Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition 2024

The 17th Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition begins this week, being held the 22nd of February to the 2nd of March 2024 (website). As usual the competition will be held at the White Rock Theatre, which, incidentally, now is under new management, ie the Guildhall Trust (website), and 40 competitors, aged between 16 and 30 years old, will be taking part. Good luck to all the competitors! 👍

The many advertisement posters around town evoke poignant memories, as RX134, the fishing boat Stacey Marie (facebook) pictured is no longer with us, having been destroyed and taken away last August (blog), though not forgotten...😞

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!

Festive Fun Day - Sunday.

For a Sunday that looks to be damp (Met Office), Priory Meadow has arranged a Festive Fun Day, I'll copy & paste details from their website below, but I suspect the weather may well mean that its organisation may be a little different on the day:

FESTIVE FUN DAY, SUNDAY 27TH NOVEMBER, 10AM – 4PM

Our Christmas Shopping Festive Fun Day is back this month!

Sunday 27^th November between 10am and 4pm there is free festive entertainment for all the family to enjoy throughout the day whilst Christmas shopping, with a magical atmosphere, live music, Father Christmas and even The Grinch!

OUTSIDE – LIVE MUSIC AND STREET FOOD

You’ll find a stage in Queens Square by our 35ft Christmas tree with a fantastic local line up.

Kick starting the festivities is White Rock Theatre, who are bringing along some of the cast from this year’s must-see pantomime, Beauty and the Beast. Local panto legends Tim McArthur and Ben Watson will be providing all the laughs, and White Rock Tiddlers will be taking to the stage too.

Lea Goddard, The Coverups, and HPO Brass will also take to the stage with a host of Christmas tunes.

Take a seat on one of our many benches, grab a bite to eat from The Swing Grill, El Changarro or Khalid’s Kitchen and sit back and enjoy the shows.

INSIDE – FATHER CHRISTMAS, CRAFTS, THE GRINCH, FACE PAINTING AND MORE

Inside the shopping centre you’ll find even more festive delights, such as free face and glitter painting by Fantasy Face Painting, and a children’s Christmas card making activity run by the Glow Baby team.

It wouldn’t be a Christmas event without Father Christmas. Meet the jolly man himself outside Marks and Spencer for free throughout the day and take a photo with him in his sleigh. Plus keep an eye out for his wife, Mrs Claus, who will be wandering around handing out delicious complimentary treats and surprises.

A cantankerous, green, fluffy misery will be roaming at intervals spreading his grumpy charm… The Grinch will be attending with his usual mischief and trying to ruin Christmas!

Our charity partner of the year, RNLI, will be joining us for the festivities. Donations to the charity are greatly appreciated.

Centre Manager, Andy Harvey, said: “We hope you can join us for what is going to be a very festive Christmas shopping experience this December, something you certainly can’t enjoy when shopping online.”

Please note all entertainment is subject to change or be cancelled at any point. Acts are performing at scheduled intervals throughout the day.

Hastings International Piano Festival 2020

There was me thinking there would be a Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition to go along with the festival this year, but no, the festival is over (website). Actually, the competition is now switching to every other year from 2021...

Looking forward to next year!

Hastings International Piano Festival

The inaugural Hastings International Piano Festival 2020 (26th February to 8th March, website) has been organised under the aegis of the annual Hastings Musical Festival (24th February to 14th March) and to support the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, and is focused around White Rock Theatre. 

One music festival ends in Hastings, and another begins! 

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 Car Free Day 22 September 2019

It is the first time Hastings has held this international event (World Car Free Day website), a car free day on the same day around the world, which I first experienced getting on for 20 years ago when I was visiting my brother when he lived in Brussels, except in Brussels it is car free for the whole city and region! In Hastings, it is just to be for 12 noon until 6pm, with a street party and other events, but the seafront road will be closed from 10am until 8pm on Sunday, from Warrior Square Gardens to the White Rock Theatre (Eversfield Place to Verulam Place - website). 

This event is part of the Sustainability on Sea Festival (21-29 September 2019, for more details see website), a 9 day festival featuring events from Winchelsea to Bexhill. On Sunday, for the Hastings Car Free Day, there will be a range of family friendly activities, including alfresco dining, music, dancing, and much more to enjoy!

