SURGE Festival 2023 invites you to cast aside all fear and embrace the celebration of your own existence. Join us as the streets of Glasgow become a playground for the extraordinary, where the ordinary is left behind, and the realm of imagination reigns supreme.
SURGE Festival 2023 boasts an awe-inspiring line-up of performers, drawing talent from all corners of the UK and beyond. With wild performances by giant slinkies, partying bees, cowboy chickens and giant seagulls. As if that weren't enough, even the legendary Four Horsemen will gallop through the city streets, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake.
Immerse yourself in the magic of outdoor arts as SURGE Festival 2023 guarantees an indelible experience. Unshackle your inhibitions and embrace a celebration of life, creativity, and the unexpected.
Surge Festival is part of the UCI Cycling World Championships 2023 Go Live! programme.
Surge Festival at George Square - Friday 11th August
Keep an eye out for The Seagulls and their mischief, hang out with some gunslinging chickens and get jiggy with DJ Vertigo.
The Good, the Bad and the Poultry by Adrenalism (1:45pm – 2:15pm & 4:15pm – 4:45pm) will wow wannabe gunslingers of all ages. It's high noon, and the cockerels must crow
The Seagulls by Surreal McCoy (1:15pm – 2pm & 3:30pm – 4:15pm) will be on the look-out for a bit of mischief and a plate of chips and will always be happy to share your lunch!
Surge Festival at Argyle Street - Saturday 12th August
The Seagulls by Surreal McCoy (11am – 11:45am & 3:30pm – 4:15pm) will be on the look-out for a bit of mischief and a plate of chips and will always be happy to share your lunch!
Lobster à La Cart by Artizani (11:30pm – 12:15pm & 4pm – 4:45pm) A truly arresting sight as it rumbles towards you - filling your field of vision and tickling you with its tentacles.
Miss B by Gaia Cicolani (12pm – 12:30pm & 4:45pm – 5:15pm) You can't miss her! She’s curious about the environment and its inhabitants. She’ll be sharing some iconic moves with the lucky people she meets.
Shrill by Scissor Kick (11:45pm – 12:30 & 4:30pm – 5:15pm) Three sirens find each other on the edge of the world. They don’t know it yet, but this is the beginning of the end.
Surge Festival at City of Glasgow College - Saturday 12th August
Fetch by George H Wale (11am – 11:45 am & 3:30pm – 4:15pm) Explore the ways in which we move in, on and through a weather-world. Part game, part measuring device, part attempted partner dance with the wind.
Big Mob by Bedlam Oz (11:15am – 12pm & 4:15pm – 5pm) Keep an eye out for giant, slinkies on the move in a burst of comic energy and fun in. mix of performance art and bewitching and often hilarious audience interactions.
Repaired by The Doing Group (11:30am – 12:30pm & 4pm – 5pm) Undertaking repairs to the festival site as best they can with their limited knowledge. Be prepared to be sub-contracted during this process, they need all the help they can get, and they absolutely must use up all of the budget!
The Good, the Bad and the Poultry by Adrenalism (12pm – 12:30pm & 3:45pm – 4:15pm) will wow wannabe gunslingers of all ages. It's high noon, and the cockerels must crow.
Surge Festival at Kelvingrove - Saturday 12th August
Magical Beehives, a dangerous sheep, acrobatic anarchy on a beach, and a radio show hosted by Barry Badass inhabit the steps of Kelvingrove Museum.
The Bees by Artizani (11am – 12:30pm & 3:30pm – 5pm) An installation of multiple hives each hiding a unique, unexpected interior world will challenge, charm and confound expectations.
Beach Barrage by Those Two Idiots (11:30am – 12pm & 4:30pm – 5pm) witness acrobatic anarchy as two idiots engage in a bonkers battle for beach bliss. Personalities clash, tempers ash and petty pranks spin out of control!
Catch [ON AIR] by Symoné and Porcha Present (11am – 11:30am & 3:30pm – 4pm) where pirate radio explores fantasy, masculinity and blacksploitation. Radio hosts Barry Badass and ‘The Pussy Tamer’ aka Uncle Pete attempt to find the perfect vibration, connect to the sweet spot and get [ON AIR]!
Surge Festival at Argyle Street - Sunday 13th August
A giant lobster rumbles towards you, while mischievous seagulls swoop. Strike a pose with the strange Miss B and repair the festival with our inefficient officials.
The Seagulls by Surreal McCoy (11am – 11:45am & 3:30pm – 4:15pm) will be on the look-out for a bit of mischief and a plate of chips and will always be happy to share your lunch!
Lobster à La Cart by Artizani (11:15pm – 12pm & 4pm – 4:45pm) A truly arresting sight as it rumbles towards you - filling your field of vision and tickling you with its tentacles.
Miss B by Gaia Cicolani (12pm – 12:30pm & 3:30pm – 4pm) You can't miss her! She’s curious about the environment and its inhabitants. She’ll be sharing some iconic moves with the lucky people she meets.
Repaired by The Doing Group (11:30am – 12:30pm & 3:45pm – 4:45pm) Undertaking repairs to the festival site as best they can with their limited knowledge. Be prepared to be sub-contracted during this process, they need all the help they can get, and they absolutely must use up all of the budget!
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Glasgow, click here to find out more!
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