BEANO ON THE SEA, 8-10 September, Hastings
News and Competition: Win Free Tickets To Beano On The Sea!
Another festival you ask? A bewildering number of festivals to choose from already you say? According to eFestivals in 2016, the number had jumped from 496 in 2007 to 1,070 in 2015. Britain is literally covered in festivals of all shapes and sizes.
This September sees the inaugural Beano on the Sea festival on Hastings Pier. They have a killer line-up including 90s legends such as Black Grape, The Bluetones, Embrace, Dodgy, Cast, Lightning Seeds, Echobelly, Reef and many more.
Combined with the historical, mud free and beautiful location, I think they may well be onto a winner, even in the pantheon of the crowded festival diary.
"The line up does have a 'Cool Britannia' feel, as did our club night. We also DJed under that name. The old 'CB' nights had a loyal following and we also brought bands in from around the country. Our hashtag was #Baggymod as we feel the Britpop product was a blend of the two styles: From sharp dressed Mod faces to casual Adidas wearers. We had a great mix at 'CB'. This isn't a Britpop event though it's been designed as a bit of a time capsule. An era of fondness to many." Jess Laney, co-founder, tells me.
Co-Founder, Gina Sherman, adds “We have family and friends in the area. The Pier has only just been reborn last year and they reopened it with a Madness gig. We were impressed by the restoration and how the space could possibly be used for an event. With that in mind this is designed to be more than just a gig on a pier!”
Festival enthusiasts who hate roughing it (like me!), will revel in staying in local hotels, B & B’s and flats, enjoying an old fashioned weekend on the seaside, hence the name ‘Beano”. No camping - plus brilliant loos! No need to spend three days with highly dubious hygiene standards, or whip out the wellies, ponchos and wait half an hour to use a filthy port-a-loo, where the risk of ebola or loss of consciousness, or being revisited by your lunch, always feels and smells imminent.
The line-up is amazing, so I asked the people who go to the most festivals each year, the bands that play them, what they are looking forward to hearing from the others on the bill?
Black Grape - Shaun Ryder:
Space - 'Female of the Species'
“I just love Space and think they're a great band who write great songs.”
Space -Tommy Scott
Lightning Seeds - ‘The Life of Riley’ (click here for the video)
Dodgy - Matthew Priest
“I’d love to hear 'History' by Cast (click here for the video).
That was the first song I heard by them back in 1994 and I wanted them to tour with us straight away - great band.
I would like to hear The Bluetones play a song called 'Home Fires Burn', which was one of their later singles and proved that the chaps were still on fire and could crack out a belting tune.
I would also like to hear The Lightning Seeds play 'Perfect.' Ian has written so many beautiful songs but this one is probably my favourite.”
Northern Uproar - Liam and Chris
“Black Grape; 'Reverend Black Grape' (click here for the video), 'Shake your Money', Cast; 'Alright', 'Walk Away', 'History' ... In fact, anything by Black Grape or Cast”
Reef: 'Come back brighter' Space 'My Neighbourhood', Dodgy; 'In A Room'
Bluetones - Mark Morriss
"They've written a lot of great songs over the course of their career, but I'd love to hear Dodgy play one of their earliest and most obscure songs, 'Seems Like A Bad Day'. (click for video)
It was a B-side to their second single 'Easy Way' and has one of the greatest opening lines ever written: 'Day breaks like a fist through glass...'
One for the anoraks."
Echobelly - Glenn Johansson
“We love the song, "Female of the species" by SPACE (video). It was so unusual when it came out amidst all the Britpop classics of the mid 90's, that it really stood out.
With Tommy's unique vocal performance and way of phrasing, it's a classic earworm to this day.”
Gonna be hit after hit in Hastings from the 8th to 10th of September 2017.
A spectacular, open air, seaside gathering in "the UK's newest music city", Beano on the Sea looks to be the brilliantly celebratory crescendo of the festival season.
Information/updates beanoonthesea.com
To win a pair of festival passes for the entire weekend* or 4 x day passes for the day of your choice, please tag friends and share this article (prize does not include travel or accommodation).
Comments