Amble Puffin Festival events 2023

EVERYDAY

To see the puffins, and thousands of other seabirds (weather permitting):
- Puffin Cruises from the Harbour. Booking essential. Ring 07752 861914.
- Amble Boat Trips aboard the Natalie Kristen II. To book, ring Kevin on 07873 752643.

FRINGE ACTIVITIES

Amble First Schools' puffin painting display in shops along Queen Street

Children’s amusements in the Town Square

The Dovecote Street Show. Amble’s first-ever large-scale exhibition of contemporary painting, printmaking, photography and sculpture from across the North East. Comprising work from 50 participants, the exhibition offers visitors a broad overview of the area’s creative talent. Runs from May 8 - 28. 10am-4pm at the NTC Dovecote Centre NE65 0DX. See their social media for more info. Instagram: dovecotestreetshow; Facebook: Dovecote Street Show; Twitter: DovecoteStShow. Free entry

Create puffin bunting at cafes on Queen Street, Radcliffes Bar and Spurreli’s

Puffin themed cupcakes/treats from The Galley and Gracy’s on Queen Street
‘Puffin Poo’ milkshakes and fudge from Mocha Mondo pod in the Harbour Village

THURSDAY 25 MAY

Evening talk*: An introduction to the ecology of Harvest Mice and their reintroduction to the Northumberland Coast. With Sophie Webster, Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Catch My Drift project officer. At the Dovecote Centre NE65 0DX. 7pm-9pm (with interval). Doors open 6.30pm. Adults £5, children £3 Cash only on the door; sorry we have no card facilities.

FRIDAY 26 May

Evening event*: Live music from local modern folk group Wild Cloudberries. 7.30pm at the Dovecote Centre NE65 0DX. 7.30pm-10pm (with interval). Doors open 7pm. Tickets £10. Cash only on the door; sorry we have no card facilities.

Tickets for events marked * are available from
N & F Young (8 Queen St), Seafood Centre in the Harbour Village, and Fourways2, Dilston Terr. Tickets for talks are also available on the door. Cash only on the door; sorry we have no card facilities.

Preview event: for SheView exhibition at DryWater Arts. A chance to meet artist Susan Waters at the ahead of her two day exhibition. Everyone welcome - refreshments available. Dry Water Arts Centre, Wellwood Street Amble NE65 0FG www.drywaterarts.uk Tel: 07542 141411 6pm - 8pm. Free

MAIN FESTIVAL (SATURDAY 27 and SUNDAY 28 MAY)

