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There are evenings out, and then there are evenings that become the stories you tell. The Broadsands Sessions are the latter. Part live music event, part coastal cruise, part sunset experience, this is one of the most genuinely distinctive things you can do on the North Devon coast this summer.
Here is everything you need to know for the 2026 season.
What Are the Broadsands Sessions?
The Broadsands Sessions are live music evenings aboard the Ilfracombe Princess, with each event featuring a live artist performing as the vessel cruises the North Devon coastline to the picturesque Broadsands Beach and back. Two hours of music, sea air, and scenery, with drinks available on board throughout.
The events combine everything that makes a summer evening on the North Devon coast special: the dramatic cliffs and changing light as the sun drops towards the Atlantic, the energy of live music in an intimate setting, and the simple pleasure of being on the water with people who are there to enjoy themselves.
The 2026 Artists and Dates
This year’s season features six events, each with a different artist:
- Friday 30 May: Richy J
- Saturday 20 June: Segun
- Saturday 4 July: Fiona White
- Saturday 1 August: Jazz Mango
- Friday 15 August: Such and Vincent
- Friday 29 August: Suttlebutt Shanty Crew
The season opens on 30 May with Richy J and builds through summer to the Suttlebutt Shanty Crew on 29 August, a fitting finale for a year of music on the water. Each event has its own character depending on the artist, so whether you prefer soul, jazz, folk, or shanty, there is a Broadsands Sessions evening for you.
What to Expect on the Night
You board at Ilfracombe harbour and the Princess sets sail along the North Devon coastline. As you pass beneath the cliffs and headlands that make this stretch of coast one of the most dramatic in England, the live artist is performing on deck. Drinks are available throughout the evening.
Broadsands Beach is a picturesque cove a short sail from Ilfracombe, backed by the dramatic Exmoor coastal scenery that defines this part of Devon. Arriving by sea as the light changes is genuinely spectacular, and the return journey in the fading evening light is one of those moments that photographs well but feels even better in person.
Who Is It For?
The Broadsands Sessions work for almost every kind of group. Couples looking for a genuinely different date night. Friends celebrating a birthday or occasion. Families with older children who want an evening adventure. People who live locally and want to experience their own coastline from a new angle. Visitors to Ilfracombe who want the defining experience of the summer season.
The Princess is a comfortable, stable vessel. You do not need to be a sailor or even particularly confident on the water. You just need to want a good evening.
How to Book
Tickets for the Broadsands Sessions are available online, and events do sell out, particularly for popular dates in July and August. Booking as early as possible is recommended.
The first date is Friday 30 May with Richy J. If you are reading this before then, there is still time.
