Bookings for paid events can be made at stivesseptemberfestival.co.uk unless otherwise stated. Free events are marked
DAILY
Lunchtime music and poetry
Norway Square (elsewhere if wet). Local and visiting performers are welcome. 12.30pm-2pm. Free.
Open Studios
Artists throughout the town open their doors and welcome visitors to view and discuss their work. See the Festival website for details of individual opening days, times, and information about the artists.
An Open Secret
All over town until Friday, 26th September. Free art is popping up across St Ives during the Festival! Look out for wall art, sculptures, ethereal art, sound installations, screenings, pop-ups and free artist giveaways around town, from Zoe Eaton and Peter Giles of Barnoon Arts, and a host of artists. Updates at barnoonarts.uk
SATURDAY, 13th SEPTEMBER
Sustainable Textile Workshops: The Wild Threads
At The Core, St Ives Community Orchard, 10am-5pm. An intuitive, open-ended workshop with By Tumbisha, exploring raw creativity through textiles. Mix techniques, follow your emotions, and let the materials guide you in an energetic dialogue between hand, heart, and fabric. Half or full day. Price £45-£80
A Walk Amongst Artists with Nicky Ferguson
Meet outside the library, 10.30am. Nicky talks about St Ives as a community for artists, from the early 1900s through to the
modernists, including Barbara Hepworth, Terry Frost, Patrick Heron, and more, visiting galleries along the way. 90 minutes. Book online. £8
St Ives Town Walk Number One, with Tony Farrell
Meet outside the Guildhall, 11am. No booking required. A walk that includes places of historical and cultural significance in the town. Two hours. £5
Piano Bike Girl, AKA Chloe Marie Aston, will be among the street entertainers
Street Entertainment
Noon-4.30pm, around town. An afternoon of Aspects-sponsored entertainment to get everyone in the Festival mood. Free
Big Cauldron Marathon Music Session
At the Western Hotel, 1.30-6pm. Toni Carver hosts the first of three traditional Saturday afternoon marathon music sessions. Free
Exhibition Opening
At the Porthminster Gallery, 5-7pm. Celebrating 25 years since their opening, an exhibition showcasing St Ives Modernist and local artists featured over the years. Free
St Ives Society of Artists Open Evening
At the Mariners Gallery, 5-7pm. Celebrating the opening of the autumn show. With drinks and music.
Evelyn, with Porthmeor Theatre
At Porthmeor Studios, 6-8pm. An original St Ives ghost story which has had glowing reviews. A story of loving and longing
in the face of unmoveable heartbreak. Inspired by legends of the Cornish coast, written by award-winning local writer Neil Bason. £15.50
Boilerhouse with Annamaria Murphy
At Penwith Gallery, 7.30pm. Boilerhouse are a five-piece acapella group drawing on many influences, including folk, the poetry of Charles Causley, and working songs. The band is rooted in the Cornish singing tradition, but looks out to the world. Annamaria Murphy is a writer for BBC Radio 4 and Kneehigh Theatre, currently collaborating with musicians Bagas Degol. £13
Will Keating and John Dowling
Will Keating and John Dowling
At St Ives Arts Club, 7.30pm. £15. Award-winning Cornwall singer-songwriter Will Keating and champion banjo player John Dowling’s Duelling Banjos is a sight to behold. They’ve performed on radio and TV, at festivals, concert halls, and in community spaces around Cornwall and beyond. £15
The Countrymen
At St Ives Theatre, 7.30pm. The much-anticipated return of The Countrymen, now a six-piece, who have performed in the Netherlands and USA since making a big impression on their 2022 St Ives debut. Featuring tight four-part vocal harmony and strong instrumentation with original songs about life in Cornwall, the demise of local industries and other rural issues, plus their own arrangements of contemporary folk songs. £16
Roo Panes
At St Ia Parish Church, 8pm. The British singer-songwriter has built an impressive career, gradually creating a constantly-evolving global fanbase with sold-out shows and millions of streams worldwide, leading to the creation of the impressive body of work that culminates with his beautiful fourth album The Summer Isles. £24-£33
Blue Ray Band
At the R Bar, 8pm.
Kettle Jam
At the Western Hotel, 8.30pm.
Lee Davids
At the Sloop Inn, 9pm.
Crimson Tide
At the Union Inn, 9pm.
SUNDAY, 14th SEPTEMBER
September Festival Service
At St Ia Church, 9.45pm.
Sustainable Textile Workshops: The Makers Map
At The Core, St Ives Community Orchard, 10am-5pm. £45
Vinyasa Yoga with Imogen
At Café Art, 10-11am. Sixty minutes of soothing Sunday morning yoga. Includes a special Chakra-inspired smoothie. Book at imogenfrostyoga.uk. £10
Nicky Ferguson
A Walk Amongst Artists with Nicky Ferguson
Meet outside the library, 10.30am. Nicky talks about St Ives as a community for artists, from the early 1900s through to the
modernists, including Barbara Hepworth, Terry Frost, Patrick Heron, and more, visiting galleries along the way. 90 minutes. Book online. £8
St Ives Town Walk Number One, with Tony Farrell
Meet outside the Guildhall, 11am. No booking required. A walk that includes places of historical and cultural significance in the town. Two hours. £5
Pictures of You: Drop-in Portrait Studio
At Barnoon Arts, Westcotts Quay, noon-6pm.
Film: Wind, Tide, and Oar
At St Ives Arts Club, 2pm. A fundraiser for St Ives Jumbo Association.
In Conversation With Songwriters
At the Western Hotel, 2-4pm. Delve deep into the poetic heart of songwriting at an intimate and engaging event. Hosted by Toni Edwards, the session will feature live performances and open discussion, as songwriters Ben Bentley, Johanna Suheyla, Zoe McGowan and Jude Johnson share their original music and insights. £20
St Ives String Band
At Bier Huis Grand Café, 2pm. Free
Tai Chi: Harmony, Balance and Movement in the Natural World
At The Core, St Ives Community Orchard, 2-5pm. Interactive talk and workshop with Ella Tennant (Kokoro-Arte). £15
Evelyn, with Porthmeor Theatre
At Porthmeor Studios, 6-8pm. An original St Ives ghost story which has had glowing reviews. A story of loving and longing
in the face of unmoveable heartbreak. Inspired by legends of the Cornish coast, written by award-winning local writer Neil Bason. £15.50
Falmouth Jazz Band
At the R Bar, 7pm. Free
Miranda Sykes
At St Ives Arts Club, 7.30pm. £16. Tickets here.
