Brewery Arts will bring a packed programme of music, comedy, cinema and creative activity to Kendal throughout September, with events planned across its stages, screens, galleries and creative spaces.
The programme, published on 21 August 2026, includes performances by tribute acts and established artists, film screenings with special guests, courses for adults and young people, and a new Stitch Club for local makers.
Live music and comedy in Kendal
The live music programme begins with Moving Pictures – Rush Tribute on 10 September at 7.30pm in the Extended Theatre. Tickets cost £28.50, and the show will feature the 2112 suite in full alongside songs from across Rush’s career.
Very Santana follows on 11 September at 7.30pm, with tickets priced at £27.50 or £25 for under-25s. Lindisfarne then returns on 12 September at 7.30pm, with tickets costing £36. The band will appear with a classic five-piece line-up of long-time members, led by founder-member Rod Clements.
September’s other music dates include Jazz Club: Harben Kay & Stephen Henderson on 17 September, Total Stone Roses on 18 September, Cara Dillon and The Springsteen Sessions on 19 September, Altered Images on 21 September, and Mary Coughlan on 24 September. Venues include the Malt Room, Extended Theatre and Theatre, with ticket prices ranging from £17.50 for the jazz event to £38.50 for Altered Images.
Comedy fans can see Alasdair Beckett-King: King Of Crumbs on 18 September at 8pm, followed by Seann Walsh: This is Torture on 23 September. The latter is strictly for people aged 14 and over. Brewery Arts Comedy Club returns on 25 September, featuring Alex Hylton, David Hoare and Jacob Nussey, with Dave Twentyman headlining.
Spoken word and cinema screenings
Poetry Club: Testing 1, 2, 3! opens the spoken-word programme on 9 September at 7pm. Guests Ann the Poet, Francis Prendiville and Simon Sylvester will appear, while participants can sign up to perform or attend as audience members.
Blur drummer Dave Rowntree will share stories and photographs from the band’s early years at No One You Know on 17 September. The month also includes Verbalise: Louise Exactly on 26 September, featuring the Wigan performance poet alongside support from Caleb Staps.
Film highlights include The Terminator Double Bill on 5 September and Raiders of the Lost Ark – 45th Anniversary on 12 September. The BFI’s Rip It Up season will feature This Is England on 16 September and Trainspotting on 26 September.
Brewery Arts will also host environmental and social justice films as part of the Beyond Horizons festival. Our Planet, The People, My Blood screens on 10 September with a live director Q&A, while It’ll Never Work and X Trillion will be shown on 30 September, followed by a Q&A with X Trillion director Eleanor Church.
Other cinema events include Melt It! The Film of the Iceman on 19 September, followed by a Q&A with Mark Cartwright, Robert Wringham and a mystery guest. Stage on Screen and Exhibition on Screen titles include Turandot on Sydney Harbour, National Theatre Live: The Misanthrope and David Hockney At The Royal Academy Of Arts.
Courses, exhibitions and new social events
The autumn Creative Learning season begins on Tuesday 15 September with weekly courses and one-off workshops for different ages. Adult options include Beginners Guide to Digital Photography and Drawing for Absolute Beginners, while younger participants can join Clay Club for ages 7 to 16 or Makers Club for ages 7 to 14.
Cine-Social returns on 2 September with themed screenings and discussions. Brewery Arts also plans visual arts and dance taster workshops for local primary schools and playgroups.
The Young Artist Open Exhibition, celebrating local artists aged four to 18, continues in the Sugar Store Gallery until 31 August. The Arts Unleashed Exhibition runs alongside it in the Foyer Gallery and features work created during this year’s Arts Unleashed Summer Camp.
A new Stitch Club launches on 22 September, offering a relaxed evening for knitting, crochet and other yarn-based activities. The Brewery Arts Quiz returns on 16 September, while Tuesday Social events include a traditional folk session with Jackie, Andy & Friends on 1 September and an a cappella performance by Close Quarters on 15 September.
A Youth Arts Networking Event on 2 September will welcome young creatives aged 16 and over to share ideas, collaborate and develop projects, with pizza provided. Visitors can also use the refreshed Malt Room and Foyer Bars, the Bar & Restaurant and Kendal’s largest beer garden, with local food and drink available throughout the month.
