Their project began during the covid lockdowns when clubs fell quiet
Up All Night, a Bristol Nightlife story has been put together by Colin Moody and Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley as a celebration of Bristol’s unique nightlife scene(Image: The History Press/Plaster PR)
It’s been five years in the making but now a new book capturing, documenting and celebrating Bristol’s unique, diverse and famous nightlife scenes is finally ready to be launched. Called ‘Up All Night: A Bristol Nightlife Story’, it is described as a love letter to Bristol’s after-dark music and cultural scenes, venues, people and artists.
The photobook has been put together by two of the city’s well-known creative people – with words from journalist and musician Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley and photos from award-winning photographer Colin Moody – the man behind initiatives like the ‘Proper Bristol’ postcard competition.
The idea to document and celebrate Bristol’s nightlife began when it didn’t exist – when the Covid pandemic saw everything shut, and everyone staying at home. It was only then that people realised what Bristol had, so when it began to return, Colin and Jasmine said they began to work to record its story.
“A huge part of life had been put on pause,” said co-author Jasmine. “But what emerged was a deeper appreciation of what nightlife gives us – joy, resilience and community. We wanted to preserve that,” she added.
Up All Night, a Bristol Nightlife story has been put together by Colin Moody and Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley as a celebration of Bristol’s unique nightlife scene(Image: The History Press/Plaster PR)
Bristol’s nightlife scene is renowned across the world, and is incredibly diverse, with nightclubs and bars catering for the city’s reputation as a stag and hen capital, to the iconic nightclubs like Lakota and the recently-closed Motion. Then there’s also the underground and grassroots venues and parties that spawned the Bristol sound, drum n bass and jungle, as well as Carnival, queer spaces and youth centres.
The book features drag artist Roux, DJ El-Ze and Annie McGann from the Save Bristol Nightlife campaign, who each talk about the power, but also the vulnerability, of nightlife spaces.
“Young people aren’t just looking for a night out,” said DJ El-Ze. “They’re looking for a space to belong. That starts in our smaller venues.”
The book has been published by the History Press and will be launched in October. “The book blends striking street photography with interviews, poems and reflections from the people who keep the city’s nightlife alive,” said a spokesperson for the publishers.
Up All Night, a Bristol Nightlife story has been put together by Colin Moody and Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley as a celebration of Bristol’s unique nightlife scene(Image: The History Press/Plaster PR)
“Described as a love letter to Bristol’s nightlife, the book blends vivid street photography with interviews, poems and reflections from the artists, promoters and communities that make the city come alive after dark.
“It highlights the cultural, social and economic importance of these spaces at a time when venues across the UK are under pressure,” she added.
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“With nightlife venues facing ongoing pressures across the UK, Up All Night highlights the cultural, social and economic role that night-time spaces play in urban life – not just as entertainment, but as places of identity, creativity and connection,” she added.
There will be a series of events to launch the book, which will first be previewed at Martin Parr Foundation on October 10, with an outdoor exhibition as part of the annual photobook festival called Books On Photography.
Up All Night, a Bristol Nightlife story has been put together by Colin Moody and Jasmine Ketibuah-Foley as a celebration of Bristol’s unique nightlife scene(Image: The History Press/Plaster PR)
A second larger street gallery will follow on Thursday, October 23, with a major event that begins at 5.30pm that day with a Jack Arts installation near Lakota. “A dramatic outdoor gallery of images and quotes from the book will be unveiled near Lakota, one of Bristol’s most iconic and long-standing nightclubs,” said a spokesperson.
“This immersive installation will showcase the energy and voices of the city’s nightlife communities on a grand scale, offering a unique street-level celebration of Bristol after dark,” they added. Then, at 7.30pm, an evening event full of talks, performance and music will get underway.