City bounces back with packed programme of outdoor events
Three major live music events, including a bigger On the Beach festival, will be staged in Brighton & Hove next year as the city continues to bounce back from the effects of COVID-19.
Music fans will welcome the return of Land Beyond, a new Utopia Nations Festival and a Rock and Roll Circus, as well as four days of On The Beach. Councillors agreed the programme of events to attract residents and visitors and boost the local economy at the Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture Committee on 3 November.
Covid challenges
During 2022, the financial impacts of the Covid pandemic continued to have a significant effect on the outdoor events industry. Several events were cancelled and others reporting lower ticket sales. Supply chain difficulties, increases in costs and the growing cost of living crisis all added to the difficulties faced by event organisers.
However, confidence has now returned with an exciting and diverse range of events for 2023.
More music events
Following the success of last year’s event, On The Beach will return to Madeira Drive Beachfront on July 21-23 and 28-30. The additional days will offer opportunities for community involvement and a wider range of musical styles.
Land Beyond, Waterhall, will return from 28 – 30 April, with this year’s ticketed music event offering camping facilities for up to 1,000 customers.
Rock and Roll Circus, a combination of aerobatic performance with musical entertainment, all in a Big-top style venue, will thrill audiences in Preston Park from 2-5 June.
Spigeltent returns
Hove Park will host the Utopia Nation festival, on 17 June. This new 4,000 capacity music event offers a wide range of musical genres and an ‘immersive experience’ for customers, while Brighton Fringe sees the return of the Spiegeltent, and Ladyboys of Bangkok to Victoria Gardens.
Plans are also progressing for an Urban Moves Festival on 24 June, a one-day family festival celebrating emerging local music talent from the Funk, Soul, Jazz, Hip-Hop and RnB music scenes.
The event will also showcase local dance companies, drag acts and spoken word artists. The location has yet to be finalised.
New sporting events
The city has also attracted exciting new sporting events, including the Being Me 10k, a new running event with a focus on inclusivity and participation. Launched by Dame Kelly Holmes, the event takes place on Hove Lawns on June 4.
Events on Madeira Drive will include The Rainbow Mile, held in cities around the world during Pride month, celebrating diversity and sporting excellence, and Brighton Velocity on 17 September.
This new seafront cycling festival for Brighton & Hove, combines the Tour of Sussex with an inclusive festival of cycling and cycle sport. The event will focus on promoting cycling as a green way to travel, a great way to get fit and an exciting sport.
Exciting and diverse
Councillor Martin Osborne, Co-Chair of the Tourism, Equalities, Communities and Culture committee said: “This year has seen the city’s tourism industry begin to recover, and we have enjoyed welcoming visitors to some exciting events in the city, from the UEFA Women’s EUROs to the return of Pride.
"We are a major leisure destination, with around 21,000 jobs in the tourism industry. So, we are keen to build on this success. I'm pleased this exciting and diverse programme of outdoor events for 2023 was approved.
Following feedback from communities, council teams will ensure that all events taking place on council land will comply with the Council Outdoor Events Strategy.
This includes restoring any grassed areas damaged during events and providing the council with a noise management plan including measures to reduce the impact on nearby businesses and residents.