The Unravelling Wilburys
At St Ives Theatre, 7.30pm. The perfect mix of superb musicianship and tongue-in-cheek humour! The Unravelling Wilburys perform the songs of 1980s supergroup The Traveling Wilburys. They also dip into the back catalogue of each of its legendary members — George Harrison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, Roy Orbison, and Jeff Lynne (ELO), with their unique slant on what it means to be a tribute band. £23
Sunday Sessions with Tim Neville
At the Western Hotel, 8pm. Free
Guy Harandon
At the Castle Inn, 8pm.
Josh Gleaves
At the Sloop Inn, 9pm.
Bob Seymour
At the Union Inn, 9pm.
MONDAY, 15th SEPTEMBER
The Archaeology of West Penwith with Tony Farrell
Customised trips to the ancient monuments of West Penwith, with fine examples of megalithic chambered tombs, stone circles, entrance graves, cliff castles and prehistoric villages. Limited spaces available, advance booking essential: email tony.farrell@stiveswalks.co.uk or call 01736 793692 or 07881 674878
A Walk Amongst Artists with Nicky Ferguson
Meet outside the library, 10.30am. Nicky talks about St Ives as a community for artists, from the early 1900s through to the
modernists, including Barbara Hepworth, Terry Frost, Patrick Heron, and more, visiting galleries along the way. 90 minutes. Book online. £8
Virginia Woolf’s Talland House Garden
At Talland House, 10.30am. A talk and tour with Polly Carter, gardener at Talland House. She conducts a journey through plants and words in the garden of Virginia Woolf’s summer home. £15
Film: Memories of Barbara, Ben, and the St Ives Modernists
At Porthmeor Studios, 10.30am. Sir Alan Bowness and his memories of the St Ives artists in the 1950s and 60s, including Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson, Peter Lanyon, Patrick Heron, Terry Frost, and Roger Hilton. £5
Drink and Draw Workshop
At Bayspace, 1-3pm. Artist Dorrie King shows how to carry out ‘blind’ drawings without looking at the paper, with a breathtaking panoramic view over St Ives — fortified from time to time with a glass of fizz or cup of tea! £40
Sustainable Textile Workshops: The Makers Map
At The Core, St Ives Community Orchard, 10am-5pm. £45
Intuitive Abstract Painting Workshop
At the Crypt Gallery, 2-4.30pm. With Zoe Eaton. £40
Representational Artists Inspired by their Porthmeor Studios
At Porthmeor Studios, 2.30pm. A talk by David Tovey. £8
The History of Tregenna Castle
At Porthmeor Studios, 4.30pm. An illustrated talk by Tony Liddicoat. £8
Not The Beatles
Not The Beatles
At St Ia Church, 7.30pm. With a fresh line-up and a new show for 2025, Not The Beatles faithfully recreate the legendary
sounds and sights of the Fab Four. £12
Martyn Barker’s Tea Band
At St Ives Arts Club, 7.30pm. £12.
The Emerald Dawn and Dandelion Charm
At St Ives Theatre, 7.30pm. A rare chance to see multi-award-winning art rock band The Emerald Dawn, who have been making huge waves in the British progressive rock scene, at their home-town festival. Special guests Dandelion Charm are an alternative folk duo, combining folk, rock, and prog influences, with a sound reminiscent of the late 60s and early 70s. £18
Liz’s Quizzes
At the Castle Inn, 7.30pm. Fantastic prizes; booking essential. £2
Jenna Witts
At the Sloop Inn, 8pm.
Bow River
At the Union Inn, 9pm. Free
TUESDAY, 16th SEPTEMBER
Photograph Opens: Capture Clay
At the Leach Pottery, 8-9am, 9-10am, or 5-6pm. Gain exclusive access out of opening hours to photograph the spaces. Capture the spirit of Leach Pottery — the clay, the craft, and the community. Free
Anthotype Photography Workshop
At Café Art, 10am-noon. Explore the magic of nature and create a rainbow of colourful prints from plants and sunshine, with Imogen Frost from Cornwall Community Darkroom. Book at cornwall-darkroom.com/ £25
Barbara Hepworth: Bronze, Marble, Stone
Meet out side the library at 10.30am. A walk and talk with Nicky Ferguson “exploring The Lives and Loves of a Sculptor”, and looking at the sculptures Barbara Hepworth gifted to St Ives. 90 minutes. Book online. £8
Pilchards: A Brief History of the Cornish Sardine
A film at Porthmeor Studios, 10.30am.
St Ives Town Walk Number One, with Tony Farrell
Meet outside the Guildhall, 11am. No booking required. A walk that includes places of historical and cultural significance in the town. Two hours. £5
LGBTQIA+ Tour of Tate St Ives
1-1.30pm. Free with admission, Tate membership, or a local’s pass.
