I have always loved this month. The clocks go forward, the Spring bulbs have arrived and the birds are happily tweeting away which means lighter days are ahead. Sunnier times are on the way!
This month feels like you can get out and explore everything from cafes, to exhibitions. Make sure to delve deep into the city and see what fun things are on your doorstep!
Women in Art – 1st March – 10th March – various sites across the city
Step forward, Women In Art, which is a brand new multi-venue event that celebrates the work and amplifies the voices of women-identifying artists. Created by local creatives Charla and Hannah, they wanted to bring a new wave of celebrating women in art to Portsmouth.
The Box Gallery – 2nd March – Castle Road
This tiny gallery space might seem small but it doesn’t half pack a punch! Curated to bring a true vision and promote local, national and international innovative contemporary art in Portsmouth, and to create a space where people can engage with art and with each other. Opens on the 2nd and will have a real buzz on the road.
Batala – 8th March – The Clubhouse – Clarence Esplanade
Join Batala Portsmouth for a fun evening starting with a free drink and nibbles, and the world rebound drumming band will be there to wow us with their incredible beats
Raffle and auction prizes will be won with all proceeds going to supporting young children in the city. Everything raised on the evening gives a chance to spend on the extra things that give families a helping hand, like resources for stay & play groups, free healthy snacks, and training volunteers
Tickets are £12 and can be bought through the link.
Pompey Poetry Party – 15th March – Six Highland Road Cafe – Southsea
Pompey Poetry Party brings an open mic night to Southsea. Hosted by Cecily Holland from Pompey Poetry Party, it’s an open mic night where your voice takes the spotlight. Whether you’re a seasoned poet or a first-time performer, this is your stage to share your stories, thoughts, and creativity.
Starting at 7.30pm there is an option to buy food and drink.
Warehouse Fest Beer Festival – 16th March – Staggeringly Good Brewery – Fratton
The guys down at the brewery know how to do events and bring the Warehouse Fest to Fratton. On one side you will sample the delights of the light beer spectrum before crossing over to the dark side…
Bringing you keg beers of all shades from top breweries around the country as well as a cask beer lineup, Warehouse Beer Festival is a whole vibe. With live music and food, this looks set to be a cool night out!
Prints and Pieces Exhibition – 28th March – Corner Collective – Albert Road
This is a joint show between Matt Dixon and Jeannie McConville. Matt blew us away at the Look Up Portsmouth festival last September, where he created an amazing mural at Old Portsmouth. Local fans love his work of birds, animals and nature so will be exciting to see this new range of work. His brand new exhibition will be showing a new mix of prints and original paintings ranging from fresh renderings of familiar classics to completely new works on canvas and found objects.
His partner, ceramic artist Jeannie McConville, will be part of the exhibition, who will be exhibiting her new Spring collection of hand-built pottery.
Starting at 6pm until 9pm you can browse the exhibition and meet the artists.
Head on back to the 90’s and be part of Portsmouth’s first ever live cinema experience set around the screening of Alan Parker’s hit 90’s musical classic The Commitments.
Pop along to embrace Portsmouth’s first live cinema experience set around the screening of Alan Parker’s hit 90’s musical classic The Commitments.
Dress to go back to the 90’s, dig out your scrunchies, double denim, baggy checked shirts, crop tops, leggings and doc martens. The best-dressed person will win a prize on the night.
Mingle with familiar characters as they prepare around you for the night of their lives. See The Commitments film where Jimmy Rabbitte and the band become saviours of soul and party the night away to Pompey’s own amazing live band, The Soul Suspects.
Tickets are £25 and looks set to be a fun night!
OUT OF TOWN EVENTS
Internation Women’s Day Event – 7th March – Making Space Havant
On the eve of International Women’s Day, 7th of March, you can join Making Space for an inclusive and creative evening celebrating women in craft.
There will be a series of activities that you can either book onto or just drop in to do.
From the Clay Goddess workshop to an illustration workshop and an exhibition to attend THE HIDDEN HISTORIES OF WOMEN, this will be a fab evening to attend.
All the female resident makers will be there in the evening. You will be able to meet them, chat to them about their practices, what inspires them and also support them by making a purchase!
Hanging Stars Acoustic Session – 16th March – Harbour Records – Emsworth
Starting at 1.30pm, the multi-award winning Americana band The Hanging Stars will be playing a free-entry, acoustic, “in store” show at Harbour Records in the High Street, Emsworth to celebrate and promote the release of their new album “On A Golden Shore”.
The hottest band on the UK Americana scene at the present time, and championed by none other than ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris, they blend folk pastoralism with swampy 60’s Americana – sounding like the missing link between the California desert sun and the grey skies of London Town. The Hanging Stars channel the sounds of The Byrds, Big Star and The Flying Burrito Brothers, mainlining the dying embers of the early 70’s psychedelic folk and cosmic country scenes.
Having seen this band play an acoustic set at the Corner Collective, they are such a treat to go and watch and you could have a stroll around Emsworth afterwards!
