In 1998, Scottish indie band Belle and Sebastian curated Bowlie Weekender, a DIY music festival in a holiday camp in Sussex that served as the inspiration for the iconic All Tomorrow’s Parties throughout the noughties. As the twentieth anniversary of the event nears, the band is preparing to mark the occasion with something special; a four-day musical cruise through the Mediterranean.
Belle and Sebastian will curate a four-day cruise through the Mediterranean next year. Image by Belle and Sebastian
Called The Boaty Weekend, the cruise will set sail from Barcelona on 8 August 2019, headed for Cagliari in Sardinia, where it will arrive on 12 August. The cruise takes place on Norwegian Pearl, a massive vessel that boasts 11 bars and lounges, 15 dining experiences, a casino, an outdoor pool and a spa. Along the way, guests will be treated to performances by Mogwai, Camera Obscura, Django Django, Alvvays, the Buzzcocks, Japanese Breakfast, Honeyblood and hinds, as well as Belle and Sebastian themselves.
The event will feature diverse events spread out across Norwegian Pearl. Image by Will Byington Photography
The four-day Mediterranean cruise has been dubbed a holiday experience that meets a “floating festival”, and has been produced in partnership with Sixthman. “We want to give people an experience that isn’t in a damp and boggy field. It also gives us the chance to do other interesting things like indie karaoke, and a University Challenge quiz. We’re going to do yoga every day, it’s going to be like a holiday camp at sea, and people can just relax back in their cabins when they’re partied out,” Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian told Lonely Planet Travel News.
Experiences include Q&A sessions, yoga and storytelling, as well as musical performances. Image by Sixthman
In addition to multiple performances by bands across five stages, the event will include one-of-a-kind artist collaborations, Q&As, storyteller and panel sessions, themed parties, and group activities. More eclectic artists are due to be announced on the line-up as the event draws nearer, with fans of Belle and Sebastian having been consulted in the process. “The cruise company asked potential guests which bands they wanted to see, knowing that we were running it. After receiving the feedback, they went after some of the artists named,” Stuart said.
Attendees who book in the first 350 staterooms will get access to a special performance of Belle and Sebastian’s Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant, an album that has never before been performed in its entirety. Guests who reserve a stateroom at any point during the pre-sale period will also receive an exclusive Boaty Weekender Vinyl for their collection.
Pre-sale tickets are available now with priority access. More information is available at the official Boaty Weekender website.
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