Margate Soul Festival
Margate Soul Festival will take over the town from August 2-4 with a huge soul street party.
The event, which has been running for 22 years, has expanded to include 19 indoor and outdoor venues stretching from The Sun Deck to Margate Leisure Centre on Edgar Road with more outdoor stages than ever before.
There will also be a record fayre, jam rollerskating, secret sets and almost every music venue in Margate is getting in on the act.
This year there will be a huge new beachside main stage (under the Lido sign), new free music stages such as the Balearic Beach Boutique (Jo Mills, Nancy Noise, Dean Thatcher, Chris Coco) and Disco Heaven in Margate’s Old Town.
There are the most late night venues the festival has ever had showcasing the UK’s best soul DJs from MiSoul Radio (Brandon Block, Gordon Mac, Ricky Morrison) Soul Beat Radio and Zero Hour Radio plus local talent from Margate Radio, and other long-standing festival favourites. Secret after parties include an exclusive set from XPress2 and others.
Venues also include Turner Contemporary, Barnacles, WhereElse, the original festival venue of Olby’s Soul Cafe and many more. They will be linked by a free Margate Soul Train which will run between the train station and the key venues and main beachside stage.
The live line up features soul icons from both sides of the Atlantic – Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes; Dexter Wansel; Heatwave; House Gospel Choir and Izo Fitzroy.
There will also be a live reggae show featuring Peter Hunnigale, Sandra Cross and Tipper Irie.
Other events include Sunset soul bike ride with mobile sound system (Cycle Del Mar) and a Sunday beach clean with Rise Up Clean Up Margate.
Festival-goers can also check out the new murals from Rise Up Residency at the Lido.
The festival will be using eco-generators and low power lighting, partnering with key environmental charities and partners and giving back £1 from every ticket sold to local community groups.
Weekend tickets are £108.90 (£99 + 10% BF) / Day tickets are £60.50 (£55 + 10% BF) / Kids tickets (7-17) are £38.50 (£35 + 10% BF). Margatesoulfestival.co.uk
Santus Circus
Now until August 11, Lord of the Manor
A French family run circus that has toured the UK for over 30 years and been in the circus industry for over 6 generations with their famous Juggling and Unicycling acts.
Tickets from £10.
Book at: https://www.santuscircus.com/book-now
Benson’s M&L Pleasure Fair
Open 2nd – 11th August, daily 1pm-9pm, Palm Bay
Having been brought up with a strong sense of standards and ethics, instilled by his family’s history of operating Bensons Fun Fairs, Mark Benson began Benson’s M&L Pleasure Fairs with his wife Lillian, operating to the same exacting high standards and continuing the Bensons heritage in the name of Benson’s M&L Pleasure Fairs.
Half price day 7 August – everything half price
1 token = £1.20 / 10 tokens = £10
£1 entry fee, children under 3 go free
Southern Nights
2nd August, 8pm, Pierremont Hall Broadstairs
Kick off in Memphis and experience the rise of a new breed of R&B at Stax Records, head on to Muscle Shoals to learn how so many hit records emerged from this little town, and wind down in New Orleans with good times, good tunes and great mythology.
Featuring the songs of Ray Charles, Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin, Allen Toussaint and many more!
Southern Nights: The Story of Southern Soul is presented by writer, singer and guitarist Roberto Picazo, who debuted the show at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, with a successful 4-night run. His own album of Soul and Rhythm & Blues was recorded in Memphis with legends of the Hi Rhythm section was released in 2023 to great critical acclaim.
In the case of bad weather all performances will be moved inside Pierremont Hall in The Chamber Hall. This will mean that there will be limited seating and will be offered on a first come first serve basis.
Free
First Friday
Climate change and its impacts on the Isle of Thanet will be explored at this month’s First Friday at Marine Studios, which takes Rosa Rankin Gee’s novel Dreamland as it’s inspiration.
The Margate Bookshop’s best-seller is set in a near-future dystopian Margate, impacted by climate change and rising seas. It tells the story of two young women falling in love, in a society falling apart. And while there will be plenty of references for people who’ve read the book, the event’s broader themes mean there’s plenty to see and do for anyone who hasn’t.
There will be a chance to see how the Isle might be impacted by rising sea levels, to look at a unique collection of archives and objects from Arlington House (where the book’s protaganist lives), and to play a giant board game which will send people away with practical actions they can take to make a brighter future.
