September dates

It’s going to be another big year for the Southdowns Music Festival with a strong line-up of ticketed gigs plus dozens of other acts across the weekend.

The festival runs from September 11 to 13, and chairman Roger Nash is delighted with the programme that has come together.

The main events will be live at Venue 24, The Pier, Bognor Regis, with Friday, September 11 offering Phil Beer and Megson; Saturday, September 12 offering Roving Crows and Sorrel Nation; and Sunday, September 13 offering 3 Daft Monkeys and Ed Goodale. Tickets are one night £20, three nights £45 available online at www.southdownsfolkfest.co.uk

The Saturday will also see a drone and light display off the pier, starting around 8:30, open to the public with around 50 drones set to music.

The Friday, Saturday and Sunday will also see a packed programme of other performers at a wide range of venues.

Among the events will be a ukulele workshop, plus the Pandemic Pluckers, The Ukettes and the Pebble Beach Band on the Saturday. There will also be a festival market plus the Selsey Shantymen, Selsey Molls, the Sussex By The Sea Shantymen and the Estuary Men.

The Sunday will continue the shanty theme amongst a wide range of other events. The team are delighted to welcome back the Rox/Bognorphenia Stage.

Roger said: “The programme is very good. The ticketed concerts are going to be on Bognor Pier, and we've got a very strong line-up. I saw Megson a few days ago and they were great.

Roving Crows, there is a lot of Irish punk to some extent, and Sorrel Nation is very much an up and coming artist. She has been touring around the country and in Europe. And Phil Beer is a legend in his own right.

“Venue 24 is a good place. It has got its own stage and its own lighting and its own PA. You can take between 250 and 300 people there. Last year we were in the marquee and we could get only 150. It is a big leap.”

The hope is to return to the Alexandra next year.

“This year we are looking at 60-plus acts, and we've got something like 11 or 12 shanty groups and dance groups.

“We started in 2013, and it has become a lot broader musically over the years. It has become a lot more popular. We have got a good reputation. We get lots of people coming from outside and staying over. It is good for business and it is good for Bognor. I think it does make a big contribution to the town. There are so many things going on, and the local businesses benefit. People can come and watch dancing and choirs, and this year we're very lucky that we have got West Sussex Music at the festival as well.”