The frost is starting to break over here in the UK, so it must be time to get ready for the Spring/Summer painting season. This, of course, means it's time for Upfest.

Last year there were 150 artists for the event, and it sounds like they're already over that number for registrations already.

Having been to a few Upfest events as a spectator/non-painting helper person, I can attest that it's a great time even without a can of paint in your hand, so worth putting in your calendars now.

We have already heard about it and most of us are still twiddling our thumbs about the whole thing but so far it seems pretty sturdy. Most of us have been keeping a keen eye on the mysterious new film  'Exit through the gift shop' .... and now we have locations of where we can see it. just go to www.banksyfilm.com and look down.

If you'd find yourself in Bristol Friday 15th, you can't miss out on Andy Council's solo show Megacity Fauna at the Weapon of choice gallery.

"Mega City Fauna combines the artist's celebrated style with some new departures and will be unmissable for fans old and new. Expect to see some new takes on the Bristol cityscape from this internationally acclaimed artist and illustrator. Andy brings us his beasts on a large and small scale and the result is a menagerie of the Bristol creatures rendered in a collectable and affordable way."

More info @ the weaponofchoicegallery.co.uk

RUMP show Bristol, originally uploaded by .FAKE..

RUMP Urban art show in Bristol Dec 3rd till 7th
Hamilton House, Stokes croft

from Dec 12th till Jan 12th
The Lanes, Nelson street

The show is already over, but they've left some amazing stuff in Bristol! This mural was done at the ' some raw business show' by Burning Candy. Photographs by RomanyWG. Btw this dude has amazing BC pictures, so check ' em out in the slideshow below! (we also did a nice interview with him recently, check that out right here).

Andy Council has been a bit sneaky in his early promo for his upcoming show at Weapon of Choice. First, he puts a TwitPic of this up, then he puts it on his Flickr and pops the link up on Facebook. No big fuss made about it, but then I suppose it fits with Andy quite well... Incredible work from a great, humble guy.

Anyway, this is all he's giving us to go on for the moment, but I can't wait for 15 January to see what creatures and creations fill up the WoC space. No doubt they're going to be amazing and full of dino goodness!

Looking forward to all the pics you are going to snap for me @ driftwood, Adam Mclevey's first solo show in Bristol. They've been awfully strict in giving peeps previews so I guess you all need to be at the opening! The concept seems quite interesting!

"All of the materials in these pieces echo the people in the portraits. Everything is stuff that's been cast off from a house. They're all the remnants of living someplace, the bits that get chucked out before a house gets scrubbed down for a happy new family to move in."

What do you get when you combine the gallery space at Friend & Co., a painted out van, a bunch of miscellany tat, and the mind of Paris? Pop Stop, it seems.

The "Pop Stop" is a unique experience, fusing the British tradition of the Jumble sale, with the art shows of New York in the 70's and early 80's.Taking a lead from the Fun gallery, Fashion Moda and of course Kieth Harings little shop...

The invite promises hand made stickers, hand made books, mini prints, tee's, graff mags ,cards, pens, trinkets and any other tat he can get his hands on... There's also a 'Micro-retrospective' of some of his paintings. (Not sure what a 'Micro-retrospective' is. Could be small, could be to do with a microwave. Only way to find out for sure is to go!)

The opening for this craziness is 8 October, between 5pm-9pm, where there is set to be late night "Poppin" and cider based refreshments and other goodies too. Can't beat a bit of cider-based refreshments!!

Looks like that van'll be getting around, too. Paris'll be 'Pop-Stopping' at locations around Bristol, so check the exhibit's blog for locations.

It only made sense that, as a terrible book geek, I'd make my first Crack post about a book. The folks over at Tangent Books, who brought the art world such fine tomes as Banksy's Bristol and Children of the Can, have just released a new volume, Art & Sound of the Bristol Underground.

Tangent's blurb goes like this:

Chris Burton and Gary Thompson have compiled a fascinating collection of flyers advertising secret parties on the Bristol circuit in the 80s and conducted a series of interviews with the people behind the leading hip hop crews of the day. The result is a book that covers an area in Bristol's (and the UK's) musical development that has never before been documented. Nothing seemed too daunting for the young DJs, MCs and rappers as they took over abandoned buildings, moved in the sound systems and partied all night long. The only publicity was word of mouth and flyers. Many of the artists behind the flyers such as FLX, Inkie and Nick Walker have gone on to gain national and international recognition while some of the crews have become music superstars.

Sounds cool, and the images that have been leaked around the blogosphere are pretty awesome examples of the kinds of flyers the kids today just don't get to see anymore. Not only are they drawn by some Bristol legends, they look to be done with markers and photocopied. Far from the polished stuff you see these guys putting in shows nowadays, this is them at the start.

The book itself is getting some nice media coverage (including stories of how the boxes of old flyers were found, which makes me think maybe I should check what all I've got in my attic!), and like anything happening in the Bristol scene right now, the book launch promises to be a pretty great night. With a new flyer by Inkie and some old school DJs, I think the Arnolfini'll be a kick ass party on 22 October.