Spotted a massive influx of very shiny scooters on the seafront? That can only mean one thing: the Brighton Mod Weekender is back for its annual August Bank Holiday takeover.
The four-day celebration of mod and 60s culture kicked off last night (Thursday 27th August), but there’s plenty still more to come, with live bands, all-night clubbing, record shopping and the sight of scores of scooters making their way along the coast. And you don’t need a ticket – or a scooter or a sharp suit – to get involved with most of it.
The New Untouchables launched the Brighton Mod Weekender in 2005, making this its 21st year in the city. It now draws mods from around the world to Brighton, with events spread across Volks, Komedia and Patterns.
During the day, the action is down on Madeira Drive where Volks is hosting free, family-friendly sessions from midday to 6pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with DJs playing throughout the afternoon and a market selling records, vintage and bespoke clothing, art and mod memorabilia.
Brighton and mods go back a long way. The infamous 1964 clashes between mods and rockers on the seafront became part of mod folklore – and later provided the backdrop for Quadrophenia, much of which was filmed around the city. And Volks is just along from the stretch of seafront where the scooters arrive in the 1979 cult classic.
After dark, things move into the clubs. Tonight (Friday), Komedia is hosting the Chills & Fever night with new-gen mod band The Fourty Fours playing live and Cookin’ Catfish DJs keeping things going until 3am.
Saturday brings one of the weekend’s big live gigs, with mod revival band Purple Hearts joined by The Sha La Las at Patterns from 7pm. Later, Komedia takes over the party from 11pm until 3am with New Untouchables DJs playing mod club sounds and classics and a special guest.
And even if the music means absolutely nothing to you, Sunday is the day to head for the seafront as that’s the day of biggest spectacle – the annual scooter rideout.
The bikes gather at Roedean Café car park, opposite Brighton Marina, between 1.30pm and 2pm, before heading out to Peacehaven and back into Brighton via the Pier roundabout. If you’re out to spectate, you’ll see Vespas, Lambrettas and plenty of immaculate mod styling along the way.
Back at Volks, there’s another chance for the scooters to take centre stage, with the annual scooter competition outside the venue from 3pm to 4pm.
Sunday night then wraps things up at Komedia with the Phoenix Got Soul club night from 8pm, with resident DJs and new-generation R&B-meets-rock and roll band Benson Gibbons & The Sapphires playing live.
So, whether you’re planning on dancing to Northern Soul until 3am, rummaging for records or just fancy watching an impressive number of vintage scooters descend on Madeira Drive, there’s plenty to check out. And let’s face it, Brighton seafront does look pretty good covered in Vespas.
Thursday 27th – Sunday 30th August; various times; from free
newuntouchables.com
