A QUIRKY art festival celebrating the unique landscape of Portland begins this week.
b-side Festival launches on Thursday, September 8 and continues until Sunday, September 11.
It will consist of 15 major new contemporary artworks and features cultural events across the isle.
Among the more unusual events will be a bespoke performance by climber and poet Penny Newell.
Audiences will be offered silent disco headphones and taken to the cliffs of East Weares for a one off, abseiling poetry recital.
The night will then continue to the backdrop of Pennsylvania Castle and with a performance by The Fantasy Orchestra, which brings together more than 50 musicians - both professional and amateur - to create an atmospheric soundtrack to the landscape of Portland.
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Over the four day festival, visitors can expect to dive into a major new augmented reality artwork by Babar Suleman named ‘Requital. The Lighthouse as the Siren.’ By holding their phones over Portland Bill Lighthouse visitors can experience the landmark like they have never before.
On Saturday, September 10, festival-goers will be guided to a cliff-edge viewing point where they can watch Suleman’s film exploring the myth of the siren, which will be projected onto Pulpit Rock.
Steve Urquhart will also be inviting festival-goers to consider a different side to Portland by showcasing a unique exploration of what the island sounds like behind the bars of Portland’s Prison with a deep listening soundscape.
The festival will culminate in b-side’s popular Big Portland Parade. Visitors and members of the local community will unite under the theme of ‘Keep Portland Weird,’ which challenges everyone to show off their most wonderful and weird costumes.
This community parade will take over the island in a musical celebration of Portland’s unique character, landscape, and relationship with all who encounter it.
For more information, see the b-side website https://b-side.org.uk/ and follow b-side on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
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