Electric Bay returns to Torre Abbey Meadows for another two-day weekender!

East London art punkers Bloc Party mixed angular sonics with pop structures and helped shape the sound of British indie rock throughout the 2000s. Tense post-punk rhythms and dissonant guitar hooks took their cues from Gang of Four and Joy Division on the band's 2005 debut Silent Alarm.

Norman "Jack-of-All-Genres" Cook, in addition to his former occupations as bassist for the Housemartins and one-third of acid house hitmakers Pizzaman, is also the man behind one of the most popular of the new flock of English "Brit-hop" producers, Fatboy Slim. Releasing his Fatboy material through club staple Skint, Cook's raucous blend of house, acid, funk, hip-hop, electro, and techno has added to his already formidable reputation as one of the foremost all-around producers on the U.K. club scene. Born Quentin Cook in Bromley on July 31, 1963, Cook joined the Hull-based pop group the Housemartins in 1986, replacing founding member Ted Key. After the group split the following year, Cook became involved with the burgeoning acid house scene, pairing with producers Tim Jeffrey and J.C. Reid toward the end of the decade to form Pizzaman. The trio nailed three Top 40 hits together (Trippin' on Sunshine, Sex on the Streets and Happiness) before Cook splintered off to record with similarly styled outfits Freak Power and Beats International in the early '90s. Better Living Through Circuitry He shut most of his other production activities down in the following years to focus on his latest incarnation, Fatboy Slim, which began with a trio of singles and the full-length Better Living Through Chemistry. Cook was also called in to add his remixing skills to Jean-Jacques Perrey's proto-electronica classic "Eva," released as a 12" and CD single in 1997. In addition to his FBS work, Cook also recorded the Skip to My Loops sample CD, a popular studio tool sporting a mélange of sample-ready drum loops, analogue squelches, and assorted noises. In early 1998, his remix of Cornershop's Brimful of Asha spent several weeks at number one in the British charts. You've Come a Long Way, BabyFatboy Slim's eagerly anticipated second LP, You've Come a Long Way, Baby, followed later that year. The album went platinum in the U.S. and spawned two international hits, The Rockafeller Skank and Praise You, which also boasted a Spike Jonze-directed video that earned three MTV Video Music Awards as well as two Grammy nominations. The Rockafeller Skank, Praise You, and other songs from You've Come a Long Way, Baby ended up on countless soundtracks and commercials, cementing Fatboy Slim's unique position as a critically acclaimed and immensely popular act. Essential Selection, Vol. 1Cook also recorded several mix albums, including the first disc of the Radio 1 compilation Essential Selection, Vol. 1 and his own On the Floor at the Boutique. The latter was released domestically in the U.S. in early 2000 to help fans withstand the wait for his third album, Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars, which arrived that fall. Two mix albums -- Live on Brighton Beach and Big Beach Boutique II -- appeared in 2002. During 2003, Cook and his wife -- popular British TV presenter Zöe Ball -- separated for a brief period. They soon patched things up but the split was a heavy influence on 2004's Palookaville, the most laid-back and moody Fatboy Slim album yet. Collecting his singles along with a couple of important remixes, The Greatest Hits: Why Try Harder appeared in 2006. In 2008, Cook announced he would be retiring the Fatboy Slim name and launching a new project, Brighton Port Authority, or the BPA for short. As of 2009, the Fatboy Slim name was still appearing, such as on the 2009 mix CD Dance Bitch, and as BPA, Cook released I Think We're Gonna Need a Bigger Boat in 2009. His next project, released in 2010 as Fatboy Slim, involved production work, collaboration, and co-billing with David Byrne on the Imelda Marcos concept release Here Lies Love. In 2011, he continued to tour across the globe and in 2012 he was asked to perform at the London Olympics closing ceremony. It was also this year he created The Brighton Port Authority, a musical concept group which contain special guest acts such as David Byrne,Iggy Pop, Dizzee Rascal, Martha Wainwright and many more. They released the single Toejam in July 2012 and their debut album soon followed.