John Dummer’s Music Odyssey
At St Ives Library, 1.30pm. From Beats to Melody as celebrated musician and author John Dummer discusses his life in the music industry. £5
Matilda Webb, signing a copy of her book, Alfred Wallis: Child Pauper to Artistic Luminary, during its launch at St Ives Museum
A Walk Around Alfred Wallis’s St Ives
Meet at the West Pier, 2pm. Led by Matilda Webb, author of the definitive new biography Alfred Wallis: Child Pauper To Artistic Luminary, you pass the places where Alfred Wallis lived and worked, see views and subjects that inspired his paintings, and visit the grave where he was buried in 1942. £10
Bryan Pearce: A Different View
At Porthmeor Studios, 2.30pm. A talk by St Ives historian Janet Axten. £8
Brushes Against Tradition: The Artistic Journeys of Frances Hodgkins and Edith Collier
At Portmeor Studios, 4.30pm. Madie Parkinson-Evans provides a brief introduction to two women who are gaining deserved recognition. £8
Balance Workshop with Sky High Arts
At the Island Centre, 6.30-8pm. Find your balance in a class where you locate your centre point and explore the fun and enjoyment in moving away from it. £18
Just Like Clay
At St Ia Church, 7.30pm. Indie-folk-pop band combining virtuosic instrumental skills with compelling songwriting to take their audiences on a cathartic journey, overcoming self-doubt and delivering a strong message of community. £14
Cornwall — A Sense of Place, with Tir Ha Havas
At St Ives Arts Club, 7.30pm. Dave and Dee Brotherton take you on a journey in music, words, and images. Granite stones
and monuments, rugged cliffs, windswept hills and moors, medieval fields and farms, summer visitors, all filling our minds with a deep sense of our beloved land of Kernow. With guest reader Helen Musser. £13
Footloose
At St Ives Theatre, 7.30pm. The final night of the summer run of the musical production from the award-winning St Ives Kidz R Us theatre group. £13.10-£20.96
The Nigel Price Organ Trio
At the Western Hotel, 7.30pm. St Ives Jazz Club presents award-winning jazz guitarist Nigel Price, a major force in the music scene for more than 25 years, captivating audiences with his unique blend of bebop, deep blues, and masterful chording. £20
Open Mic with Liam Jordan
At the Castle Inn, 7.30pm. Bring your own instruments. Free
Lee Davids
At the R Bar, 8pm. Free
Acoustic Night with Martin Sadler
At the Western Hotel, 8.30pm. Free
Bob Seymour
At the Sloop Inn, 9pm. Free
Rhine Stone Rats
At the Union Inn, 9pm. Free
WEDNESDAY, 17th SEPTEMBER
Photograph Opens: Capture Clay
At the Leach Pottery, 8-9am, 9-10am, or 5-6pm. Gain exclusive access out of opening hours to photograph the spaces. Capture the spirit of Leach Pottery — the clay, the craft, and the community. Free
Tai Chi Session
At St Ives Community Orchard, 10.30am. Harmony, Balance and Movement in the Natural World. With Ella Tennant (Kokoro-Arte). £8
A Walk Amongst Artists with Nicky Ferguson
Meet outside the library, 10.30am. Nicky talks about St Ives as a community for artists, from the early 1900s through to the
modernists, including Barbara Hepworth, Terry Frost, Patrick Heron, and more, visiting galleries along the way. 90 minutes. Book online. £8
Fish, Tin, and Light; and Porthmeor Studios Through the Eyes of the Architect
At Porthmeor Studios, 10.30am. Two films made to celebrate the renovation of Porthmeor Studios. £5
St Ives Town Walk Number Two, with Tony O’Farrell
Meet outside the Guildhall, 11am. An alternative town walk that looks at other aspects of St Ives’ development. The evidence for the earliest occupation of Porthia, mining, and education in the town’s history. £5 (no booking required)
Wild Weaving with Beachcombings Workshop
At St Ives Library, 11am. £31
Porthmeor Print Workshops
At Porthmeor Studios, 11am-noon and 3-4pm. Printing technique demonstrations. Donations
John Dummer
At Café Art, 2pm. John played in the doo-wop group Darts, who had a few hits in the 1970s, and was instrumental in forming the group and several others, including the John Dummer Blues Band.
Wish We Weren’t Here: Disappointed Literary Visitors 1820-1965
At Porthmeor Studios, 2.30pm. It’s spring 2028 in the tourist office, where staff discover the ‘complaints’ archive! They unearth stories of famous, and infamous, past visitors in this lighthearted, multi-media show with Camidge & Stringer. £8
Curious About Kilns
At Leach Pottery, 3-3.30pm. John Mackenzie talks about building a wood-firing kiln.
Annual Cup Sale and Drinks Event
At Gaolyard Studios, 5-7pm.
Evelyn, with Porthmeor Theatre
At Porthmeor Studios, 6-7 and 8-9pm. An original St Ives ghost story which has had glowing reviews. A story of loving and longing in the face of unmoveable heartbreak. Inspired by legends of the Cornish coast, written by award-winning local writer Neil Bason. £15.50
Ben Bentley
At Café Art, 6-9pm. St Ives singer-songwriter. Plus a guest performer.
