Bristol Harbour Festival

Bristol Harbour Festival announces 50th anniversary programme

Bristol’s flagship event, the Bristol Harbour Festival returns to the city on the 15th to 17th July to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The amphitheatre’s Bristol Music Stage will feature Dazee, Black Roots and Doreen Doreen amongst a stellar celebration of the city’s music scene. The Circus Playground returns to Queen Square with Cirque Bijou lining up circus and street theatre performances for all the family, while Trinity Community Arts presents Bristol Dances in Millennium Square. Nine performance areas will feature familiar favourites and new attractions, filling one and a half miles of the city with music, vessels, food markets, circus acts, live music and performers this July. Ebb & Flow, an inclusive programme showcasing community collaborations and emerging and established creative voices will also feature throughout the festival.

Bristol Music Stage, Lloyds Amphitheatre This year will see the Bristol Music Stage showcase long-loved Bristol acts – many of whom are celebrating key anniversaries this year, including 40 years for the ultimate party band Doreen Doreen. It will champion the city’s incredible female DJs with Queen Bee taking to the decks throughout the weekend and Dazee headlining Saturday night’s programme. Bristol Community Big Band will start the proceedings on Saturday with their swing and funk classics, followed by jazz and soul-inspired singer-songwriter Sam Lindo and Bristol Harbour Festival favourite Opa Rosa, who will bring the dazzling instrumental dance music of Eastern Europe to Bristol. Saxophonist James Morton's Groove Den, bhangra band RSVP – festival favourite and still at the forefront of the British Bhangra scene 30 years on will continue the party. Early 80’s post-punk rock legends Blue Aeroplanes will follow, before St Pauls’ very own Black Roots – a crucial part of the emerging British reggae scene in the 1970s – take to the stage. Closing out Saturday will be one of the UK’s most acclaimed jungle and drum & bass DJs, Dazee. As a producer, broadcaster and performer, she has remained at the top of UK drum & bass culture for thirty years, with her Ruffneck Ting record label continuing to keep the jungle flame burning as brightly as ever. On Sunday, the Amphitheatre will come to life with Makala Cheung – Bristol Happiness Champion and self-proclaimed Knowle Wester who will open the show with her song Boombox, inspired by stories of Filwood and Knowle West residents. For blues done right, don’t miss Kirris Riviere’s Delta de Bruit, and for a heady blend of neo-soul, hip-hop and nu-jazz, Madly is a must. Vibrant young jazz outfit Snazzback is next on the billing before the 1982 flamboyantly theatrical music legends Doreen Doreen, will delight with their reimagining of rock and pop classics in celebration of their 40th anniversary.

Brunel’s SS Great Britain: Albion Dockyard and Brunel Square

For the first time ever, there will be free entry to the Albion Dockyard at Hanover Place throughout the weekend, where staff and volunteers from the SS Great Britain Trust will welcome guests to the 540ft-long Grade-II listed dock for unique views of the working shipyard and harbour. Tall Ship Fridtjof Nansen will be in the dry dock with the crew inviting people aboard to hear about the work of youth development charity, Seas Your Future.

On Brunel Square, a new year-long outdoor photography exhibition is set to open for the Festival, showcasing the theme of discovery and Bristol’s global connections through the Albion Dock and the SS Great Britain. Food and drink, including a summer barbecue, will make the most of the harbour views. As part of the Festival’s Ebb & Flow programme, on Saturday, Caring in Bristol will present an activity and installation on Brunel Square; and on Sunday, Bristol Refugee Festival will provide music and performances. The Matthew, Underfall Yard

The world premiere of The Hamlet Voyage, a one-of-a-kind theatrical critique of the very beginnings of British colonial ambitions, is coming to the Festival - performed on Bristol's famous ship, The Matthew, which will be docked at Underfall Yard Cafe for this special event. Limited first-come, first-served seats will be available aboard The Matthew with plenty more on the shore of Underfall Yard Cafe. The production will be suitable for all ages. The Matthew will also feature African drumming workshops and an evening music programme throughout the weekend. On The Water, Bristol Harbourside

Showcasing the city’s incredible maritime heritage, the historic floating harbour takes pride of place during the weekend, celebrating its rich history with free, family-friendly activities programmed on the water’s edge. Eight visiting Tall Ships will join a host of vessels for the weekend, all decorated for the occasion. The Young Shipwright’s will open the event on Saturday, releasing their boats into the harbour, followed by the legendary Cardboard Boat Race where teams battle it out to bring their handmade vessels home! You can read the full line up on our website at: https://directlocalbristol.co.uk/ bristol-news/bristol-harbour-festival/ 17

That’s why mums go to Iceland

The supermarket chain has announced that customers aged over 60 will receive a 10% discount on their groceries every Tuesday with no minimum spend.

In order to redeem the discount, senior shoppers will need to show proof of age, such as a driving licence or senior bus or rail card.

The discount will be available in-store at Iceland and The Food Warehouse branches.

Iceland said it was the first UK supermarket to introduce such a discount after being motivated by research from Age UK, which found that three-quarters of older people were worried about the rising cost of living.

The company said it is also exploring a national rollout of £30 vouchers to those receiving state pension, following a regional Richard Walker, managing director at Iceland, said: in a online statement “We have a long history of supporting our over 60s customers, such as when we launched ‘Elderly Hour’ at the height of the pandemic. “The cost of living crisis has made support for these customers even more important, which is why I’m proud that we’re finding new ways to support them, including the launch of this discount.

“We hope it will help all those in this age category to cut costs where they can.” The move comes after data from Kantar showed that grocery price inflation hit 5.9% back in April – an 11-year high.