Legendary rock band Hawkwind to close Lancashire Festival
Legendary space rock pioneers Hawkwind will headline the closing weekend of The Bay Fringe Festival with a special two-day event in Morecambe this August.
Hawkwind will perform a full concert in the historic Morecambe Winter Gardens on Saturday August 8, followed by an aftershow party. The celebration continues on Sunday August 9 with a full day of music and events from midday, featuring Hawkwind Friends and Relations’ bands, family friendly activities and a Q&A with the Hawkwind team.
With a career spanning nearly 60 years, the band has continually pushed the boundaries of sound, concept and performance. Renowned as space rock pioneers, their live shows are legendary. Fans can expect a journey through decades of genre-defining music, from classic anthems to experimental soundscapes, all delivered with the energy and vision that have made Hawkwind one of rock’s most enduring and influential acts.
The event closes with a special premiere film screening of a live Hawkwind concert. The return of the rock pioneers for the 10th edition of The Bay Fringe Festival follows their first show at the town’s iconic Winter Gardens in 2022, which is credited with helping to secure its future as a music venue for the North.
Vanessa Toulmin, Morecambe Winter Gardens Preservation Trust, said: “Hosting Hawkwind four years ago gave our funders and the Trust faith that we could realise our dream to be a music venue for the North. We are delighted and proud that the Hawkwind family is part of our journey as we move even closer to a fully realised 1600 capacity.”
The Hawkwind concert film premiere closes the festival’s TV & Film strand, which also features a Young Ones retrospective with Alexei Sayle and Nigel Planer and a screening of The Shining, followed by a Q & A with the film’s producer Jan Harlan.
The Bay Fringe Festival will encompass everything from cabaret, clowning and comedy to theatre and spoken word with the 10th anniversary programme marking its biggest and most ambitious year to date. Applications are being welcomed for shows to be included in the programme up until 1 April 2026.
The performing arts festival will take place across Morecambe and Carnforth from 20 July 2026 for two weeks, opening with a portrait photographic exhibition of comedians and poets, and the return of the famous comedy crawl around the Morecambe promenade.
The TV and Film strand will include the screening of the animated Ukrainian film, The Good Soldier Schweik, revoiced by the town’s own West End Players. The classic tale is widely regarded as the first modern anti-war satire.
There will also be 10 shows created by the local community ranging from stand up to full theatrical performances, developed in workshops running throughout the year. There will also be a micro-budget film competition, with more details to be announced.
Multi-award winning performer, director and festival founder Matt Panesh said: “I’m delighted to welcome one of the greatest counter culture bands to Morecambe as part of the festival. We’re all about celebrating the DIY ethos, and presenting art, music and film that shares that spirit as a call to arms to empower the people of Morecambe to get creative.”
Hawkwind:Friends and Relations tickets are priced at £70 plus booking fee for the whole weekend including concert, after party and film premiere.