Spring officially arrives this Friday — the equinox falls on 20 March — and Brighton is doing what it always does when the light improves: filling every venue worth visiting with reasons to go out.
Friday
The weekend opens strongly at Concorde 2, where Beans on Toast plays with support from Ruth Lyon — folk songwriting at its most direct and joyful, in one of the best mid-sized venues in the country. Over at Quarters on the seafront arches, Annie Mac brings her DJ set to one of Brighton’s most intimate club spaces. CHALK on New Road hosts Carnival Collective for an afrobeats and dancehall night, while the Hope and Ruin on Queen’s Road — the spiritual home of Brighton’s indie scene — has Green Gardens for a cheap and cheerful guitar music evening.
For comedy, Rhod Gilbert brings The Giant Grapefruit to the Theatre Royal Brighton — one of the sharpest stand-up shows on tour right now, in one of the most beautiful Victorian theatres in the South East.
The Brighton Dome Studio Theatre hosts Ant Law’s Jazz Connections performance — guitar, South Indian rhythms and Gwilym Simcock on piano in an intimate room. Tickets from £23.
Saturday
Gok Wan DJs at Concorde 2 on Saturday night — house music and dance classics for a broad crowd in a great room. The Brighton Dome Concert Hall hosts a dance performance from £11, and the Dome’s Create Music programme runs free in the afternoon for anyone wanting to discover emerging local talent before the evening kicks in.
The Forge Comedy Club runs its Saturday night show from 8pm — consistently one of Brighton’s best nights out regardless of who’s on the bill. Over in Bexhill, the extraordinary De La Warr Pavilion hosts Troy Hawke, whose Edwardian gentleman character comedy is well worth the short train ride along the coast.
Sunday
The best Sunday option in Brighton this weekend is Bill Ryder-Jones at The Old Market in Hove — the former Coral guitarist playing his quietly devastating solo material in a converted church with superb acoustics. Limited availability so move quickly.
For comedy, Foil Arms and Hog bring their touring show Skittish to the Theatre Royal — fast, physical Irish sketch comedy that consistently delivers, in the perfect venue for it. Tickets from £24.
Pubs Worth Finding
The Basketmakers Arms on Gloucester Road for real ale done properly. The Evening Star on Surrey Street for Dark Star brewery. The Fortune of War on the lower promenade for a pint with a sea view. The Prince Albert on Trafalgar Street for live music any night of the week with no fuss and no booking required.
Brighton this weekend — whatever you’re after, it’s on.