Lowender: A Night of Cornish Song
At St Ia Church, 7.30pm. Hireth, a four-part harmony vocal group, singing in the Cornish language. Cornish-born singer-songwriter Elizabeth Freeborn, and fiddle and guitar duo Fest Da Lowr, passionate about bringing the old sounds of Cornwall to life through its language and traditional tunes. £14
Katherine and Alan Clark, otherwise known as ARKangel
ARKangel’s Lullaby of Harlem
At the Mariner’s Gallery, 7.30pm. ARKangel’s new 2025 show, with Katherine and Alan Clark. Powerful narrative, haunting
music, violin, guitar, vocals, spoken word. From a uniquely black folk art, born of oppression, to the world stage. £12
Louise Parker Quartet
At the Western Hotel, 8pm. St Ives Jazz Club presents acclaimed vocalist Louise Parker for an evening of soulful, swinging jazz, inspired by Nina Simone and Billie Holiday. Parker, who has worked with legends like Humphrey Lyttelton and Dave Newton, will be joined by Sarah McDonagh (saxophones), Tom Quirke (piano), Ross Williams (bass), and Pip Harbon (drums). £16
Bowie Williams Duo
At the R Bar, 8pm. Free
Joe Duke
At the Castle Inn, 8pm. Free
Jenny Bishop
At the Sloop Inn, 9pm. Free
Guy
At the Union Inn, 9pm. Free
THURSDAY, 18th SEPTEMBER
Barbara Hepworth: Bronze, Marble, Stone
Meet out side the library at 10.30am. A walk and talk with Nicky Ferguson “exploring The Lives and Loves of a Sculptor”, and looking at the sculptures Barbara Hepworth gifted to St Ives. 90 minutes. Book online. £8
St Ives Town Walk Number One, with Tony Farrell
Meet outside the Guildhall, 11am. No booking required. A walk that includes places of historical and cultural significance in the town. Two hours. £5
From St Ives Arts Club to Tate St Ives
At St Ives Arts Club, 11am. Arts Club trustee and local historian Janet Axten charts the art organisations in St Ives, from the inception of the Arts Club to the building of Tate St Ives, introducing the ‘movers and shakers’ who created our cultural heritage. £8
Watercolour Painting Demonstration
Outside Art Space gallery, 11am-3pm. With artist Michael Hocking. Free
Tai Chi Session
At St Ives Community Orchard, 10.30am. Harmony, Balance and Movement in the Natural World. With Ella Tennant (Kokoro-Arte). £8
Organ Recital with James Anderson-Besant
At St Ia Church, 1.15pm. Donations
Author Liz Fenwick, talk and book signing
At St Ives Arts Club, 1.30pm. Liz is an American writer of commercial fiction, living in Cornwall. She has published nine novels and two novellas, taking her inspiration from Cornwall’s history and landscape. £10
Poetry Reading and More
At St Ives Library, 2pm. A participatory event for poetry lovers. Ideally, you have poems to share and would like to discover the work of other poets. £8
A Walk Around Alfred Wallis’s St Ives
Meet at the West Pier, 2pm. Led by Matilda Webb, author of the definitive new biography Alfred Wallis: Child Pauper To Artistic Luminary, you pass the places where Alfred Wallis lived and worked, see views and subjects that inspired his paintings, and visit the grave where he was buried in 1942. £10
Penwith Gallery Archive
At the Penwith Gallery, 2pm. A talk by Jason Lilley on the gallery’s rich and fascinating history. Free
Vaughan Bennett
At Café Art, 2pm. An afternoon of contemporary Cornish folk. Free
Make a Bowl, In a Bowl, In a Bowl
At the Leach Pottery, 6-8pm. Create a set of three nestling bowls through hand-built pinch pots. Outcomes of the workshop will be fired and glazed and ready for collection within 10 weeks. £25
Sunset Spritz and Sounds
At Tate St Ives, 6-8pm. Tickets here.
Bow River
At Bier Huis Grand Café, 7pm. Free
Café Frug
At St Ives Arts Club, 7.30pm. Local and visiting performers with poetry, music, storytelling, and more. £10
Cork and Barbor at the Rum Café
At Café Art, 7.30pm. Shanties, sea songs and traditional songs of Cornwall with St Ives singers Cork an Barbor —
plus the rum of course! Book at Café Art. £10
John Dummer and Friends
At the Crypt Gallery, 8pm. Blues legend John Dummer, famed for his 60s John Dummer’s Blues Band and chart-topping 70s doo wop band Darts, will be joined by guests including Dale Henwood on double bass, Mick Oxtoby on violin and guitar, and St Ives singer-songwriter Nicole Tesseyman for an intimate blues gig. £12
Indie Folk Night with Toni E
At the Western Hotel, 8pm. Visiting and local performers are welcome at the round-the-room session in the Kettle and Wink
Bar. Free
Bowie Williams Duo
At the R Bar, 8pm. Free
Karaoke
At the Castle Inn, 9pm. Free
Jo Horne
At the Sloop Inn, 9pm. Free
Sinpusher
At the Union Inn, 9pm. Free
FRIDAY, 19th SEPTEMBER
The Archaeology of West Penwith with Tony Farrell
Customised trips to the ancient monuments of West Penwith, with fine examples of megalithic chambered tombs, stone circles, entrance graves, cliff castles and prehistoric villages. Limited spaces available, advance booking essential: email tony.farrell@stiveswalks.co.uk or call 01736 793692 or 07881 674878
Spot The Artist, Viewing Day
At Porthmeor Studios, 10am-4pm. View the paintings on sale at St Ives Rotary Club’s annual charity art sale. Proceeds are shared 50-50 between arts organisations and good causes supported by Rotary. Free
A Walk Amongst Artists with Nicky Ferguson
Meet outside the library, 10.30am. Nicky talks about St Ives as a community for artists, from the early 1900s through to the
modernists, including Barbara Hepworth, Terry Frost, Patrick Heron, and more, visiting galleries along the way. 90 minutes. Book online. £8
The History and Mystery of St Ives
Meet at The Malakoff, 11am. St Ives Archive trustee Tony Mason leads a 90- to 120-minute stroll from Porthminster Beach to Porthmeor Beach. All proceeds to St Ives Archive. Price £5 (no booking required, cash only, children free)
The Larks
At St Ives Arts Club, 1pm. Nicole Tesseyman (The Cornish Lark) and Josh Frost (just Josh) with folk, country, blues, soul,
rock, indie, and a shanty or three! £12
LGBTQIA+ Tour of Tate St Ives
1-1.30pm. Free with admission, Tate membership, or a local’s pass.