In The Writers’ Room, there will be a chance to collage a postcard, or to write a letter to the future. The Writers’ Room is a partnership between consultancy Co-relate, design firm HKD and Kent Poetry CIC. It provides desks for writers, and a programme focused on training, skills, and professional development.
First Friday, the regular event which has been running since 2009, is free to enter and suitable for all ages. It happens on Friday 2nd August at Marine Studios, Albert Terrace, Margate. Doors open at 6pm.
For more information about Marine Studios and the Writers’ Room, visit www.marinestudios.co.uk
Pride at The Margate School
2nd August – 11th August, 10am to 4pm daily, The Margate School
Three exhibitions of work on show around Margate Pride
New Rumours Celebrating Margate’s LGBTQ+ venues of the 80s and 90s.
The photos collected in this exhibition have been kindly donated by Charlotte Sullivan, the daughter of the late Shirley Sulivan. Local icon Shirley ran two of Margate’s first ever LGBT+ venues; Rumours nightclub and The New Inn pub.
New Rumours is a heritage research project by Margate Pride (with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund) which is gathering ephemera and personal narratives connected to these venues – and we’d love to hear from you if you ever went. You can email [email protected]
Sutured Sights A selection of figurative portraits and photos exploring object (im)permanence taken between 2021 – 2024 between Britain and South Asia.
Dirty Little Pansy Large paintings that show the fragility and beauty of gay men and their naturality in loving each other. Using purple, violet and lavender colours.
Dance Against The Light
3rd August – 31st August, Lovelys, Northdown Road, Cliftonville, 9am to 5pm
This exhibition of limited edition photographs by Tony Nandi, ARPS (1950 – 2020) features images exploring Tony’s extraordinary ability to capture the essence of dance movement under performance lighting. Curated by his wife Julie, this selection of images from Tony’s digital and analogue archive, explores the use of contra jure, or ‘against the light’.
Tony was one of the country’s foremost photographers of the performance arts for almost forty years – with a special interest in dance. He was intrigued by the challenge of conveying a dynamic time-based, three dimensional, emotionally charged creative production into a two-dimensional image. His ultimate intention was always, through timing and composition, to invite and engage the viewer to sense the physical, spatial and emotional experience of the performance.
There will be a meet the curator session on Saturday, 3 August where Julie will be available at Lovelys’ gallery, to discuss Tony’s work and speak about his photography with the exhibition audience.
Margate Pride Festival – Art Map Launch
2nd August
Over 50 artists are participating this year, exhibiting in venues across Margate and Cliftonville
Most events and openings are open 6pm – 8pm
Check individual venues and artists for details including accessibility.
Venues include:
ARK Cliftonville, Margate Arts Club, Mori Mori, Batchelors, Cliftonville Projects Kavel Rafferty, Lovely’s The Potting Shop, Faith in Strangers, Salon, The Shop Front, Store Collective, Daisy, Madre Margate, Streets, Sister Joan, Little Swift, Cliffs, The Good Egg, Joseph Wales, Oast, The Margate School, Liminal Gallery, CAMP, Clayspace, Tom Thumb Theatre Bar, Marcella Hair, Cliffs, George & Heart, Rose in June, Wildes, PICNIC, Fez.
Click here to download the map
Live Music at Broadstairs Bandstand – Andy Wall Quartet
3rd August, Broadstairs Bandstand, 2pm-4pm
Weekend entertainment brought to you by Broadstairs & St. Peters Town Council
Vinyl & Vintage Fair
3rd August – 4th August, 10am to 5pm, Turner Contemporary
Discover a treasure trove of records, and vintage finds at this free event.
The Vinyl and Vintage Fair is your chance to expand your record collection and wardrobe with an impressive mix of UK-wide vinyl dealers and quality stockists, supplying unique vintage clothing and accessories.
Expect rare retro collectables and period clothes alongside Margate Soul Festival.
The Lido Stores
August 3, Ethelbert Terrace, Cliftonville,
Drinks reception for ‘Seen and Unseen’, Lido Open 2023 winner Olivia O’Dwyer’s solo exhibition, on Saturday, 3 August, 7-9pm. The exhibition will be opened by Charles Williams, Lido Open 2023 guest judge and President of the Royal Watercolour Society.
Seen and Unseen, runs from the 1st to 17th August
Coastal Birds Identification Course
3rd August, Droit House, 11am to noon
Join Ranger Greg from Bird Wise East Kent for an identification course focussed on coastal birds. Particularly the ones we are likely to see within the local areas.
