Worthing Live

Various venues, Worthing, Thursday, October 1, to Saturday, October 31

AS soon as he moved from Brighton to Worthing earlier this year, promoter Mark Ede could see the musical potential of the town.

“Worthing has got some of the best appointed venues for music,” he says.

“At the end of the pier we have the Southern Pavilion, one of the best venues in the country for blues, jazz and soul music. Add to that the small bars, St Paul’s which puts on a lot of music, and the three or four council venues and you have a well-appointed place for music, which no-one knows about it.

“Worthing Live is trying to put a spotlight on the town.”

Spread across venues including the Southern Pavilion, Connaught Studio and Theatre in Union Place, the Pavilion Theatre and Denton in Marine Parade and the Assembly Hall in Stoke Abbott Road, Worthing Live is a multi-venue, multi-genre celebration of music.

“This is all being done on a shoestring,” admits Ede. “Amanda O’Reilly from Worthing Theatres has been very inspiring – we’re not suffering from any internal politics or silliness.

“Our challenge over the forthcoming years will be to add more family-friendly shows, and have something for up and coming under 25s and under 30s acts. By year three or year five I would like it to be a national event like the Chichester or Brighton Festival.”

Highlights of the inaugural event include:

Joe Stilgoe

The Denton, Saturday, October 3, 7.30pm, £20

PART of the debut UK tour for the acclaimed jazz singer, pianist and songwriter.

Northbrook College: New Music All-Dayer

The Lido, Marine Parade, Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4, 1pm, free

THE best of the local music scene, including The Beautiful Word, Tubba3Ply, AK/DK and Crayola Lectern. Look out for Wednesday afternoon industry workshops at the Southern Pavilion with Ed Sheeran’s booking agent Jon Ollier and BBC Radio 1 producer Jacob Rickard.

Leveret

Southern Pavilion, Tuesday, October 6, 7pm, £15/£18

A NEW folk supergroup featuring Andy Cutting, Rob Habron and Sam Sweeney.

Russell Watson

Assembly Hall, Thursday, October 8, 7.30pm, from £32.50

THE UK’s best-selling classical artist ever performs an intimate show.

Lesley Garrett

Pavilion Theatre, Friday, October 16, 7.30pm, £23.50/£21.50

THE popular soprano sings and remembers her life on the stage in a series of stories and anecdotes.

Jo Harman

Southern Pavilion, Friday, October 16, 7pm, £16/£20

THE 2014 winner of best female vocalist at the British Blues Awards plays a homecoming show.

Syd Lawrence Orchestra

Pavilion Theatre, Sunday, October 18, 4pm, £21/£20

CHRIS Dean’s big band turns the clock back to the swing era.

An Evening With Simon And Oscar from Ocean Colour Scene

Pavilion Theatre, Monday, October 26, 7.30pm, £21.50

MARKING Ocean Colour Scene’s 25th anniversary vocalist Simon Fowler and drummer Oscar Harrison look back over their back catalogue with this intimate acoustic show.

Donovan

Assembly Hall, Friday, October 30, 7.30pm, £31.50

NOW on his 50th anniversary tour the singer-songwriter John Peel rated above Dylan looks back over his enormous back catalogue.

Call 01903 206206 or visit www.worthingtheatres.co.uk.