International Piano Concerto Competition is back!

An early sign that the Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition is back again for 2019 is the few days when the public gets the opportunity to play a concert standard piano in Priory Meadow (website), until Saturday 16th February. The competition itself begins next Thursday the 21st, until the final is completed on Saturday 2nd March 2019, at the White Rock Theatre (details at their website).

Always something happening in Hastings! 😉

Friends of Hastings Pier Meeting Report 23rd April 2018

I attended the meeting called by Friends of Hastings Pier yesterday evening, at the White Rock Theatre, met up with a fair number of like-minded friends, and was impressed at what must have been circa 500 shareholders and supporters in attendance. My notes are a bit hard to read as I'd originally written them on the paper that turned out to be the ballot paper for representatives to put forward the plans of Friends of Hastings Pier and the meeting to the Administrators, so I scribbled them down quickly, in poor light, before casting my votes! Anyway, to the meeting...

The meeting was chaired by Steve Manwaring of Hastings Voluntary Action, who handled very well the little friction that appeared over the two hours, and kept the discourse on the move appropriately. Hugh Rolo of Social Investment Business (website), and a shareholder, spoke about possible funding and stipulated the rising of the Pier 'from the ashes' was just the first phase of building this 21st century pier, and now we need to get to the second phase. Then Jess Steele passionately described to us how Friends of Hastings Pier see this second phase and described their plan, which looks at the business in a Bottom/Top way, the fabric of the pier (bottom) should be owned by the community, and the working business (top) should be a profitable business, most likely privately run, and pay rent to the Bottom.

Talking about passionate, next came, I think his name is Adam Wide, who previously worked for Openwide Investments for whom he helped to turn round the business of two piers, Cromer and Bournemouth (website), cruise ships, and who knows what else, to call him enthusiastic is an understatement. He looked lively, and many jokes were shared about his 'deckchair' shirt, but his enthusiasm got me thinking, yes, with people like him involved the Pier can make money! He suggested ideas about the possibilities for entertainment and activities on the Pier, and what would bring in the money for Phase 2, whilst Alex de Rijke, architect of the 21st century Hastings Pier, from drMM Architects (website), and winner of the 2017 RIBA Stirling Prize (see blog), showed us the potential for dynamic new structures on the Pier, including keeping a large open space for larger concerts, and promenading of course, and an innovative smaller structure which could hold up to 500 for indoor activities.

I can't do justice to the amount of excellent work put in by the participants, you really need to get in touch with the Friends of Hastings Pier, better, join them in their battle, apparently they meet every Friday on the Pier, or go to their facebook page or twitter page, or email them at friendsofhastingspier@gmail.com. 

As I alluded to earlier, there was little friction at the meeting, mostly strong support, one quite angry shareholder present asked why all shareholders hadn't been contacted, she hadn't found out about this meeting until she had discussed it with someone when she visited the Pier. However, when it was explained by Jess that it was the Administrators blocking Friends of Hastings Pier contacting shareholders, as they had the list of shareholders and wouldn't share the list (is this indicative of the apparent contempt the Administrators hold towards shareholders?), and she seemed placated. Though what this does show is that not everyone uses social media, so, if you know a shareholder who is unaware of what is going on, please share the knowledge and suggest they contact Friends of Hastings Pier urgently!

After a number of questions and answers, Jess Steele reiterated the 5 principles they had written down, one of which is that the Pier should not be sold off into private hands but be owned by the community. Indeed, as I've said before, it was private enterprise that nearly destroyed the Pier! She also explained that the Administrators need to extend the time limit for the £1million funds request (blog) to 30 days, to make this a more reasonable target, good luck with that!

Now, if anyone has money stashed by, or knows someone who has, or a business or charity that could pledge support, please get in touch with Friends of Hastings Pier at friendsofhastingspier@gmail.com and/or pledge at the same email address, subject: Pledge.

Reminder: This evening Friends of Hastings Pier Meeting!

Please come along and give support to the Friends of Hastings Pier meeting at 7.30pm at the White Rock Theatre this evening, the more support the better!

See previous blog.

Hastings Pier Financial Backing Urgently Required!

