Yorkshire goes to the seaside

Coastival and its little brother Roller Coastival is a brand new three-day long arts and cultural event in Yorkshire and the first event of its kind ever to be staged in Scarborough.

Patronised by local lads Sir Ben Kingsley and Sir Alan Acykbourn, the packed programme includes music, film, spoken word, dance, comedy, visual arts and theatre for the grown-ups. Whilst Roller Coastival occupies the kids with the three billy goats, giant carnival puppets, some fun with words, music and crafts, plus chance to run their own radio station.

The Line up

Coastival boasts 96 events, many of them free, across 30 varied venues during three days (13th to 15th February). It includes Roller Coastival, a series of events, activities and workshops to kick off the half-term holiday for children.

Coastival kicks off with a lantern parade setting off from the Rotunda in Scarborough at 5pm on Friday 13th February and winding its way down to the Spa. Then a free concert, ‘Scarborough’s Finest’, will be held at the Spa Theatre at 6.30pm featuring local opera singer Victoria Wright, Scarborough Symphony Orchestra and Julie Hatton School of Dance.

Musical highlights of Coastival include a Valentine’s Day jazz line-up on 14th February at Scarborough Spa including the Julia Wray Quartet, Snake Davis, Helen Watson, Bourbon Y Tequila and Clare Teal.

Top international rock group Feeder will be the headline act at Coastival 2009.

Sunday the 15th will see a mini world music festival, also at the Spa, featuring Baka Beyond, Samay and the Hassan Erraji Trio.

The Spa will also be the venue for the Acoustic lounge during the weekend, where musicians including Chris Helme, Carl Woodford, Jon Gomm and Edwina Hayes will perform.

Scarborough’s Royal Hotel is also hosting a weekend of Coastival music.
Coastival will also feature dance, including a performance by HALO, comedy, featuring John Shuttleworth, films with a music and Yorkshire theme in the Spa Theatre and a host of exhibitions and art installations featuring paintings, sculpture, photography and other varied works around town.

The Spoken Word. Lovers of the spoken word will enjoy Sunday lunch with acclaimed novelist Jane Gardam, an evening of poetry or some intrigue with Sophie Hannah.

Theatre is catered for via Third Angel’s performance, Class of ’76, alongside a series of performance workshops.

All details of Coastival are contained in its brochure. To request a copy and for all the latest news and information on Coastival visit Coastival.com.

The event is being organised by Scarbrough-based arts development agency Create and will be supported by the cream of the local arts scene including Musicport, Scarborough Jazz, Scarborough Literature Festival, Acoustic Gathering, Sun Court Film Festival and a host of local venues.