A decade ago, a small group of friends in Brighton UK decided to share their love and enthusiasm for the harmonica by putting together a day of workshops, a blues jam and a live show. The event quickly sold out.
Wind the clock forward ten years and Harpin’ By The Sea has become a greatly anticipated fixture in the international harmonica calendar.
Our unofficial tagline ‘a breath of fresh air’ is a reference to our seaside location. It also encapsulates what we’re about: taking a risk and doing things just a little bit differently.
Over the years Harpin’ By The Sea has organised UK debuts for several emerging artists, spotlighting talent that might otherwise go unnoticed. Aki Kumar (USA), Jerome Godboo (Canada), Victor Puertas (Spain) and Fede Vaz (Uruguay) are a few fine examples.
In our quest for diversity, we have also themed each event, highlighting the wide range of styles and traditions enjoyed by harmonica players around the world. Our musical odyssey has taken us from Blues, Latin and Cajun, through to Busking and Solo Loop-Station harmonica.
Most recently Harpin By The Sea welcomed junior players for the first time with a children’s workshop, performance and prizes, paving the way for the next generation of harmonica talent.
We also began our relationship with the Wishing Well Music charity, which brings music therapy to the bedsides of children in critical care.
Ultimately Harpin’ By The Sea’s success comes down to one thing; those who give up their time to attend. This is when our harmonica family grows, memories are made and new ideas are born.
For 2021, although we can’t welcome you in person owing to Covid-19, the show must go on. Thanks to our sponsors the event is free, but our guest artists need your support now more than ever before.
Please help us show how much our artists are appreciated by attending Harpin’ By The Sea 2021 online and donating as much as you can manage using this PayPal link: paypal.me/harpinbythesea
We’re featuring an incredible cast of sixteen guest artists, with a fantastic programme of live performances, tutorials, interviews, archive video footage and product giveaways. We’ll also be bringing you a top secret headline artist from the USA, who we know you’re going to adore. All of which means we’re locked down, loaded and ready to rock.
Keep an eye on our website and social media in the coming weeks, as we reveal our stellar line-up, our amazing array of trade sponsors and of course the code for you to tune in. In the meantime, don’t delay, help us to help our harmonica artists!
