Mardi Gras - Hastings Fat Tuesday Music Festival 2023

Hastings Fat Tuesday Music Festival is back for 2023 (website) and it's time to celebrate Mardi Gras in style again! The festival kicks off this Friday the 17th with a one day music conference, Un-Convention, from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm at the East Hastings Sea Angling Association opposite Hastings Lifeboat Station; tickets for the whole day are £5 (website), and continues in the evening with Le Grand Mardi Gras Ball, 8.00 pm to 3.00 am, at the White Rock Theatre; Early Bird tickets £22.50, otherwise £27.00 (website). The festival goes on to encompass numerous venues across Hastings throughout the 5 days of the festival until culminating on the evening of Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day/Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras/whatever 🎶 Tuesday the 21st of February, for the Fat Tuesday Tour 2023 (website), with partying and music galore from 24 established acts at 12 venues from The Carlisle in the west to The Dolphin Inn in the east, and entry is free. Plus there's the Reggae Room Party too on Tuesday evening, at East Hastings Sea Angling Association (website).

Mardi Gras, New Orleans, Spectacle! 

OK, we may not be as spectacular as Mardi Gras in New Orleans (website) which has been going since 1703, originally 60 miles south of New Orleans, at Point Du Mardi Gras, where  French explorers landed a few years earlier, on the day of Mardi Gras, the 2nd of March 1699. New Orleans was established in 1718, with Mardi Gras regularly celebrated there by the 1830s, and by 1875, large floats were being built in New Orleans to celebrate the festival, the year it became a legal public holiday.

Rio de Janeiro Carnaval, Glamour!

Mardi Gras in Rio is from the 17th to the 25th of February this year (website), which is spectacular too, and has been celebrated, initially with feasts, since the 17th century, masquerade balls became popular in the 19th century, but in the early 20th century the culture of African music and dance, introduced by freed slaves and their children, was enveloped within Portuguese Rio de Janeiro, then was founded the dance style of Samba (Sambassadorsofgroove). Mardi Gras was now celebrated in Rio together with the development of Samba schools in the 1920s (there are about 200 schools in existence now) the Carnaval (Portuguese for Carnival) festival became centred on the parade of the Samba schools and the glamour that was introduced, and since 1933 Rio Carnaval has become the largest Mardi Gras festival in the World, with 2 million people participating every year.

We may not have as much spectacle and glamour as New Orleans and Rio de Janeiro, although there will be plenty of dressing up, be assured of that, and Mardi Gras and Carnaval have been going considerably longer than Fat Tuesday in Hastings... But what we do have is music galore and we party, for example on Saturday Unplugged boasts 60 artists and bands playing 15 minutes acoustic sets at 30 venues across Hastings, for 5 hours from 1-6pm, from St Leonards in the west to the Old Town in the east (if you don't have a programme already, for specific acts and where they're playing, go to the website), entry is free, and don't be surprised to find free non-festival live music at some venues later that evening, that's Hastings!

Of course, there is much more to follow during the Fat Tuesday music festival (website), for example the Umbrella Parade on Sunday the 19th, this year starting at the seafront promenade below London Road in St Leonards at noon, and heading to the White Rock Theatre where there will be a family-friendly party (website).

Whichever events you attend do enjoy our Mardi Gras and have fun!

Fat Tuesday Music Festival Sunday 27th Umbrella Parade plus...

So, this Sunday, and hopefully the wind will not seriously effect the parade, is the planned Umbrella Parade, forming at The Stade from 11.30, starting at 12 noon heading for St Mary in the Castle (website). There, from 12.30 to 2.00 pm, is the Preservation Sunday party (website), free entry with music, dancing, food and drink!

Also, from 1.00 to 10.00 pm at The Crypt, 57 Robertson Street TN34 1HY, is Sunday Sonics (website), free entry for a mixture of live music, art, DJ sets, film and more!

Enjoy your Sunday, and stay safe folks! 

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!

Fat Tuesday - Umbrella Parade (Sunday)

I was a wee bit concerned when I heard that Storm Freya would be tearing across the UK tomorrow (Sunday 3rd), and, although the West and North West of the country will receive the brunt of the storm, it is forecast to be very wet and windy down here too! However, I now understand that the Umbrella Parade this year will not be braving the elements, which is a shame but, very sensibly, the complete event will be held in St Mary in the Castle (website), simples! So, the Umbrella Parade, then Preservation Sunday with it's New Orleans style Mardi Gras celebration (website), from 12.00 noon in St Mary in the Castle it is then, do not forget your umbrella and enjoy! 😉

Also, tomorrow, will see the second day of the (Thee Saturday) now Thee Sunday Sonics (website) and Under the Radar (website), so there's something for everyone, just about, and don't worry about the weather, but do have a great day!

Sunday & The Umbrella Parade...

It's Sunday and the Fat Tuesday festival continues with the Umbrella Parade this morning, and the weather forecast doesn't look too bad, though it may be a wee bit windy. The meeting place this year is The Stade open space, with the planned time of meeting/leaving being 11.30am; see website for further details.

The Parade will head along the seafront to St Mary in the Castle for Preservation Sunday, 12.30-6pm (free entrance), with food, drink, and music from brass bands; see website. Enjoy your day!

There will be even more music in town today, next blog...

Fat Tuesday and nicer news...

Small Reminder in Town Centre

Believe it or not the Fat Tuesday festival begins tomorrow with the Fat Friday Launch Party, then much music up to and including Fat Tuesday itself! See website.

