The Four Horsemen of Rising Crime, Global Warming, AI and Culture Wars are galloping towards us. Are we on the road to hell? And can we avoid the potholes? In his brand new tour show 'Fair Cop' Alfie has the antidote to the breakdown of law and order, fake news and the price of baked beans. Somewhere in a parallel universe little Alfie’s natural comedic performance skills were recognised by his doting parents who encouraged and developed his blossoming talent. After several years as a stage school brat Alfie’s angelic face was launched on stage and screen and the rest is history. Meanwhile, in this universe Alfie Moore was told to stop messing about in class before being ‘encouraged’ into the grinding, grimy world of an apprenticeship in the Sheffield steelworks. When recession hit he traded steel for copper by joining Humberside Police. In his 40s the two universes collided when Alfie made a bid for showbiz success – but unfortunately 30 years of shift-work and being punched in the face quite a lot, had left him with ‘a face for radio’. A face not so much ‘lived in’ as inhabited by a settlement of squatters with little regard to property maintenance and repair.

BBC Radio 4 stalwart and veteran of a quarter century of highly acclaimed stand-up comedy Simon Evans has announced a huge UK tour of his new stand up show Staring at the Sun with over 50 dates from January - June 2026. Staring at the Sun sees Simon Evans (Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Simon Evans Goes to Market, One Person Found This Helpful) squinting at an uncertain future, revisiting the blue remembered hills of his youth and trying to stay human as the world around him gets smarter. With the AI singularity looming and “reality” feeling increasingly unstable, Evans looks ahead to the coming shockwaves of technology, and back to the analogue pleasures of hitch-hiking, pub bets, and getting properly lost. Turning his famously dry, surgically precise style on the big modern questions: Are we living in a computer simulation? What happens when your body starts issuing software updates you didn’t request? And is staring straight at a solar eclipse, against expert advice, actually an act of courageous self-sacrifice on the road to true enlightenment? Part philosophical exploration, part nostalgic joyride, Staring at the Sun is a hilarious analysis of reality and trust from a man desperately trying to keep his balance while the floor keeps moving. The tone is unmistakably Evans: provocative, literate, and playfully combative, but also soaked in self-awareness. Evans draws on theories propounded by philosophers and mystics since the days of Plato and Ecclesiastes, casting himself as a public intellectual but constantly undercutting his points with brutally funny domestic truths. Simon Evans is one of the UK’s most respected and best loved comedians who has been at the top of his game for over twenty-five years. His TV credits include two appearances on BBC One’s Live at the Apollo, one on Michael McIntyre’s Roadshow, and a season of Channel 4’s Stand Up for the Week. On BBC Radio 4 his series Simon Evans Goes to Market, delighting audiences with his witty and insightful take on the comedically-unpromising territory of economics, has had six seasons. He is also a regular on Radio 4’s The News Quiz, and various other panel games, and from 1998 to 2002 wrote and hosted eight series of the news satire, The Way It Is. He also stars in One Person Found This Helpful – a Radio 4 show he co-devised with Jason Hazely and Pozzitive Productions, that has fun with on-line customer reviews and hosted Headliners – a regular preview of the following day’s newspapers with two other comedians on GB News. Evans is also in demand as a columnist and has written extensively for The Spectator, The Telegraph and Spiked.

