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Brunswick Festival 2024

This year the Festival celebrates its 42nd  anniversary.

Brunswick Festival takes place on Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th August 2024 and runs from Midday to 8pm each day.

Brunswick Festival Band and Entertainment Line Up:

We have some great bands and other musical acts lined up for you!

Saturday 17th August

What better way to close the day on Saturday than with the best of DJs – the one and only B’more McVowty and his World Music Express.

Sunday 18th August

For more information, to book a stall or volunteer, please contact us:

Stall Bookings : HERE

Volunteer : HERE

Email: brunswickfestival@hotmail.com

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Brunswickfestival?fref=ts

Best wishes

Veronica

Veronica Stephens

Festival Director 

Mobile: 07956356407

Brunswick Festival 2023

Brunswick Festival takes place on …

Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th August 2023 and runs from Midday to 8pm each day.

Brunswick Festival Band and Entertainment Line Up:

We have some great bands and other musical acts lined up for you!

Saturday 19th August:

12noon Brighton School of Singing
12.30pm Ququele
1.10pm Kolo (Ukrainian choir)
2pm NuSoul Union
3pm The Cracklin’ Griffins
4pm Vibe 5
5pm The Jackals
6pm to be announced…

7pm DJ Bmore McVowty

 Sunday 20th August

12.30pm Ukrainian Choir
1.15pm Planet Silk
2pm Shark City Mayors
3pm Little Victor & His Combo
4pm Children’s parade with Maracatu
5pm The Fish Brothers
6pm The Bikini Beach Band
7pm DJ Bmore McVowty’s World Music Express

For more information, to book a stall or volunteer, please contact us: 

Stall Bookings : HERE

Volunteer : HERE

Email: brunswickfestival@hotmail.com 

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Brunswickfestival?fref=ts

Best wishes

Veronica

Veronica Stephens

Festival Director 

Mobile: 07956356407  

Brunswick Festival 2022

Brunswick Festival 2022

Brunswick Festival Band and Entertainment Line Up:

Saturday

1pm Cascade Recovery Choir
2pm Brighton School of Singing
3pm The Jakals
4pm Vibe 5
5pm The Cracklin Griffins
6pm Chubby Latouch
7pm Dj Bmore McVowty

Sunday

12.30pm Ukranian Choir and Duo Nastya and Ivan
1pm Wiggle In The Woods (Dance)
2pm New Soul Union
3pm Dolly Doom and the Toocan Shuffle
4pm Children’s parade with Maracatu samba
5.15pm The Long Tall Texans
6.30pm DJ Bmore McVowty 

For more information, to book a stall or volunteer, please contact us: 

Email: brunswickfestival@hotmail.com 

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Brunswickfestival?fref=ts

Best wishes

Veronica

Veronica Stephens

Festival Director 

Mobile: 07956356407  

Bands 2022

Brunswick Festival Band and Entertainment Line Up:

Saturday

1pm Cascade Recovery Choir
2pm Brighton School of Singing
3pm The Jakals
4pm Vibe 5
5pm The Cracklin Griffins
6pm Chubby Latouch
7pm Dj Bmore McVowty

Sunday

12.30pm Ukranian Choir and Duo Nastya and Ivan
1pm Wiggle In The Woods (Dance)
2pm New Soul Union
3pm Dolly Doom and the Toocan Shuffle
4pm Children’s parade with Maracatu samba
5.15pm The Long Tall Texans
6.30pm DJ Bmore McVowty

Brunswick Festival 2019

The Brunswick Festival is organised by a group of volunteers  and local residents living in Brunswick Town, Hove. Every August, the festival presents a programme of free and fun activities for local people, their families and friends.

This year’s dates are :
11th August 2019 – Rural Day at St Ann’s Well Garden featuring Scruffs dog show and Saturday 17th and Sunday 18th August 2019 – Brunswick Festival in the square featuring live music and fun.  

 

Brunswick Festival started in 1981, with a small community picnic and some music on a sunny August day in Brunswick Square. This vibrant community festival has grown over the years and now encompasses two whole weekends of outdoor events. The festival presents a quality programme of entertainment and social activities, balancing professional performances with community acts to keep the flavour local and to celebrate the diverse community of Brunswick Town.

