A new music festival is being staged on Chesil Beach in Portland, with the aim of uniting residents and refugees housed on the Bibby Stockholm barge.

Let Music Unite is a new music event bringing positivity to Chesil Beach on the island of Portland on Saturday, September 16 from 12noon to 7pm.

Organised by Portland Global Friendship Group as part of the Portland Fringe Festival, Let Music Unite is hoping to build bridges between the local community and the refugees who are being housed on the controversial Bibby Stockholm barge at Portland Port.  

Heather, a member of Portland Global Friendship Group, commented: "As a local resident I wanted to create a positive event for the community on our beautiful island. It's been an incredibly divided community recently, which as a local resident has been difficult to observe.

"This event is about bringing some positivity back to the island and bringing people together.'  

Let Music Unite will host a variety of musicians and local DJs and artists who were previously refugees. Musicians playing on the day will include Kurdish singer Mustafa Mamu, the unique Romanian Gypsy band Ochi de Mort, and Dorset-based Ricky Romain, who said: "It's so simple to understand the title of this event Let Music Unite when we watch how people are moved by music regardless of age or ethnicity. The arts at their best, are the home we can all live together in without prejudice." 

Giovanna Lewis, a Portland councillor, commented: "It's wonderful to see people in our community leading the way in promoting unity, co-operation, and respect for all with this music festival.

"I hope it goes a long way to creating the kind of cohesive and positive community that we all need both in Portland and everywhere, as we all face many local and global challenges ahead.' 

Let Music Unite is free for anyone to attend and will be coming to Chesil Beach on Saturday, September 16 from 12noon to 7pm.