Celebrating the world’s music, food and culture, for three days and two nights from 19 to 21 May in Harbourside Park there’s an ocean of incredible sounds, wonderful tastes and amazing experiences to enjoy as part of Poole Maritime Festival.
The music line up is headed by Europe’s biggest Madness tribute, One Step Behind. As seen on BBC Proms in the Park and the Ant & Dec Show, the band has been nominated for this year’s EAA National tribute Music Awards. Formed in 1993 the boys have won the seal of approval from the original Nutty Boys and have been joined on stage by Madness drummer Woody who told them: “You’ve got it to a tee!” while Madness sax supremo Lee Thompson described them as: “Tight as a duck’s arse!”
Also on the bill are Queen tribute Rhapsody, Bob Marley tribute Legend and the high rated Ed Sheeran Experience starring Jack Shepherd who performs songs from all Ed’s albums complete with beatboxing and a custom-made loop station just like Ed’s trademark Chewie Monsta Looper.
The supporting bill of local acts features guaranteed party starters like the Mother Ukers, whose ukulele versions of classic rock and pop hits never fail to stir a crowd into action; and the irrepressible Si Genaro, two times auditionee for The Voice and impossible to ignore.
Other popular acts include Jimmy Pithe, The Dolmen, Skimmity Hitchers and singer songwriter Gaz Brookfield, while the perennially chilled Afro*Disiac sound system will keep the mood mellow.
“The Seven Seas Festival has the best sounds around with music and food in each of the seven microsites, as well as on the main stage – it’s going to be impossible to sit still,” says festival director Ben Dyas.
The festival site is already open with the 35-metre high Poole Harbour BIG Wheel offering rides seven days a week alongside the outside bar The HarBar, a converted shipping container, in Harbourside Park.
The festival’s seven microsites – North Pacific, Indian Ocean, South Atlantic, North Atlantic/Caribbean, North Atlantic/Europe and Arctic – are based on the seven seas with the food, drink and culture of that region. Also in the Arctic region visitors will find the Ickle Eskimos kids’ zone and Simon Chainey’s circus skills workshops.
Other highlights include the main bar stocked with more than 30 regional ales and ciders, and an invitation from the remarkable Circo Rum Ba Ba to squeeze into its life-size, 18-metre inflatable sperm whale! Inside you’ll find children’s stories to buckle their swashes or a range of curiosities including mermaids’ purses and an arm wrestling octopus.
Poole Maritime Festival is a week-long event that includes European Maritime Day, a two-day conference, as well as a programme of events enabling local businesses from Poole’s thriving maritime and marine sector to be involved. It runs from 15 to 21 May with some 48,000 visitors expected. www.poolemaritimefestival.co.