Brunswick Festival is one of the longest running festivals in the city of Brighton and Hove. This year the festival celebrates its 38th year, and we’re planning to celebrate in style! All are welcome to join in and we’d love to see some old faces as well as new.
See you there!

 

A real coup for us this year is an appearance by artist ‘Cassette Lord’ who will be creating a piece of artwork live at the event – which will then be auctioned as a fundraiser at the end of the festival.

CONTACT:

Brunswick Community Festival Group

37b Brunswick Place , Hove, BN3 1ND

Tel: 01273 204404

Email: brunswickfestival@hotmail.com

POLITE NOTICE – whilst we love dogs, we have been asked by the Friends of Brunswick Square & Terrace to support them in their endeavour to keep Brunswick Square a DOG FREE ZONE. There is a Local Council bye-law which prohibits dogs in the Square, and local residents are keen to ensure the Square remains a safe and dog poo free place for people to enjoy and particularly for young children to play freely. Please help us to support this initiative and keep the residents and council happy by not bringing your dogs to the Festival.

If you do have a dog, and want to join us for some canine capers, then come along to Rural Day and Scruffs Dog Show on 13th August in St Ann’s Well Gardens. All hounds are welcome at this event!

 

The SkaVengers: Brunswick Festival August 2017 – Image © Wanphrang K Diengdoh at Red Dur

 

Festival 2020 & 2021 Cancelled

Brunswick Festival 2020 & 2021 Cancelled

Sharing the news that the Brunswick Festivals of 2020 and 2021, due to take place in August of those yeas, were cancelled amid public health concerns about mass gatherings and the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Established in 1981, Brunswick Festival is one of the longest running festivals in Brighton & Hove. This is very disappointing news for a festival that has been entertaining the local community for 38 consecutive years, but organisers believe that this is the right and responsible thing to do.

On a positive note, 2021 will mark the 40th anniversary of the festival. Organisers are already planning a fabulous festival weekend in August 2021 that will bring people back together post pandemic for a brilliant celebration of the amazing and diverse community we live in. In autumn this year we will begin gathering local people’s stories and memories and mapping out highlights and achievements of Brunswick Festival over the past 4 decades.  The stories, photos  and information gathered will form part of a 40th Anniversary archive.

Veronica Stephens, Festival Director,  comments: “We rely on an incredible team of volunteers and artists who bring the Festival to life each year. Next year we will be celebrating our 40th anniversary and plans are already afoot to bring the festival back and throw a party to remember! We know these times are hugely testing for everybody, but we believe we can emerge from this pandemic more resilient and connected than ever before.”

Brunswick Festival 2019 – A Movie

Brunswick Festival 2019

The 17th and 18th August 2019 the Brunswick Festival in the square celebrated its 38th birthday with music dance food and a lot more.
Organised by a group of volunteers and local residents living in Brunswick , the festival brings every August a programme of free and fun activities for all
Special guest this year was artist ‘Cassette Lord’ who created a piece of artwork live at the event – auctioned as a fundraiser at the end of the festival.
I spoke with the event coordinator and the artist “Cassettelord”

William Ranieri reports

Posted by Latest TV on Monday, August 19, 2019

Festival Music ’19

Saturday 17th August

12pm -Cascade choir
1 pm – TBC
2 pm – Cracklin’ Griffins – folk 5 piece
3 pm – One Flight Up – Jazz / Funk
4 pm – Dolly Doom – ska
5 pm – Tragic Roundabout – Klezmer / ska
6 pm – Fish Brothers – Punky/Folk
7 pm – Blocs – Ian Dury Tribute

8 pm END

Sunday 18th August

12pm -Brighton school of singing – youth showcase
1 pm – 13 Pearls – youth showcase
2 pm – New Soul Union – Soul
3 pm – John Lewis – Country blues
4 pm – children’s parade – Maracatu Samba
5 pm – Polito Boogaloo – Latin/ Afro Columbian
6 pm – Carlos and the Bandidos – Rock n Roll with Mexican Twist
7 pm – DJ Bmore Mc Vowty – world Music

8 pm END

LATEST MUSIC INFO HERE

Scruffs ’18


Video by Dora Nightingale

Dazzle Diamond and Vlad’s puppet shows kept us entertained on a gentle, drizzly summer day.
Here’s the best in show, Ruby….

and Mercy, winner of the “waggiest tail” category.