Friction Farm
At St Ives Library, 1.30pm. Americana-folk duo Friction Farm are husband and wife travelling troubadours Aidan Quinn and Christine Stay, who combine storytelling, social commentary, and humour. £8
Over-60s Aerial Circus with Sky High Arts
At the Island Centre, 4-5.15pm. Think you are too old? Think again. A gentle exploration of being in the air and having fun while getting fit. Email skyhigharts@mail.com £15
Spirit of St Ives with Global Jamming
At Porthmeor Studios, 7.30pm. Community music platform Global Jamming and St Ives composers, musicians, and film makers, with new interpretations of songs by John Barber. Guest spots from Irene Tanner, Katrina Geraghty, and the Cantiamo choir, Nicole Tesseyman, Vaughan Bennetts, and members of town civic band Bagas an Norvys. Proceeds to St Ives Concert Band accessibility project and St Ives Community Foodshare. £9
Molly Hocking
At St Ia Church, 7.30pm. The 24-year-old St Ives-born singer won ITV’s The Voice in 2019. She is an emerging artist on the UK music scene, having secured No 1 and No 6 singles on the official iTunes music chart. Accompanied by Tom Quirke, keyboard stalwart of the St Ives jazz scene. £15/£8
The Richard Trethewey Trio
At St Ives Arts Club, 7.30pm. Singer, fiddle, and cittern player, delivering his distinct take on Cornish music. £15
Martin Simpson
At St Ives Theatre,7.30pm. One of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, Martin Simpson returns following his mesmerising 2021 September Festival appearance. £21
Red Handed Quartet
At the R Bar, 8pm. Free
Festival Songwriters Special
At the Western Hotel, 8.30pm. Hosted by keyboards player and vocalist Joe Duke, who invites local and visiting musicians to take part. Free
The Beautiful Southwest
At the Castle Inn, 9pm. Free
Bob Love
At the Sloop Inn, 9pm. Free
Devils Creek
At the Union Inn, 9pm. Free
SATURDAY, 20th SEPTEMBER
Sandcastle Competition
On Porthminster Beach, 10am-2pm. Several different categories to enter, including under-11s, family and friends, and architects! Registration open from 9.30am, judging from 1.30pm, awards presented at 2pm. Free
Spot The Artist, Viewing Day
At Porthmeor Studios, 10am-4pm. View the paintings on sale at St Ives Rotary Club’s annual charity art sale. Proceeds are shared 50-50 between arts organisations and good causes supported by Rotary. Free
Sustainable Textile Workshops: The Wild Threads
At The Core, St Ives Community Orchard, 10am-5pm. An intuitive, open-ended workshop with By Tumbisha, exploring raw creativity through textiles. Mix techniques, follow your emotions, and let the materials guide you in an energetic dialogue between hand, heart, and fabric. Half or full day. Price £45-£80
Barbara Hepworth: Bronze, Marble, Stone
Meet out side the library at 10.30am. A walk and talk with Nicky Ferguson “exploring The Lives and Loves of a Sculptor”, and looking at the sculptures Barbara Hepworth gifted to St Ives. 90 minutes. Book online. £8
St Ives Town Walk Number One, with Tony Farrell
Meet outside the Guildhall, 11am. No booking required. A walk that includes places of historical and cultural significance in the town. Two hours. £5
Square Deal Art Sale
At St Ives Society of Artists, 11am. The chance to own an original painting by a Society of Artists member. Proceeds go towards the maintenance of the historic building. Free
Street Entertainment
Noon-4.30pm, around town. An afternoon of Aspects-sponsored entertainment to get everyone in the Festival mood. Free
Big Cauldron Marathon Music Session
At the Western Hotel, 1.30-6pm. Toni Carver hosts the first of three traditional Saturday afternoon marathon music sessions. Free
Discover Church Bells
At Towednack Church, 2pm. Visit the belfry, discover how bells are rung full circle, chime all the bells with a brief introductory lesson. Email marypjones50@gmail.com or text 07983 415888 to book, as space is limited. Free
Discovering St Ives Town’s Art Collection
At St Ives Library, 2pm. Catherine Wallace traces the acquisition history of some of the works in the town’s Art Collection, and the significance of the exhibitions for the Festival of Britain in 1951. £11
Art Exhibition and Dinner
At Tregenna Castle, 5.30pm. An evening with renowned artist Susan Fowler in Tregenna Castle’s Trelawney Ballroom, giving unique insight into her life as an artist in Cornwall. The fundraiser for the Motor Neurone Disease Association includes a three-course meal. £50
Djazz Celtica
At the Penwith Gallery, 5.30pm. From gypsy jazz (as created by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli in the 1930s), to folk music from around Europe, Irish traditional, Bluegrass, Klezmer, and Latin, with Pam Betowski (violin) and Noel Betowski (guitar). £11
Nicole Tesseyman
At Bier Huis Grand Café, 7pm. Free
Bryher’s Boys
At St Ia Church, 7.30pm. Shanties, and nautical and Cornish songs. £11
Johnny Cowling
At St Ives Arts Club, 7.30pm. Mix a pinch of Jethro, a spoonful of Tommy Cooper, and a hunk of Elvis and you have Cornish
comedian Johnny Cowling. £20
St Ives String Band
At the Western Hotel, 8.30pm. Free
Straight Fire
At the Castle Inn, 9pm. Free
Liam Jordan
At the Sloop Inn, 9pm. Free
BT Experience Bob Dylan
At the Union Inn, 9pm. Free
SUNDAY, 21st SEPTEMBER
Spot The Artist, Sale
At Porthmeor Studios, 9am-1pm. The keenest bargain-hunters will have queued overnight in Back Road West for first pick at St Ives Rotary Club’s annual charity painting sale.
Vinyasa Yoga with Imogen
At Café Art, 10-11am. Sixty minutes of soothing Sunday morning yoga. Includes a special Chakra-inspired smoothie. Book at imogenfrostyoga.uk. £10
Sustainable Textile Workshops: The Makers Map
At The Core, St Ives Community Orchard, 10am-5pm. £45
A Walk Amongst Artists with Nicky Ferguson
Meet outside the library, 10.30am. Nicky talks about St Ives as a community for artists, from the early 1900s through to the
modernists, including Barbara Hepworth, Terry Frost, Patrick Heron, and more, visiting galleries along the way. 90 minutes. Book online. £8
St Ives Town Walk Number Two, with Tony O’Farrell
Meet outside the Guildhall, 11am. An alternative town walk that looks at other aspects of St Ives’ development. The evidence for the earliest occupation of Porthia, mining, and education in the town’s history. £5 (no booking required)
Pictures of You: Drop-in Portrait Studio
At Barnoon Arts, Westcotts Quay, noon-6pm.
