Things to Do

Pulse’s Sammy Jones takes us through marvellous May’s stage attractions in the ‘fampton... Sometimes less is more, and a case in point is the upcoming production of Treasure Island at the Royal (May 2 & 3) which delivers Robert Louis Stevenson’s tale with just a cast of four. The show is a version the likes of which you won’t have seen before; laced with a host of contemporary comedic twists, including an unusual motley crew of pirates, a parrot called Alexa and a mermaid you will never forget. You have leading physical comedy company La Navet Bete (aka The Daft Turnip) to thank for this, and thank the Devon-based crew you will. It’s a family friendly show – suitable for ages seven years and up. Sir Tim Rice has enjoyed an illustrious career and the man seated at the heart of musical theatre visits the Derngate with My Life in..

Sunday night is usually reserved for episodes of The Antiques Roadshow and digging hard to find motivation for the upcoming week. Surely it’s not only us?! But Sunday, May 4th offers a welcome break from the sedate routine – it’s a bank holiday weekend, which means no work on Monday for many of you. If only SBD Promotions had gone and booked a raucous troupe of girls to do justice to the sublime catalogue of material left by The Ramones... Oh wait, they have! The Ramonas pay mighty fine tribute to Joey, Johnny, Dee Dee and Tommy, and embody that 70s spirit of the ultimate garage punkers. The girls have staying power too – they’ve been smashing out those tremendous tracks like Blitzkrieg Bop, Pet Sematary, I Wanna Be Sedated and Sheena Is a Punk Rocker for two decades. A ‘high energy, full throttle one hour’ show is the promise,..

Lamport Hall is delighted to launch a new event for the 2025 season. Inspired by the incredible makers, artisans and designers across the county and surrounding areas, we will be hosting a Makers Market and Food Festival on Saturday 10th May, 10am-5pm. There will be over 80 handpicked and carefully curated stalls selling a wide array of products including crackling wood wick candles, fused glass, keepsake boxes, propagation stations, tealights, handmade soap, wood turned items, original artwork, limited edition fine art prints, handmade willow crafts, family portrait experiences, wax melts, felt home décor, handmade fudge, ethical clothing, padded noticeboards, handcrafted jewellery, wheel thrown pottery, gin, brownies, cooking sauces, cocktail kits, pick n mix, craft ciders, handmade pies, luxury handmade chocolates, blondies, cakes, needle felted art, and much, much more! There will also be street food on offer from the brilliant Brooklyn Brownie Co selling brownies, sundaes, cheesecake and slushies’, as..

Freak Fridays has been helping music aficionados get their weekends off to a flying start at The Charles Bradlaugh since its launch back in February. ‘Wall-to-wall bangers, unapologetic anthems, and guilty pleasures,’ is the promise, with indie belters, hip-hop classics, disco grooves and 80’s new wave all ready to tickle your ears. You might remember we told you about this new venture from Rich Byles a couple of issues ago, but we wanted to put the needle in the groove, so to speak, and get the gist on one of those at the controls. Sylvia E. DeGray, aka Sylv, aka DJ Bad Apple, is among those bringing the tunes, and she has spent the past three years building up her live portfolio on the ‘fampton scene. Oh, and she is also working as a promoter in the town. She’s keeping busy. Sylv, a self-confessed ‘zealot DJ and disciple of goth..

For those who haven’t already had the pleasure, meet MC Hammersmith, the world’s leading freestyle rapper to come from the ghetto of middle-class West London. He’s been delivering his smart solo freestyle rap for nigh on a decade now. And it’s fab. He’s a much in demand, multi-award winning player at comedy festivals around the world. and his clever word work has been rewarded online; his videos have racked up more than 100 million views and he has half a million followers on TikTok. MC Hammersmith dropped his debut album, Mother’s Fettuccine at the tail end of 2023, a collection of 10 tracks including I’ve Definitely Got A Gun, I’ve Literally Got Millions of Guns and Why Does Nobody Listen? I Said I’ve Got Guns. It also boasted the Post British Boy Raps In Car riot with lines including ‘rhymes so cold you’ll need double glazing’ and ‘Your girl costs..