Further to my recent blog, the Administrators now appear to be rushing through a request for proof that, by Tuesday, Friends of Hastings Pier must get together £1million (and/or evidence of pledges) if they want to stay in the running to keep Hastings Pier in community ownership, not very friendly of them! 

The Friends of Hastings Pier have put forward a good business plan which would include raising money through many means, including Crowdfunding, a share offer, and to apply for grants and to other funders, but time is too short for such medium-longer term funding, they have been given until just Tuesday to provide evidence of funds!

If anyone has money stashed by, or knows someone who has, or a business or charity that could pledge support (also see facebook page), please get in touch with Friends of Hastings Pier at friendsofhastingspier@gmail.com and/or pledge at the same email address, subject: Pledge.

Also, please come along and give support to the meeting at 7.30pm at the White Rock Theatre tomorrow (Monday 23rd April 2018), the more support the better!

Friends of Hastings Pier and Developments...

Friends of Hastings Pier (facebook page) have submitted a bid to keep Hastings Pier in community ownership and should have a response in a couple of weeks time. Consequently, and you may have seen posters around town, the meeting of Shareholders and Supporters on Monday the 23rd of April  2018 at the White Rock Theatre (6 days time) will be concentrating on the submitted business plan. 

The meeting will start at 7.30pm, though some of the active members will be in the Visitor Centre on the Pier an hour beforehand for a pre-meeting, and tea and coffee, and would be pleased to see supporters, especially so at the White Rock Theatre, all support would be welcome!

Also, every letter of support from the people of Hastings, and beyond, would be very welcome too, please write to friendsofhastingspier.gmail.com with 'Letter of Support' as the subject, many thanks!

Hastings Pier Shareholder and/or Supporter?

With the Hastings Pier Charity in administration, and the Pier having been put up for sale by the administrators, the Friends of Hastings Pier has been re-formed as a voice for shareholders and supporters, and to campaign to keep Hastings Pier in community ownership. 

An emerging local business plan is being compiled and the Friends of Hastings Pier is seeking to unite shareholders and supporters behind the plan to keep the Pier in community ownership. Consequently, a meeting has been called for Monday 23rd of April 2018, from 7.30 to 9.30pm at the White Rock Theatre opposite the Pier. Members of Friends of Hastings Pier will be having a coffee on the Pier beforehand at 6.30pm.

Your support is being requested at the meeting, on their twitter page, join their facebook page, or email them at friendsofhastingspier@gmail.com if you cannot make the meeting but would like to join Friends of Hastings Pier and/or to offer your support.

Indeed, we can still save Hastings Pier as a community asset!

Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, Final Week.

Today and tomorrow sees Stage 2 (Chosen Concerto with accompanist - website) of the 14th Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition at the White Rock Theatre. On Wednesday will be the Semi-Final Recitals (website) and Thursday sees the Masterclass (website).

Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd brings us the Final (website), enjoy!

Not so fat Monday...

Today sees a quieter day music gig-wise, though it certainly shouldn't be uninteresting! From 10am to 5.30pm in the Sussex Hall of White Rock Theatre is being held Unconvention, a free "one-day music conference aimed at the grassroots of the industry." You can catch "panellists from across the music business in conversation about the future of the music industry and attend workshops on a range of key elements including practical advice for gigging, and tips on securing crowdfunding & grants." 

Indeed, "Un-Convention is a UK based global music network and development agency. Their events and projects bring together artists and practitioners to share knowledge and expertise." If you're musically inclined this sounds like the place to be today! See the website for further details of  what the day offers.

Then, this evening, for the ninth year running, returns Slim Monday, a more relaxed 4 hours (7-11pm and also free entry) at the Palace, also at White Rock just along from the theatre, and including live music by King Size Slim; see website.

Have a good day before the serious fun tomorrow evening!

Hastings Pier: Meeting of Shareholders and Supporters

Most local people will probably be aware that Hastings Pier/Charity has gone into administration, with Smith & Williamson LLP (website) appointed administrators of the Charity towards the end of last year. They are looking at ways of bringing the Charity out of administration, whilst the Heritage Lottery Fund is supporting shortfall (to a limit) until the end of the year, by which time it is hoped a solution will have been found. If you have any spare £millions please get in touch with Adam Henry Stephens and Finbarr Thomas O'Connell, the licensed insolvency practitioners appointed.

