A SEASIDE spectacular will be looking to whip crowds into a frenzy at the upcoming Bournemouth Arts by the Sea Festival.

Mobile street-art show, Mr Wippy and the Connettes, will be performing their popular touring show outside an antique ice-cream van on the opening weekend of the festival. Inspired by the British seaside holiday tradition of the forties, the stylings are also reminiscent of old-school Hollywood, American ‘cheesecake’ art and the saucy seaside postcard art of pre-war Britain.

Producer Louise Rennie said: “It’s a really family-friendly spectacle, like a mini musical in the street inspired by MGM and old-school Hollywood.”

The delicious cabaret show also offers short dance workshops for those over the age of seven.

The Arts by the Sea Festivals in 2011 and 2012 attracted more than 100,000 people and featured some of the best local and international artists including Fuel, The Paper Cinema, Georgina Starr, Fevered Sleep and Ray Lee.

Artists adding to the surreal atmosphere of the opening weekend this year will include Jem Finer and his renowned Spiegelei-on-Sea exhibition.

This fascinating collision between a beach hut and a sphere aims to reflect and magically invert the world using a mirror and lens.

With the sea floating above their heads, birds flying upside down and passers by walking as if suspended from the beach, people are bound to be dumbstruck.

Jem said: “People often don’t understand what they’re seeing and think it’s some kind of photograph. It’s very surreal, but also magical at the same time.”

The free outdoor spectacle will kick-off on Friday, September 20 with a myriad of different events in the town centre, gardens and seafront.

Carol Maund, the festival director, said: “This year we have built on the success of the past two festivals by bringing some of the very best local, national and international artists, performers and film-related events to Bournemouth.

“We have big names in dance, music and animatronics, as well as workshops run by professionals from their field.

“The festival has something for everyone, with a number of events aimed at children and their families.”

Bournemouth-based 11-piece swing and jive band, the Regular Joes will also be returning to the festival, fresh from performing at Buckingham Palace.

Live music from the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra will accompany showings of Alfred Hitchcock’s early films and there will be a sound performance in complete darkness.