PIER FEST 2023

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 16th – SUNDAY OCTOBER 15th 2023

Pierfest 2023 is here! Now in its third year, it’s bigger and better than before, featuring Brighton Jazz Fest, a 2 day Americana festival, many fantastic musicians and bands, a play by Julie Burchill and Daniel Raven, a Kidz Film Fest and a Ukraine International Arts Festival.

All events take place in Horatio’s Bar on the iconic and historical Brighton Palace Pier.

LISTINGS:

Saturday, September 16th, 2023 – MUSIC

SOCK supported by Canned Pineapple

The inimitable glam rock outfit headed by Brighton’s very own glam rockstar, Guy Lloyd!

Sock were formed in a small town in 1990, always unpredictable and flamboyant, they reigned supreme for two years before dispersing to the four corners of the world to pursue their individual dreams. After 22 years the band reformed for a one-off gig that coincided with singer Guy adopting the on-stage persona of glam rock-god Vince Venus and gaining international fame as the (unofficial) winner of Britain’s Got Talent in 2015. The rest of the band followed suit and have emerged as a group of misfit superheroes on a mission to save rock n’ roll.

Doors : 7.30pm

Horatio’s Bar, Brighton Palace Pier

Website: https://sockmusic.co.uk/

Tickets: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/586672/

Sunday, September 17th, 2023 – FILM

Kidz Film Fest

On the Big Screen at Horatio’s Bar, PierFest 2023

FREE ENTRY

Friday, September 22nd, 2023 – THEATRE

Awful People by Julie Burchill and Daniel Raven

When a pair of middle-aged, middle-class ex-spouses get back together to write a rap musical, the stage is set for eye-watering embarrassment and folly. As they waylay the less privileged young people who cross their path – their Ukrainian nanny/cleaner (*home curator*) and a young black Deliveroo man – it’s soon clear that this clash of cultures can only end in calamity.

Horatio’s Bar, Brighton Palace Pier

Doors: 7.30pm

Tickets: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/585867/

Saturday, September 23rd, 2023 – MUSIC

Americana Festival Day 1

The Long Haul with Shauna Parker

The Long Haul are a five-piece band based in the south of the UK, and play a mix of classic Country, Americana and Western Swing.

‘Top-notch songwriting, superb playing, this is high-quality modern-day country’ – American Roots UK
‘There is a stellar retro dance-hall feel to the Long Haul. Fabulous, immensely catchy songs’ – Three Chords and the Truth

The band made a successful appearance at the British Country Music Festival in Blackpool, and have also played the Country 2 Country Festival at London’s 02.

The band’s double-bass player Scott Warman was recently asked to appear on Bob Harris’s Stand By Me charity release alongside a host of world-famous musicians, including Mark Knopfler, the Shires, Roseanne Cash and Beth Nielsen Chapman.

Supported by Shauna Parker

Shauna is best known as the singer in Shauna Parker and the Saloon Bar Band who play a great mix of classic country and contemporary Americana.

Brighton-based for many years now, she originally hails from Nova Scotia, Canada and grew up influenced by the best of Canadian musical heroes including Mitchell, Young, Lang, Cohen and McGarrigle. Combining a love of contemporary cutting-edge Americana and down-home Country classics ensures a wide ranging repertoire, whether solo, fronting The Saloon Bar Band, her Kitchen Party duo, or bringing Carole King’s ‘Tapestry’ or the songs of Patsy Cline to life.

Despite often saying that “with so many brilliant songs to sing, why would I want to write my own?” she is moving in a new direction, focusing on presenting her own songs, many of which are born of half a lifetime of separation from her family in Canada.

“Honest, timeless songs of love, temptation, heartache and loss – when Shauna sings you believe every word.”

Horatio’s Bar, Brighton Palace Pier

Doors: 7:00pm

Tickets: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/588982

Sunday, September 24th, 2023 – MUSIC

Americana Festival Day 2

ROSE DIVINE & THE D’VILLES
With Charlie Austen and Red River

Smokin’ Country Blues, fronted by exceptional vocalist Lisa Abbott (Hounds Of Love band) and a backline of talent of which any band would be proud, who’s accolades include the Brighton Beach Boys, Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Oysterband and The Brighton Blues Corporation.

Bring your dancing shoes and get down – Yeehaw!

Supported by Charlie Austen

Charlie is a one-woman tour-de-force, playing carefully crafted original songs on the folk-soul-rock spectrum, ready to take you on a lyrical journey to outer-space and back. Airy, yet powerful blues-infused vocals, intricate guitar parts and bare feet that keep the beat, courtesy of her unique suitcase drum-kit invention. Recently featured nationally on BBC Radio 4, and launching onto the UK festival circuit this year.

Charlie also features as a vocalist in cult blues-rock band Nine Below Zero, with whom she has toured extensively, and has been chosen for many high-profile gigs with her solo act. These include a European tour with Bryan Ferry, several UK tours with Squeeze-frontman and Ivor-Novello award winning songwriter Glenn Tilbrook, and a contribution to Cat Stevens’s online ‘Catsong’ festival, celebrating 50 years of ‘Tea for the Tillerman’.

Supported by Red River

Red River are Brighton’s newest Americana outfit, bringing heart-shaking steel and foot-stomping banjo to the pubs of Hanover this summer. The band began as the acoustic duo Cattle and Roll, who spent some years playing Steve Earle covers and honing their song writing skills. In the last year, finding strays at the bar of the Great Eastern with a shared love of Tyler Childers and Gillian Welch, they added drums, bass and pedal steel to the band – reinventing as Red River. Most recently, a lead guitar has completed their distinct sound: dreamy, driving, country folk songs about work, weather and birds.