Before they were The Bros. Landreth, Joey and Dave were only looking for a good excuse to spend a little more time together. They had spent their respective early years backing up other artists and touring the world as hired musicians until one particularly long and challenging tour prompted Joey to call his older brother with a simple proposal. When I get home, let's sit down and make some noise together would be the call that would be the turning point seeing them focus on their own roots rock sound that went on to be celebrated on their acclaimed debut album, Let It Lie. Originally released in their hometown of Winnipeg in 2013, Let It Lie was re-released in 2015 after signing a record deal with Nashville-based Slate Creek Records. The album received widespread acclaim, won multiple awards including a JUNO, and propelled the band to play over 400 tour dates around the world. A Rolling Stone review praised the band's quiet storm of slide guitar solos, blue notes, three part harmonies. Lifelong musical hero, Bonnie Raitt, was equally impressed after catching the band's set, saying "I haven't liked a band as much as The Bros. Landreth in a long time. To hear this kind of funky, southern style rock played with such originality and soul will knock you out." Then, the band went on a hiatus. A break afforded Joey Landreth the opportunity release and extensively tour his debut solo album Whiskey in 2017, furthering his reputation for being a first-rate guitar slinger, songwriter, and performer in his own right. Joey's booming solo career might have delayed the timeline for the brothers, yet they never stopped writing songs that would eventually be recorded for their long awaited, follow-up release. The time off that we took between touring Let It Lie and coming back together to make this next album was really difficult. Dave says. It was tough, but we needed to do it. Being away from each other gave us some really valuable perspective. It let us realize just how important and deeply satisfying it is for us to make music together and that's something that we wont soon forget. Teaming up in studio with drummer Ryan Voth, guitarist Ariel Posen,and longtime producer Murray Pulver, the soon to be released album is an exciting evolution of the band's sound, honed by thousands of hours on stage and filtered through the lens of the last many years on the road. Weve got hundreds and hundreds of shows and thousands and thousands of miles under our belts. This next record has a confidence that we didnt have - couldnt have with the first. The Bros. Landreth's journey took some unexpected turns,but ultimately reaffirmed two brother's earnest desire to make honest music together. Slated for release fall of 2019, the follow up album is called 87, a nod to the real beginning of the band; the year they became brothers.

Presented by Lee Martin for Gag Reflex  Hot on the heels of her smash hit Wuthering Shites tour, Kate Butch is back, covering the UK with her trademark wit, campery and vocal stylings. Join the star of RuPaul's Drag Race UK, Celebrity Mastermind, The Power of Parker, and at least three episodes of Crimewatch for a cabaret show like no other. Kate is handing over control of the performance to you, the audience, as she allows you to select each song, each joke, and maybe even what she wears. Accompanied by maestro extraordinaire Jordan Paul Clarke (Showstoppper! The Improvised Musical and the West End's Public Domain), Kate will create a unique evening of songs, stories and games, with each show becoming one of at least 8,000 different outcomes (she's counted them herself)!

Eddi Reader, considered to be one of Scotland's all-time greatest female voices and performers, is returning to stages. Celebrating almost half a century of music, Eddi will bring her signature vocals to venues up and down the country. As Eddi Reader fans will know, no two performances are ever the same, but each concert promises to be a special evening with Eddi reminiscing and sharing the music of the past while looking forward to many more ahead.

Michael Spicer, the online sensation who brought you the award-winning viral hit The Room Next Door, brings another hilarious and brilliantly entertaining satirical stage show packed with sketches, short films and stories about why we’re witnessing such a gigantic political and global shitshow, featuring characters from his BBC Radio 4 show ‘No Room’ as well as some old friends too. Photo credit: Rebbeca Willow

You’ve seen her in the Masterchef kitchen… You’ve seen her on the Drag Race runway… Now it’s time to see her in her element: outrageous, untamed and completely off the reins. Following the explosive success of her smash hit 2024 tour Ginger Johnson Blows Off!, the nation’s silliest sausage is back on the road with her brand-new live spectacular: Show Pony! Promising high camp, low morals, and double helpings of her trademark ridiculousness, Show Pony is a barnstorming night of whip-smart comedy and top-tier talent that proves why Ginger is one of Britain’s most beloved queens.

A show for anyone who has been afraid to dip their toe in or felt all at sea. A true story about feeling exposed in the ocean and learning to love both people and pond life. A ‘highly relatable’ true story that will leave you feeling ‘seen’. This is a show about the transformative power of chucking yourself in the deep end. Naomi Wood (Gobbess) is ‘a force of nature’ who will reconnect you with the ferocious and ravenous within. ‘When little girls become unruly women, monsters make their own mythology'. This one woman show is funny, life affirming and many-tentacled, and is for anyone who has ever been afraid. Support TBC.

