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Bournemouth town centre will be packed full of musical performances spanning live electronica, reggae, hip hop and funk, interactive sound installations including the European Premiere of ‘Airship Orchestra’, Dorset’s largest contemporary choir, disco floorfillers re-imagined by a female-led brass band, a takeover from Bournemouth & Poole College students, and so much more.

Arts by the Sea, Bournemouth’s annual festival of art and culture, reveals the final wave of programming for the 2022 event. This announcement showcases the diverse array of music on offer across the festival from Friday 30th September to Sunday 2nd October. From interactive sound installations to Dorset’s largest contemporary amateur choir, a female-led brass band to international sounds from numerous acts on the iconic Bandstand; plus the European Premier of Airship Orchestra, Bournemouth’s town centre will be alive with music when Arts by the Sea comes to town.

The opening act for the Friday night Spectacle is Funky Little Choir, the region’s largest contemporary choir back at Arts by the Sea by popular demand. They perform a crowd-pleasing mix of the nation’s best-loved pop songs from KT Tunstall, Elbow, The Beatles, Annie Lennox and more. Following TV appearances on Gareth Malone’s Best in Britain 2016 and CBBC Glee, festival goers should get down early when they appear at Town Hall ahead of the highly anticipated performance by House Gospel Choir.

At Lower Gardens on Saturday and Sunday, visitors can experience the multi-sensory sound installation, Serving Sounds. Created and performed by The Working Boys Club which was founded in 2020 by Jason and Adam Dupree, identical twins from Poole, guests will find a bar that serves bass rather than beer. Ordinary bar items like glasses, beermats, the odd bit of change, when touched, will create a groove, synths, a snare or maybe a guitar. Interactive, playful fun for all the family to enjoy.

On Saturday at Bournemouth’s historic Bandstand in Lower Gardens, visitors can enjoy a melting pot of sounds and discover their new favourite band. Here they’ll find Xaman X, Bristol’s first Tropical Bass band. Through live electronics with traditional Colombian instrumentation and outstanding Latin percussion, the four-piece promises a soul moving performance on a sonic rocket into outer space!

Serving up more eclectic sounds on the Bandstand will be Bournemouth’s own Mr Pacho Vibes System; a 7-piece multi-national musical collective who blend a danceable mix of reggae, hip-hop, kuduro and funk into a non-stop dance party. Then on Sunday, the Bandstand is handed over to Break Out Brass; the UK’s first female-led brass band playing disco and pop brass floorfillers.

Visitors should also keep a look out for The High Priestess of Pop and the Disco Druids. This roaming confession booth is the place to divulge your guilty pop pleasures. The High Priestess herself, aka the renowned Bournemouth actress Lorna Rees, may even offer audiences absolution by playing the best requests she receives. This is a brand new piece, commissioned by Christchurch BID and comes in collaboration with The Hush Club.

Making two appearances at the Pop Up Skatepark and Pier Approach is Tuba Libres. The talented brass collective, originally formed in 2015 in Southampton, have been unleashing their brassy goodness across the south coast and at festivals including Isle of Wight and Victorious, and now at Arts by the Sea. Expect energetic lunges, sizzling solos and heavy hitting grooves all backed up by some fat horns.

There’s a strong focus on local and regional musical talent at this year’s event. It continues with a takeover at the popular bar and music venue, Sixty Million Postcards, where students from Bournemouth & Poole College will be showcasing their creative skills. On Saturday, expect numerous showcases from musical acts, DJs, dance and dramatic performance. Then on Sunday, it’s time to get involved in a variety of creative workshops hosted by the students, including photography, fashion upcycling and an assortment of arts and crafts and typography. Or just relax and do some colouring in.

There’s more installation on offer not just over the festival weekend, but for the entire month of September. Presented by GIANT gallery, GIANT OFFSITE brings the European Premiere of Airship Orchestra to the Triangle, a must-visit largescale sound and light installation featuring giant inflatable creatures from another world. When visitors step inside, the friendly LED eyes of the mystical beings will follow them around as they become immersed in a rousing musical score when moving from character-to-character. It’s set to be an out of this world experience. ”

This final announcement completes what is set to be another exciting year at Arts by the Sea. Now in its 12th year, this festival of discovery boasts a vibrant and colourful PLAY-themed programme that celebrates accessible art and culture across many forms.

Over 100,000 people attend Arts by the Sea every year in search of fun and festivity. Staged by BCP Council and curated by From The Fields, Arts by the Sea is passionate about drawing audiences together with outdoor art and performances that ignite a mischievous spark of the imagination.

From nine to ninety years old, there’s something for all ages at the free-to-attend Arts by the Sea Festival.