Countdown begins for the Hartlepool Waterfront Festival

This year’s Hartlepool Waterfront Festival, organised by Hartlepool Borough Council, takes place on the weekend of Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th August from 2pm to 10pm at The Waterfront, adjacent to the town’s marina.

Tickets for visitors aged 16 and over must be booked in advance at www.hartlepoolwaterfrontfestival.com, although the festival will operate on a “pay-what-you-decide” basis, with visitors being asked to pay after the event based on the experience they have had.

There will be a wide range of arts, music and entertainment suitable for the whole family.

Inspired by local and north eastern folklore, this year’s festival theme is ‘REBIRTH,’ with acts from across the country brought together to celebrate, worship and be joined with the Goddess of Festivals. Expect giant tarot cards, walk-about worshippers and weird and wonderful performances from those who wish to welcome her!

Festival-goers will be able to enjoy performances taking place across the three themed stages: The Moon Stage, The Campfire Stage and The Happenings.

Aaron Bowman, the Council’s Event Manager, said: “It will be an incredible sight to have performers back on our stages with real life audiences, all to welcome the return of the festival goddess!

“For many months, her followers have been preparing for her return and this August Bank Holiday, she is reborn, here in Hartlepool. Expect ancient traditions made new, as folklore becomes truth and rhyme and myth become reality.”

Councillor Shane Moore, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: “We’re delighted to be able to welcome back the people of Hartlepool, the Tees Valley and beyond to our flagship summer event, especially after the many sacrifices they have had to make during the pandemic.

“There will be so much to see and do in our fantastically varied programme, with something for all tastes ranging from the exhilarating to the reflective. It will be a truly memorable and special event.”

There are several particular highlights. Prior to and during the festival (20th – 30th August), internationally renowned artist Luke Jerram will take over Seaton Park at Seaton Carew with his new touring artwork In Memoriam, a temporary and poignant memorial to all those lost during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The installation will feature 120 flags made from NHS bed sheets arranged in the form of a medical logo. In Memoriam is also intended to be a tribute to NHS staff who have risked or lost their lives during the pandemic.

On Saturday August 28th, festival-goers will be able to relive one of the greatest albums of all time, live and in its entirety. Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Rumours’ will be performed by Transatlantic Ensemble - a group of top, session musicians and outstanding, classically-trained vocalists - on the Moon Stage at The Waterfront. The show has sold out multiple dates across the UK to critical acclaim.

The following day, the Moon Stage will host a performance by The Futureheads, a post-punk band with a national following who have released five critically acclaimed albums, headlined countless tours and earned an NME Single of the Year accolade for their iconic cover of Kate Bush's 'Hounds of Love'.

The festival, which has previously attracted crowds of up to 15,000, is being supported by the Tees Valley Mayor and Combined Authority with £30,000 as part of the Tees Valley Festivals 2021 Recovery Fund, which aims to help businesses, communities and visitors plan with confidence by investing in a vibrant, imaginative and responsible programme of festival activity.

And now for the full festival line up …

The Moon Stage - SATURDAY

The Bon Bon’s Cabaret - Comperes

The Bon Bon’s and their Cabaret return as Comperes of The Moon Stage. The Waterfront favourites will be spreading joy and getting the party started with their high energy sets and feel-good anthems throughout the weekend. This Newcastle-based drag collective fell in love with Hartlepool in 2018 and they've been back many times since. Catch them between acts on the Moon Stage!

The Lips - Saturday 2.30pm and 4.30pm

The Lips return to Hartlepool and take their place on our Moon Stage on Saturday to beguile and enchant our festival Goddess. A luminous, outdoor, big puppet, mix-tape show with something to say, The Lips reanimate our favourite songs and celebrate our shared love of popular music.

Miss Toni’s Academy - Saturday 3pm

It wouldn't be a Waterfront without Miss Toni and her band of merry little-ones! Catch Toni and her stars-in-the-making before they grow up and win a Grammy.

PICNIC - Saturday 7.30pm

PICNIC are a Sunderland band that truly bring the party. If you like Bruno Mars, Chic or Hayley Williams then PICNIC are for you! We can't wait for you to meet Robyn, Eddie and the gang before they get you up and dancing!

Transatlantic Ensemble play Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, in full, to perfection - Saturday 8.45pm

They are some of the best sessions musicians in the country and regularly get together to sell out places like Wylam Brewery as they play iconic albums in full. In the spirit of Rebirth, the gang are getting a bit witchy and playing Stevie, Lyndsey, Mick, John and Christine's classic album front to back. Don't stop thinking about tomorrow.

 

The Moon Stage - SUNDAY

Bigfatbig - Sunday 3.30pm

Get ready to rock out to this all-girl band as they take to the Moon Stage! If you're a fan of Joan Jett, Paramore or any of those ace 90s female-fronted bands - Elastica, Kenickie or Republica - then you'll be up and dancing to these Gen Z dreamers' tunes about falling out-of-love to Love Island.

Marketplace - Sunday 4.30pm

These Hartlepool performers have firmly cemented their place in the wider North East Music Scene. Known for being as snappily dressed as they are known for being able to bring the party - Marketplace's tunes will be stuck in your head for days to come.

Kay Greyson - Sunday 5.30pm

Back for a second turn at the festival, this time on the Moon Stage, Newcastle rapper Kay is back to spit some verses on the big stage. Kay has caused a storm in the North East music scene and it's clear why.

Jodie Nicolson - Sunday 6.30pm

Singer-Songwriter Jodie was first inspired by her leaving her university city and finding herself back in Tees Valley. After debuting in 2019, she has quickly become a doyenne of the local music scene. Her melancholic genre-bending pop has seen her played on Radio One and is perfect for fans of London Grammar or Birdy, but with more of a vocal punch - get ready to be transported to another world.