Topics that will be discussed are the different groups of birds, key identification tips, behaviours and habitats, as well as some expert knowledge in the best places to spot these birds.
If you wish to improve your bird identification skills, or a complete novice and wish to learn, then this bite sized course will be perfect for you.
This event is free, however any cash donations will be accepted during the event, going towards Thanet Coast Project.
Free – reserve a spot Book now
Mr C & Guests
3rd August, doors open 9pm, Justine’s Margate
Space invaders events and Likeminded Music presents…. Mr C (Shamen, Superfreq)
Hypnotic house, acid, techno and so much more all pumped though a Funktion one in this basement night club.
For Many, Mr C needs no introduction. Most famously known for his lead role in the iconic Shamen as front man, songwriter & producer of the pop group. In this time he notched up a string of top 10 UK hits including Move Any Mountain, Love Sex Intelligence, Boss Drum, Phorever People & the UK number 1 smash hit Ebeneezer Goode.
This is an 18+ event
Tickets £16.95 Book now
Charity family fun day
August 3, noon to 4pm, The New Inn, Minster
In aid of cancer charities in memory of Paul Cornwell
Games, fun, live music, barbecue, bouncy castle, stalls, raffle and more
Broadstairs History Walks
These fun, free, hour long gentle strolls, are led by local guides who love their town
Meet at the history walk banner along the prom, near Royal Albion at 2pm every Saturday and Sunday from now until August 31.
Stroll around the beautiful beach, harbour, and promenade of Broadstairs and be taken through 600 years of history. Pirates, smugglers, heroes, soldiers and bathing belles.
See where Dickens lived, how Broadstairs dealt with Napoleon, the mystery of the haunted cafe & the terror of the Goodwin sands. And much more…
60 – 90 minutes & 300m radius. Easy walking, little traffic
Please check on the Broadstairs History Walks Facebook page to confirm that the walk is on, as they are fine weather walks only.
Groups of more than 10 please contact [email protected]
Free – Suggested donation of £5 per person
Punch & Judy
Broadstairs Viking Bay (Centre Staircase)
August 3-4
Showtimes: 11am / 12 noon / 1pm
Performances, free, courtesy of Broadstairs and St Peter’s Town Council
Margate Carnival
Margate Carnival will take place on Sunday 4th August starting from Palm Bay at 2.30pm travelling along the Esplanade past Bugsy’s Bowling, The Lido, The Winter Gardens and onto Fort Hill, past Margate Police Station and through The Piazza and Margate Soul Festival, towards the train station and onto the Royal Esplanade, Westbrook..
Ramsgate Handmade & Vintage Fair
4th August, Harbour Parade, 11am to 4pm
Ramsgate’s regular maker’s market with locally-produced and made goodies galore
Live Music at Broadstairs Bandstand – Tequila Brass
4th August, Broadstairs Bandstand, 2pm-4pm
Weekend entertainment brought to you by Broadstairs & St. Peters Town Council
Tequila Brass plays music inspired by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. Like those hitmakers of the 1960’s, we love a gorgeous melody, wherever the genre – Latin, pop, jazz, and bit of funk. From the Beatles to (Burt) Bacharach and from Jobim to (Elton) John.
Magic Hours Cinema Walk: Broadstairs
4th August,10.30am – 11.30am. Meeting point: Corner Victoria Parade / Queens Gardens
Explore Broadstairs’ cinema history! Re-visiting the town’s love for the sights, sounds and sensations of film from the 1890s to today
Join Palace Cinema for walks to explore and celebrate cinemas, from converted sheds to glorious picture palaces, and from buildings still standing to those of which all flickering traces are long gone. Taking in some local personalities and social history along the way, plus lots of archive images, we’ll re-visit each town’s love for the sights, sounds and sensations of film from the 1890s to today.
Routes – Cinema Walks are in the centre of each town. Please contact the Palace in advance to check if the route is suitable for you / your group. Free places are offered to carers accompanying those with a disability.
Tickets £8 Adult, £7 Concession, £4 Under-15, Free – Carer accompanying disabled participant Book now
Bootfair
Thanet Lions bootfair on August 4, Drapers Mills school field on College Road Margate.
Gate opens 7.30am for sellers and 8am for buyers. Only £7 for a car boot or £10 for a larger pitch. A school field so no dogs, smoking or vaping please.