Sponsors, Funding and Thanks

Festival Supporters:

A big thank you to the many organisations and individuals who regularly support the festival in so many ways!

Brighton & Hove City Council
Friends of Brunswick Square and Terrace
Friends of St. Ann’s Well Gardens
BHCC Animal Welfare Team
BIMM
First Base

An extra big thank you to our fantastic team of volunteers! You know who you are! The festival would not happen without you!!!


VOLUNTEERS – WE NEED YOUR HELP!

To find out more about how to volunteer with the festival, please follow this link:

VOLUNTEER


Festival Funders 2019:

Thanks again and again to PRIndustrial tools of Hove for supplying the Generators for the Bar…..and Stage…. once again this year!


Festival Funders 2018:
A Big thanks to Julie at Punctured for sponsoring the bar this year….

A HUGE THANK YOU to these guys yet again for sponsoring and powering our main stage! Much appreciated!!!

Sponsors of Scruff’s Dog Show 2018 – Brices Estate Agents

brices


Festival Funders 2017: A Massive THANK YOU to these guys for sponsoring and powering our main stage! Much appreciated!!!

And  Punctured yet again. Thank you!

And  ‘Healthy Eating Around the World’

We are delighted to announce that Brunswick Festival has once again received a grant of £850 from Brighton and Hove Food Partnership as part of the ‘The City that Cooks and Eats Together’ scheme to help promote healthy eating and encourage awareness around food waste. Our project has partnered with Justlife, offering opportunities for vulnerable or isolated people who might not normally have the chance to enjoy cook or enjoy a sit down meal in a social situation, to do just that. Each cookery session will focus on a recipe from a particular country or culture. People will learn about the different ingredients used, food traditions, culinary customs and dining etiquette of different parts of the world or different cultures. If you’d be interested in joining us as a ‘guest chef’ and sharing your favourite recipes, then please get in touch.

Sponsors of Scruff’s Dog Show 2017 – Brices Estate Agents

brices

and for sponsoring the category “Waggiest Tail” at Scruffs a big thanks to :


Festival Funders 2016:

‘Healthy Eating Around the World’

We are delighted to announce that we have received a grant of £850 from Brighton and Hove Food Partnership as part of the ‘The City that Cooks and Eats Together’ scheme to help promote healthy eating and encourage awareness around food waste.
Our outreach project has partnered with Justlife and First Base, offering opportunities for members of the homeless community and other marginalised people who might not normally have the chance to enjoy cook or enjoy a sit down meal in a social situation, to do just that.
Each cookery session will focus on a recipe from a particular country or culture. People will learn about the different ingredients used, food traditions, culinary customs and dining etiquette of different parts of the world or different cultures.
If you’d be interested in joining us as a ‘guest chef’ and sharing your favourite recipes, then please get in touch.

BHFP logo Signature

Festival Sponsors 2016:

Are you a local business? Would you like to sponsor Brunswick Festival this year?

We are happy to tailor sponsorship packages to suit your individual business requirements, interests and budgets. Packages start from £100 upwards.

Download a sponsorship pack HERE

A BIG Thank you to Baron Estates for taking our a ‘Platinum’ Sponsorship package!!! Look out for the Baron Estates team in the children’s area this year, they’ll be painting faces for free.

baron

And a BIG thank you too, to our first ‘Silver Sponsor’ – Punktured !

logo punktured

Grants :

‘Brunswick Community Safety’ Project – Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner’s Community Safety Grant

We are delighted to announce that Brunswick Festival has received a grant of £5000 from the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner’s Community Safety Fund which offers financial support to local organisations and projects that aim to reduce crime and improve community safety.

The project will work together with local organisations such as First Base and Justlife to engage members of Brighton’s homeless community, ex offenders and other marginalised groups in a range of creative learning and social activities (arts, crafts, music, gardening), vocational training (first aid, food safety, steward training) and opportunities for volunteering at Brunswick Festival events. The project will help develop transferable skills, improving opportunities for work and future life chances. Through working together with different people from diverse backgrounds and situations the project seeks to improve community cohesion and safety.

