Music: Jeff Hemmings

Hastings Pier Weekender

Following a six year, £14.2m refurbishment, the iconic Hastings Pier re-opened to the public in May. And rather brilliantly it’s playing host to a top quality weekend of entertainment.

Famously, the pier has played host to the likes of Jimi Hendrix, The Who, The Clash, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Syd Barrett’s last ever show with Pink Floyd in 1968. But storm damage in 1990 saw the pier slowly fall into disrepair before closing its doors in 2008. Further storm damage in 2010 almost spelt the end, but the Victorian era sub-structure was deemed salvageable, and now it’s back to playing host to some of the finest contemporary acts.

Happy Mondays perform a 25th anniversary show for ‘Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches’

Friday 16th September sees the UK’s number one grime artist Dizzee Rascal headline. With four number one singles, four top ten albums, a Mercury Prize, a performance at the Olympic opening ceremony in 2012 and collaborations with both Calvin Harris and DJ Fresh under his belt, he’ll be supported by KRS-One.

The 17th will see the legendary Happy Mondays perform a 25th anniversary show for ‘Pills ‘n’ Thrills and Bellyaches’ in its entirety, with support form The Orb, performing ‘Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld’, also for its 25th anniversary.

The weekend is rounded off by The Levellers performing their ‘Levelling The Land’, also for its 25th anniversary. There’ll be support from Turin Brakes, who recently released their seventh album ‘Lost Property’, as well as folk-punk outfit Ferocious Dog.

Hastings Pier, 16-18 September