Culture on Preston’s Riverside
We’re renowned for our quality music and arts events here at The Continental - in our dedicated event space: THE BOATYARD.
Some are ticketed, while others are free to enter. Take a look at the listings and follow the links to buy tickets.
Upcoming events.
A RIOTOUS NIGHT OF AUTHENTIC ROCKABILLY!
Hailing from Los Angeles, USA, THE ROCKETZ perform revved up rockabilly with mild punk and celtic influences.
THE KINGSHAKES are one of the UK’s leading rockabilly bands.
Bass Ritual and Them There present
Dean McPhee
Powders
Steve Barker aka DJ Old Rat (lǎoshǔ)
“Alien presences, spaced-out minimalism and celestial English guitar…an album tied together by the haunted and the alien, and rich with a welcoming abstraction – 8/10″ Uncut Magazine
The Authentic Sound of THE DOORS
The Doors Rising are a UK based Doors Tribute band capturing the sound, feel and experience of the psychedelic 60s.
Step back in time and re-live the music of The Doors recreated with stunning accuracy, using authentic instruments by true fans with an ear for the details.
KYLA BROX
Described as “the finest female blues singer of her generation”. Winner of the UK Blues Challenge 2018 and the European Blues Challenge 2019, voted Best Female Vocalist in the 2019 European Blues Awards and semi-finalist in the International Blues Challenge 2019 and 2020, Kyla Brox is at the very top of the UK Blues scene.
Daughter of cult blues figure, Victor Brox, the Mancunian vocalist began her career as a teenager in her father’s band and has now honed her own sophisticated sound.
THE VIOLET HOURS is a newly-formed blues-infused Americana duo and band featuring. Helen May (vocals, guitar, percussion) and Chris Preston (lead guitar)
PLUS SPECIAL GUEST JACKSON WARD
A Preston Jazz & Improvisation Festival event
Proporí - Van Gogh Meets Nu Jazz with a twist of space rock and a distinctive psychedelic Latin guitar style
plus The Bitter Lake - Americana Blue Folk.
THE MARLEY EXPERIENCE is an eight piece BOB MARLEY tribute band with a difference, with lead vocalist Lionart & his undeniable vocal resemblance to the late great King of Reggae himself. Backing band The Hailers consist of drum and bass, guitars keyboards and female backing singers to complete the line up.
Expect all the famous hits and classics!
BACK FOR 2024!
Live Traditional Cuban Buena Vista style band CUBA SALSA
PRE SHOW CUBAN DANCE CLASS
THE FINEST CUBAN SALSA & TIMBA with your host DJ IRMITA, as heard on OSSR
Damson Poets is in The Boatyard on 24th April. This month is a purely open mic night. There is always a mixture of new and more experienced readers so it’s an evening that belongs to everyone.
As always, free entry.
From DON’T GO INTO THE CELLAR! Theatre Company
Award-winning actor Jonathan Goodwin returns as super sleuth Sherlock Holmes.
Be puzzled by the mysterious Red-Headed League, then join Holmes as he matches wits with the nefarious Professor Moriarty and Colonel Moran!
DANNY RAMPLING was one of the first superstar DJ luminaries in the electronic music scene, remains a true pioneer, and a visionary in the global dance arena.
Through his legendary Acid House club Shoom in the 1980s, radio shows at Kiss FM, and his Saturday night residency for his Love Groove Dance Party at BBC Radio 1, Danny Rampling was a major catalyst that helped shaped the UK dance scene from the early days in the late 80s, and is widely recognised as a founding father of the UK dance scene.
John Helliwell Quartet plays Classic Jazz from Stanley Turrentine to Jimmy Smith
John Helliwell is best known as the saxophonist, secondary keyboardist, and backing vocalist of SUPERTRAMP
Catch him here at The Conti for a Preston Jazz Fest special, where he heads up a Jazz supergroup with:
Andrzej Baranek on keys (of The Magic Hat Ensemble, Almeida Girl & Descarga, Gaz Hughes Trio)
Caroline Boaden on drums (leading session drummer who’s worked with everyone from The Jackie Graham Jazz Stars and Art Famer to Texas and Take That)
Gary Culshaw on bass (of Free Parking, Pinto Beans, Some Other Country, Nikki Isles and many more)
Award winning The Laughienda Comedy Club brings another quality night of comedy to Preston, headlined by the HILARIOUS Nina Gilligan! 😂
Special show for Preston Jazz & Improvisation Festival
Mind blowing music from the genre inventing technical metal supergroup from the UK!
UTOPIA’s debut album featured the extreme drumming talents of Billy Rymer (The Dillinger Escape Plan), Baard Kolstad (Leprous), Lee Fisher (Fawn Limbs), Si Blakelock (Tangaroa) and Simon Peter King.
