Soul music will bring harbour to life

A new Bank Holiday waterfront event will bring Joey the Lips and Ian Calvert & Friends to Plymouth’s historic quayside for a Soul & Motown music afternoon on Sunday 24 August.

Sutton Harbour and the Barbican will provide a stunning backdrop to a floating stage aboard river cruiser The Spirit of Plymouth, whilst street performers will entertain spectators on the cobbles.

Plymouth Waterfront Partnership is working with Sutton Harbour and Barbican Pubwatch members on a new, business driven approach to Bank Holiday entertainment, creating the Bank Holiday Sunday Music in the Harbour event to attract families and visitors to the quayside.

Backed by Sutton Harbour Holdings plc, The Herald and the Western Morning News on Sunday, the event, which runs between 2pm and 7pm, is also enthusiastically supported by Devon & Cornwall Police.

Sarah O’Leary, Waterfront Manager for Plymouth Waterfront Partnership (PWP) said “We’ve responded directly to calls from Waterfront businesses to trial this new event, in an effort to attract more families to the quayside during August’s Bank Holiday weekend. Through partnership working between waterside pubs, night clubs, the Police, Licensing, Sutton Harbour and PWP, we will be able to provide a fun, safe and vibrant atmosphere that will appeal to a wide range of ages.”

“We are keen to challenge the common perceptions of Bank Holiday Sundays and pub owners have agreed to serve in plastic cups. No glass, glass bottles or cans will be allowed onto the quayside in an effort to keep the area cleaner. Based on the success of Plymouth Pirates Weekend and the Barbican International Jazz & Blues Festival events earlier this year, this Soul & Motown Music in the Harbour afternoon should become yet another great event in this year’s cultural calendar.”

The backing from The Herald and the new Western Morning News on Sunday newspaper will help the event reach a regional audience, attracting visitors from across Devon and Cornwall. The alliance with PWP and Sutton Harbour Holdings plc will generate a high quality entertainment programme with the potential to become an annual summer highlight.

Nick Copson, Regional Marketing Director of The Herald and WMN on Sunday said “We’re excited by the opportunity the Waterfront event gives to Plymouth, in what is a very burgeoning cultural scene in the city, and especially the Barbican and Sutton Harbour.  As the area’s leading media provider in print and online, The Herald and now the WMN on Sunday, have always been at the heart of celebrating all that is good and great about our area, and for that reason we are extremely proud to help push the message that Plymouth is one of the country’s most attractive tourist and commerce destinations, to the widest audience possible.”

Charlotte Malcolm, Commercial Marketing Manager for Sutton Harbour said: “We are pleased to be working closely with PWP, local businesses, Pubwatch and the police to create a new, family friendly event for Sutton Harbour and the Barbican which will help to further showcase Plymouth’s waterfront as a spectacular setting for public events. Lending our support to events such as this, La Solitaire du Figaro, the Pirate Weekend and the Classic Boat Rally is a demonstration of our commitment to supporting local businesses and the local tourism industry, and promoting Plymouth as one of the country’s most exciting and up and coming destinations.”

Traders across Sutton Harbour and Barbican have pledged to support the event helping to create a fun, themed day. Street performers including stiltwalkers, jugglers and face painters will appeal to younger family members, while local restaurants and shops will provide added interest for adults.

Kelly Critten, Deputy Chair of Barbican Pubwatch and Manager of The Gog A Magog on Southside Street, said “Events in the harbour create added vibrancy and a great experience for visitors to the quayside so we’re really pleased Music in the Harbour is receiving so much support. Mooring the large Spirit of Plymouth ferry boat in Sutton Harbour to act as a floating stage will provide a new visual spectacle.”

Music in the Harbour is the latest in a series of diverse events in the city this year. Following a spectacular Armed Forces Day, rousing MTV Crashes show on the Hoe, hosting of La Solitaire du Figaro race yachts and launch of this year’s September Ocean City Festival, Plymouth’s events calendar is putting the city on the map as a major UK destination.

Cllr Peter Smith, Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council said “The opportunities being created through the Council working in partnership with the private sector driven PWP Business Improvement District are really enhancing Plymouth’s events calendar. Each year Waterfront events are proving to attract tens of thousands of visitors to our Hoe and quaysides. With the range of destinations including Sutton Harbour and the Barbican, Royal William Yard and the Hoe, we’ve a huge amount to offer visitors looking for high quality entertainment.”

Highlights of the Music in the Harbour Soul & Motown programme will feature Radio Plymouth DJ Ian Calvert and popular Soul and Funk band Joey the Lips.

For more information check out: www.visitplymouth.co.uk