Southport Arts Festival : All You Need To Know

Southport Arts Festival returns to Southport town centre, with a packed line-up of events from Saturday 2 August until Sunday 10 August.

This brand-new, community-led festival is being organised by three local arts advocates - Tony Wynne, Suzy Walker and Andrew Portersmith MBE - who have worked tirelessly to put together a diverse and inclusive programme designed to bring people together through the power of the arts. This year’s festival is intended to be an annual event in the town’s calendar.

From live music and bands to poetry nights, movies, choirs and magic, the nine-day long celebration will showcase performances across some of Southport’s best-loved venues including Southport Market, Coopers Bar, Coast in Birkdale, The Grand, the Bijou Cinema and the bandstand on Lord Street.

There will be also be a ‘Gallery Trail’ celebrating the outstanding and diverse visual arts that are in the town.

Festival line-up

Saturday 2 August

12pm – 5pm: ‘Tides Out Presents‘ Showcasing new musical talent, Lord Street Bandstand

2:30pm: Pat the Painting Pig – Children’s theatre event, Southport Market, King Street

7.30pm: An Evening of Kate Bush – Southport Market, King Street

Sunday 3 August

1pm: Pat the Painting Pig, Children’s theatre event. Southport Market, King Street

2pm – 4.30pm: Coopers Jazz Band & Singers – Coopers Bar, Leicester Street

7pm: The Music of Ella Fitzgerald, The Grand, Lord Street

Southport ArtLink Gallery Events

Monday 4 August

7.30pm: Poets & Players – A celebration of local and regional poets and writers, Sinclair’s Bar, Lord Street

7.30pm: Midnight in Paris Cinema event, Bijou Cinema, Post Office Avenue

Tuesday 5 August 

6pm – 10:30pm:  ‘New Talent’ Showcasing the talents of local female singer-songwriters. Occulo Lounge, Lord Street

Southport ArtLink Gallery Events

Wednesday 6 August

11am and 1pm: Vera & The Velociraptor, Family theatre performance. Southport Market, King Street

2pm: Ignite Drama: Young people’s theatre interactive workshop leading to performance of ‘Curious Incident’. Southport Market, King Street.

7pm: Amy & The Winos: Celebrating the music of Amy Winehouse. Occulo Lounge, Lord Street.

Thursday 7 August

11am: Meols Cop School Choir, Southport Market, King Street.

7:30pm: Paper Hearts Cabaret. Edgy and risque burlesque cabaret. Bijou Cinema, Post Office Avenue.

7:30pm: Broadway Nights – A classic show tune celebration. Southport Market, King Street.

Southport ArtLink Gallery Events

Friday 8 August

7pm: Young Musicians Award Final, in association with Southport Piano Academy. The Grand, Lord Street.

7.30pm: Rock & Punk Night – Some of the loudest local bands raise the roof!  The Annex, Lord Street/West Street.

7.30pm: Sax Nights. A celebration of the saxophone featuring jazz, show and pop standards. Southport Market, King Street.

Saturday 9 August

12 – 5pm: Southport Community Bandstand, Southport Arts Initiative opens up the Lord Street Bandstand to community performers. The Bandstand, Lord Street.

11:30am & 2:30pm Barrington Magic – Conjuring up a feast of family fun. Southport Market, King Street.

Southport ArtLink Gallery Events

Sunday 10 August

11:30 – 1pm: Sunday with Disney, perfect family entertainment. Southport Market, King Street.

Southport ArtLink Gallery Events

6.30pm: Coopers Open Night, giving the opportunity for new performers to showcase their talents. Coopers Bar, Leicester Street.

Find out more via the Southport Arts Festival Facebook page