The Bristol Radical History Festival returns this Spring for its eighth edition, with history talks, panel discussions, films, history walks, performance and exhibitions. There will also be space devoted to stalls, where you can stock up on history pamphlets, books and more, from over 30 publishers and distributors.

The main part of the festival is held over two days at two main venues: Saturday 25th April at Bristol’s social history museum on the city’s historic harbourside, M Shed; and, Sunday 26th April at the volunteer-run arts centre and cinema the Cube Microplex.

This year’s event has four main themes: Propaganda, Utopias, Welsh Risings and the 1926 General Strike.

And most importantly, the festival is (almost) entirely free. And, whether you are an academic, local historian or curious first timer, all are welcome.

Incidentally, this year also marks twenty years of the Bristol Radical History Group. Our first event was the inaugural Bristol Radical History Week in October 2006. Since then the group has become a permanent fixture on Bristol’s cultural landscape, and along the way has hopefully shifted some perceptions about the city’s history (and the odd statue).