Sussex Police & Crime Commissioner, Katy Bourne, said:

“Brunswick Festival is a fantastic community event so I am delighted to be able to provide support through my Safer in Sussex Fund. This outreach project works with many marginalised groups including homeless people, refugees and ex-offenders to develop their skills and reduce anti-social behaviour.
“Brunswick Festival offers a range of vocational training activities, practical skills development, such as food hygiene, first aid and steward training courses as well as creative learning workshops in subjects ranging from photography to cookery.
These activities help their clients develop a variety of transferable skills, both personally and in employment, through hands-on experience of working and volunteering in a community and event environment.
This all culminates in a fun filled family programme that features all kinds of fun-filled entertainment from dance to puppetry as well as food. My community safety fund supports a wide range of projects that help achieve the objectives in our Police & Crime Plan.”

sussexpolice

Brighton & Hove City Council – Community Festival Grant

We are delighted to announce that Brunswick Festival has received a £1500 Community Festival grant from Brighton and Hove City Council towards staging the events

Brighton and Hove City Council grant panel said:

“Brunswick Community Festival is one of the City’s highest profile neighbourhood celebrations and the Festival group works with a wide range of third sector partners to ensure continuing high quality”

BHCC_logo_blk_web

Festival Sponsors 2015:

A big thank you to our festival sponsors for 2015!

Justin Lloyd (Gold package festival sponsors)

JustinLloydLogoReverseRGB1

Brices (Rural Day & Scruffs Dog Show winners’ trophy sponsor)

brices


Stop Press and a big Thank you!!

Brunswick Festival has just received a Community Festival grant of £1500 from Brighton and Hove City Council.
BHCC_logo_blk_web

Festival Supporters:

A big thank you to all the many organisations and individuals who support the festival in so many ways!

Brighton & Hove City Council
Friends of Brunswick Square and Terrace
First Base
BIMM
St. Ann’s Well Gardens
The Farm Tavern
BHCC Animal Welfare

An extra big thank you to our fantastic team of volunteers! You know who you are!

Latest funding news:

Brunswick Community Festival Group is delighted to announce that it has just been awarded £5000 by the Sussex Community Foundation to deliver another programme of educational activity working with the homeless community from First Base. The project will work towards a winter event to highlight issues facing homeless people during the winter months as temperatures drop to below zero.

sussexcomm

Previous grants:

European Social Fund – Learning & Skills Council

Big Lottery, Awards for All

Festival Music ’18

The Bikini Beach Band will be making an appearance this year, creating their fun surf noir sound, whilst wearing a sartorial Fez or four.

SATURDAY

Final lineup and running order…….

Cascade Creative Recovery Choir 12.00 – 12.30 pm

Dryadic – Captivating and luscious folk music  1.00 – 1.45 pm.

Catfish Kings – Rock n’ Roll from the Catfish Kings  2.00 – 2.45pm.

Tragic Roundabout – 3.00 – 3.45pm

Little Victor – Great Blues Trio with Little Victor – 4.00 – 4.45pm
Multiple Award-winning Little Victor a.k.a “The Beale Street Blues Bopper” (Louisiana Red, RL Burnside, Tav Falco’s Panther Burns…) will be playing a special show at Brunswick Festival in Brunswick Square on Saturday August 18 from 4pm to 4.45pm to celebrate the release of his new album DELUXE LO-FI teaming up with legendary Daniel Jeanrenaud (Kingsnakes, Chuck Berry, Flamin’ Groovies…) and the great Jason Reay for a set of old-school rockin’ blues and boogie…don’t miss it!