Description	Time	Venue
Fair in the Square Arts, crafts, food, community groups and children’s amusements from 10am in the Town Square	10am - 4pm	Town Square
Pop up bird watching With the Space for Shorebirds team. 10am – 12midday next to the Shorebase Trust. Come along and watch the birds along the estuary using our telescopes. Free	10am - 12pm	Estuary
All about Puffins. A chance to ask the RSPB and Coquet Island wardens about the Puffins and other wonderful birds and seals on the island. In the Town Sq. Free	10am - 4pm	Town Sq
Puffins ahoy! Video footage of puffins on Coquet Island. In the Town Square	10am - 4pm	Town Square
Exhibition: SheView An exhibition celebrating the female artist Susan Waters through a witty and thought provoking exhibition at Dry Water Arts. As ever this dynamic arts hub offers something different and beautiful for Amble. Everyone welcome, bring your friends too! Exhibition open 10.30am - 4pm Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 May. Dry Water Arts Centre, Wellwood Street Amble NE65 0FG www.drywaterarts.uk Tel: 07542 141411. Free	10:30am - 4pm	Dry Water Arts Centre
Bord Waalk info tent Display of community work carried out for the bird sculpture trail	10am - 4pm	Town Sq
Talks and Screenings Talks and Screenings at The Dovecote Street Show. The screenings will consist of sound, film and video art pieces. See their social media for more info. Instagram: dovecotestreetshow; Facebook: Dovecote Street Show; Twitter: DovecoteStShow. 10am -4pm at the NTC Dovecote Centre	10am -4pm	NTC Dovecote Centre
Puffin storytime and crafts With Jodi at Amble Library. 10.30am – 11.30am. Free but booking required: book via Eventbrite: https://bit.ly/41Wa6Wb	10:30am - 11:30am	Amble Library
Beach Safari Explore the rockpools at the Little Shore with Ranger Jane. Join in any time. More info 07742 665258. Free	10:30am - 3:30pm	Little Shore
Beach Art with Claire Eason. Turn up and join in. On the Little Shore. Free	4pm- 5:30pm	Little Shore
Live Performances Throughout the day. In the Town Sq Bare Toed aerial art & live music. Plus have a go workshops where you can try out your aerial abilities! Tribal dancing from Tribe Zuza Pop up poet Ian Williams (in cafes in the town centre)	Throughout the date (check puffin boards for times)	Town Sq
Live music from Salida Auckland Shanty Singers The Boffs	Throughout the date (check puffin boards for times)	Town Sq
Meet Tommy Noddy the giant puffin. Various times throughout the day in the Town Square	Various	Town Square
Dog show with Northumberland Dog Rescue. Starts at 1pm with registration from 12.30. On the Braid near the beacon. The categories are; best senior, best bitch best dog, best rescue, best behaved, most like owner, best overall. Special guest: John’s Paws dog trainer. Details from www.northumberlandogrescue.co.uk or see their Facebook page. 01665 579246.	12:30 reg	Braid
Wildlife talk A look at the work of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue. With Jane Hardy. At Cock + Bull in the Town Sq. 1-1.30pm. Free	1-1:30pm	Town Sq
Make a puffin mascot Make a plushy puffin mascot Some skills needed: backstitching, needle threading and knot tying. Not for complete beginners. Toy not suitable for small children and pets. 2pm – 3.30pm at Amble Pin Cushion 20 Queen Street. £12.50 inc materials (adult and child attending together making 1 toy £17.50). Ring 01665 714584 www.amblepincushion.co.uk or see their Facebook page	2pm - 3:30pm	Amble Pin Cushion - 20 Queen Street
Afternoon nature walk Birds and flowers of the estuary. With Atholl Swanston. Approx 1.5hrs. Meet 2pm at info stall near Cock + Bull in the Town Sq. Free.	2pm	Meet in Town Sq
Stand up Paddleboard taster sessions Stand up paddleboarding with Northside Surf School. Sessions last 30mins. Under 18s must be accompanied by a parent/guardian + must sign permission form. Ring Jon 07944398115 for prices and times.	Various	Various Locations
Evening talk* Old Amble. With Bart Rippon. 7pm-8pm. Doors open 6.30pm. At the Masonic Hall NE65 0LN. Adults £5. Cash only on the door; sorry we have no card facilities.	6.30pm	Masonic Hall

