Southport Pleasureland has announced exciting plans to run its biggest and best Day of the Dead Spectacular yet this November, and launch its Winter Wonderland North in December too.
The South American-inspired Day of the Dead event is an increasingly popular high-octane after-dark annual “celebration of life” at the seaside resort – returning for its third year – and it will feature colourful samba drummers, fire spinners, fire-eaters, stilt-walkers, music with a live DJ, the park’s rides fully illuminated and running, and will close out with a dramatic fireworks finale.
The park will be transformed into a “theatre of light and music” against a fabulous fiesta atmosphere.
Music on the night will be provided by Liverpool’s-own The Katumba Drum Band – who have performed at some of the world’s biggest events including Africa Oyé, Brazilica, Amsterdam Carnival and Recife Carnival, Brazil – and will bring a fierce fusion of UK big beat, Caribbean calypso, and the carnivals of North East Brazil to create an explosion of rhythmic revelry that you can’t help but dance to.
The family-friendly ‘Day of the Dead’ celebration – which will see the park “festooned with bright and beautiful sugar skulls” – is set to take place on Saturday 14th November.
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It will include outdoor food concessions and entertainments – with proven COVID-19 safety measures in place – and to ensure effective social distancing measures are upheld, this year’s event will feature acts on a purpose-built stage with a one-way system for visitors to enter and leave the show area.
Gates to the park will open at 5pm.
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Tickets for non-riders are £9.99 – include all the entertainments and fireworks – and then the ‘rider’ ticket price of £24.50, which includes unlimited rides.
Southport PleasurelandSouthport Pleasureland
But, that’s not all Pleasureland has in store for 2020.
Norman Wallis – CEO at Southport Pleasureland – said: “Day of the Dead has become a real hit, but we didn’t want to leave it at that, so we are staging Winter Wonderland North.”
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He continued: “We have been considering and planning a Winter Wonderland North event for some time. We have been open with full coronavirus safety measures in place for many months [and] we know what we’re doing, what works, and how to make sure people understand the part they have to play in keeping everyone safe.
“Those who’ve visited the park will know that we take great care over the grounds and landscaping [and] we’ve planted many Christmas trees which, along with our exiting established trees, will be decorated with beautiful Christmas lights.”
Winter Wonderland North is due to start on Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th November.
“All of the rides and buildings will be shimmering as the park pulls on its ‘Winter Wow’ from the first weekend… and [will] then be open every weekend in December until it opens daily (with the exception of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) until 3rd January 2021.” said Norman.
He continued: “Father Christmas – and the park is hoping to coax his reindeer to join him – will be in his COVID-safe grotto residence, a new indoor ride around Santa’s workshop is under construction, and a German-style Christmas Market offers Christmas treats and festive food and drink
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“So there will be plenty to see and do.”
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All tickets to the celebrations must be booked online in advance of your visit.
You can book yours, find more information about the events, and familiarise yourself with all social distancing / COVID-safe precautions via the Southport Pleasureland website here.
What's On
Dance legends Basement Jaxx are coming to Castlefield Bowl next summer
Danny Jones
Dance and electronic legends Basement Jaxx are coming to Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl next year for a massive outdoor show.
Summer 2025 is shaping up nicely.
The iconic DJing duo, famed for everything from disco and New York house to pure big-beat bangers, first formed back in 1994 and have created some of the most well-known hits to ever come out of the UK electronic scene.
Be it ‘Where’s Your Head At’, Do Your Thing’, ‘Romeo’ or one of their many other chart-toppers, they’ve been filling dancefloors all over the world
Starting from the base back in Brixton down in the capital, the expert disc jockeys and producers – real names Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe – are the latest act announced as part of the month-long festival Sound of the City Festival.
The SOTC 2025 lineup is looking absolutely stacked, with the likes of Rizzle Kicks, Bloc Party, Elbow, Hacienda Classical and more already confirmed for the big summer celebration, but with Basement Jaxx now joining them too, it really is going to be a party atmosphere.
For the younger ones amongst you who might be wondering whether you know their music or not, even if you’re not sure of the song titles and can’t readily hum the tune etc., we promise you’ll know plenty of these once you hear them.
Jaxx and co. are set to arrive at Manchester’s much-loved amphitheatre next July, the Castlefield Bowl show will be one of their first proper live headline shows in over a decade, along with slots at the likes of Latitude Festival, Wilderness and Camp Bestival, as well as just a handful of other dates.
Speaking on the announcement, one-half of BJ, Buxton, said: “After a few years DJing around the globe, it’ll be great to return to the live stage and the Live Show Experience; to connect to people with life-affirming energy and give people a great time.”
He went on to add: “It feels like 2025 is the beginning of a new era for many and I think that’s probably true for Basement Jaxx too.”
Basement Jaxx will be landing at Castlefield Bowl on Saturday, 12 July 2025 and tickets go on sale this Friday, 29 November from 9am onwards.
‘Selling pics of my arse is fun’ – Kate Nash defends using OnlyFans to pay for her UK tour
Thomas Melia
London-born singer Kate Nash has released a statement addressing those who have been commenting on her selling photos of her bum online to fund her new live shows.
Nash, who’s certified her position in UK pop culture with her timeless hit ‘Foundations’, has taken to social media to explain her situation in more detail.
“Don’t be ‘sad’ I started OnlyFans to fund my tours”, the 37-year-old opens in her statement before following up with, “It’s very empowering”.
2008’s winner of Best Female Artist at the BRITs has never been shy of speaking up about issues while in the limelight. Recently, she let her drummer Maxie reveal their top surgery in front of thousands of people onstage at Glastonbury.
In 2013, Kate Nash became the global ambassador for the ‘Because I Am A Girl’ movement which is set up to address the issue of gender discrimination across the world.
She has also been open about her mental health struggles and doesn’t hide the fact she struggles with anxiety and mild OCD, the latter initiated by her extensive touring schedule in 2008.
Her currentlive shows, which she is currently in the middle of, even reinforce her current OnlyFans jolt titled the ‘Butts For Buses Tour’ – cheeky!
The star isn’t taking herself too seriously either, posting to social media in a neon pink lingerie, writing ‘Bum’s gone viral lol, goin on stage now bit busy soz xoxo’.
Many artists have spoken out about this issue including indie pop-rocker Rachel Chinouriri and breakthrough rapper Little Simz, who both cancelled their US string of live shows due to the overwhelming costs of touring.
Nash, who is performing in Manchester tonight (Tuesday, 26 November), also wrote: “My arse is shining a light on the problem”, as tour expenses are growing more and more every day.
Fair play. Anyone who sees their arse – pun very much intended – over this clearly eats too many lemons because they’re just so bitter.
The UK singer’s latest album 9 Sad Symphonies released this summer and marks the fifth studio album for the indie-pop staple, fans and concertgoers alike can expect to hear these songs among all the hits on her current setlist.
Kate Nash is performing at New Century Hall in Manchester tonight and if you’re a fan of the British noughties favourites, there are still a few tickets.
Emily Sergeant -
28th October 2020 
