Join us and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for pop-up storytelling performances, enjoy ‘home-grown’ musical entertainment from the London Vegetable Orchestra and make instruments out of peppers, potatoes and butternut squash!
Dance to a different tune at our free classical silent disco – a guided movement class, led by Nicky from Groove. Enjoy dancing to classical versions of popular music, embrace the freedom of movement and let life’s burdens melt away on our terrace dance floor. Get crafty with our musical themed makes and visit our ‘Instrument Surgery’ for advice about pre-loved musical instruments. The day ends with ‘Bexhill’s BIG singalong’! Bring your friends and family along and sing ABBA’s Dancing Queen together live with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. One song and one huge community choir!
There’ll also be plenty of food and drink to enjoy throughout the day, including a pizza truck, ice cream, and a selection of refreshing drinks from our trailer bar.
TIMINGS
Junk Jam | 10am – 3.30pm
A playful freestyle workshop where children will be invited to create fun sound-making objects using recycled and found materials. Through building, experimenting, and making noise together, participants will explore rhythm, texture, and creative play using everyday objects in unexpected ways.
Drop in – No need to book
LEARN MORE HERE
Musical Instrument Surgery | 10am – 3.30pm
Visit the experts from Replay Music Stores for advice on your musical instrument. Find out if it can be repaired, or tuned. Free instrument re-string and tune, strings not supplied, bring your own, or buy them on the stand.
Guitar Building | 10am – 3.30pm
See a hand-built guitar taking shape, as Duncan works on his latest creation in the DC Guitars Pavilion range.
The range has been designed with a stylistic nod to the elegant proportions of the classic parlor acoustic guitar. These electric instruments offer the body depth and tonal flexibility of a modern custom shop electric guitar – making them both familiar but innovative. Come and chat to Duncan about all matters guitar related!
Orchestral Silent Disco (Guided) | 10am & 2.45pm
2 x 30 minute sessions
FREE!
Join Nicky and dance together, to a special playlist of classical music, using headsets. Move to soul and disco music recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. It is a feel-good, uplifting and super fun session. Come along to embracing the freedom of movement and let life’s burdens melt away on the terrace dance floor.
10am – meet on the terrace – Book Here
2.45pm – meet by the statue on the grass – Book Here
Musical Workshops from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra | 10.30am & 11.15am & 12pm
Join the RPO musicians for interactive workshops where you’ll get to hear live music, find out more about instruments, and be creative.
30min sessions
No need to book
Make A Vegetable Instrument | From 12.15pm
Make your own instrument out of a vegetable, with Local Greengrocer Carrols and The London Vegetable Orchestra.
No need to book
The London Vegetable Orchestra | 11.45am & 1.30pm
The London Vegetable orchestra features a mouthwatering brass section of courgettes, squashes, peppers and cassava roots, a soaring wind line-up of carrot recorders, and a banging percussion team which includes freshly carved pumpkins.
12 x 15 min performances
No need to book
Rother Recorder Consort | 12.45pm
Rother Recorder Consort will perform a joyful mix of music, from medieval tunes and folk songs to upbeat jazz and musicals.
20 min performance
No need to book
Fancy joining this fun and friendly, non-audition recorder group? Contact bexhillcommunitymusic@gmail.com for more information.
Hastings Area Youth String Orchestra | 1.10pm
Young musicians to perform a lively mix of traditional and modern orchestral music.
20 min performance
No need to book
Bexhill’s Big Singalong | 3.30pm
Bring your friends and family along and sing ABBA’s Dancing Queen together live with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, to celebrate 50 years since its release. One song and one huge community choir!
3.30pm –Warm-up with vocal coach Nathalie Roberts
3.45pm – The Big Singalong
LEARN MORE HERE
Oui Creperie | 10am – 3.30pm
Let them eat Crepes! Served out of a 1970s classic French van, authentic Breton crepes and galettes in a wide range of sweet and savoury options – a real hit young and old! Enjoy the theatre and aromas of freshly prepared food made to order in front of your eyes.
We cater for all dietary requirements – Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten free
Da Romeo | 10am – 3.30pm
Authentic Italian Pizza on Wheels! Lightning-fast wood-fired pizzas, authentic sourdough, and all your favourite toppings ready to go.
Fresh dough proofed to perfection
Vegan options available
EVENT INFORMATION
10am to 4pm on the De La Warr Pavilion Terrace.
Free for all ages.
Made possible with support from John Thaw Foundation, Hastings Youth Trust, our Big Give Arts for Impact donors and event sponsors Galloways Accounting and Carrolls Greengrocers.
WHAT IS BEXHILL’S BIG SUMMER SOUNDS?
Orchestral music comes to our town, Bexhill-On-Sea! This summer, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra have chosen to spend their season at the De La Warr Pavilion for Bexhill’s Big Summer Sounds – a very special festival of live music by the sea, running from 27 June to 4 July.
The programme features three major concerts, including two large-scale outdoor performances on the Pavilion lawns: Symphonic Groove: The Ultimate Soul & Disco Party by the Sea (27 June) and ABBAphonic: Celebrating the Music of ABBA (4 July). There is also a spectacular indoor concert on 2 July, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra performing works by Tchaikovsky, Sibelius and Dvořák in our iconic auditorium.
The festival also includes Mega Music Saturday on 4 July, a free, all-day celebration of orchestral music for everyone, featuring pop-up performances, musical workshops, and fun activities taking place throughout the day leading up to the ticketed ABBAphonic concert.
Join us for this unforgettable celebration of music, sunshine, and summer by the sea.
Dancing Queen
You can dance, You can jive
Having the time of your life
Ooh, see that girl, Watch that scene
Digging the dancing queen
Friday night and the lights are low
Looking out for a place to go
Where they play the right music
Getting in the swing You come to look for a king
Anybody could be that guy
Night is young and the music’s high
With a bit of rock music, Everything is fine
You’re in the mood for a dance And when you get the chance
You are the dancing queen, Young and sweet, Only seventeen Dancing queen, Feel the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah
You can dance, You can jive Having the time of your life
Ooh, see that girl, Watch that scene
Digging the dancing queen
You’re a teaser, you turn ’em on
Leave ’em burning and then you’re gone
Looking out for another
Anyone will do
You’re in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance
You are the dancing queen, Young and sweet, Only seventeen Dancing queen, Feel the beat from the tambourine, oh yeah
You can dance, You can jive
Having the time of your life
Ooh, see that girl, Watch that scene
Digging the dancing queen Digging the dancing queen Digging the dancing queen