The Dials – A great local band – catch the Dials between  5.00 – 5.45pm

The Blox – Looking forward to seeing the Blox between 6.00 – 7.00pm

DJ Bmore McVowty and his World Music Express closing Saturday between 7.00 – 8.00pm

SUNDAY

Brighton School of Singing 12.00 – 12.30

Madelyn Soul Band  12.45 – 1.30pm

The Cracklin Griffins 2.30 – 3.00pm

One Flight Up – One Flight Up puts out a supercharged cocktail of social conscience soul, mixed with 60’s funky jazz , infused with the essence of the blues. Brighton/London based, Vikki Parker out front on vocals, James Farebrother keys, Steve Early sax, Nick Marchant bass, Phil McDonald drums between 3.30 – 4.15pm

Brunswick Children’s Parade with Maracatu – 4.15 – 4.45pm

Bikini Beach Band – Back by popular demand…the Kings of Surf Noir! Don’t miss them – Sunday 19th August between  5.00 – 5.45pm

Son Pikkante – catch them on Sunday 19th at 6pm – playing irresistible blend of Afro-Colombian roots music – with a little bit of Haitian Voodoo thrown in for good measure….
between 6.00 – 6-45pm

DJ Bmore McVowty and his World Music Express closing the festival between 7.00 – 8.00pm

Festival Images ’17

Image above courtesy & copyright of:  Wanphrang Diengdoh

All images : ©raystoimages

And…. here are a few more interesting images taken by Amanda.

Many more fantastic images of the weekend can be found HERE in the facebook gallery.

Scruffs ’17

Here are a few images taken earlier, on what was yet another fun and sun filled day at Scruff’s dog show in St Ann’s Well Gardens, on the first weekend of the Brunswick Festival. Keep checking back for more images and the results.
Thank you all… you’re wonderful!

Best in show, Yogi


Dog most like it’s owner


Pets as therapy

The show begins

Contestants

Here’s Daisy dozing in the Sun wearing the most elegant “cone” we’ve ever seen

A Polite Notice

Whilst we love dogs, we have been asked by the Friends of Brunswick Square & Terrace to support them in their endeavour to keep Brunswick Square a DOG FREE ZONE. There is a Local Council bye-law which prohibits dogs in the Square, and local residents are keen to ensure the Square remains a safe and dog poo free place for people to enjoy and particularly for young children to play freely. Please help us to support this initiative and keep the residents and council happy by not bringing your dogs to the Festival.

If you do have a dog, and want to join us for some canine capers, then come along to Rural Day and Scruffs Dog Show on 13th August in St Ann’s Well Gardens. All hounds are welcome at this event!

Festival Music ’17

We’ve got some great bands booked for you again this year and HERE’S the full lineup. Headlining on Saturday and back by popular demand we have The Ska Vengers who will be stopping by Brunswick Square on their European Tour! Here’s an image from last years Ska Vengers Sunday set.

skavengers

THE BRILLIANT CRACKLIN’ GRIFFINS – first band of the festival 1pm Saturday.

Some great emerging talent from the young voices of Brighton School of Singing! Catch them as part of the youth showcase on Sunday 20th 12noon.
Brighton School of Singing

brightonschoolsinging

New to the festival stage, Loop The Moon…….. Check them out HERE
Welcome!!! 2pm on Sunday.

Long time festival favourites, Tragic Roundabout will be performing on Sunday at 5pm

And a dancin’ Sunday session from Pollito Boogaloo…featuring fabulous Latin rhythms with a special Cumbia twist….nice!!!!!

politoboogaloo

Another splendid band confirmed for Sunday – Stevie Watts’ Massive Organ Trio – Gritty Hammond Grooves with 60’s soul jazz/mod jazz, funk and blues flavours.
Have a listen!

steviewatts

By popular demand! The most brilliant DJ Bmore Smiley Mcvowty will be back to close Brunswick Festival on Sunday 20th – Come jump aboard the World Music Express!

Looking forward to hearing the Cheer Up Molly’s play on Saturday at 2pm- a five piece folk and Americana band based in Sussex. Vocal harmonies are accompanied by guitar, ukulele, mandolin and bass.

And The Dials – Rained off last year, but we’re delighted they’re back on the bill for this year’s festival!! Catch them Saturday afternoon. Another great band…
listen up!

thedials

And still more; Lost Organ Unit with hard hitting ‘rare groove’, blending soul, jazz grit, boogaloo rhythms and straight-ahead cool on Saturday 19th August

lostorgan

Also, expect some good rockin’ rhythm ‘n’ blues from the Leanne Rose Band on Saturday afternoon!