MAKE A LONG WEEKEND OF IT FROM FILM FESTIVALS TO OPERA AND DINING WITH CELEBRITIES, THERE’S A WEALTH OF VIRTUAL EVENTS TO KEEP YOU ENTERTAINED THIS BANK HOLIDAY, SAYS
A REAL PAGE TURNER
Hay Festival Digital, until May 31, hayfestival.com
The lush literary festival in the picturesque Welsh market town is going digital with a packed, free programme of eight events daily. Today’s highlights include a gala show with stars including Margaret Atwood, Benedict Cumberbatch and Vanessa Redgrave reading Wordsworth’s poetry. Register for live online events with novelists, thinkers and more.
RIGHTS IDEA
2020 Human Rights Watch Film Festival, London Digital Edition, today until June 5, ff.hrw.org/london-digital-edition Following its closure due to Covid-19 in March, the festival is returning digitally, with nine documentaries and features available via Curzon Home Cinema pay per view. Highlights include awardwinning documentary Born In Evin, about a woman born in prison and In My Blood It Runs follows an Aboriginal kid growing up in remote Australia.
A NIGHT AT THE OPERA
Glyndebourne Open House, Sun to June 14, glyndebourne.com This year’s Glyndebourne has been cancelled, however the opera house in the Sussex countryside is launching its Open House for its Sunday afternoon (5pm) live-stream of opera previously performed there. It kicks off with
The Marriage Of Figaro, followed by Don Giovanni
(May 31) and Così Fan Tutte
(Jun 7). Each available for a week. Free, but you can donate to the opera house.
MAKING MUSIC
In conversation:
Doc’n Roll TV, docnroll festival. com/docn-roll-tv
During lockdown, Doc’n Roll Film Festival has made dozens of compelling music documentaries available to stream via pay per view. They include an alternative look at Manchester’s rave scene and portraits of figures including Gil Scott-Heron, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry and Betty Davis.
ON CLYDE NINE
Riverside Festival Glasgow, Sat, en-gb.facebook.com/pg/ riversidefestivalglasgow
The epic electronic music weekender on the banks of the Clyde has been rescheduled for September, however it’s hosting a one-day virtual edition to raise money for good causes, including Glasgow Children’s Hospital. Scottish DJs
DINNER DATE BEST OF THE FEST
Party Skills For The End Of The World, tonight, mif.co.uk
THAT’S ALL FOLK
Folk On Foot Front Room Festival 2, Mon, folkonfoot.com Popular podcast, Folk On Foot, is laying on its second Front Room Festival to support musicians who are unable to perform during the pandemic. Kicking off at 2pm for seven hours, it features live sets by folk artists recorded from home, including Cara Dillon, Richard Thompson, Johnny Flynn, Eliza Carthy and Kate Rusby. See it via Folk on Foot’s YouTube channel and Facebook page. Donations welcome.
PRIDE MOMENT
We Are Family, Manchester Pride YouTube Channel, Tonight, youtube.com
While Manchester Pride still holds on to its August bank holiday dates with all fingers crossed, tonight you can join a free online event to mark the terrorist attack at Manchester Arena three years ago to the day. Featuring previous performances from the likes of Alexandra Burke and Lucy Spraggan from Pride’s famous Candlelit Vigil, tonight’s show takes the theme We Are Family and looks like being a very poignant event. Manchester spirit at its finest, 7pm for an hour.
MINDS MATTER
Getahead Virtual Festival II, today, dice.fm/event/y39p2-getaheadvirtual-festival