Now featuring a fixed lineup, the original members of John Bailey on guitars, Chris Reese (Corrupt Moral Altar) on vocals and Arran McSporran (Virvum/Vipassi) on fretless bass are now joined by Jay Walsh (Eartone 9) on drums.
Plus special guests TBC
A rockin’ good double-header featuring the music of THIN LIZZY and MOTÖRHEAD!
TWIN LIZZY faithfully recreate the energy and power of arguably one of the greatest rock bands of all time and has been described as the closest sounding tributes to the music of Thin Lizzy.
MÖTORPACE is the most authentic Motörhead tribute band in the UK chosen to carry on the incredible legacy performed by the Lemmy Legend!
The Windrush Warriors is a dramatic comedy. The show will affect people’s emotions whilst also making them laugh. The Windrush scandal is exposed and also the real-life trauma that affected so many innocent people.
The Pensioners share funny and heart-breaking insight into the experience of Caribbean migrants who helped shape the UK and are now being treated like undesirables. And their answer to this treatment?
To fight adversity with Warrior like ferocity!
The Windrush Warriors is a dramatic comedy. The show will affect people’s emotions whilst also making them laugh. The Windrush scandal is exposed and also the real-life trauma that affected so many innocent people.
The Pensioners share funny and heart-breaking insight into the experience of Caribbean migrants who helped shape the UK and are now being treated like undesirables. And their answer to this treatment?
To fight adversity with Warrior like ferocity!
The Windrush Warriors is a dramatic comedy. The show will affect people’s emotions whilst also making them laugh. The Windrush scandal is exposed and also the real-life trauma that affected so many innocent people.
The Pensioners share funny and heart-breaking insight into the experience of Caribbean migrants who helped shape the UK and are now being treated like undesirables. And their answer to this treatment?
To fight adversity with Warrior like ferocity!
Preston boys House Of Wolves headline their home town to share their music which they describe as being full of ‘raw energy’ - not to be missed.
Main support is provided by The Cavs from Manchester. With their catchy hooks and frenetic guitar riffs this band’s popularity is growing daily. Local band The Cases join the lineup - with passion and energy these guys are on the way to the top.
Last but not least we have The Zoffs. Writing songs about the people and for the people, The Zoffs music shouts at the establishment and has received critical acclaim.
NEW to the Continental, GROOVEMENTAL is a flare-wearing, sequin-toting, booty-shaking 8-piece 70's disco tribute band.
Groovin' out the best feel good disco and dance tunes that we all know and love. It’s like having all your favourite disco tunes in one band. It’s LIVE Disco that promises to have the house ‘Groovin’!
From DON’T GO INTO THE CELLAR! Theatre Company
In late-Victorian London, a spate of inexplicable murders has Scotland Yard baffled. Bodies are being found drained of blood. Sherlock Holmes knows that vampires do not exist, until he witnesses evidence to the contrary.
Can Van Helsing and the king of detectives combine forces to solve the mystery? Or will Dracula, Lord of the Undead cut a bloody swathe throughout the Empire?
HUNG LIKE HANRATTY is the most talked about band on the punk circuit.
Heavily influenced by 1977 punk attitude, and bands like Toy Dolls, Macc Lads, Pork Dukes, The Damned, etc, this band is at the top of its game. What you see is what you get!
Plus special guests GRAFFITI CLUB
With the sound of the 60s running through their veins, Preston’s COUNTY PILOTS are hitting the North West of England with something it’s been craving for years.
Taking inspiration from the greatest musical groups of all time (Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys, etc), County Pilots are a young and exciting band whose music has a familiar aftertaste.
Plus special guests CIRCUS and BENJAMIN HACKETT
STEELY DON is an eleven-piece band based here in the north and dedicated to playing the music of Steely Dan & Donald Fagen.
Their aim is to deliver authentic performances of back catalogue charts from the classic albums of these highly regarded musicians who worked with some of the finest session players of the day to produce music that blended elements of rock, jazz, Latin and R & B blues.
Tickets strictly limited for this all-seated show.
Classic Rock Legends!
Join us for over two hours of hi-octane live music, celebrating three decades of classic rock. With music by Bon Jovi, AC/DC, Aerosmith, The Eagles, Foo Fighters, The Who, Europe, Whitesnake, Van Halen, Boston, Pearl Jam, Queen, Guns N’ Roses and more!
HE’S BACK!
GRAEME PARK: Over 3 decades on the decks, on stage and on the radio.
The story of DJ Graeme Park mirrors the story of the evolution of dance music and club culture itself.
Catch him here for amazing night of dance with guest DJs TONY CANNON and NICK ALMOND!
The Smiths Utd bring the sound of The Smiths & Morrissey back to Preston in 2024 as part of a busy year touring the UK as one the best sounding tributes to this classic band.