Inspired by the life of Nina Simone, and featuring many of her most iconic songs performed live. Apphia Campbell’s acclaimed play follows a successful singer and civil rights activist as she seeks redemption after the untimely death of her father. She reflects on the journey that took her from a young piano prodigy destined for a life in the service of the church, to a renowned jazz vocalist at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement. The show has toured the UK and Australia to standing ovations and played sell-out seasons in Shanghai, New York, Edinburgh and the West End of London.

Celebrating Elton through the voices of iconic women: Britney, Barbra, Amy, and more. Elton John's greatest hits are reimagined by multi award-winning comedian and singer Jess Robinson (Radio 4’s Dead Ringers, Channel 4’s The Last Leg), renowned for her pitch-perfect impressions. Channeling a variety of legendary female artists, from pop royalty such as Britney Spears and Shakira, to stars of the silver screen including Judy Garland and Julie Andrews to opera greats such as Katherine Jenkins, Jess transforms Elton’s classics into something simultaneously familiar, surprising, and spectacular. Elton John’s music is beloved worldwide - his timeless anthems like Rocket Man, Tiny Dancer, and Your Song have soundtracked the lives of multiple generations. His enduring cultural relevance, from the Rocketman film to chart-topping collaborations with artists like Dua Lipa, proves he remains as current today as ever. Combining heartfelt musicality with playful humor and a touch of theatrical magic, Jess delivers a show that’s more than just a tribute - it’s a celebration of Elton John’s music reimagined for today’s audiences. With broad appeal across ages and tastes, this show is a perfect fit for UK theatres, international festivals, and global stages alike. Jess Robinson’s ability to mix world-class vocals, comedy, and innovation ensures audiences will experience Elton’s timeless hits like they’ve never heard them before. Presented by Topper & Fred. This is a 14+ event, under 16s must be accompanied by an adult

British rapper and spoken word artist.

Scottish composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Liam Shortall, aka corto.alto has had an incredible couple of years: his debut album Bad With Names was shortlisted for the iconic Mercury Prize (2024), won 'Best Album' at the Scottish Jazz Awards. In 2025, he won 'Act Of The Year' at the Jazz FM Awards, public vote with Ezra Collective and Nubya Garcia the other two nominees, as well as UK Independent Breakthrough at the Aim Awards. Now signed to Ninja Tune, he's released singles DON'T LISTEN, VANDAL and APRIL feat. anaiis which continue to showcase his natural ear for cross-pollination of styles. The tracks have received enormous radio support with over 3000 plays globally in less than 6 weeks as well as being on BBC 6 Music's A-Playlist. DON'T LISTEN was also included in the iconic 'FC26' soundtrack. This is music on his own terms. Music that speaks not just to his time spent as part of the burgeoning and fertile music scene in Glasgow; but equally to an eclectic mix of influences that draw as much on his affinity with club-culture and all its forms of Electronic Music, or to his love of classic Hip-Hop, Soul and Funk. Support TBA. This is a 14+ event, under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

There is no love lost between the Capulet and Montague families, and everyone in Verona knows it. Surely the only hangover cure to centuries of family feuds is two forlorn teenagers from opposite households falling in love with each other?

An evening with Chris Eubank, with stories from throughout his life and career.

Experimental compositions from the acclaimed jazz trio consisting of saxophonist Jordan Smart, pianist Nick Smart and drummer Jesse Barrett.

