UPDATE. NOW SOLD OUT. The festival is already 85% sold out so if you are thinking of going, don’t think for too long! Here’s a taste of what’s in store at the always-innovative, Totnes-based weekender.
- Bill Ryder-Jones returns with an intimate solo piano and guitar show at St Mary’s Church. Bill will perform favourites from his back catalogue alongside first airings of new material.
- Saturday night will feature a live set from Manchester post-punk composer Lonelady
- Friday night is a Speedy Wunderground takeover as part of the impeccable label’s tenth birthday celebrations, with two exciting young talents: Heartworms and explosive saxophone and drums duo O.
- Following the announcement of Django Django’s huge new fifth LP, Off Planet, the band’s drummer/producer Dave Maclean sees a Django Django DJ takeover at Totnes Cinema.
- Also DJ’ing will be Deptford Northern Soul Club, the gimmick-free soul big hitters who have just been dubbed the No.1 of ‘the 25 most banging club nights in the UK’ by Time Out; Andy Votel of Finders Keepers Record will bring his esteemed record boxes for a deep dive into the musical unknown. Heavenly Jukebox will also get the party going
- Other musical attractions include the Irish feminist band M(h)aol; MEMORIALS, which is the new band of Verity Susman (Electrelane) and Matthew Simms (Wire), ; Edinburgh’s Eyes Of Others, who recently released the beautifully woozing ‘Bewitched by the Flames’ EP on Heavenly Recordings; a Sea Change debut for Bristolian singer-songwriter Clara Mann at St Mary’s Church; punk trio deep tan playing at The Barrel House Ballroom on Friday, London based six-piece Tapir! bring the most gorgeous post-folk analogue shapes.
A new venue for 2023 is The Albatross, the stunning community space run by the esteemed and adventurous Bull Inn. Opposite The Bull and next door to Drift Records, The Albatross will be hosting conversations and other sessions across the weekend, which will include Rough Trade Books, White Rabbit Books and a collaborative programme of culinary sessions on lazy Sunday, as part of the first town-wide food and drink offering under the Sea Change banner.
For the 2023 edition, Sea Change organisers have reduced the weekend ticket price by 33%, in an attempt to make it as affordable as possible for everybody. An absolute essential in the construction of this year’s event has been to ensure that as many people can be involved as possible. In the post-pandemic and mid-economic crisis of late winter 2023, selling tickets for a weekend of music, arts and culture has the potential to further highlight the gulf between those that have and have not.
Founder Rupert Morrison explains, “When we first started the event way back in 2015, we needed people to go with us, trust that the record shop could throw a party and keep the town safe. We did, we built it, they came, it grew, and through thick and thin we’ve had the support of an amazing audience of supporters. We know how fierce the current economic landscape is and we feel strongly that making Sea Change a celebratory event in Totnes required as many of the local community to feel engaged and inclined to participate”.
FESTIVAL INFORMATION
Tickets: available online and at Drift Records www.seachangepresents.co.uk