Build and Sculpt a Kiln Tea Light Holder
At Leach Pottery, 2-4pm. A drop-in workshop, no need to book. Last admission to the workshop is 3.30pm. Written with children in mind, but suitable and welcoming for all generations. Free
Hokum Boys
At the Bier Huis Grand Café, 2pm. Free
Meor Voices
At the Western Hotel, 4pm. St Ives-based female choir singing alternative, indie, and folk songs. £8
Falmouth Jazz Band
At the R Bar, 7pm. Free
Bailey Tomkinson and The Locals
At St Ia Church, 7.30pm. Bailey made headlines when, unsigned and unmanaged, she reached number one in the iTunes video charts. Then The Times showcased her song Bright Red as a rallying cry for sustainability and social justice, ahead of her home town’s 2021 G7 Summit. £12
Jim Causley
At St Ives Arts Club, 7.30pm. The Georgic Tour 2025 marks 20 years since the release of Jim Causley’s debut album, Fruits of
the Earth, which gained him his first BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nomination. £10
This Flight Tonight — Songs of Joni Mitchell
At St Ives Theatre, 7.30pm. Acclaimed singer-songwriters Zervas and Pepper present an intimate five-piece acoustic live tribute to the music of Joni Mitchell. £23
Sunday Sessions with Tim Neville
At the Western Hotel, 8pm. Free
Simon Smith
At the Castle Inn, 8pm. Free
Joe Duke
At the Sloop Inn, 9pm. Free
The Pictures
At the Union Inn, 9pm. Free
MONDAY, 22nd SEPTEMBER
A Walk Amongst Artists with Nicky Ferguson
Meet outside the library, 10.30am. Nicky talks about St Ives as a community for artists, from the early 1900s through to the
modernists, including Barbara Hepworth, Terry Frost, Patrick Heron, and more, visiting galleries along the way. 90 minutes. Book online. £8
Film: Memories of Barbara, Ben, and the St Ives Modernists
At Porthmeor Studios, 10.30am. Sir Alan Bowness and his memories of the St Ives artists in the 1950s and 60s, including Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson, Peter Lanyon, Patrick Heron, Terry Frost, and Roger Hilton. £5
Virginia Woolf’s Talland House Garden
At Talland House, 10.30am. A talk and tour with Polly Carter, gardener at Talland House. She conducts a journey through plants and words in the garden of Virginia Woolf’s summer home. £15
St Ives Town Walk Number One, with Tony Farrell
Meet outside the Guildhall, 11am. No booking required. A walk that includes places of historical and cultural significance in the town. Two hours. £5
Sustainable Textile Workshops: The Makers Map
At The Core, St Ives Community Orchard, 10am-5pm. £45
Abstract Drawing Workshop with Peter Giles
At the Crypt Gallery, 2-4.30pm. £40
Representational Artists Inspired By Their Porthmeor Studios
At Porthmeor Studios, 2.30pm. A film by David Tovey. £5
Bow River
At Bier Huis Grand Café, 7pm. Free
Rumbellion
At Café Art, 7.30pm. Sea shanty group. Free
Liz’s Quizzes
At the Castle Inn, 7.30pm. Fantastic prizes; book essential. £2 per person.
Nicole Tesseyman
At the Sloop Inn, 9pm. Free
TA Kemp
At the Union Inn, 9pm. Free
TUESDAY, 23rd SEPTEMBER
The Archaeology of West Penwith with Tony Farrell
Customised trips to the ancient monuments of West Penwith, with fine examples of megalithic chambered tombs, stone circles, entrance graves, cliff castles and prehistoric villages. Limited spaces available, advance booking essential: email tony.farrell@stiveswalks.co.uk or call 01736 793692 or 07881 674878
Cyanotype Photography Workshop
At Café Art, 10am-noon. Explore the magic of nature and create a series of Cyanotypes and Chlorophyll prints from leaves and sunlight with Imogen Frost from Cornwall Community Darkroom. Book at cornwall-darkroom.com £25
Barbara Hepworth: Bronze, Marble, Stone
Meet out side the library at 10.30am. A walk and talk with Nicky Ferguson “exploring The Lives and Loves of a Sculptor”, and looking at the sculptures Barbara Hepworth gifted to St Ives. 90 minutes. Book online. £8
Pilchards: A Brief History of the Cornish Sardine
At Porthmeor Studios, 10.30am. This beautiful award-winning documentary by British director Ray Bird tells the story of the pilchard fishing industry in Cornwall and the part it played in St Ives’ cultural heritage. £5
Circles in the Stones
At St Ives Arts Club, 1pm. A film by award-winning director Diana Taylor about Helen Feiler, daughter of artist Paul Feiler, and her connection to the artistic community of St Ives, exploring her life and relationships forged with the families of prominent artists like Patrick Heron, Terry Frost, Bryan Wynter, and Peter Lanyon. £6
Spaven Mor
At Café Art, 2pm. Americana, folk, country, and more. Free
A Short History of the St Ives Downalong Communities
At Porthmeor Studios, 2.30pm. A talk by St Ives social historian Janet Axten. £8
Mindful Movement Meditation
At the Island Centre, 5-6pm. A workshop with Sky High Arts, combining mindfulness meditation with mindful movement. Email skyhigharts@mail.com £12
Introduction to Aerial Circus
At the Island Centre, 6.30-8pm. An adult’s introduction to Aerial Arts for complete beginners, with Sky High Arts. Learn to get safely into the air and explore the basics of static trapeze, dance trapeze, silks, and hoop. Email skyhigharts@mail.com £16
Seamus McKenna
At St Ives Arts Club, 7.30pm. English/Scottish/Irish folk, country music and a healthy dose of rock ‘n’ roll as Séamus incorporates Irish bouzouki, tin whistle, Indian shruti box, and his Guild acoustic guitar. £10
Charlie Wood Trio
At the Western Hotel, 7.30pm. The celebrated singer-songwriter and keyboardist from Memphis who blends jazz, blues, R&B, and soul. A former bandmate of blues legend Albert King and a Beale Street icon, Charlie’s rich musical journey spans New Orleans, Memphis, and the UK. £20
Open Mic with Liam Jordan
At the Castle Inn, 7.30pm. Bring your own instrument. Free
Ashley
At the Sloop Inn, 9pm. Free
Valkerie Skyz
