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Umbrella Parade (photo: Mark Richards).

Umbrella Parade (photo: Mark Richards).

Fat Tuesday festival is nearly upon us!

It’s nearly time for Hastings Fat Tuesday Music Festival which will showcase some of the UK’s best emerging artists over five days across multiple venues. Hannah Collisson provides the low-down.

Hastings Fat Tuesday Music Festival, which runs from Friday 9 to Tuesday 13 February, is the first major event of the year in Hastings’ cultural calendar, and the launch event for the area-wide Music Month initiative. It champions new music across all genres, from rock and indie to folk, grime and UK hip hop.

All the fun of the Fat Tuesday festival (photo: Mark Richards).

All the fun of the Fat Tuesday festival (photo: Mark Richards).

For 2018 we welcome raucous punk-folk sextet Skinny Lister, Canadian harmonica and beat box bluesman Son of Dave (formerly of Crash Test Dummies), horn-driven ska anthems from London’s Chainska Brassika, Rapper Chiedu Oraka, pioneer of the alternative urban scene in Hull, indie rockers Kid Kapichi, hailed as one to watch by the Evening Standard, Jetstream Pony, born of former Wedding Present, Aberdeen and Trembling Blue Stars members, and indie four-piece Sisteray combining upbeat melodies and lyrical observations of 21st century Britain with high-octane live shows.

Some of the other artists on the extensive line-up include: Seán McGowan, Alibi, 40 Shillings on the Drum, Jamie Smart, DarkMatta, Ded Rabbit, King Size Slim, Matilda’s Scoundrels, La Lune, Sabrina Gunston, The Pearl Harts, Trevor Moss & Hannah Lou and Bollywood Brass Band.

Hastings has a reputation for doing things a little differently and this festival is no exception, think SXSW meets New Orleans Mardi Gras. Outlandish costumes are as much a part of the festival as cutting-edge live music – Hastings knows how to party!

Hastings Fat Tuesday has been rapidly gaining ground over the last nine years and now boasts a programme of 10 featured events, most of which are free, and more than 150 acts.

Punk-folk band Skinny Lister - headlining at the launch party (photo: Fat Tuesday).

Punk-folk band Skinny Lister – headlining at the launch party (photo: Fat Tuesday).

The festival gets underway on Friday 9 February with the Fat Friday Launch Party at St Mary in the Castle (7.30pm, £5 in advance/£8 on the door, age 14+), featuring Skinny Lister and support from Jamie Smart.

On 10 February, Unplugged Saturday is an afternoon of acoustic music in the bars and restaurants of Hastings Old Town, 12-6pm, with artists playing 15-minute sets. The same evening sees Le Grand Mardi Gras Ball (St Mary in the Castle, 8pm, £10), a decadent affair with live music from Mr Wilson’s Second Liners who put a New Orleans spin on ‘90s club classics.

Sunday 11 February comprises another full day of live music and merriment, beginning with the vibrant Umbrella Parade (from the Stade to St Mary in the Castle, starting at noon), directly followed by Preservation Sunday at St Mary in the Castle, an afternoon of food, drink and live entertainment (12.30-6pm, all ages welcome, free entry).

New for 2018 is Under the Radar (Sunday 11 February at The Palace, On the Rocks and Brass Monkey, free entry, 14+), with four stages hosting some of the best emerging talent from across the UK and local acts, curated by BBC Introducing, Joe Strummer Foundation, OFF AXIS Network and Incubate (from The Eggtooth Project).

Mardi-Gras monarchy (photo: Mark Richards).

Mardi-Gras monarchy (photo: Mark Richards).

The same day at The Printworks, Thee Sunday Sonics (1pm-11pm) is a one-day celebration of experimental music, sound art and film.

UnConvention (Monday 12 February, Sussex Hall at White Rock Theatre, 14+), is a free one-day music industry conference, with panel discussions, networking and live music. That same evening, Slim Monday (The Palace, 7pm, free entry) is a collective breather/warm-up before the Fat Tuesday Tour, with live music from King Size Slim.

The festival climax is the wild Fat Tuesday Tour (13 February), with 24 bands touring Hastings Old Town venues, performing three 20-minute sets each, followed by The Great After Show Party across two venues – The Brass Monkey and The Palace (10pm, £10).

Full details on the Fat Tuesday website and Facebook page. A Fat Tuesday app will become available before the festival starts – see how to download it here.

Fat Tuesday needs volunteers – could it be you? See here.

Mr Wilson's Second-Liners (photo: Fast Tuesday).

Mr Wilson’s Second-Liners (photo: Fast Tuesday).

 

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Posted 16:35 Wednesday, Jan 31, 2018 In: Music & Sound

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