Scarborough Coastival countdown

More than 100 events, concerts, performances and attractions – the majority of them free – will be staged in and around Scarborough across the three days.

To begin with, Ireland-based Spraoi, who stage street theatre and parades, will present Polar Quest tomorrow evening.

It leaves West Pier at 5pm and crowds along the seafront will see Spraoi recreate the epic Endurance expedition to the South Pole, led by Ernest Shackleton.

It will be a spectacular parade, featuring giant ships and sea creatures.

Rock band Cast will headline the music offering with a concert at the Spa Grand Hall tomorrow at 8pm. They will be supported by Two Skies.

Saxophonist Snake Davis, supported by Jazz Aesthetic, will play at the Spa on Saturday at 12.30pm.

Asian Dub Foundation, supported by Project 12, headline at the Spa on Saturday at 8pm.

A Band Anyone Can Join will see Hope and Social, a band from Leeds, bring together local musicians for a unique concert at the Spa Grand Hall on Sunday from 2.30pm.

Other music offerings will see The Den open its doors at Farrer’s Bar at the Spa during all three days of Coastival. The Den runs tomorrow from 6pm to 8pm, Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 8pm.

For a mix of live music, DJs and VJs, The Engine Room will be set up in the Spa Sun Court Suite during Coastival weekend.

It will run on tomorrow, 8pm to 2am; Saturday, 8pm to 2.30am and Sunday noon to midnight.

The Den and The Engine Room are all free.

There’s also a wide-ranging programme of other music, from folk to choral and classical, during the weekend.

Four new art commissions will bring additions to Coastival this year.

Wet Sounds Scarborough will see the audience dive into Scarborough Indoor Swimming Pool to enjoy music, sounds and images, under and above the surface, during two sessions on Sunday at 5.45pm and 7.15pm.

The Prison Project will transform the disused prison off Dean Road in Scarborough, into Scarborough’s own Tate Modern, showcasing art work inspired by the prison environment.

A Light to Guide will be a lit story trail through the Spa gardens and South Cliff.

The Many Faces of Scarborough is an art installation, with three huge translucent heads giving participants the chance to see their own face animated, fully lip-synced, telling stories, recounting legends, and singing short songs about life in Scarborough. Event times are 7pm to 10pm on Saturday and 7pm to 9pm on Sunday.

In terms of performance and theatre, highlights will includeAnimated Objects Theatre Company staging the Song of Leviathan, featuring a host of giant puppets, live music and a beach procession during the weekend, focusing on the story of the great mechanical whale Leviathan.

There’s a full line-up of films at the town’s Stephen Joseph Theatre – including Amy, 15, the story of singer Amy Winehouse.

Scarborough’s art galleries and other venues are gearing up for artists working with paint, glass, textiles, paper, print and poetry to exhibit. Aside from the traditional galleries, work will also be on display in local churches, hotels, cafes and even in the Old Parcels Office at Scarborough Railway Station.

Rollercoastival will see two full days of creative activities for children. For the first time, Coastival even has its own beer this year. Award-winning Hunmanby-based Wold Top has brewed up Coastivale, which is on sale in local pubs.

Coastival’s organiser is Scarborough-based arts development agency Create. Director Wendy Holroyd said: “We are delighted with the programme we have put together for Coastival 
2016.

“In terms of diversity and the sheer range of different music, events, installations and exhibitions we will have on offer it is certainly the best event we have done.It promises to be really special, particularly in terms of audiences being able to see and join in with things they will never have experienced before. We can’t wait for it to start.”

Tickets for all the concerts are on sale now via the Spa box office.