Hastings: A Curious Town Dreams Festival 31/5 - 4/6/23

From today (31st May) until Sunday (4th June) A Curious Town Dreams Festival is to be held at The Observer Building, The Printworks, Gotham Alley and the surrounding area (website), that is a "5-day immersive combined arts festival." 

The Festival will bring together around 100 artists and performers creating around the theme of Dreams by way of artwork, cabaret, comedy, storytelling, poetry, music, dancing, workshops and more... The Festival begins today with a Dream Mapping Workshop, 'Beyond the Duvet' and 'Crystalline Dreams' Sound Bath (website).

For the rest of the Festival's events see the website, and enjoy!

Fat Tuesday Festival Continues...

As I said in my blog the other day, today sees 40 artists and bands playing 15 minutes acoustic sets for Unplugged, from 1 pm to 6 pm, at 25 venues across Hastings (between 8 and 11 acts at each venue! - website). Not just all that free live music, but today and tomorrow (Sunday) Sonics 2020 (website) is a 2 day "celebration of experimental music, sound art and film." Plus, this evening/night from 8 pm to 2 am, is Le Grand Mardi Gras Ball, costing £22.50 (Tickets can be bought from the website).

Sadly, due to the bad weather forecast tomorrow (Sunday), the Umbrella Parade will not be experienced walking along the seafront this year (website), BUT! Head to the White Rock Theatre anyway, where 'dancers, musicians and lots of umbrellas' will be in abundance from 12 noon to 5 pm for Preservation Sunday (website).

In addition, Sonics 2020 (website) continues for its second day, and Under the Radar will be held, with 4 stages hosting "the best emerging young talent from across the UK, curated by BBC Introducing, Academy of Contemporary Music, Incubate (from The Eggtooth Project) and the Joe Strummer Foundation" (website). Under the Radar begins from 2 pm at The Carlisle, with the last act at that venue planned to come on stage at 7.30 pm, and from 5 pm to 11 pm at The Printworks, where it looks like, from the website, there may be more music on Monday the 24th!

So, plenty of musical fun to come, and even more on Monday, culminating with the Fat Tuesday Tour on the 25th, carry on enjoying Mardi Gras folks!

Hastings Independent Art Auction Tonight

Tonight, at The Printworks in Claremont, from 7pm, the Hastings Independent is holding a Christmas party & Art Auction to raise funds for this truly independent newspaper (website), which gets better and better! So much good art to chose from, and a great cause and newspaper to support, don't miss out!

Even More Music Today!

Yes, even more music! From 12.00 to 10.30pm emerging artists and bands "curated by BBC Introducing, Joe Strummer Foundation, OFF AXIS network and Incubate" will be playing Under the Radar (website). These gigs are away from the old town, indeed at venues in the town centre; these are the Palace, White Rock (website - their image, many thanks!), On the Rocks, 4 Claremont (facebook page) and the Brass Monkey, Havelock Road (website).

And also, at The Printworks, 14 Claremont (website - their image, many thanks!)...

From 1pm to 11pm, there will be Thee Sunday Sonics 2018, a returning free "one-day celebration of experimental music, sound art and film" and the 'brainchild' of local artist Danny Pockets. There will be an eclectic mix of local DJs during the afternoon, followed by live performances from 6.30pm (website).

Enjoy your day, and more to come still!

I've had a break, but plenty coming up!

I have had a short break, if you're used to reading my blogs they're usually more frequent so you'd have noticed! Anyway, I've taken time out, visited family and had a good (ish) rest, but I'm back during a quieter weekend than many coming up as we head into the 'festive' season. So what is happening over the next week? 

On Hastings Pier tomorrow (Monday) and Friday 1st December, there will be Yoga on the Pier, in the Deck Building from 10.30, these have become very regular sessions now. At the weekend, in the Memories Room of the Deck, there will be a Vintage and Retro Market from 11.00 to 17.00 both days, with homeware, clothes, records and collectables, and free entry. For more details of events coming up see their website.

OK, this is a stock photograph from a few years ago, but seasonal events have already started at Priory Meadow, notably, near the indoor entrance to M&S is the annual Santa's Grotto; from Thursday the 31st of November to the 3rd of December, then from the 7th of December every day until the 24th of December. Also, from the 1st of December until the 7th of January 2018 will be the annual Priory Meadow Ice Rink; see the Best of Hastings website for more details of these and many other events.

On Saturday the 2nd and Sunday the 3rd of December the Hastings Illustration Festival 2017 (HiFest) will be taking place from 11.00 to 18.00 each day at The Printworks in Claremont and the surrounding America Ground area. There will be an array of workshops, screenings, talks, exhibitions, gift options, cards and books, and much more; see their website for further details.

Finally, for today, here is notice of the Spirit of Christmas in Hastings Old Town, Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd of December, from 16.30 to 20.00 each day, courtesy of Hastings Old Town Traders. There will be live music, food and drink, 'late night shopping' and another Santa's Grotto as you can see from the poster! See their facebook page for further details, or just pop into the Old Town and have fun exploring.

The festive fun is already upon us, have fun!

2-4 December, another packed weekend!

This evening, and tomorrow and Sunday evenings, from 5pm to 8pm, sees the Hastings Old Town Traders present 3 Nights of Christmas; for more details see events page.

Now in its third year, Hastings Illustration Festival (HiFest) will be taking place on Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th December 2016 (11am to 6pm) in a new venue, The Printworks at 14 Claremont; see website for full details.

And lots more as usual, including, on the Pier:

Neverland at Christmas continues, the Snow Slide, Fishing from the Pier, the Pirate Ship, the Hastings Pier Festive Trail, a Vintage and Retro Indoor Market this Saturday and Sunday, you can now buy christmas trees on the Pier too, and, of course, you can promenade on the Pier; further details at their website.

Have fun!

Sunday, Sunday!

The 'Fat Tuesday' Sunday Umbrella Parade takes a bit of a different route this year, indeed, starting at noon from Butlers Gap in George Street (assembling from 11.30), and walking past Pelham Crescent, instead heading to the old Observer Building in the town centre for an afternoon of fun and Preservation Sunday!  

I see you Bob (last year!)

By 4pm, the event turns into an audiovisual spectacle with Sunday Sonics, and continues from 5pm in The Printworks (See website for full details of the day).   

Enjoy the day, looks like the rain is keeping off for the parade!

Fat Tuesday Launch Party & Unconvention

Matilda's Scoundrels 

This evening the Fat Tuesday Launch Party at the Albion, free this gig, explodes with the exciting "Pirate Punk" Matilda's Scoundrels (website), following the earlier 'Unconvention' music seminar at the Printworks, Claremont, between 10.30 and 6pm. 

More fun to come...