Festival Coast Live! What’s happening this week!

Live events and performances across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 

There is a packed schedule of family fun and free events planned this week at Festival Coast Live!  

The much-anticipated Big Screen takes up residence in the Lower Gardens, and with the FCL! stages now in Horseshoe Common, The Triangle in Bournemouth, Ashley Cross and Poole Quay we are set to host fantastic cultural experiences, performances and celebrations. 

Displaying the best of the local Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area, artist, musician, and creator R•MCL, combines live music with cinematic camera and breathtaking drone shots. Run by non-profit arts project OCOL (One City One Light) these unique performances are taking place in locations across the BCP area and will be at Horseshoe Common on Thursday evening. It will be available for online viewers via the FCL! FB page. 

"Music often speaks louder than words..." explains artist R•MCL "...and over lockdown, we've discovered that by using live music as a soundscape, we can show off a location to people watching online.”  

The Big Screen comes alive in the Bournemouth Lower Gardens this week, and over the next few weeks will move to Ashley Cross and Poole Park with a programme of family favourites, children’s and vintage classic movies.  
 
Councillor Beverley Dunlop, Lead Member for FCL! Said; “I’m delighted to have the screen in the Lower Gardens this week.  Al fresco cinema experiences are fantastic, and we’ve got a great line up of children’s and family movies for the summer. Bring a picnic and all the family and settle down to watch ‘Finding Dory’ on Thursday afternoon or perhaps ‘Mary Poppins Returns’ on Friday evening? If you are looking for a unique park setting to enjoy one of the great classics what could be better than watching Casablanca on Sunday evening - just don't forget the popcorn!” 

There is entertainment from different cultures too, starting on Friday in the Lower Gardens with reggae music in the Bandstand as part of the Jamaican Independence Day celebrations. And on Saturday the eagerly awaited “Africa Comes to Bournemouth 2021” will be at The Triangle bringing a showcase of African Caribbean activities ranging from drumming, dancing, Nigerian and Caribbean street food and even a fashion show. Nyema Kalfon, who participated in the 2019 series of The Voice, will be performing live and accomplished artist and drummer Kwame Bakoji-Hume will be delivering an African crafts-making workshop using recycling materials.  

Ebi Sosseh, founder of ‘Africa Comes To Bournemouth 2021’ said; “We are absolutely thrilled to be able to stage this colourful, vibrant and exciting event in Bournemouth – bringing our culture, food, music, dance and traditions to a variety of different people and communities, a chance for us all to see, hear and appreciate the world’s diversity - it’s a celebration not to be missed!”  
 
Over in Southbourne, Festival Coast Live! is supporting the return of the much-loved Shake & Stir Vintage Festival. Well-known locally for its incredible live performances from stars of the vintage world, this year is no exception, as Earl Jackson and Stompin Dave headline on Sunday evening at the Bandstand, Fisherman’s Walk. 

Festival Coast Live! brings together and promotes all that is best about events, festivals and outdoor performances taking place across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole over the summer months. 

For a full line up of the week’s entertainment and live performance details, including times and locations, visit festivalcoastlive.co.uk or follow the social media pages. Don’t forget to post and share your photos using #FCL! @festivalcoastlive and join the conversation.