Join the vibrant spectacle on Saturday 14th June as Northampton Carnival returns with a fiery tribute to history and a feast of live music, dance, and culture. Excitement is mounting as Northampton Carnival prepares to ignite the streets once more with colour, rhythm, and community spirit. This year’s spectacular event takes place on Saturday 14th June at Racecourse Park, Kettering Road, Northampton NN1 4LG, bringing together a fusion of creativity and heritage under the striking theme: “The Elements of Carnival – Earth, Wind, Fire, Water.” Chosen to mark the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of Northampton, the theme invites troupes and float designers to interpret the natural forces through costume, dance, and display, honouring the town’s resilience and spirit through carnival’s signature energy and flair. The park opens to the public from 12 noon, with a full programme of entertainment on offer. Expect a vibrant showcase of local performers..

Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens are delighted to announce the grand reopening for the 2025 open season, offering visitors the chance to experience the grandeur of the historic Hall, explore the award-winning gardens, and enjoy a variety of exciting events throughout the season. The Hall, a beautiful Palladian style country house nestled in the heart of Northamptonshire, invites guests to step back in time and discover its fine rooms, including the servants' quarters and exhibition rooms. This year, Kelmarsh Hall is introducing a newly-designed guest bedroom, inspired by the renowned Nancy Lancaster. Reflecting Nancy’s signature shabby chic style, the room promises to captivate with its charming and timeless appeal. New for this year, the Hall will also be opening on Sundays, alongside the gardens and tearoom! Beyond the Hall, visitors can immerse themselves in the breathtaking historic gardens. The tranquil woodland and lakeside walks provide the perfect setting for a peaceful..

Northampton Town Council’s Bands in the Park season kicks off this on Sunday, 6th April, with a packed calendar of free live performances from local bands and musicians every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday until 29th September. The popular event takes place between 2pm and 5pm at Abington Park’s historic bandstand, in the relaxing surroundings of the town’s premier park. This year’s programme features a wide range of brass, jazz and concert bands from Northamptonshire and beyond, along with choirs, music groups and solo performers, with three performances sponsored by The Park Café – Abington Park. A town council spokesperson said: “We have a brilliant line-up arranged for this year’s Bands in the Park season, with performances from traditional brass bands, plus some contemporary acts including Hayden Regan Rock n Roll Covers, Similar Jones and Hannah Faulkner & Friends. “We are very grateful to the Park Café for their ongoing..

Visit Wicksteed Park from April 5th to 21st, 10:30am to 5pm, for two weeks of egg-cellent adventures, thrilling rides, and family fun! Meet Wicky Bear as he strolls around the park and grab a delicious bite to eat from Lighthouse Bites, Carlo’s Courtyard or the Garden Café. Even more exciting adventures await during May with Wicksteed Park’s a-MAY-zing attractions. Join us during May weekends, bank holidays and from the 24th of May until the 1st of June for May half-term for days full of excitement and family fun. Enjoy unlimited access to our attractions with wristbands starting from just £22. Great value family wristbands are available starting from £56 for 3 people. Children under 0.9m can enjoy the fun of Wicksteed Park’s Easter Eggstravaganza or a-MAY-zing fun for FREE with a fully paying accompanying adult.* Wicksteed Park is proud to partner with Nimbus Disability for all access needs and Essential..

Boughton House is excited to welcome visitors this Spring, offering a host of new and exclusive events. These include a brand-new, family-friendly event in the stunning Boughton Gardens and the exclusive opening of Boughton House during the Easter weekend. "Spring at Boughton" is a family-oriented event taking place on Sunday 13th and Monday 14th April. Visitors are invited to join a fun trail to help Little Bo Peep find her lost sheep throughout the Duke of Buccleuch’s Gardens and Parkland. Along the way, participants will encounter games and learn fascinating facts about the estate as it prepares for spring. A key highlight will be the opportunity to see the newborn lambs up close. Boughton House has also partnered with Camp Wilderness, who will offer free archery and axe-throwing sessions for children aged 8 and above. Sam Rees, estate manager, said: “Family history has inspired the new event which links Boughton’s..