More likely, if you are a shareholder, or would like to become active and support the survival of the People's Pier, there will be an informal meeting of supporters/shareholders tomorrow (Saturday 3rd February 2018) at 2.30pm in the Sussex Rooms at the White Rock Theatre, opposite the Pier.

Fingers crossed this will be sorted out by the administrators with local support.

Music Month and Hastings Week Continue...

Hastings Music Month continues, this evening with Lulu and Wasp playing at the White Rock Theatre opposite the Pier, and the Tune Raiders playing at the Dolphin Inn in Rock-a-Nore Road (indeed, their regular weekly slot); see website for details of these and other planned gigs this week. 

In addition, Hastings Week poodles along, with not so much happening until the weekend, though the organisers of the next few days events would disagree with such a statement, so go to the website and find out more!

Hastings 29 September to 1 October 2017

Well, with Hastings Week to start next weekend, you'd think this weekend would be quiet, but, of course, that would be silly of me to suggest! There will be the usual gigs in pubs and bars, numerous eating places in which to dine, you could visit the museums and parks, the aquarium, castle and caves, miniature railways, theatres, Pier of the Year and seafront (decent forecast for Saturday), oh yes! The Hastings & St Leonards Coastal Currents Arts Festival 2017 ends on Sunday 1st October, so still 3 days of that to go (see website for further details of individual events), and...

Skinny Lister

Hastings Music Month continues until the end of October, quite a long month indeed! To help celebrate Music Month, Stade Saturdays (website) features Skinny Lister (website) on the stage at the Stade Open Space tomorrow (30th September) from 7.30pm. For more details of Music Month events go to the website, an eclectic mix including classical music, folk and Lulu at the White Rock Theatre; do also note the error, though, as the Tune Raiders will be playing at the Dolphin Inn every Tuesday as they always do, and not playing at the Blue Dolphin fish & chip shop!

Continue to enjoy yourselves!

Easter Weekend Fun has already started!

Tomorrow, Saturday 15th April,, 11am to 3pm at Hastings Lifeboat Station, is a fun day for Easter, including an Easter Bonnet competition, Shanty Singing, Refreshments and Cake, Tombola, and more fun... and you can even meet the Easter Bunny! See website. 

But Easter fun has already started today, and continues throughout the weekend, of course, including on Hastings Pier with an Easter Egg Trail and Family Workshops every day and including Monday, in addition to most of the usual events, bars and restaurant (see website), and the Easter Egg Hunt in conjunction with the White Rock Theatre today and tomorrow (see website).

In addition, an Easter Egg Hunt at Hastings Castle tomorrow, Saturday 15th (see website), an Easter Egg Hunt has been ongoing for a while now at Hastings Museum and Art Gallery, Bohemia Road, continuing until Sunday (see website), and the Shark Trust Easter Egg Case Hunt Trail and Easter Colouring at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Rock-a-Nore Road (see website), even a friend of mine is having an 'Egg Hunt' in his garden, but he doesn't want me to publicize that, it's for grandchildren! 😉

I'm sure there are many more Easter events, plus music in pubs and bars all over town, indeed, something for everyone, enjoy!

A busy weekend, and I'm not joking!

Up at the Bridge Community Centre from 10am this Saturday 1st April is the April Fool - Fun With Tressell, activities for children, a procession to Ore Adventure Playground at 12.00, and more children's activities there until 4pm; see website.

In addition to the regular activities, fishing from the pier, the pier's history, and food and drink on Hastings Pier, this Saturday sees the beginning of Easter Fun on Hastings Pier, from the 1st of April to the 17th, 10am start each day; see website.

In the evening, 1st April, at historic and beautiful St Mary in the Castle, Hastings Philharmonic Orchestra are playing Mozart's Requiem in D minor, at 7pm; see website.

Finally, though there's much more to do and see in Hastings this weekend, as there always is, at the White Rock Theatre on Sunday 2nd April is the eighteenth Hastings Beatles Day, from 12 noon to 10.30pm; see website.

Whatever you do this weekend, enjoy yourself!