Doors : 7:00pm

Horatio’s Bar on Brighton Palace Pier

Tickets: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/588984

Thursday, October 5th, 2023 – MUSIC

Brighton Jazz Festival

https://www.brightonjazzfestival.co.uk/

Emma Rawicz & Colectiva

Emma Rawicz is a multi-award winning young saxophonist and composer, making waves on the UK music scene and beyond She has been described as “An astonishing new talent” (Jamie Cullum – BBC Radio 2), ‘a force to be reckoned with’ (Jazzwise) and ‘a fast-rising star’ (London Jazz News). At the age of 21 she has already recorded and released an eagerly awaited debut album ‘Incantation’ made up entirely of her original compositions. In April 2023 Emma signed to major European Jazz label ACT and Emma’s second album, Chroma, recorded in summer 2022 with an all-star band will be released by ACT in August 2023.

Doors : 7.30pm

Horatio’s Bar on Brighton Palace Pier

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/emma-rawicz-colectiva-tickets-694941257007

Friday, October 6th, 2023 – MUSIC

Brighton Jazz Festival

Brown Penny & Beyond The Blue

Beyond the Blue are an exciting, up-and-coming London-based Jazz band. They have played a number of sell-out shows in venues ranging from The Vortex Jazz Club to Hootananny Brixton to Milton Court Concert Hall as a part of the EFG London Jazz Festival. They have opened for established artists such as Blue Lab Beats, Ebi Soda and Rosie Frater-Taylor. The recent additions of alto sax, tenor sax and cello, mark an evolution in the band’s sound, alongside new original material that draws influence from a wide range of genres: UK dance music, jazz and classical music. Their latest release, a four-track live session, reimagines their previous quartet material in a dynamic septet setting that sets the tone for a future album release in 2024.

“…their sound crosses genres and pushes boundaries whilst retaining their roots in the UK jazz scene.” – Voicemag UK (live show review)

Doors open: 8pm

Horatio’s Bar on Brighton Palace Pier

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/brown-penny-beyond-the-blue-tickets-694957094377

Saturday, October 7th, 2023 – MUSIC

Brighton Jazz Festival

Benny Benack III & Maddy Coombs

Having first all met through the Tomorrow’s Warriors jazz programme as teenagers, this band has been playing together and building a name for themselves in the London jazz scene for quite some time now. The music is written with the principle aim of exploring and expressing emotion, and with all the members bringing their own approach to the music based on their different influences, together they bring a fresh and exciting sound full of high energy improvisation.

At Horatio’s Bar on Brighton Palace Pier

Doors: 8pm

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/benny-benack-iii-maddy-coombs-tickets-694970474397

Sunday, October 8th, 2023 – MUSIC

Brighton Jazz Festival

Eliane Correa ‘la Evolution Orchestra’ & Jas Kayser

Jas Kayser is 25-year-old drummer, composer, bandleader and Paiste Cymbals and Natal Drum, artist from the UK. She is currently based in London and was previously based in Panama and Boston. Jas’s most recent release is her sultry new Debut EP Unforced Rhythm of Grace, available now on all platforms. This release has gained attention and support from London’s impressive jazz scene such as Jamie Cullum, BBC 3, Jazz FM, Mary Anne Hobbs and Jazzwise.

Doors: 8pm

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/eliane-correa-la-evolution-orchestra-jas-kayser-tickets-694973483397

Friday, October 13th, 2023

Ukraine International Arts Festival

A highlight for PierFest 2023. A night to celebrate three decades of music by The Ukrainians. Expect an exciting set with the best songs from three decades of Eastern Folk Punk. Using their British born Ukrainian roots, the band mix eastern and western culture – singing in Ukrainian, using eastern ethnic instruments, but backed up with a western rock rhythm. After three decades of recording and touring, there are lots of milestones to highlight.

The Ukrainians were formed in 1991, the year Ukraine regained its independence from the Soviet Union. ‘Oi Divchino’ was the band’s first single, which became an NME Single of the Week, and the video for it was shot in Kyiv. It was the first pop video to be produced in the east for a western band.

Most recently, The Ukrainians have been involved in numerous benefit gigs to raise money for refugees from this terrible war. There will be an opportunity to support refugees at the gig both financially, and by cheering on the artist who support on the night.

You can expect to hear songs from each of The Ukrainians’ albums, and this is sure to be an eastern night to remember!

Horatio’s Bar on Brighton Palace Pier

FREE TICKETS

Saturday, October 14th, 2023

The Ukrainians

A highlight for PierFest 2023. A night to celebrate three decades of music by The Ukrainians. Expect an exciting set with the best songs from three decades of Eastern Folk Punk. Using their British born Ukrainian roots, the band mix eastern and western culture – singing in Ukrainian, using eastern ethnic instruments, but backed up with a western rock rhythm. After three decades of recording and touring, there are lots of milestones to highlight.

The Ukrainians were formed in 1991, the year Ukraine regained its independence from the Soviet Union. ‘Oi Divchino’ was the band’s first single, which became an NME Single of the Week, and the video for it was shot in Kyiv. It was the first pop video to be produced in the east for a western band.

Most recently, The Ukrainians have been involved in numerous benefit gigs to raise money for refugees from this terrible war. There will be an opportunity to support refugees at the gig both financially, and by cheering on the artist who support on the night.

You can expect to hear songs from each of The Ukrainians’ albums, and this is sure to be an eastern night to remember!

Horatio’s Bar, on Brighton Palace Pier

Doors: 7.30pm

Tickets: https://www.wegottickets.com/event/586372

Sunday, October 15th, 2023

Choir Fest – A Celebration of Choirs, the people & their stories

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/choir-fest-a-celebration-of-choirs-the-people-their-stories-tickets-701653613847

Time: 12-9pm

Andrew M. Collins 2023