Take a look at what's coming up this September at Forest Arts Centre in New Milton, Ashcroft Arts Centre in Fareham, the West End Centre in Aldershot and The Arc, Winchester.
Forest Arts Centre, New Milton
Highlights from the September programme at Forest Arts Centre include an extraordinarily strong music programme, children’s theatre, and the legendary Fun Palaces weekend. See below for what’s on offer.
Music at Forest Arts
The high profile national touring artists just keep coming this September, and we kick off the month in style with the cult legend that is Mark Shaw from Then Jerico (2 September). Then Jerico lead singer, lyricist, songwriter, producer and founder member Mark Shaw (accompanied by solo acoustic guitarist Ollie Brum) will be performing acoustic versions of his hit singles and selected album tracks.
Budapest Café Orchestra (8 September) are the refreshingly unconventional, snappily attired, boutique orchestre-extraordinaire from Harringay touring extensively across Great Britain and beyond and now bringing their gypsy-flavoured jazz to Forest Arts.
The diverse music programme continues with international flamenco group Mi Flamenco – Echoes (9 September) and the elegant decadence of 1950s West Coast cool in Will Collier’s Chet Baker Project (10 September).
The masters of American roots Stompin’ Dave and Lucy Piper (14 September) are bringing true musicianship, fine singing and authentic blues to Forest Arts. Lovers of legendary singers Nick Drake and John Martyn will enjoy Keith James – Solid Air (20 September) – an immaculately crafted concert bringing an evening of timeless, cherished songs from the two musicians.
Finally, finishing the month in style, we have five of the finest singer-songwriters of their generation – in Daphne’s Flight (21 September). Daphne’s Flight are Chris While, Julie Matthews, Helen Watson, Melanie Harrold and Miranda Sykes and they bring a unique and magical blend of their individual styles, completely captivating and inspiring audiences with their complex harmony arrangements, unbridled energy and infectious joy of performing together.
Comedy
The Forest Arts Comedy Club (7 September) will bring the usual selection of hand-picked comedians, selected by talented viral sensation MC Joe Wells. This month we have Andrew White (on the back of his four successful shows at the Fringe) and Stephen Catling – the country’s funniest bee-comedian.
Theatre for Children
Children are in for a treat this September at Forest Arts with The Bubble Show (17 September). The Bubble Show is a unique blend of magic, storytelling, and bubble art. Audiences can enjoy bouncy bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles, smoke bubbles, square bubbles, giant bubbles, and even fire bubbles!
Fun Palaces (29 and 30 September)
Forest Arts Centre is throwing open the doors to volunteers and local community groups for the hotly anticipated weekend of free activities and skill sharing for all ages. Workshops are bookable and visitors can choose from a variety of events including rock painting, Taekwondo, a brilliantly creative doodle wall, beginners knitting, lots of dance including Jive Lessons and the New Milton Men’s Shed Takeover.
More information about Forest Arts Centre and the programme of events and activities is available below.
Ashcroft Arts Centre, Fareham
Coming up in September at Hampshire Cultural Trust’s Ashcroft Arts Centre in Fareham is an exciting and strong mix of music, a pregnancy festival and inspiring workshops – including the return of the Burlesque Workshop from the Hundred Watt Club.
Music
The month kicks off with a contemporary Americana gig from the Annie Keating Band (1 September). Annie was talent-spotted by BBC Radio’s Bob Harris and has been growing in stature ever since. Ashcroft’s incredibly popular monthly local music showcase Ashcroft Presents continues in September with local artists Alex Roberts, Rob Clamp and Timothy Beckett. (8 September).
An unmissable opportunity presents itself on the 14 September with Mi Flamenco -Ignite – the popular international flamenco company who sold out in 2016 at Ashcroft.
Bluegrass lovers will be thrilled to see award-winning The Often Herd on 15 September, followed by five of the finest singer-songwriters of their generation - Daphne’s Flight (20 September).