AKA Noel Gallagher heads to Preston to play two hours of songs from Oasis and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
The ONLY Noel Gallagher tribute name-checked by The Chief himself...
In March 2015, the second Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds album, 'Chasing Yesterday' was released, & after years of deliberation, Matt put together a band of musicians to recreate the former Oasis leader's songs & shows, and fulfill a long held dream of playing a whole set of Noel's songs.
*Please note date change from 26th April. All tickets remain valid.
The Breath is Manchester-based guitarist Stuart McCallum and singer/flautist Ríoghnach Connolly.
They met on the city’s gig circuit in the late noughties. An unlikely pairing though it was, he an acclaimed guitar whiz, ex long-time member of The Cinematic Orchestra and a softly spoken Manchester urbanite, she a folk singer with a larger-than-life personality and a powerful voice to match. Their connection was immediate; they formed The Breath in 2016, a singer-songwriter duo to present their contemporary take on alt-folk.
The World’s No.1 Tribute to Mötley Crüe!
Established in 2015, Mötley Crüde is Europe's longest running and crowned winners of the world's most authentic tribute to Mötley Crüe, as voted by the official Mötley Crüe global fanclub.
Get ready for a night of non-stop anthems, face-melting riffs, and enough anarchy to make even Nikki Sixx proud!
PEARL SCAM
Pearl Scam are the UK's finest Pearl Jam experience. The band's musicians have come together with one common goal - recreating Pearl Jam's high energy live shows.
ANGRY HAIR
If you haven't been fortunate enough to see Angry Hair live already then this is your chance! Expect to hear Man in The Box, It Ain’t Like That, Would? and Rooster. Taking pride in sounding like the real thing, Angry Hair are the ultimate Alice In Chains tribute band.
Past Events.
The most authentic tribute to the music of The STONE ROSES. Reni's beats, Mani's grooves, John's riffs & Ian's monkey business.
Each member of ULTIMATE STONE ROSES is a die-hard fan of the original band who has dedicated themselves to mastering the music of their heroes.
There ain't no party like a Soul Feds party and you are invited!
Classic Soul, Northern Soul, Blues Brothers and more
THE SOUL FEDERATION
An award-winning ten-piece band playing classic Soul as it should be played – with a real horn section and harmony vocals!
"Absolutely brought the house down" - Lincolnshire World
"'Carry On Moby Dick'" - North West End
Herman Melville's classic tale of revenge and retribution is retold in this inventive, comic retelling on the high seas from the company behind ‘Just Like That! The Tommy Cooper Show’ and ‘Dracula! One Bloody Fang After Another’.
All plot will be lampooned. All jokes will be harpooned.
"Some of the most chaotic, disconcerting, fun and positively danceable music of the year." - Independent Music News
EROTIC SECRETS OF POMPEII play wild, weird apocalyptic lounge music - a twisted amalgamation of angular art rock and transgressive post-punk, transmitted directly from the heart of the forbidden zone.
Plus special guests ZVILNIK
RECENT RELEASES OLD FAVOURITES
CULT CLASSICS HIDDEN GEMS
EVERY OTHER TUESDAY!
If like us you miss the big screen experience, the escapism it allows and the delight in discovering new cinema then worry no longer, as The Continental presents Cinema at The Continental, our fortnightly film club.
This time we have TWO Big Bands for the price of one!
THE RIBBLE VALLEY JAZZ BIG BAND and THE BAY BIG BAND. Both bands come to us fresh from taking part in The Great Northern Big Band Festival.
The UK’s #1 Tribute to BLACK SABBATH!
SABBOTAGE arrived on the scene in November 2014. Formed from the ashes of the already established Sabbath Tribute SNOWBLIND. Immediately, it was obvious that this band would become the most authentic and by far the best Black Sabbath tribute in the UK.
For those that missed Sabbath in their first incarnation this is definitely the closest you are ever likely to get to the real thing.
Back after last year’s sold out show!
“Ken Nicol is a consummate musician. A guitarist of broad scope, a sensitive singer and an intelligent writer of songs with stirring melodies. A musical paragon.” Maddy Prior
Playing with Ken in LOCKSTEP are: Paul Burgess (10CC) - drums, Norm Helm - bass, Wendy Ross - violin (Magna Carta)
EVERY FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH - FREE ENTRY
Whether you sing, play guitar, or do stand-up or spoken word, come along and take to the stage at the friendliest and best Open Mic Night in town, with hosts Typhaine & Colin. Or simply come along and sample some of the finest under-the-radar talent Preston has to offer!
Plus special guests SLANDER
Formed in 1978, TYGERS OF PAN TANG were one of the most notable bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) movement. The late 70s / early 80s saw them release a flurry of very successful LPs, including 'Wild Cat', 'Spellbound' and 'The Cage' and today sees them still releasing albums, still touring the world and, most importantly, still ROCKING!