At the Union Inn, 9pm. Free
WEDNESDAY, 24th SEPTEMBER
Teylu Visiting Artist: Josie Ko
At Tate St Ives, 10am-4pm. Josie will transform the Foyle Studio into a co-created, large-scale artwork. Drop in to create alongside the artist. Free with gallery admission, local’s pass, and membership
A Walk Amongst Artists with Nicky Ferguson
Meet outside the library, 10.30am. Nicky talks about St Ives as a community for artists, from the early 1900s through to the
modernists, including Barbara Hepworth, Terry Frost, Patrick Heron, and more, visiting galleries along the way. 90 minutes. Book online. £8
The Artists of Anchor Studio, Newlyn: From Stanhope Forbes to The Present Day
At Porthmeor Studios, 10.30am. Talk by Catherine Wallace exploring the art created by those who have occupied Anchor
Studio in Newlyn, from the 1880s to the present day. £7
St Ives Town Walk Number Two, with Tony O’Farrell
Meet outside the Guildhall, 11am. An alternative town walk that looks at other aspects of St Ives’ development. The evidence for the earliest occupation of Porthia, mining, and education in the town’s history. £5 (no booking required)
Seaside Fabric Collage Workshop
At St Ives Library, 11am. Join Jo McIntosh for a couple of hours of gentle hand-stitching and applique to create a seaside-themed fabric collage. £31
Print Workshop
At Porthmeor Studios, 11am-noon and 3-4pm. Printing technique demonstrations. Donations
Ukelele Collective
Outside St Ives Arts Club, 2pm. An outdoor performance by the Arts Club’s resident ukelele band. Free
Mrs Dalloway, The Centenary Year: Art, Modernism, and War
At Porthmeor Studios, 2.30pm. Talk by Sarah Latham Phillips, placing Virginia Woolf in the context of Modernism and the contemporary art and literature scene. £8
Penzance to Paris
At Porthmeor Studios, 4.30pm. A talk on contemporary impressionism with Francesca Owen, whose painting took her on a
journey from Penzance to Paris. £8
Illuminating Alfred Wallis (1855-1942)
At Porthmeor Studios, 6.30pm. Following publication of her detailed biography, Alfred Wallis: Child Pauper to Artistic Luminary, author Matilda Webb will be in conversation with Ethan Carney as they will explore new discoveries about the life of the artist. £10
Seamus McKenna
At Bier Huid Gand Café, 7pm. Free
Karnos Brass Band
At St Ia Church, 7.30pm. Cornwall’s heaviest, brassiest party machine, drawing from classic New Orleans street bands with their own contemporary twist. £10
Alex Hart with Adam Sweet
At St Ives Arts Club, 7.30pm. Described by BBC Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe as “the Stevie Nicks of folk”, South West singer-songwriter Alex Hart recently released her most exciting and anticipated album, Visions. £17
Comedy Club Live
At St Ives Theatre, 7.30pm. Three outstanding performers on the same night: top comedian, actress, and writer Laura
Lexx; Irish/Iranian/Teessider Patrick Monahan; and Rich Wilson. £25
Jacqui Dankworth
At the Western Hotel, 7.30pm. St Ives Jazz Club presents Jacqui Dankworth and her world-class trio, who celebrate the release of her stunning new album, Windmills, with a spectacular concert of classic songs specially arranged by US pianist — and Jacqui’s husband — Charlie Wood. One of the most highly regarded vocalists in the UK. £22
Bowie Williams Duo
At the R Bar, 8pm. Free
Josh Frost
At the Castle Inn, 8pm. Free
Global Jamming with Treve Nicol
At the Western Hotel, 8.30pm. Free
Mr T
At the Sloop Inn, 9pm. Free
Bailey Tomkinson
At the Union Inn, 9pm. Free
THURSDAY, 25th SEPTEMBER
The Archaeology of West Penwith with Tony Farrell
Customised trips to the ancient monuments of West Penwith, with fine examples of megalithic chambered tombs, stone circles, entrance graves, cliff castles and prehistoric villages. Limited spaces available, advance booking essential: email tony.farrell@stiveswalks.co.uk or call 01736 793692 or 07881 674878
Teylu Visiting Artist: Josie Ko
At Tate St Ives, 10am-4pm. Josie will transform the Foyle Studio into a co-created, large-scale artwork. Drop in to create alongside the artist. Free with gallery admission, local’s pass, and membership
Barbara Hepworth: Bronze, Marble, Stone
Meet out side the library at 10.30am. A walk and talk with Nicky Ferguson “exploring The Lives and Loves of a Sculptor”, and looking at the sculptures Barbara Hepworth gifted to St Ives. 90 minutes. Book online. £8
Porthmeor Studios and Cellars: A Look Back at the Major Renovation
At Porthmeor Studios, 10.30am. Join architect Rolfe Kentish for a talk and walk through the history and renovation of the iconic Porthmeor Artists’ Studios and Fishermen’s Cellars, completed in 2012. £8
Curious About Kilns
At the Leach Pottery, 11am-noon. Museum tour with Dr Matthew Tyas, curator and deputy director, who brings the pottery’s history to life with stories about the people who have played a part in its history. £13
Julia Mara Presents…
At Café Art, 2pm. Singer and auto-harp player Julia with guests Jo Duke, David Fenton, and Tim Burt. Free
Working With Images: A Poetry Workshop
At St Ives Library, 2pm. Exploring how to use all the senses to create powerful images. £8
Who Helped Hepworth?
At Porthmeor Studios, 2.30pm. A talk by Ethan Carey from St Ives Archive, exploring the people most often associated with
Barbara Hepworth’s work. £8
Robin Banks
At Porthmeor Studios, 4.30pm. Seasoned comedian Robin Banks performs in the guise of a rough diamond reformed ex-con. £8
Make an Autumn Vase
At Leach Pottery, 6-8pm. Take inspiration from the flora and fauna across the surfaces of pots in the Leach Pottery collection and use seed heads and natural textures to create your own autumn vase. £25
Richard Gibbons and Malcolm Star
At Cafe Art, 6pm. Cornwall-based singer-songwriters. Free
Carly and Sven
At Bier Huis Grand Cafe, 7pm. Free
Café Frug
At St Ives Arts Club, 7.30pm. £10.