Michael Gallagher - Sunday 7.30pm

After releasing two great stadium-rock anthems earlier this year, Hartlepool born-and-bred musician Micky Gal is returning home to the Moon Stage. Come and see why he’s a bit of a North East legend. For fans of Sam Fender, The Kooks and Blur.

The Futureheads - Sunday 9pm

Post-punk icons The Futureheads close out the festival. They don't need an introduction. The gents are still stars. You may remember their cover of Kate Bush's Hounds of Love, but after their set, you'll remember them for so much more.

 

The Happenings  

Rime of the Submerged Forest by Jack of Hearts - Sat and Sun 2pm, 4.45pm, 7.15pm

Originally developed as part of our Little Waterfront programme in June, another section is brought to life in our newly-commissioned piece.

String and Strong's Great Big Game-A-Thon by Fully Booked Theatre - Saturday - 2.30pm, 5pm, 7.45pm

String and Strong just can’t get along, but what if we could teach them how? Holding hands? Sharing a giggle? What are the things that create a friendship? Join two dancers String and Strong as they create new sound and dance through touch and movement as they try to understand the world around them and each another.

Captive by Motion House - Saturday 3.30pm and 6pm

After the year we've had, we wanted to explore what it has meant to be captive. Inspired by Rainer Maria Rilke’s poem 'The Panther', this powerfully emotional outdoor show explores notions of captivity. Extremely physical, Captive is a thrilling blend of dance and acrobatics that explores human relationships in captivity.

Let's Circus On The Hoof by Let's Circus - Sat - 4.45pm, 6.30pm, 8.15pm / Sun 2.15pm, 5pm, 8.15pm

In a new commission supporting emerging North East Circus Artists, Let's Circus are putting together a travelling cabaret show with some of the hottest talent our region has to offer. Expect horses and handstands in this premiere performance.

Family Talk with Luca Rutherford - Saturday (various times)

Luca Rutherford wants to talk to you. She wants to talk to you and your children. She wants to sit down with you and have conversations. She wants to share spaces with you. In our newly-commissioned 'Family Talk', theatre-maker Luca Rutherford will invite one adult and their child into a conversation, as equals, to explore what we might learn from each other when the roles of 'parent' and 'child' are removed.

Treemendous by Megabeast Productions - Sat and Sun 4.15pm, 6.45pm

Two creatures from the forest heard the news of the arrival of the Festival Goddess and have come to pay their respects.

Wildflower by Curious Arts - Sunday 3.30pm, 7.45pm

What does it mean to be a Wildflower? Blooming wherever you're planted. A fun, floral pop-up performance that celebrates being your vibrant, colourful self even under the harshest conditions. Join the Wildflowers as they ride by on their flowery trike, creating a welcoming environment where everyone can thrive. Another of our commissions supporting north eastern artists.

What the Tortoise Taught Us, by Flying Buttresses - Sunday 2.45pm, 5.30pm

Meet Zelva, the incredible, animatronic, giant tortoise who has walked the earth for hundreds of years, and now she wants to share her time with you. Listen and learn from Zelva... you can ask her anything and she’ll share her wisdom. She may even draw you a beautiful picture or give you her tortograph.

The Bewonderment Machine by A Bird in the Hand Theatre - Sunday (various times)

The Bewonderment Machine is an artist-built cycle-powered carousel, a kinetic public sculpture and a magical journey for small children.

Queens of the Tarot by Menstrual Rage Theatre - Sat and Sun (various times)

Wands, Swords, Cups and Pentacles - Our Queens have travelled through realm after realm to welcome our Goddess. Each Queen is different, but all are united in their search for the prophecy to become real. As part of HWF: Rebirth, we have commissioned Menstrual Rage Theatre to devise walk-about characters to animate the festival space. Keep an eye out - they're mischievous!

 

The Campfire Stage - SATURDAY AND SUNDAY

Bróccán Tyzack-Carlin - Sat and Sun, times to be confirmed

Hartlepool's very own born-and-bred Bard, went town-viral earlier in the year with his Poem about the Wesley as part of our Little Waterfront.

Icons - Sat and Sun - 3.30pm, 5pm, 6.45pm,  8.30pm/9pm Sun only

Four Drag Queens, performing the works of four iconic Divas. Expect our four Sisters of the Moon to bewitch and beguile you. Drag has been particularly hard hit during the past 18 months, so it is our pleasure to welcome these girls to the Campfire stage to do what they do best - entertain a crowd!

Ian Horn - Sat and Sun - 4.15pm

Ian is known as the Footy Poet - specialising in words about the beautiful game. From up-the-coast in East Durham, Ian will perform a selection of his works so that we can celebrate the new season for our Borough and a new chapter in our history.

Colly Metcalfe - Sat & Sun 4.15pm

Colly Metcalfe is a spoken word artist, poet and actor. As a deaf artist finding new ways to share her voice, Colly will perform in BSL to three songs in British Sign Language. 

Tees Women Poets - Sat & Sun 6.15pm

The absolute embodiment of female-empowerment - join our witchy sisters as they perform some of their works to celebrate our rebirth. Watch them leave offerings to the Goddess.

Iain Jay - Sat and Sun 7.15pm

Iain Jay is the Tees Valley's very own side-show extraordinaire. News of the Goddess' return reached Billingham and Iain has brought fire.

Lizzie Lovejoy - Sat 2.45 & Sun 8pm

Lizzie Lovejoy is a poet from here in the Tees Valley, as well as an illustrator whose work is available in Hartlepool Art Gallery's shop. Her work talks about who we are and all of those little elements of life that makes us who we are.

For more festival information visit www.hartlepoolwaterfrontfestival.com