BlakeFest - with BonzoBills Comedy Band

BlakeFest is BACK

Blakefest 2025 will celebrate the life of the great William Blake: radical poet, illustrator, visionary, and one of the country’s greatest literary and artistic figures. On September 27th and 28th, The Blake Society, Blake Cottage Trust, South Downs Poetry Festival & Local Creatives join the Big Blake Project with captivating spoken word & musical performances.

In Felpham on Saturday 27 September:

The celebration starts in Felpham, in conjunction with The Blake Cottage Trust who are restoring the cottage where William and Catherine Blake lived for three years and where Blake was inspired to write. Restoration continues and it is hoped that this important cottage will partially open in 2027, the bicentennial of Blake’s death.

At midday, come and join us just behind Blake’s cottage in the beautiful Old Rectory Gardens, to see Ruth Rosen’s ‘Inspired Theatrical Performance’ – ‘Man Without A Mask’ followed by a visit to the Fox pub, established in 1790. After refreshments, Jane Summerville, local resident and Ambassador of Blake Cottage Trust, will lead a guided walk of the village. In the evening there will be a free performance in St Mary’s Church by West Sussex musician Jack Boyd. Donations are very welcome. Wine will be served!

In Bognor Regis on Sunday 28 September:

On Sunday, come to Bognor’s historic Pier, a great landmark for our final festival day. Run by South Downs Poetry Festival & Blake Society stalwarts of BlakeFest the day navigates from a hands-on beginning to a night of laughter. BlakeFest @thePier is a mix of jazz, roots, nomadic storytelling, walks, and comedy.

Bognor has a long association with comedy, with the Clown Convention and Tony Handcock so come and enjoy BlakeFest headliners BonzoBills a unique chance to hear one of the few remaining comedy bands. Their anticipated presence at BlakeFest picked to highlight the influence Blake had on the counter-culture of the 1960s. Blake was highly influential in alternative cultures, particularly with the Beat generation of poets and artists. The event also serves as a nod too to Allen Ginsberg, who visited Felpham in tribute to his hero, as well as elements of psychedelia and visionary experience.

The day begins with a chance for you to have a go and learn at our free sketching workshop. Afterwards hear the secrets of Blake's notebook unlocked as Blakean Scholar and Illustrator Tamsin Rosewell explores some of Blake’s personal sketches.

Enjoy a beguiling presentation of Romany life : storytelling, poetry, and music bringing 'KIN' and its world to you – [Salmon Press’ award-winning anthology]. The Romani creatives with their poetry, harp and song are currently touring the UK to increasingly great acclaim.

Be uplifted by Olivia Stevens and Stefan Rajic’s Jazz. Olivia is a singer-songwriter who writes and produces original music and provides opportunities for others to do the same in her 4 Play, original music showcases. Outside West Sussex Olivia has played at the Wedgewood Rooms, Sofar Sounds and the Upton Blues Festival. Stefan Rajic is an outstanding guitarist and brings a perfect balance to these Blues/Jazz infusions.

Blake & the Beats bring the focus back on Blake with musical performances of Blake’s most perennial poems, such as Tyger Tyger, The Lamb, London, and Ah! Sunflower. Chris Hardy, a published poet and lead guitarist in LiTTLe MACHiNe. Accompanied by Barry Smith , a passionate published poet and quite literally a beacon for poetry through his Jazz-poetry café nights in Chichester and the Southdowns Poetry Festival

Bonzo Bills is Headlining, the famed comedy band, arising from the legendary Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and the Bill Posters Will Be Band. A unique chance to see the appearance of the Bonzos and hear the songs that made them famous. It ties in with the launch of 'Still Barking (Madfish Music). A new box set of their classic 1960s hits.

Running Order for Sunday, 28th September 2025

12pm Sketching Workshop - A chance to ‘have-a-go’, connect or improve

With broadcaster & illustrator Tamsin Rosewell

1:00pm Welcome to BlakeFest, including the presentation of the Roland Manuel sketch prizes

1.15pm The Rossetti Manuscipt – Open up Blake’s Note book in a captivating session led by Tamsin Rosewell. Tamsin, a Blakean Scholar and Blake Society Trustee will be sharing from treasures she has discovered in Blake’s private sketch book held at the British Library.

2.00pm ‘Kin’ – Romany Inspiration. Enter into a Romany world existing on the edge of ours through its highly acclaimed female narrators. Join Raine Geoghegan Romani anthologist, Harpist Vanessa-Wood-Davies and others as they weave for us a tapestry from its highly praised award -winning anthology ‘Kin’, by Salmon Press.

3.00pm JAZZ – Olivia Stevens and Stefan Rajic

Pick up the beat with smoking hot jazz-infused blues and soul.

4:00 pm Blake and The Beat, bring the spotlight back on Blake the Poet in brand new

musical settings created by the the guitarist from music/poetry ensemble Little Machine and the velvet-voiced South Downs poet, Barry Smith.

5:00 pm Break – Fish & Chips are among the refreshments that can be purchased at the Pier or on the sea-front of Bognor Regis

6:15 PM Doors open for the Bonzo Bills. The stage is given over to an evening of comic musical entertainment as the spirit of the Bonzos lives again.

BlakeFest 2025: BlakeFest with BonzoBills, Sunday 28 September 2025, 12pm (afternoon session) and 6.30pm (evening session).