Families in Northampton have been urged to get their thinking caps on and solve a series of riddles as part of an interactive trail around the town centre during the Easter holidays. The trail, organised by Northampton Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) and delivered by LoyalFree, will run from Saturday 5th April until Tuesday 22nd April – giving families free entertainment during the school holidays. All those taking part can simply use their phone to solve the riddle displayed in the windows of 11 town centre businesses. A completed trail will enable players to collect a free Easter treat from Market Square News and also be entered into a draw to win one of two £50 vouchers to spend in the town centre. Mark Mullen, operations manager of Northampton Town Centre BID, said: “We’re looking forward to providing families with a fun and interactive activity to keep little ones busy in the..

There is so much in theatre-land for April – from sea shanty sessions to historic stories about decay, a smidgen of Christie-inspired fun, Sinatra songs forming a backdrop on an emotive drama and some truly stalwart comedians. And much more. Pulse’s Sammy Jones takes you through the best of the bunch... Strictly star turned judge, and all round nice fella Anton Du Beke visits the Derngate with his new show At The Musicals (April 1), which brings together an exemplary band, guest singer and dancers. We’ve seen a few of Anton’s solo shows, and they are akin to a cosy cuddle with a glass of fizz on the side. It’ll be great. Dara O Briain’s Re:Creation (April 3) will see the funnies cut loose, before more Strictly business, this time courtesy of Karen & Gorka, in Speakeasy (April 4). Rhod Gilbert (April 9) and the Giant Grapefruit is ‘hilariously dark,..

Some bands get about, don’t they? Originating in Vancouver, Yeti Valhalla are now based out of Tokyo. What will they make of the ’fampton when they roll into The Black Prince (April 17)? Music-wise, think classic hard rock meets modern metal sensibilities, with ‘much guitar shredding and double bass blast beats.’ You know you want some, and this Thursday night will lead onto a Good Friday. Literally. Which means no work. Go let your hair down and get a portion of the Yeti. Support comes from heavy grungers from this Shire, LOKI, and Silence Mutant. Marisa and the Moths are currently on the road in support of last year’s second album release, and the What Doesn’t Kill You tour visits The Black Prince (April 19). The album did great shakes in the rock and metal album charts upon release last May – you don’t get any better than the top..

Record Store Day returns on Saturday, April 12, and Northampton’s music retailers are gearing up for the important date on the annual calendar. But while music fans scramble to get their mitts on some of the limited releases – this year more than 400 will be issued – the event is not without risk for the stores. “It takes a huge amount of organising, and is frankly a major risk for all record shops...it’s a huge investment and often a gamble,” said Alex D’arcy from Vinyl Underground, “However, putting any potential financial risks and rewards for a small independent retailer to the side, and remembering entirely why we do what we do, it’s all about a passion for music, a passion for the humble vinyl record and sharing that passion with likeminded people.” Vinyl Underground has been a force in the town for more than three decades and those behind..

After very successful snowdrop weekends at the start of the year, Lamport Hall are now looking forward to a jam-packed season starting with a bang this spring! The gardens are open every Wednesday-Friday 9am-3pm until the 19th of December. Outside of the usual opening season, garden entry is reduced by £1 per person. In the high season from April to September the gardens are open until 4pm. Monty Don featured the gardens on his BBC programme about the best gardens in Britain so come along and visit their magnificent rockery for yourself. The Hall will be open every Wednesday and Thursday from April to September with an optional guided tour at 10:30am and freeflow access from 12pm-3pm. The Hall was home to the Isham family from 1560-1976 and they have a fascinating story to tell. The Hall is also home to a magnificent collection of art and furniture. The café..