Decorations are already festooning the Town, including reminders of our own special mardi gras, the largest in the UK, and the Umbrella Parade on Sunday (website).

Looking forward to having fun, not to mention eating pancakes!

Less than 3 weeks to the start of Hastings Fat Tuesday Festival!

Where did that year go?!? Anyway, my weekend being slightly upset by the prevailing weather conditions, I've been uplifted by realising the start of the 2018 Hastings Fat Tuesday festival is just 20 days away, indeed, the biggest Mardi Gras festival in the UK! Starting with Friday's Launch Party, then Unplugged Saturday, an afternoon of bands playing at many locations in the old town, from St Mary in the Castle via George Street, High Street and All Saints Street, to the Dolphin Inn in Rock-a-Nore Road; see website. To the Grand Mardi Gras Ball at St Mary in the Castle on Saturday evening, and the Umbrella Parade, starting Sunday morning at the Stade, then promenading to St Mary in the Castle again, fingers crossed it won't be too windy!

Also on Sunday more music across the town from lunchtime, at St Mary in the Castle, the Brass Monkey and The Palace, and at On the Rocks and The Printworks in Claremont. On Monday there is UnConvention, a one-day music conference at the White Rock Theatre from 10am to 5.30pm, and Slim Monday, with King Size Slim performing at The Palace from 7pm. See website for full details of what's on. 

The festival culminates with the Fat Tuesday Tour, and, finally, with the After-show Party; see website. From 8pm to 11pm, on Tuesday the 13th of February, the 2018 Fat Tuesday Tour will see 24 bands play three 20-minute sets each, at 12 venues, which means either settling down in one venue, so choose the bands you with to see most at one venue, or more challenging, wandering from venue to venue to see particular bands. Whatever you do, enjoy Mardi Gras!

The Umbrella Parade...

Despite the wind and rain the Umbrella Parade persevered...

I told you it would kick off from Butler's Gap

Umbrella Parade and more today.

Last year

So, this Sunday the Fat Tuesday pre-festivities start off with the Umbrella Parade, this year starting at noon from the Stade (according to the leaflet), or assembling at Butler's Gap in George Street at 11.30am, as last year, (according to the website!) and heading for the Palace at White Rock; I'd be tempted to go to George Street first... At the Palace, noon until 2pm, is 'Preservation Sunday' with food, drink and music. 

Music also with 'Off Axis' from 1pm until after 9pm with many bands at various sites around the town centre, that is, at Flairz, the Brass Monkey, Union Bar and Carlisle. Plus, a celebration of avant garde electronic music from noon onwards, 'Thee Sunday Sonics', at a few central venues, starting on the basement floor of the Borough Wines building in Robertson Street. For further details of the day go to the website.  Enjoy!

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday 2017!

OK, if you want to visit Rio or New Orleans for Mardi Gras, hurry up and book your tickets, but, if you live in, or wish to visit, Hastings, we have our very own Fat Tuesday 2017 on 28th February! Now, the weather here is likely to mean there won't be so many scantily clad folk parading round town as on the other side of the Atlantic, but still mucho fun between Friday 24th, Unplugged on Saturday 25th, the Umbrella Parade on Sunday 26th, and culminating in Fat Tuesday on the 28th; more complete details on their website.

Something to look forward to, see, I'm a happy bunny, sometimes...

Umbrellas and today's Fat Tuesday offering

The Gathering 

Starting off along George Street 

Emerging onto the front 

Passing St Mary in the Castle 

Bottle Neck - the sea's looking fun! 

Going Underground 

Coming into Cambridge Street

Coming up Bohemia Road 

Entering the Observer Building

Monday's offering from the Fat Tuesday festival is Slim Monday, chatting to musicians at the Albion, and listening to music from King Size Slim (website), enjoy! 

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!

A Sunday in Hastings pre-Mardi Gras!

What can I say? Even the weekend before Mardi Gras, or 'Fat Tuesday' (in English/Hastings) isn't just about dressing up, music, drinking and partying...

Hastings Runners had their annual Eastbourne Pier to Hastings Pier run today, except now it continues past the pier to East Hastings Sea Angling Club and the Lifeboat Station, circa 16 miles, with a shorter run from Cooden  Beach Hotel, for those only fancying an 8 mile jog. As seen here, I was being overtaken by runners as I walked to the Stade...

When I arrived, I noticed the lifeboat being manoeuvred back into the station as it had been out on a training exercise. This photograph includes the main lifeboat, the smaller one, their tractor and the station all in one shot, which seemed the appropriate photograph to post on this blog.

I'd come to catch the build up to the Umbrella Parade, but as I had to be at St Mary in the Castle before 12 noon, I couldn't wait for the start. However, here they are starting to form up for the parade...

As I was helping out at the Jazz festival, with its beer and cider bar, I got there before the parade turned up, above... Lots of noise, jollity, music, banter and beer and cider ensued, but that's another story, fun was had, indeed, cheers! 

The music carries on today with...

The music carries on today and tomorrow, with 'Unplugged' and over 200 smaller gigs at many venues today between 1pm and 6pm (see website) and, of course, the many other regular gigs there are in Hastings on Saturday evenings...   

Plus other events are being held, including the Grande Mardi Gras Ball this evening, and tomorrow 'Preservation Sunday', a traditional jazz and beer festival at St Mary in the Castle, and the Umbrella Parade (above) and 'Sonic Sunday' (website).