SUNDAY 28 MAY

Description	Time	Venue
Fair in the Square Arts, crafts, food, community groups and children’s amusements From 10am in the Town Square	10am - 4pm	Town Square
All about Puffins. A chance to ask the RSPB and Coquet Island wardens about the Puffins and other wonderful birds and seals on the island. In the Town Sq. Free	10am - 4pm	Town Sq.
Puffins ahoy! Video footage of puffins on Coquet Island. In the Town Square	10am - 4pm	Town Square
Exhibition: SheView An exhibition celebrating the female artist Susan Waters through a witty and thought provoking exhibition at Dry Water Arts. As ever this dynamic arts hub offers something different and beautiful for Amble. Everyone welcome, bring your friends too! Exhibition open 10.30am - 4pm Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 May. Dry Water Arts Centre, Wellwood Street Amble NE65 0FG www.drywaterarts.uk Tel: 07542 141411. Free	10:30am - 4pm	Dry Water Arts
Live Performances Throughout the day. In the Town Sq/centre Live music from Caribbean Steel Band Musical magic and fun from the Baghdaddies Pop up poet Ian Williams (in cafes in the town centre) The Boffs	Throughout the day	In the Town Sq/centre
Bord Waalk info tent Display of community work carried out for the bird sculpture trail. In the Town Sq.	TBC	Town Sq.
Beach Safari Explore the rockpools at the Little Shore with Ranger Jane. Join in any time. More info 07742 665258	Any time	Little Shore
Afternoon talk The Bird Roads (Poetry created for Amble Bord Waalk). With Katrina Porteous. Poetry reading and Q+A. At Cock + Bull in the Town Sq. 1-2pm. Free	1-2pm	Town Sq.
Afternoon nature walk Flowers of the dunes. With Atholl Swanston. Approx 1.5hrs. Meet 2pm at info stall near Cock + Bull in the Town Sq. Free.	2pm	Meet in Town Sq
Meet Tommy Noddy the giant puffin Various times throughout the day in the Town Square	Various Times	Town Square

ARTISTS/ENTERTAINERS

The Bare Toed Dance Co – Aerial artists based in Newcastle. They combine playful creativity, aerial dance suspended from a wire, and physical theatre. A big hit last year, this year the group are also offering have a go aerial workshops for the general public. Together with live music, the performances have been designed especially for the Puffin Festival. See them on Saturday in the Town Sq

Katrina Porteous - Katrina is a freelance poet, historian and broadcaster, specialising in work on the theme of ‘nature’ in its widest sense, and ‘place’ in its deepest. Known for her extensive knowledge of Northumbrian history and dialect, Katrina composed several poems for the new Amble Bord Waalk sculpture trail. We are delighted to be the venue for Katrina’s first reading of The Bird Roads, together with a Q+A about her experience of writing and collaborating during the Covid lockdown. See Katrina on Sunday 1-2pm in the Cock+Bull in the Town Sq

Wild Cloudberries - Wild Cloudberries is a contemporary folk band that blends elements of storytelling folk, blues and ballads to create an easy listening mix of original songs and interesting arrangements of much loved songs by world class artists. See them on Friday evening at the NTC Dovecote Centre

Salida - Chilled out acoustic Latin, samba, reggae - an eclectic mixture really. The band have been together for over 10 years performing covers ranging from Manu Chau to Bob Marley, sung in English, Spanish & Portugese. Classic tunes with a Salida twist. Band - vocals Davy Allan, guitar Tom Ross, percussion Matthew Ross. Currently writing their own songs, a unique latin style vibe. See them on Saturday in the Town Sq

The Baghdaddies’ exuberant and rampant brand of world music is an exhilarating cocktail of Balkan melodies, ska and latin grooves and sizzling brass played with furious energy and theatrical humour, making them as unforgettable on stage as they are when performing as wandering brass troubadours. They take themselves incredibly seriously so you don’t have to… See them on Sunday in the Town Sq

Caribbean Crew – Steel band based in Cramlington. Playing upbeat, contemporary music, this community project promotes the art of the steelpan and Caribbean culture. A firm Puffin Festival favourite. See them on Sunday in the Town Sq

Auckland Shanty Singers - A sea shanty singing group based in Bishop Auckland. They perform all over the region, bringing the songs of the sea, both traditional and new. Join in the choruses and bring your best pirate impersonations! See them on Saturday in the Town Sq

The Boffs – Originated in Amble during the late 1960s. They have reformed and are still playing the psychedelic rock they did all those years ago. They just love being out and about again, and hope you enjoy the music they love to play. See them on Sat and sun in the Town Sq

Pop up Poet Ian Williams is a stand-up poet and performer. He has performed at events, festivals and theatres around the north east and Scotland over the past 15 year. He is the resident ‘pop-up’ poet for the Amble Puffin Festival. Catch him as he makes impromptu performances in local cafes and restaurants throughout the festival period. He hopes to make people smile and think in equal measure.