Martha Tilston
At St Ives Theatre, 7.30pm. Contemporary folk performer and film-maker Martha Tilston has independently released 10 albums on her Squiggly Records label, and wrote, directed, and starred in her own feature-length 2021 film The Tape. Martha grew up immersed in music. Her folk singer father Steve Tilston and stepmother Maggie Boyle were obvious influences, with their musician friends Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, and John Martin often singing in the family kitchen. £20
Indie Folk Night with Toni E
At the Western Hotel, 8pm. Free
Bowie Williams Duo
At the R Bar, 8pm. Free
Graham Buxton
At the Sloop Inn, 9pm. Free
Mr T
At the Union Inn, 9pm. Free
Karaoke
At the Castle Inn, 9pm. Free
FRIDAY, 26th SEPTEMBER
Teylu Visiting Artist: Josie Ko
At Tate St Ives, 10am-4pm. Josie will transform the Foyle Studio into a co-created, large-scale artwork. Drop in to create alongside the artist. Free with gallery admission, local’s pass, and membership
A Walk Amongst Artists with Nicky Ferguson
Meet outside the library, 10.30am. Nicky talks about St Ives as a community for artists, from the early 1900s through to the
modernists, including Barbara Hepworth, Terry Frost, Patrick Heron, and more, visiting galleries along the way. 90 minutes. Book online. £8
Studio Tour
At the Anchor Studio, Newlyn, 10.30am. A guided tour by architect Rolfe Kentish, who describes the story of its life as a studio and painting school, and its recent restoration. £8
St Ives Town Walk Number One, with Tony Farrell
Meet outside the Guildhall, 11am. No booking required. A walk that includes places of historical and cultural significance in the town. Two hours. £5
The History and Mystery of St Ives
Meet at The Malakoff, 11am. St Ives Archive trustee Tony Mason leads a 90- to 120-minute stroll from Porthminster Beach to Porthmeor Beach. All proceeds to St Ives Archive. Price £5 (no booking required, cash only, children free)
LGBTQIA+ Tour of Tate St Ives
1-1.30pm. Free with admission, Tate membership, or a local’s pass.
Voicings
At Porthmeor Studios, 2.30pm. Poetry readings by Evelyn Hollowayand David Ward. Free
Exhibition Previews
At Penwith Gallery, 5pm. Opening of Stephanie Sandercock and Julie Moselen’s Wishes On The Wind, and Glyn Macey’s exhibition. Free
Mr T
At the Bier Huis Grand Café, 7pm. Free
Rudi’s Message
At St Ia Church, 7.30pm. Five-piece ska/two-tone tribute band based in Cornwall, covering hits by Madness, the
Specials, Bad Manners The Selecter, The Beat and more. £10
Enys Men
At St Ives Arts Club, 7.30pm. Bafta Award-winning director Mark Jenkin comes to St Ives Arts Club for a screening of his mind-bending folk horror film. Shot around the wild landscape and coast of West Penwith with grainy 16mm stock and post-synced sound, Enys Men is a unique film you’re unlikely to forget. The screening will be followed by a Q&A. £14
Steve Knightley
At St Ives Theatre, 7.30pm. September Festival patron Steve, whose last September Festival appearance with Show Of Hands, in 2023, was a sell-out, will be appearing with special guests True Foxes, Cornwall singing cousins Amie and Chloe. Highly-acclaimed and multi-award-winning singer-songwriter Knightley’s musical journey is deeply intertwined with a profound connection to geographical places, particularly the West Country, where he lives. £27
Festival Songwriters’ Special, with Joe Duke
At the Western Hotel, 8.30pm.
AX2
At the Castle Inn, 9pm. DJs Andy Robinson and Andy Little spin the best of groovy house music, garage, and breaks. Free
Bob Love
At the Sloop Inn, 9pm. Free
Mighty Howlers
At the Union Inn, 9pm. Free
SATURDAY, 27th SEPTEMBER
Teylu Visiting Artist: Josie Ko
At Tate St Ives, 10am-4pm. Josie will transform the Foyle Studio into a co-created, large-scale artwork. Drop in to create alongside the artist. Free with gallery admission, local’s pass, and membership
A Walk Amongst Artists with Nicky Ferguson
Meet outside the library, 10.30am. Nicky talks about St Ives as a community for artists, from the early 1900s through to the
modernists, including Barbara Hepworth, Terry Frost, Patrick Heron, and more, visiting galleries along the way. 90 minutes. Book online. £8
St Ives Town Walk Number Two, with Tony O’Farrell
Meet outside the Guildhall, 11am. An alternative town walk that looks at other aspects of St Ives’ development. The evidence for the earliest occupation of Porthia, mining, and education in the town’s history. £5 (no booking required)
Big Cauldron Marathon Music Session
At the Western Hotel, 1.30-6pm. Toni Carver hosts the first of three traditional Saturday afternoon marathon music sessions. Free
Spaven Mor
At Bier Huis Grand Cafe, 7pm.
Celtic Male Ensemble
At St Ia Church, 7.30pm. Songs from the shows, pop and rock classics, folk, traditional choral, and big band swing. £10
Joanna Cooke and her band
At St Ives Arts Club, 7.30pm. Joanna Cooke’s soulful, emotionally charged vocals have earned her millions of streams and
airplay on BBC Radio 1. Described by Martha Reeves as “the baby girl singing the blues”, Cooke’s sound is a modern take on the rich traditions of Soul, Jazz and Blues. £12
Fascinating Aida
At St Ives Theatre, 7.30pm. Britain’s greatest cabaret trio celebrate more than 40 fierce and fabulous years entertaining audiences with their razor-sharp satire. With matchless musical ingenuity and style, these indomitable women are still mistresses of their craft. Dillie, Liza, and Adèle are accompanied by Michael Roulston on piano. The show is directed by Paul Foster. The show is supporting St Ives theatre group Kidz R Us. £36
Kizamba
At the Western Hotel, 8pm. £15 in advance, £17 on the door.
Jude Johnson
At the Castle Inn, 9pm. Free
Graham Buxton
At the Sloop Inn, 9pm. Free
Cover 2 Cover
At the Union Inn, 9pm. Free