Following the sold-out, award-winning shows Gwyneth Goes Skiing and Diana: The Untold and Untrue Story, Awkward Productions are back with a brand new show that Flicks through the Net of traditional holiday movies, bringing all their Hallmarks together in the signature awkwardprods way - queer, chaotic, comedic and heartfelt. Panic! In Swedonia. The King is dead and the prince next in line to the throne is unmarried – if he doesn’t find someone soon he must forfeit the crown! In New York City, baker Aaron Butcher is butchering his career as a family baker. Maybe a commission in the non-location-specific country of Swedonia will fix his problems…

Come and join Nick Cope for a brand new, delightful family concert, featuring all your favourite Nick Cope hits and more. Nick has been writing and recording his beautiful and totally unique songs for children and their families for over 10 years, he performs with his guitar and stunning animations to sell-out crowds all over the country. His fanatical following of little and not so little fans has grown immeasurably over the last couple of years due to the phenomenal success of the CBeebies show ‘Nick Cope’s Popcast’. Nick has a magical way of reaching into people’s hearts, igniting children’s imagination in an organic, unpatronizing, educational and fun way. With his charming songs and humour Nick engages, entertains, and enthrals all generations. Nick’s live performances are legendary. If you haven’t heard his songs or seen his shows before, come along and find out what you’ve been missing.

Fast-rising jazz musician, Yoni Mayraz, combines jazz with elements of 90’s New York hip-hop, old-school breakbeats, and Middle Eastern music to create shimmering new hybrid forms. The producer and keyboardist burst onto the new jazz scene in 2020 with his Rough Cuts EP, and he’s since gained plaudits for the raw energy of his dance floor-focussed live shows. His fiery new album alludes to remove a malevolent wandering spirit, being championed by the likes of BBC Radio 6Music, Gilles Peterson, Clash Magazine, and many more.

A memorable evening of never-to-be-repeated moments - combining the most exciting talent on the poetry and jazz circuit. Headliners tbc. There's no open mic section for these nights but there will be 1 wildcard slot (sign up on the door).

We’re kicking off the Of Land, Sea and Sky offering with a huge party, headlined by hometown hero Changing Currents. Changing Currents is a Brighton based, dynamic force in the world of electronic music. Since the start of 2024, he has built a massive global following, captivating audiences with his electrifying live performances and viral mashups. After selling out his first Canadian tour (Aug 2024), his hometown and London headlines (Nov 2024 and Feb 2025 respectively), embarking on his first South American dates in March 2025, and completing a three date India tour (June 2025), he has solidified his ability to connect with fans across different cultures and continents, positioning him as a truly global artist. He now plays regularly across Europe, and in 2025 fulfilled a childhood dream by performing at Glastonbury Festival. His free flowing sets, labelled the “CC Experience”, that mix Future Baile, Electro, UKG, Global Sounds to name a few, have gained him support from heavyweights in the scene, such as Soulection, FS Green, Jarreau Vandal, Jyoty and more. Of Land, Sea and Sky is part of Brighton Festival. Presented by The Old Market and Brighton Festival. This is an 18+ event

Jason Byrne is back and "Byrning" brighter than ever, celebrating 30 glorious years of stand-up with his brand-new show, 30 Years Byrning. Byrne delivers a riotous night of high-energy storytelling, surreal tangents and unstoppable laughter. From razor-sharp observations to gloriously unhinged audience interaction, brave improvisation, that has made Jason a festival favourite for three decades. This anniversary special is a hilarious return to props and stunts of the past decades, a fearless leap forward and a masterclass in pure comic mayhem. Do not blow it by missing this show, get tickets early, it makes sense.

Tom Gilbey is an award-winning wine expert, marathon-runner, and now author, with a career that has seen him taste, sell, spill and celebrate wine for over 30 years. He first caught the wine bug as a child, roaming around his grandfather’s château in Bordeaux, and by 23 he was already making the stuff himself. Since then, he’s done just about everything in wine - from winemaker to merchant to now running his own company, Tom Gilbey Wine. Tom’s mission has always been simple: to get people drinking better wine without needing to remortgage their house. After being shoved into an ice bath by his son Fred (to prove just how cold white wine should be), Tom stumbled into viral fame. His videos, demonstrating equal parts passion, humour and common sense, have been seen by millions, and his online community now tops 850,000 followers worldwide. With his trademark mix of enthusiasm, knowledge and mischief, Tom has carved out a new role as the most entertaining, refreshing voice in wine today: proving, once and for all, that wine should be about joy, not jargon.