Finally, at the end of the month the UK’s number one Jive and Swing band, The Jive Aces are bringing their Roots of Elvis show to Ashcroft (28 September). Visitors can relax and drift back to the America of the early 1950s and sock up the sounds that inspired the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Festival
Ashcroft Arts Centre are very excited to be working with Informed Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond to bring a Pregnancy, Birth and Parenting Festival to Fareham (9 September). Visitors can expect a fantastic market place, class tasters, organisations, businesses and people who can provide support and information through pregnancy birth and beyond.
Theatre and children
The summer season of outdoor performance draws to a close on 3 September with a delightful show at Westbury Manor Museum gardens. The Pantaloons present The Comedy of Errors - cartoonish capers in Shakespeare’s funniest farce, suitable for the whole family! Children are in for a great month at Ashcroft as Mr Bubbles brings The Bubble Show to audiences on 16 September. Expect bouncy bubbles, bubbles inside bubbles, smoke bubbles, square bubbles, giant bubbles and even fire bubbles!
Workshops and Classes
It’s a busy month for workshops and classes at Ashcroft, with weekly class options such as Yoga, Exploring Pottery, many art classes including Art for All, Pilates, Sewing and Garment Making, the ever-popular Life Drawing and numerous inspiring dance classes including Dancing Fit.
The one-off workshop offerings are equally strong, with an Introduction to Portraiture, a needle felting workshop where you can make a Quirky Cat, a popular Paint and Sip session, an autumnal Block Printing Workshop and you can learn how to crochet your very own Flower Brooch. Perhaps you’ve always wanted to put pen to paper but never seem to find the time? If that’s the case then we can offer the Writing for Procrastinators Workshop with Will Sutton (28 September).
Finally, for those keen to boost body confidence and have fun we are pleased to announce another glorious burlesque workshop from Hundred Watt Club - Learn the Art of the Tease (30 September) with a well-timed performance from the Hundred Watt Club themselves the same evening, available to book. It’s not for the faint hearted!
More information about Ashcroft Arts Centre and the programme of events and activities is available below.
West End Centre, Aldershot
Coming up at the West End Centre in Aldershot this September is a riveting mix of high-profile comedy, diverse music and an autumn season of brilliant weekly classes. Read on for highlights of the September programme.
Music
Lifesigns (2 September) kick off the month with their talented blend of independent modern prog and classic rock, always highly rated by music critics and fans alike. Backwoods Creek (9 September) carry on the rock theme, with an infectious old-school southern rock gig full of personality and crazy party fever. If you’re a lover of beautiful musicianship then Katie Spencer (13 September) is the show for you. Her articulate songwriting and guitar playing has shades of Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Michael Chapman. Regular West End Centre hosts Kick Arts UK (16 September) always deliver great evenings, and the September gig with the indie disco of band Lilac will be no exception.
The month of September ends in style, with two radically different musical offerings. On 23 September, award-winning and leading Scottish smallpipes player Brìghde Chaimbeul brings her exquisite experimental take on Celtic music to the Westy. Finally, it’s a hometown gig for popular instrumental post-rock band Parachute for Gordo (30 September). The band hail from the cultural capitals of Aldershot, London and Berlin and since 2012 have been known for their playful, intimate live shows and an ambitious DIY approach to creating their musical projects.
Comedy
While it’s too late to get tickets for the sell-out Romesh gig at the West End Centre (29 September), we can still offer you plenty more nationally recognised comedians. Early in the month we have star of the hit Radio 4 series ‘6.5 Children’ Ashley Blaker: Normal Schmormal (7 September). Ashley has six kids, three of whom have an SEN diagnosis. Between endless meetings, countless therapists, public humiliations, failed playdates, horrific hygiene, surreal monologues and occasional violence, it’s certainly not what anyone would call a ‘normal’ household – but would he want it any other way?
Strap in and see UK comedy darling Sophie Duker (21 September) at the West End Centre. The Taskmaster champ is visiting hot on the heels of smash-hit, sold-out runs at the Edinburgh Fringe and London's Soho Theatre. Duker is touring her second stand-up show around the UK.
