Refract:24 arts festival to return to Waterside
Waterside’s annual summer festival is back for 2024!
Brimstone - The Dragon
The lineup for the summer arts festival has been announced, where it will be returning to Waterside for a seventh year. Refract:24 will run from Tuesday 23 to Sunday 28 July.
What can you expect to see?
Magician and illusionist Ben Hart © Matt Crockett
Internationally acclaimed magician and illusionist Ben Hart will be dropping into launch Refract before returning to Edinburgh for another Fringe run. The real-life witch and Britain’s Got Talent finalist brings HeX, a curated collection of Ben’s favourite and most exciting material from the last decade alongside new ideas fresh from his laboratory, guaranteed to put a spell on you. Ben's shows are a unique kind of alchemy. Funny, dark and baffling, Hart's an altogether new species of conjurer.
Refract is delighted to welcome Reem Anbar, who will also be joining the launch of the festival in the Chambers on 23 July. Reem is an internationally renowned Palestinian oud player and musician. Growing up in Gaza, she became known as the region's first music therapist and appeared regularly on many stages and media platforms. She now performs internationally as a solo oud player and leader of Gazelleband. She will be joined by guest vocalist Nour Sima.
Street games
Refract’s free, family-friendly outdoor performances begin on Thursday 25 July with Autin Dance’s Street Games. This promises to be inclusive and accessible fun featuring street games, live music and dance with BSL performance and interpretation. Audiences can expect games that everyone can get involved in, hosted by three fabulous Game Hosts and party music sets from EIF Sound and Music. Street Games continues on Friday 26 July.
Waterside is honoured to have The Untold Orchestra as part of the Refract lineup this year. Joined by guest vocalists, Nicole Battick and Dija Bhlue, The Untold Orchestra presents Summer of Soul on Thursday 25 July, with a sensational show of soul classics; hits from artists such as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations and more.
The Untold Orchestra bring orchestras into the 21st century through memorable performances celebrating musical icons from the last 100 years, exciting collaborations with up-and-coming and internationally acclaimed artists and through community projects for people across the city.
Artistic director Sam Davies said, “We’re thrilled to be working with Waterside on Refract Festival. It’s a beautiful venue, in a great place and we can’t wait to dance the night away celebrating some amazing soul music.”
Families can also expect to be wowed by Brimstone - The Dragon! A free, roaming outdoor theatrical experience that sparks imagination and instils wonder with children and their families. The six-metre-long Giant Dragon puppet, is brought to life by four highly skilled puppeteers to tell the magical and adventurous story of Brimstone, a fearsome and misunderstood beast from a hidden island. Brimstone will be entertaining audiences on Friday 26 and Saturday 27 July.
Kyla Brox © Baz Groom
Refract is delighted to welcome back “the finest female blues singer of her generation” (Manchester Evening News) Kyla Brox on Fri 26 July. Blues and soul become inextricably entwined in award-winning singer-songwriter, Kyla Brox, who is at the very top of the UK Blues scene.
The Running Showers
Across the weekend, festivalgoers can enjoy a whole host of fabulous free outdoor entertainment on Waterside Plaza, which will include interactive walkabout performances of The Running Showers by Teatro Pomodoro -splashing through the streets, with shower caps and rubber ducks!
Unboxed from Linden Dance is an explosive dance work in which a mixed-race man and a white woman set themselves in opposition to two giant wooden cubes in a physical representation of their battle with prejudice and judgement. The toxicity of the subject matter reverberates in the pulsing soundtrack and the performers’ athletic physicality which draws on Afro-fusion and contemporary movement styles. Performances take place throughout the weekend.
And brand new for Refract 24: The Bandstand on Sun 28 July; this year the festival welcomes a series of sensational music artists to an outdoor bandstand on the Plaza.
Manchester-based singer-songwriter Zoe Kyoti merges blues and folk traditions with exotic world music influences. Her heartfelt songs explore tales of lost love, rebirth, rebellion and adventure. The result is both dramatic and uplifting, full of intensity, playfulness. She joins Refract as a trio with self-effacing guitarist Ulrich Elbracht and Andrew Chaisty on bass.
Award-winning clarinettist, Arun Ghosh will be entertaining the crowds with his full band at a family-friendly gig. His sound is IndoJazz: with joyful, soaring South Asian melodies and hypnotic grooves.
A charismatic and communicative performer, Arun will be playing a special show - two sets across the afternoon - for families and young people - all welcome!
Refract:24 runs at Waterside (Sale, M33 7ZF) from Tuesday 23 - Sunday 28 July.
Book tickets at refract.org.uk.
