Scarborough's Big Ideas Festival presents programme of music at St Mary’s Church
Aside from an expanding classical music programme in the sixth incarnation of Big Ideas By The Sea this year, the festival’s hub of St Mary’s Church in Castle Road hosts a broad range of other live music-based events scheduled within the two-week itinerary.
Events, in chronological order, are all staged at St Mary’s Church from 7.30pm onwards, except Soundwaves & Seascapes.
The main festival’s inaugural event is that of Mr. Walter’s Excursion with folk-duo The Blow-Ins (Bridget Cousins and Phil Bennett) with narrative by Tim Tubbs, being the premiere of a new musical presentation inspired by William Walter, organiser of the Bass Brewery outings to the seaside, including that of Scarborough, from the 1860’s to 1914 on Friday May 15.
A combined evening of poetry and music, hosted by Rowena Somerville features well-known Scarborough poets Charlotte Oliver and Felix Hodcroft with numbers from Hinterland and The Marigolds (Sunday, May 17).
The ever-popular all-female six-piece band Raven return to the festival once again with their repertoire of unique original numbers (Friday, May 22).
Cultural Connections, the Scarborough voluntary collective coordinated by Phil Briggs, which is based each month at the town’s Library, offers a diverse spectrum of international music and poetry in an open-mic-based evening. This event has free admission (Saturday, May 23).
Scarborough and Whitby’s folk musicians collaborate in A Folk Club Special evening that features The Blow-Ins, Anna Shannon, Lynda Hardcastle and Alan Rose, Rob van Sante and Janie Meneely (Monday May 25)
In contrast, the festival’s partnership with Filey Americana presents 12 Silk Handkerchiefs, a song-cycle written by acclaimed singer/songwriter Reg Meuross featuring also Brian W. Lavery (Tuesday May 26), and The Jake Leg Jug Band led by Duncan Wilcox with their fusion of jazz, blues, gospel and ragtime (Friday, May 29).
Soundwaves & Seascapes is an immersive walk through Scarborough seascapes with accompanying classical and contemporary music created and inspired by composers from the LGBTQ+ community, is presented by Big Queer Fringe on the afternoon of Saturday May 30 at the Holbeck Putting Green on the Esplanade from 2pm onwards.
The finale of the 2026 festival is the return once again of the popular Big Sing Community Choirs Night to St Mary’s Church on Saturday May 30 from 7.30pm which features six local choirs.
Manhattan Voices, A Capella, Coastal Voices, Global Voices/Garden Choir, The Funky Tuesday Choir, and the Fylingdales Folk Choir comprise a packed evening with a varied repertoire of choral-based performances.
Previously this event also held at the church, has proved to be a sell-out event in both 2024 and 2025.
The Big Ideas by The Sea Festival runs from Friday May 15 – Saturday May 30 across numerous venues and locations.
Tickets and further details are available at bigideasbythesea.com
Details of the Big Ideas programme are also listed in the Scarborough Fair Festival summer season brochure which is widely available.
Scarborough Streets Festival runs from Friday May 29 to Sunday May 31 in the town centre and Crescent Gardens from 11am-4pm each day.