An audio-visual installation and soundtrack sharing stories of indigenous life, culture and climate change in the arctic. TAKKUUK is a new immersive installation from BICEP, visual artist Zak Norman and filmmaker Charlie Miller that explores the lives, communities and challenges facing artists Indigenous to the Arctic Region. TAKKUUK premiered in July 2025, featuring on the giant floor to ceiling wrap around screens at Outernet London, one of the UKs most visited cultural attractions. Created in partnership with the charity In Place of War, as part of their EarthSonic programme, the installation sees the renowned Northern Irish electronic duo — otherwise known as Andy Ferguson and Matthew McBriar — collaborating with a number of Indigenous vocalists, including Katarina Barruk, Andachan, Sebastian Enequist (from Sound of the Damned), Tarrak, Nuija, Niilas and Silla. The music was recorded in 2024 by Detroit-based producer and musician Matthew Dear in Árni Árnason from The Vaccines studio, during Iceland Airwaves festival in Reykjavík.

CNCS Dance Show presenting new works. Doors: 17:15 Starts: 18:00 Ends: 20:15

Award-winning Vox Lumiere transforms Fritz Langs iconic 1927 silent masterpiece METROPOLIS into an explosive live experience with live band, thrilling original new music and powerhouse vocals. It's a rock concert, theatrical event, and cinematic journey rolled into one.

Following the global acclaim of his debut Dybbuk Tse! (named one of the best jazz records of the year by SF Jazz), Mayraz returns with his most daring work to date, Dogs Bark Babies Cry. Recorded live over three days at the legendary Konk Studios, the album captures a raw, cinematic tension that translates powerfully to the stage. Expect a high-energy performance that seamlessly weaves together 90s hip-hop grooves, Middle Eastern textures, and the soulful grit of 70s jazz-funk trios. Backed by a powerhouse rhythm section featuring bassist Tom Driessler (Yussef Dayes) and drummer Zoe Pascal, Mayraz explores the "internal commotion" of modern life through tightly structured compositions and wild, improvisational flair. Having graced the stages of Montreux Jazz Festival and Ronnie Scotts, Yoni Mayraz has cemented his reputation as one of the most vital new voices in contemporary instrumental music. Support TBA.

In his original acclaimed award-winning solo show, Michael Burdett recounted the true tale of how he stumbled upon a long-lost Nick Drake recording a discovery that would have been remarkable enough on its own. The story now takes an unbelievable turn in this updated new version of the show when, against all odds, Burdett uncovers a second lost Drake recording. Armed with the first recording, Burdett travelled across the UK, inviting strangers in shops and living rooms, on mountains and street corners to listen. Their reactions, funny, moving, and profoundly human, became the heart of an adventure that reveals why Drakes music still resonates so powerfully. Through vivid storytelling, arresting photographs, and warm, sharply observed humour, Burdett crafts a deeply engaging atmosphere. Featuring on-screen revelations from James Acaster and others. Coincidences abound.

The King is dead and the prince next in line to the throne is unmarried - if he doesnt find someone soon he must forfeit the crown!

Hes hoping, once again, to make something better than before: Hopefully funny, maybe a bit sad, intermittently thought provoking, slightly audacious and, ideally, completely unfathomable. He started properly thinking about it in the middle of January and it needs to be finished by August. So. That should give you a sense of how far through the process, these particular shows are likely to be in terms of the lump of stone to finished sculpture ratio. On the upside, theyve been priced accordingly and will last no more than 90 minutes.

Teddy Thompson brings his new album Never Be The Same to the TOM stage - a collection of elegant, emotionally rich songs exploring love, loss and change. Produced by Grammy-winner David Mansfield, the record pairs Thompson’s warm vocals with understated, beautiful arrangements. From soulful first single So This Is Heartache to sweeping ballads and wry reflections, these are songs grounded in authenticity and craft. Inspired by masters like Bob Dylan, Thompson remains one of the most refined voices in modern songwriting.

