It has been announced that there is to be a brand-new day-long music festival coming to the coastal industrial landscape of The Sidings, Newhaven (Part of the Towner BN9 programme). This is aptly titled ‘Port Of Cool’ as it’s close to Newhaven Port plus in the shadow of the famous swing-bridge, and it will be happening on Saturday 25th July from 1:00pm to 11:00pm.
Brighton’s beloved Family Store are collaborating with Look Again to create a one-day music festival, the first of its kind in the town.
This will feature the very best in alternative, underground and left-field live music, DJs, local food, ABYSS craft beer, independent traders and perhaps a little bit of ritual for the day.
Let’s Meet The Artists:
MEMORIALS
Their latest album ‘All Clouds Bring Not Rain’ dropped back in March and it immediately draws you in. With a sound that carries a multitude of genres from Psyche, avant-pop, Folk, Free-Jazz and much more it’s a bit like Nico fronting Can but also something completely its own.
PADDY STEER
Hacked and homemade instruments, offer up cosmic drum-led space funk. A stage outfit to die for and an unforgettable performance that you’ll remember for a long time. He’s a legend and a delight. You’d be daft to miss it!
THE BABY SEALS
Garage-punk trio of lasses playing heavy, fuzz-laden noise with melodies, harmony and humour. Poking fun at the patriarchy, getting older and maybe wise and shopping in Aldi.
NICK GRANATA
Nick is a member of Shovel Dance Collective: an act at the forefront of the UK’s alt-folk revival scene. Nick will be performing tracks from the new ‘My Heart is Running Backwards! A Martial Artist! With a Closed Fist! Woof!’ album (out July 24th). A deeply fun listen that tackles deeply personal subjects at the same time. A disarmingly charming listen and watch.
M.WOODROE
M.Woodroe brings their grunge- and angle-punk-inspired voice (à la The Julie Ruin, Babes in Toyland, Bull in the Heather-era Sonic Youth) to the first-ever Port of Cool.
With their debut EP out via Venn Records later in the year and new single ‘Sweetness, Sweetness’ dropping soon, this is a great chance to see a solid Brighton band on the rise.
MINOR DENTS
After dropping their already sold-out EP ‘Sitting With The Fish’ earlier in the year, many folk were enamoured with Minor Dents’ sound. Mixing motorik beats with vocals, drums, keys, cornets and more, it’s a sound that will set you right as you progress through the day at the Port Of Cool.
CHARLIE KEEN’S SILVER BIRCH
Having performed with the likes of KEG, Caroline (the band) and Squid, Charlie has quietly been forming the musical project of Shruti box, Ambient Jazz and folk stylings, a trombone and more into a wonderful sound that we’re excited to bring to the day’s line-up.
CRAB
Backed by a very much in check drum and bass pairing that keeps things under control and fronted by a budget mix of Captain Beefheart / Alan Vega and a fired art-school teacher that will attempt to play any instrument put in front of them, meet Crab. Having supported the likes of Lydia Lunch and Henge, they’ll be bringing their brand of Acid/Psyche punk and songs about dinosaurs and Richard E Grant to the Port Of Cool stage.
NUCLEAR WHALE
Ensconced amongst an array of wires, machines and technology you’ll be taken on a journey of improvised modular based collage. Mixing drone, glitchy beats, spoken word and sample based imagery to create a woozy and delirious tapestry. Nuclear Whale has been part of the Brighton electronic and experimental scene for well over a decade. Touch the black monolith, smash the tapir.
IAN PARTON (The Go! Team)
Ian is the founder of iconic Brighton band The Go! Team. Expect a selection of psyche, soul, weird world music to throw some shapes too. Very exciting!
INNERSTRINGS
If you’ve been to a Psyche show or similar in Brighton, Lewes and beyond in the past 10 years and there have been some wild visuals to take you on the journey: it’s likely Innerstrings were involved. Working with live feed projections, digital glitch and more, they’re a mainstay of the scene. Aka Chris Tomsett, Iinnerstrings is also a dab hand at merging all those musical influences into a similarly psychedelic musical journey.
Tickets:
Tickets are on sale now and there are 3 options:
£20 for BN9 Residents
£25 Early Bird
£30 Full Price
Find yours HERE.
How To Get There:
The Sidings is located 200 meters from Newhaven Town railway station and bus stops for the 12 and 12a buses from Brighton & Eastbourne. (Please note, the 12x and 13x stop at Newhaven town centre only and not at the station).
There is free but limited parking in front of The Sidings, with more available just a short walk across the bridge at Dacre Road and West Quay car parks.
www.instagram.com/port_of_cool