The Duke's Theatre Company's production of Macbeth offers a dynamic reimagining of Shakespeares classic tragedy. Known for their bold and innovative interpretations, the company brings a contemporary edge to the dark tale of ambition, murder, and madness. Director Robert Shaw Cameron ( Coronation Street, Regents Park Open Air Theatre, Sheffield Crucible ) and designer Jessica Curtis ( Hampstead Theatre, Almeida Theatre, Royal National Theatre ) make a production with a cast of six industry leading actors. With a strong focus on the psychological unravelling of the protagonists, this adaptation takes The Dukes into a new era of open-air Summer touring. Running time: 2 hours, including a 15 minute interval. Gates open: 45 minutes before the performance. Tickets: E-tickets are preferred (to be shown on smart phones or tablets). Paper tickets are also accepted. If e-tickets or paper tickets are a problem for you, we can find your name on the system. Carers Tickets: All carers go free at our events. If you are an audience member who requires a carer to attend with you, please first of all book your own ticket, then email [email protected] with name, email address and booking number along with proof of the carers status and we will email you a complimentary carers ticket. We accept the following as proof of carers status: - Attendance Allowance Letter (AA) - Carers Allowance Letter of Award - Disability Living Allowance Letter (DLA) - Personal Independence Payments (PIP) - Armed Forces Independence Payments (AFIP) - Valid Blue Badge Seating: Seating is not provided. Please bring fold up garden chairs, camping chairs or blankets. People on blankets will be advised to sit in the first 5 metres in front of the stage. The production is supported by a PA system, with each actor individually amplified. Getting Here: Direct trains from Exeter Central and Newton Abbot. Torquay Station is within 5 minutes walk of Torre Abbey. 12, 22, 60, 61, 62, Gold, X46 to Torre Abbey Meadows / Sands. 32, 62, to Torre Abbey bus-stop (Walnut Road). 26, 120 to Torquay Train Station bus-stop (Rathmore Road). Parking: The nearest car park is Torre Valley Torre Valley - Torbay Council Pay and Display (TQ2 5JY) Drop-off point and limited parking within the grounds for disabled visitors. Accessibility: The site is accessible with a wheelchair and there are accessible Toilets available. Toilets: Male, female Toilets available. Accessible Toilets and baby-change facilities are available on site. Dogs: Except for assistance/guide dogs, we regret that we cannot admit any dogs or other pets to our performances. We appreciate that most dogs are well behaved, but it only takes one pinched meat pie or canine stage invasion, and chaos ensues! It has to be one rule for all. Food and Drink: Picnicking is encouraged before and during the performance, and at the interval. There is no bar or refreshment facility at this venue. Players Picnic for two - 28.99 Make the evening complete with a freshly made Players Picnic for two. Enjoy a fine selection of cheese and biscuits with chutney, fresh strawberries, olives and a beautiful charcuterie selection as well as a branded canvas tote gag and souvenir programme. You can even upgrade and add a bottle of Sensas Pinot Noir, showing violets and sweet red berries on the nose, the palate is rich, velvety and full, with well-integrated oak for 16. We recommend the Players Picnic for two is booked in advance the option to purchase is at the time of booking. Simply pre book your picnic and collect it, chilled and packaged, on the way into the performance. There will be a limited number of picnics available to purchase on the night. LEARN MORE: www.thedukestheatrecompany.co.uk/players-picnic-for-two [http://www.thedukestheatrecompany.co.uk/players-picnic-for-two] Weather and Cancellations: Please be prepared for performances to continue in all eventualities, with the exception of persistent rain and/or wind. For Weather, Refunds and Rain Exchange Tickets, click: https://www.thedukestheatrecompany.co.uk/weather-and-exchanges FAQs: For an extensive list of answers to frequently asked questions, click: https://www.thedukestheatrecompany.co.uk/faq

Opening the weekend of 2025 Electric Bay summer festival, we are thrilled to announce that one of the UK's most beloved indie-rock bands, Bloc Party will be headlining the iconic Torre Abbey Meadows on Friday 11th July. After the success of the last three years, the festival has now expanded to three days with the 1st Friday show bringing a day of Guitar Bands joining Fatboy Slim on the Saturday and next to be announced a huge Drum & Bass Line up for the Sunday. Support cast includes Mercury nominated The Coral, the eclectic Everything Everything, Pattern Pusher and Holy Youth Movement. When you look back at the sea of mid-noughties indie bands, there are few still standing and even fewer, some 20 years later, who are still experiencing career highs. But this was the precise spot Bloc Party found themselves in Moving from hooky post-punk to ambitious genre-mashing -- and back again -- Bloc Party's artistic restlessness has served them well since the early 2000s. The mix of 's impassioned yelp and Russell Lissack's angular riffs on their first EPs helped shape British indie rock for the rest of the decade, but by the time Bloc Party released their platinum-selling 2005 debut album Silent Alarm, they'd added atmospheres drawn from post-rock and electronic textures to their style. The East London band continued to push themselves on 2007's A Weekend in the City and the following year's Intimacy, incorporating influences from hip-hop to modern composition and writing songs that ranged from socially aware to deeply personal. Bloc Party's later albums were also adventurous, whether they borrowed some of post-hardcore's bite on 2011's Four or mused on spirituality on 2016's reflective, redemptive Hymns. Despite hiatuses and lineup changes, when they returned to their razor-sharp post-punk on 2022's Alpha Games, Bloc Party sounded as fresh as ever.

Located within the beautiful setting of Torre Abbey, this day-long symposium invites creative and cultural providers, teachers, school senior leaders and local arts venues to gather together for a day of partnership working, connection & shared practice. The days schedule will include: creative workshops, CPD sessions, fundraising & partnership signposting support, discussions about how to remove barriers for children & young people to access creative arts opportunities, keynote speakers, and a marketplace event so that you can meet local arts, creative & cultural providers for your school/education setting. This event is free to attend - this is made possible by the Family Arts Campaign and the Doorstep Arts Inspiring Futures programme, funded by Arts Council England. Admission to the symposium also grants attendees admission to Torre Abbey for the day. This symposium is hosted by Torbay Arts in Schools Network, a grassroots network of 71 local partners working together to improve access to creative arts opportunities for local children, young people, families and schools. Partners include regional primary and secondary teachers, arts leads, theatre practitioners, music providers, dance specialists, visual artists, regional arts venues, museum education officers, freelancers, alternate education providers and others. TASN serves as the regional Cultural Education Partnership and also as a Family Arts Network. Tickets: Full Day - 9.30am to 5.30pm (includes coffees/teas/snacks & lunch) Half Day Morning - 9.30am to 1pm (includes lunch) Half Day Afternoon - 12.30 to 5.30pm (includes lunch on arrival) Twilight Session - 4pm to 5.30pm (includes coffees/teas/snacks) Day's Schedule: 9.30-10am - Attendee arrivals with coffees and pastries at the Learning Lab (Torre Abbey) 10am-10.30am - Welcome in the Ballroom (schedules, maps, menus) 10.30-12 noon - Morning Sessions (workshops, talks, discussion) 12 noon-1pm - Lunch (lunch is provided) 1pm-4pm - Afternoon Sessions (workshops, talks, discussion) 4pm-5pm - Keynote talk with Q&A/discussion and coffees/pastries 5pm-5.30pm - Marketplace event Any questions can be directed to event organiser Doorstep Arts via [email protected].