Workshops
From one-day workshops to mini courses, craft to singing, there really is something for everyone this month at the West End Centre.
Focussing on the Autumn season weekly classes, visitors can try Beginners Ukelele, something to keep the younger family members busy in Teens Pottery, or the Youth Theatre, Adult Life Drawing with our artist in residence Stephen Critchley and our popular monthly sewing session the Sewing Café. You can also come along and join in with friendly songs each Tuesday evening in the Westy Choir. Thefriendly community choir sings a wide range of songs from folk classics to harmony-laden pop tunes.
More information about West End Centre and the programme of events and activities is available below.
The Arc, Winchester
Coming up in September at Hampshire Cultural Trust’s The Arc in Winchester is an exciting selection of high profile exhibitions, a strong music programme, children’s theatre and two hilarious gigs from the Winchester Comedy Festival. Below are some of the top picks from The Arc’s upcoming September offering.
Exhibitions
Georgia O’Keeffe – Memories of Drawings (Throughout September - 15 November)
This exhibition of 21 exquisite photogravure prints of major drawings by Georgia O’Keeffe is a rare chance to see her work in person outside the US and comes to The Arc courtesy of Hayward Gallery Touring. One of the most important artists in 20th-century Modernist American art, O’Keeffe broke new ground for women artists. While best known as a painter, drawing was central to O’Keeffe’s practice and this exhibition explores this technique in depth. The 21 drawings featured in this exhibition were made between 1915 and 1963, spanning the period when O’Keeffe established herself as a major figure in American Modernism.
You can also release your creativity in a special Arc After Dark session connected to the exhibition - the Georgia O’Keeffe inspired floristry with Wildbunch Florist (1 September)
The popular free gallery space at The Arc is hosting the works of printmaker Kate Watkins in Beneath the Surface – City Space (17 August - 24 September) – exploring the connection between creativity, self-expression and mental wellbeing.
Music
The high profile music artists just keep coming throughout the month of September, starting with musician and composer Corrie Dick (3 September). Corrie is at the rhythmic epicentre of a new era of British jazz and is bringing his inventive drumming to The Arc.
Lovers of the great American singer-songwriters of the late 60s and early 70s will find inspiration in Fire & Rain and American Pie (9 September). This is a heart-warming musical tribute to James Taylor, Carole King, Simon and Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Carly Simon and more.
Another musician influenced by Joni Mitchell is Katie Spencer(20 September) – a singer songwriter from Hull, whose music is filled with elements of both folk and jazz. Having played many stages, from the Barbican to the Bluebird in Nashville, Dean Dyson (23 September) is the definitive troubadour and brings his original music on a return visit – he last sold out his show at The Arc a week before lockdown in 2020.
Comedy
The ‘new King of Comedy’ (Evening Standard) John Kearnsbrings us his show The Varnishing Days on 14 September. Seen as a comedian’s comedian, this cult gagster brings legions of fans to his shows, not least due to his hilarious stint on Taskmaster.
The Winchester Comedy Festival brings two in-demand acts right at the end of the month. Local lad Paul McCaffrey (29 September) is back with a hometown gig. Paul has been seen on ‘Live at the Apollo’ BBC2 ‘Russell Howards Good News’ BBC2 ’Impractical Jokers’ BBC3 and is host of hit podcast ‘What’s upset you now?’ Finally, fresh from another sell-out UK tour is An Evening with Clinton Baptiste (30 September). Clinton Baptiste is the useless clairvoyant medium psychic from Peter Kay's smash hit comedy ‘Phoenix Nights’. This is not for the faint-hearted.
Theatre for Children
Children can experience fabulous theatre this September at The Arc with I Spy with My Little Eye (24 September) brought to us by The People’s Theatre Company. Molly and Bingo the puppy are having a birthday party and, best of all, everyone is invited! This show for ages 2-102 is going to be the best party ever!
More information about The Arc and the full programme of events and activities is available below.