"I want to get to know a world I never knew was ours." Join Saturama for an immersive audio visual journey through a lesser known landscape of our isles: temperate rainforests. Live instrumentation, field recordings, dialectal poems, and cinematic footage invite us to connect us with this world that we may not have known is ours to celebrate. Each show is a unique improvisation, roaming through the saturated beauty of this globally rare habitat. As artists in 2026, plucking the strings of our shared humanity and inspiring connection to this once abundant rainforest of ours has never been so important. Addressing the bigger picture of our planet begins with finding the beauty on our own doorstep. This is our rainforest, and Saturama brings the magic and awe of this world to the forefront of our shared imaginations.

Join us for Notes - a relaxed evening of soulful songs and superb wines courtesy of our friends at Quaff Wine, expertly curated to delight every sense. Your host and curator for the evening is Sylvie Lewis, an internationally seasoned singer-songwriter and wine educator. Sylvie blends storytelling with melody like a fine vintage. Also on the bill is Sharon Lewis, who uses haunting vocals and heartfelt lyricism to craft songs that feel both deeply personal and universally resonant. Rounding out the evening is the brill Maddie Broad. Inspired by alt-folk traditions and seasoned with jazzy flair, Maddie’s warm performances weave originals with acapella folk classics. Expect an evening of stories, melodies and beautifully paired wines - a perfect blend of culture and conviviality. This event is part of Reigning Women, our genre-spanning festival celebrating kick-ass women everywhere.

Featuring the original show (co-written with his 80-year old Nan Sicely) and some present day musings, this retrospective further explores grief, ambition, being a class traitor, milking having a dead dad for personal / professional gain, the innocence of writing just for oneself before the interference of "telly wankers", and the palpable regret of his own decline into becoming said "telly wanker". Content Warning: this show may contain potentially triggering stories around grief, suicide and Geri leaving the Spice Girls in May 1998.

ThirdSpace Theatre presents Lord of the Flies + Antigone TIMINGS: Doors: 17:15 Starts: 18:00

Expect a feast of big tunes and bold mash-ups: the classics you love, twisted in ways you wont see coming, from the 70s to now, all in true Some Voices style.

Throwing Muses’ lynchpin, Kristin Hersh’s prolific career has seen her heralded queen of the alternative release. Her tenth studio album, Possible Dust Clouds is a highly personalised sociopathic gem delivered as a futuristic rewriting of how music works, a melodious breeze with a tail wind of venomous din.

Varndean School presents a captivating evening of dance celebrating the exceptional talent of students from years 7- 11. We are also delighted to welcome guest performances from Ceyda Tanc Dance, Varndean College and Project Female all of whom feature past and present students from Varndean School. The programme sees a selection of GCSE choreographic work, extracurricular performances from both our junior and senior dance companies as well as our recent Lets Dance performance at the Brighton Dome. An excellent opportunity to see such talented students performing in a professional setting.

Age:16+ (recommended), under 16s must be accompanied by an adult Warnings: Contains strong language, adult humour, flashing lights, audience participations, puppetry, Camilla Parker-Bowles

Age: Suitable for all ages, under 16s must be accompanied by an adult Presented by Jam Tarts Indie Choir

Brightons international experimental music festival returns for its ninth edition. Touching on improvisation, noise, sound poetry, electro-acoustic minimalism, high sonic maximalism and all points in between, the international line-up features key avant-garde figures alongside emerging and local artists. The festival runs from 17th - 19th April, with further extended events. Performing on Friday night at the Old Market, Hove: Hali Palombo / Fleshtone Aura / Absurd Cosmos Late Nite / Hexakaidecagon / Jo Morrison / Adam Buffington / Marc Matter

Artwork by Sofia Sinkevich TIMINGS Doors: 18:15 Starts: 19:00

TIMINGS Doors: 18:45 Starts: 19:30