliner: ANDREW BIRD
Andrew Bird is a top headline act throughout the UK and Ireland and has performed all around the world. He is highly in demand as a tour support for big name comics such as Rhod Gilbert, Rob Brydon, Jon Richardson and Michael McIntyre playing venues such as Wembley and O2 arenas, and is one of the hardest working TV warm-up acts in the industry having worked on shows as varied as Pointless, Have I Got News For You, The Jonathan Ross Show and Taskmaster.
There is a very good reason for Andrew Bird’s popularity. He is always funny and frequently hilarious. He’s a nimble storyteller, with a relaxed, personable style. He simply proves cracking company, whether he’s got an angle or not. Fast, fluid and animated, you might mistake his relentless chatter for a spontaneous stream of consciousness, were it not so effortlessly reliable in generating laughs.

Comedy: Stuart Mitchell TIPS NOT INCLUDED
2025-06-28 20:00 - 22:30 | Hen & Chicken Studio
With over 100M views online see the longest running panellist from BBC Scotland’s “Breaking The News” live in his first national tour! “One of Scotland’s rising star’s, Stuart Mitchell is a comedian worth catching before he becomes mega.” Sunday Mail.

Stuart Mitchell is now regarded as one of the UK’s top comedians and social media stars with over a 100M views online. You’ve seen him online and now you can see him on his first ever national UK tour, Tips Not Included. Join the longest running panellist of BBC Scotland’ Breaking The News as he shares his amazing life story. “Please go and see Stuart Mitchell” Will Ferrell.

Music: Juliet Lloyd
2025-07-03 20:00 - 23:00 | Hen & Chicken Studio
There’s an unmistakable urgency you can feel when a song is written and performed from a place of complete honesty. That feeling permeates singer-songwriter Juliet Lloyd’s new album, Carnival.
Juliet will be performing live in our intimate music space The Studio.
Juliet Lloyd is an acclaimed singer/songwriter who splits her time between the DC region and Nashville and has garnered comparisons to Patty Griffin, Grace Potter, Carole King, and Chris Stapleton for her signature blend of soulful, roots-infused folk/pop. Across her 20-year career as a writer and artist, Juliet has released four studio albums, garnering placements on television shows on MTV and VH1 and airplay on more than 175 radio stations across the country. Her 2024 full-length album Carnival has been hailed by reviewers for its “evocative storytelling and raw honesty” and “beautiful imagery…a truly dynamic album.” It features nine brand new songs that “transcend genre, moving between indie pop, folk, soul, and rock as effortlessly as Lloyd glides across the notes of her vocal runs.” Juliet’s songwriting and performance chops have earned her top honors in the 2022 Bernard/Ebb Songwriting Awards and Mid-Atlantic Song Contest, four “Wammie” finalist nods, and multiple prestigious national songwriter awards across the past several years. Both solo and with her band, Juliet has performed 150+ shows a year since 2020, including headlining and supporting slots at regional festivals and a growing number of listening rooms across the US.
Have a listen here
