A festival celebrating the uniqueness of Portland is set to return.

b-side festival is back from Thursday, September 7 – Sunday, September 10 with an eclectic and vibrant repertoire of artists announced.

The theme of this year’s festival is ‘This Land’ and seeks to drive forward the community spirit that the Isle cherishes, to propel islanders and visitors into deeper connection with each other and the land they share.

Rocca Holly-Nambi, Director of b-side, said: “This year’s b-side festival is a particularly poignant event, as it celebrates the culmination of two years of research and development by international artists and residents of Portland.

“‘This Land’ celebrates Portland’s uniqueness, its heritage, its landscape and its people. By doing this, and by focusing on two distinct parts of Portland, we are also showing how our island’s intimate challenges, and triumphs, are globally shared. Everyone is welcome.”

The festival will take place across 19 sites on Portland and offers something for everyone, with many events being free of charge.

Anna Heinrich and Leon Palmer will have their work on display during the festival.

The duo are multidisciplinary artists working with digital media, projection, sound, light, optics and photography.

The focus of their research and the inspiration for the work they are creating for this year’s b-side festival, is the aforementioned derelict cottage at Brandy Row in Chiswell.

Once a collection of cottages inhabited by fishermen and quarrymen, the site is now owned by Dorset Council, and is currently being used as stores.

Anna and Leon have been working with the project’s researchers, and their undertaking of film and sound recordings of the site will be used to develop their final piece for the festival.

Festivalgoers can immerse themselves in Portland’s rich history with ‘Who Lived in a House Like This?,’ which is a guided tour of the historic buildings of Chiswell led by ‘This Land’ Researcher, Dr Jeanie Sinclair, and James Barker from Portland Buildings Preservation Trust.

The Keep Portland Weird and Wonderful Parade will round out the festival, in a celebration of Portland’s unique biodiversity.

Visitors are encouraged to get dressed up in their wackiest clothing and parade, walk and dance through the streets of Portland.

Here’s a full line-up of the artists:

  • Anna Heinrich and Leon Palmer
  • Emily Tracy
  • Kneed
  • Wildworks
  • Antje Rook
  • Carrie Mason
  • Christopher Lee
  • Dhaqan Collective
  • Frances Hatch
  • Jo Tyler
  • Jodie House
  • Katie Surridge
  • Rory Pilgrim
  • Fran Cottell
  • Marianne Mueller

 

For more information, visit: https://b-side.org.uk/.