What’s on in Stroud this week: 5 – 11 Jan
As the festive period draws to a close, and with dark evenings, low energy and low funds in the first week of January, most towns might struggle to muster one or two events to get you out of the house.
Stroud, however, continues to put on a show. Special mention to the team at the Prince Albert in Rodborough, who host three gigs this week from acts who certainly know how to entertain a crowd. Elsewhere, there’s plenty on offer, with a cheese and wine evening in Oakridge, a retreat at Hawkwood and a new residency at the SVA John St Gallery.
Find out more in our regular look at things coming up in Stroud and the wider district. To suggest an event for inclusion, use this form.
Regular and one off events
- Enjoy wine and cheese at the Butcher’s Arms – Thu 8 Jan, 6:30pm
The Butchers Arms in Oakridge Lynch encourages us to embrace a wine and cheese antidote to the post-Christmas slump, with six different cheeses, each matched with the perfect wine.
Tickets available in advance.
- See Attila the Stockbroker – Thu 8 Jan, 8pm
Punk poet, multi instrumentalist musician and songwriter, Attila the Stockbroker, aka John Baine, returns to Rodborough for a Thursday night gig at the Prince Albert. The evening promises collected works from Heart On My Sleeve, an anthology which gathers together the author’s collected works from a period spanning 1980 – 2020.
- Retreat to Hawkwood – Sat 10 Jan, 9:30am – 4pm
Mel Skinner brings another of her retreats to Hawkwood, this time focussed on new year rest and restore day retreat at Hawkwood. The day includes restorative yoga, contemplative time in nature and poetry sharing, allowing space for participants to develop new year resolutions which come from the wisdom of the heart.
- Catch Jaz Delorean – Sun 11 Jan, 12:30pm
Tankus the Henge lead singer Jaz Delorean gives a rare Sunday matinee performance at the Prince Albert, drawing inspiration variously from the bar-room piano players of the Old West and New Orleans swing and boogie-woogie. We are told that Delorean’s songs bring together a patchwork of comic and tragic stories from his growing up around a travelling funfair.
- Join a jam at Stroud Brewery – Sun 11 Jan, 6.30pm
Stroud Brewery’s community jam sessions continue on the second Sunday of every month in the upstairs balcony bar, offering a space to share musical ideas, collaborate and play together. A full drum kit is provided, along with keyboard and two amps.
- Watch the Magnificent AKs – Sun 11 Jan, 7pm
The biggest band ever to emerge from the north Wiltshire village of Ashton Keynes top off a bumper first week in January at the Prince Albert, featuring some Rodborough and Stroud faces alongside those from further afield. Expect Georgian-inspired harmonies and serious silliness under the expert guidance of leader Chris Samuel.
Beginning this week
- See the Art of Resistance – Fri & Sat, 9 – 17 Jan, 10am -3pm
Jodi Hunt & Rider Shafique share a residency at the SVA John Street Gallery, offering an outlet for their collaborative work exploring culture, heritage and identity. The duo will create new artworks focused on protest art, combining various creative practices such as photography, graphic design and print.
Further afield
- See Material Worlds at the Wilson – Until Sun 11 Jan, 10am to 5pm (closed Mondays)
Curated by artist Caroline Achaintre with Hayward Gallery Touring, Material Worlds: Contemporary Artists and Textiles explores how artists are using textiles in surprising and radical ways. The exhibition at the Wilson Art Gallery and Museum in Cheltenham features work created predominantly over the last decade by fifteen UK-based artists, highlighting the cultural history of textiles and challenging its traditional associations, showcasing its subversive potential.
For a full month of art, music, theatre, literature, film and comedy events, pick up a copy of Stroud’s popular listings magazine, Good on Paper.
