The new directors: Trevor Deeble, Hannah Deeble and Elliot Lampitt

Hastings Fat Tuesday: the next generation

The UK’s biggest Mardi Gras Festival, Hastings Fat Tuesday, welcomes three new directors following the retirement of longstanding former Directors, Sally Lampitt and Adam Daly.

Hannah Deeble, Trevor Deeble and Elliot Lampitt, having been involved in the organisation for many years, are excited to be stepping up into their new roles in delivering the moveable feast which takes place every February/March.

Hannah joined HFT in 2021, serving as the General Manager for the last four festivals, and supporting the development of the organisation into a Community Interest Company (CIC) with a year-round youth music programme. She’s looking forward to continuing to work with the huge team of venues, production staff, volunteers and partners who support the delivery of the festival.

Trevor helped launch, and is lead facilitator of the Fat Tuesday Club in 2021, a free youth music session taking place every Tuesday evening for young people aged 13-18. The club is fully inclusive and offers young people a chance to develop their creativity, meet like minded people and perform at Fat Tuesday events including on the Fat Tuesday Acoustic Tour and the youth-led Skinny Sunday All-dayer festival.

Elliot is a Fat Tuesday thoroughbred and has been heavily involved in the festival organisation in a multitude of ways for many years. His new role will see him utilising his considerable production experience to oversee the delivery of the festival’s 350+ gigs!

The trio are already a tight knit team, well-used to collaborating together, be it performing with their band Big Reference, hosting their indie club night Klub Klang at The Piper in St. Leonards-on-Sea, or co-producing The Crows Nest venue at Glastonbury Festival.

“Fat Tuesday is a Hastings institution, it’s more than a festival, it’s a cultural happening. It belongs to the people. Everyone who makes it such a glorious, joyful and wild five days. We feel a great sense of pride and responsibility to preserve it and allow it to evolve in exciting ways.”
Hannah Deeble 

All three began their involvement in the music industry as musicians. The former, as Trevor Moss & Hannah-Lou, have released five albums on labels such as Heavenly, Big Life, Loose Music and Ethan Johns’ Three Crows Records and toured all over the world from the Royal Albert Hall to the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Trevor also leads local synth-pop trio Office for Personal Development. Elliot is an accomplished drummer and producer, having toured the UK in numerous bands including Dorey the Wise and Woon. They have all experienced Fat Tuesday as artists and feel this is important.

“Without all the brilliant artists none of this could happen. We know what it’s like to play Fat Tuesday, so we’re keen to make sure the artist experience is as good as it can possibly be, enabling them to give their all for our appreciative crowds. Over the years, bands who have gone on to international success have cut their teeth on the legendary Fat Tuesday Tours, and we want to continue nurturing and promoting all the amazing artists this special town produces.”
Elliot Lampitt

In addition to the opening night Grand Mardi Gras Ball and the fast-growing one-day music conference Unconvention, Hastings Fat Tuesday prides itself on the incredible number of free gigs and events it provides; the two main tours (Unplugged Saturday and the main Tuesday Tour) the Umbrella parade, Preservation Sunday, Slim Monday hosted by local legend King Size Slim, and more. Therefore, the first considerable job of the new directorial team is to secure new funding partnerships as they move away from reliance on Arts Council Funding.

Hastings Fat Tuesday events over this summer

Next up on the busy Fat Tuesday calendar is the Fat Tuesday Club end of year showcase on 8 July at The Piper. Then on to Skinny Sunday, an all-dayer festival curated by the young members of Fat Tuesday Club, taking place at The White Rock Theatre Studio on Sunday 17 August. You can find out details of Fat Tuesday events across the year on the Fat Tuesday website.

“It’s a wonderful day when we take a step back and allow the next generation of Hastings performers, artists and organisers to take over. They book the bands, help run the event and even perform themselves. We hope one day to be able to announce a Fat Tuesday Club alumnus as a new Director!”
Trevor Deeble

Fat Tuesday falls on 17 February in 2026. Events will run from Saturday 14 February to Wednesday 18 February.
You can find out more about Hastings Fat Tuesday by visiting the website and social media accounts:
hastingsfattuesday.co.uk
instagram.com/hastingsfattuesday
facebook.com/hastingsfattuesday

Also in: Arts News