WELCOME TO PARTY IN THE CITY 2023
Join Bath’s biggest FREE party on Friday 12 May, from 5pm till late, as the city centre bursts into life, with folk, rock, classical, jass, acoustic, swing, soul and more! Music will ring out from churches and chapels, including Bath Abbey, St Michael’s Without and St Swithin’s Church. Enjoy performances at museums and galleries, including The Holburne Museum, Victoria Art Gallery and BRLSI. Pubs and bars, cafes and shops will all be getting in on the act and hosting live events throughout the evening. As well as music indoors there will be a stage and stalls set up in Queen Square as well as a whole evening of entertainment in Parade Gardens and under cover at Green Park Station. Bring the whole family and come and celebrate the opening night of The Bath Festival with us on our 75th anniversary!
FAME
THE PARTY IN THE CITY OFFICIAL AFTER PARTY AT KOMEDIA
SCHOOLS’ VOICES
Schools’ Voices brings together 120 young people from Bath secondary schools to work with Bath Philharmonia and create their own songs. The choir will share their talent and creativity through four uplifting, powerful songs, inspired by nature’s cycles, community and being stronger together.
Generously supported by Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation and Coles-Medlock Foundation.
Time: 6pm – 6.30pm
Venue: Bath Abbey
Continue to dance the night away at Komedia after Party in the City, for only £6 entry! All your guilty pleasures under one roof. Unleash your inner dancer and cherish that dance floor with nostalgic numbers from the past mixed with modern groovers.
Time: 11pm – 3am
Venue: Komedia
QUEEN SQUARE
PARADE GARDENS
BLOWOUT SAX
6.50pm – 7.20pm
MUSIC WORKSHOP
6pm – 9pm
Bath’s Music Workshop at Green Park Station is a community-focused music charity providing instrument lessons, band sessions, and various music projects for musicians aged six to 70+. They will be opening Party in the City with a set by student bands, followed by their show ‘MuwFest’. A party playlist for all ages, bringing musicians of any age and ability from across the region together to perform fun and professional showpieces in a supportive and encouraging environment.
The Blowout Sax in Bath is where anyone can learn to play the sax – no music knowledge is required as the approach is playing by ear. We even provide a sax so anyone who wishes to try can try. We have fun in playing hence have been running over 30 years and we now also teach online worldwide.
BATH FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
6pm – 6.30pm
Look out for the Bath Festival Orchestra brass players for an uplifting blast of pure brass magic.
FOLKLAW
9.20pm – 10pm
‘Stylish Passionate Folk Rock’ –R2, ‘Outstanding and Evocative’ – FATEA, FolkLaw’s music will get your feet tapping and your mind thinking. Inspired by 10 years on the road in Europe and North America, FolkLaw’s songs are a commentary on life, with earthy lyrics and vocals accompanied by Celtic fiddle and distinctive vocal harmonies.
SOUL’D OUT
8.30pm – 9.30pm
We are a lively eightpiece band consisting of two amazing vocalists, 3-part awesome brass section, an unstoppable rhythm section and one uncontrollable drummer!
THE ARKANSAW JUKEBOX COLLECTIVE
7.40pm – 8.10pm
They are covers but not like we know them – cuz we play ‘em Bluegrass style... yeeeharrr! Stormzy on a banjo? Sex pistols on a fiddle, bluegrass rap – it’s all here folks!
GIOVANNI L’IMMIGRATO
9.20pm – 10pm
Hold on to your breeches, Bath: Giovanni L’Immigrato are back with a rambunctious musical romp of high-octane indie-folk for an unmissable hoedown hootenanny this year, it’s gonna be a humdinger!
MAP & VENUE INFORMATION
The festival fun continues all week!
Join us at The Bath Festival 2023 to celebrate music and books in our beautiful city
FREE EVENTS
OPEN REHEARSAL WITH BATH FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
13 May | 11.30am – 1.30pm St Michael’s Without
INTRODUCING READ EASY BATH
15 May | 6pm – 7pm Dorothy House Bookshop
LYRA COMES TO BATH
17 May | 6pm – 7.30pm
Komedia
CLEVELAND POOLS: SWIMMING THROUGH HISTORY
17 May | 6pm – 7pm
Dorothy House Bookshop
BATH CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS’ FAIR
14 May | 10am – 5pm Green Park Station
NEW FLEXIBLE PRICING MODEL
PAY IT FORWARD
This option is above the recommended price and will help support the cost of a ticket for someone else.
Is this for me? I have access to disposable income/savings, can afford to pay above the recommended price and would like to make the festival affordable for others.
OPEN CONCESSION
This option is lower than the recommended price and is aimed at those who could use the support of a reduced ticket price to attend.
Is this for me? I have access to some disposable income/savings and would usually select a concession rate.
BATH SPA ANTHOLOGY READINGS
16 May | 5pm – 6.30pm
Chapter 22 Roots and Records
STANDARD (RECOMMENDED)
This option is what we believe reflects the value of the event and helps us make sure our costs are covered.
Is this for me? I have access to disposable income/savings, and I can afford the recommended ticket price.
SUPPORTED
This option is the lowest ticket option and is aimed at those who need the support of the reduced ticket price to attend.
Is this for me? I have low, unstable, or no income/savings and cannot afford the recommended or open concession option.
HIGHLIGHTS
FERN BRADY
21 May | 1.30pm – 2.30pm
Guildhall Banqueting Room
£5 – £15 (excl. fees)
THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF CHARLES IGNATIUS SANCHO WITH PATERSON JOSEPH
16 May | 7.30pm – 8.30pm
Guildhall Banqueting Room
£5 – £15 (excl. fees)
CONNAUGHT BRASS
13 May | 2pm – 4pm
St Swithin’s Church
£12.50 – £30 (excl. fees)
IRÈNE DUVAL, VIOLIN AND MACIEJ KULAKOWSKI, CELLO
18 May | 11am – 12.10pm
Guildhall Banqueting Room
£10 – £25 (excl. fees)
SEE WHAT YOU’RE MISSING WITH WILL GOMPERTZ
19 May | 5pm – 6pm
Guildhall Banqueting Room
£5 – £15 (excl. fees)
CARIAD LLOYD TALKS TO CATHY RENTZENBRINK
13 May | 7.30pm – 8.30pm
Guildhall Banqueting Room £5 – £15 (excl. fees)
MAX PORTER PRESENTS SHY
18 May | 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Komedia
£9 – £22.50 (excl. fees)
CONCERT FOR THE PEOPLE OF BATH
18 May | 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Forum £5 – £30 (excl. fees)
HOPE IN THE DARK: UKRAINE
20 May | 7.30pm – 8.30pm
Guildhall Banqueting Room £5 – £15 (excl. fees)
HELP US KEEP PARTY IN THE CITY FREE
Bath Festivals is a charity.
Every year we produce The Bath Festival, Bath Children’s Literature Festival and a year-round creative learning programme. Ticket sales cover less than half of what we need to do this.
Your support is vital in allowing us to continue programming our arts festivals whilst making books, music and performance accessible to all.
Please donate so we can keep Party in the City free and continue changing lives through the arts.
SCAN ME
bathfestivals.org.uk/support
Bath Festivals Registered Charity Number 801617
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this year’s Party in the City!
Share your thoughts with us so we can continue making Bath’s biggest free party a fun night for all.
Scan the code and fill in the survey for the chance to win an exclusive prize!