5 June 2014
Live Dance Act Freestylers to Headline Vale Earth Fair 2014
This year’s Vale Earth Fair, which takes place at the Vale Castle on Sunday 24th August, will see the legendary urban electronic dance act Freestylers headline the long running music and arts festival.
After a 15 year career the Freestylers have played all the biggest festivals and the most talked about nightclubs around the world. Aston Harvey and Matt Cantor started working on music together in the mid ‘90’s after discovering a mutual love of Hip-Hop, Electro and Beats. Having achieved the kind of success most artists can only dream of, they’ve not rested on their laurels. Following two years in the studio the Freestylers launched a veritable assault on the music scene last year with the release of their fifth album, ‘The Coming Storm.’
As a live act the Freestylers are joined by long time ‘band’ members MC Sirreal and Valerie Maxfield, both vocalists, Dave Budgen on Bass, Sam Edwards (Drums) & guitarist Tony Ayiotou. This original line up has played to notoriously massive home crowds at UK fixtures such as Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds.
They’ve also booked coveted live shows around the globe; performing at MTV’s Times Square Millennium Party, wowing ‘Big Day Out’ crowds with high energy show’s in Australia, and fitting right into a notoriously ‘rock’ domain at the diverse LA festival ‘Weenie Roast’, sharing the bill with some of the world’s biggest rock acts Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Queens of the Stone Age. US artist Lenny Kravitz also personally invited the band to be support act on his ‘American Woman Tour’.
The Freestylers high octane live performances has earned them awards for best live band amongst others and earning them the reputation as one of electronic music’s most celebrated acts ever, not to mention holding a cheeky ‘record’ as the first ‘Electronic’ act to be asked to perform on the iconic British music show ‘Top of the Pops’.
The Freestylers began their career as an urban electronic music act and their early tunes ‘B-Boy Stance’, ‘Ruffneck’ and ‘Warning’ set the marker. As their music has progressed so have their anthems. In addition to their status as underground heroes, they have gained commercial success with their global hit ‘Push Up’, and have had their music synched in numerous films and TV commercials.
“We’re really excited to have the globally renowned Freestylers playing at this year’s Vale Earth Fair” said Vale Earth Fair Collective member Rob Roussel, “and there’s a great selection of other acts also being lined up for the festival”.
Other acts already confirmed for the Vale Earth Fair include Manchester Hip Hop collective ‘The Mouse Outfit’, ‘Attila the Stockbroker’s Barnstormer’, and ‘Dead Sea Skulls’ from Birmingham.
Profits from the Vale Earth Fair are split between the humanitarian organisations the Burma Campaign UK, Free Tibet, and Bridge2Haiti. If you want to learn more about the causes the Vale Earth Fair supports, information is available at Vale Earth Fair fundraising events, and there are links on the website: www.valeearthfair.org.
10 May 2013
Punk Legends Buzzcocks to Headline Vale Earth Fair 2013
The Channel Islands’ longest running music festival, the Vale Earth Fair, will this year be headlined by Punk legends Buzzcocks. “It will be an event not to be missed.” said Vale Earth Fair Collective member Rob Roussel, “Buzzcocks are one of the few bands performing today that genuinely deserve ‘legendary’ status, and having them on stage in the Vale Castle will be fantastic”.
Their achievements are staggering: one of the original holy trinity of British punk (with the Sex Pistols and the Clash), innovators of the independent record scene and genuine punk rock superstars, they have been cited as inspirational by bands as diverse as REM, Nirvana and Green Day. They even have a long running BBC quiz show in “Never Mind the Buzzcocks” named after them. A Mojo Inspiration award in 2006 is just one of the many accolades they have received for their work.
Buzzcocks have been thrilling audiences for over thirty years. Once called ‘the Beatles of punk’, their music blends high-octane guitar, bass and drum power with heartrending personal statements of love won and lost or dismay at the modern world to create a unique catalogue of unforgettable and immortal music – music they continue to deliver to fans old and new around the world with undiminished passion and energy. They are simultaneously true to their original ideals and open to new ideas – a happy result of their own uncompromising and individual standing.
Buzzcocks' seminal pop treasure “Singles Going Steady” is consistently the band’s biggest selling Lp and a masterclass in genre-busting songcraft. This compilation of their first UK Top 40 hits is a classic album in every sense, an astounding collection of stunning moments such as ‘Orgasm Addict’, ‘What Do I Get?’ the anthemic ‘Harmony In My Head’ and, of course, the song that has become their calling card: ‘Ever Fallen In Love With Someone (You Shouldn’t’ve Fallen In Love With?)’. Eight studio albums, over twenty singles and EPs, a constellation of compilations, covers by other bands and songs on film soundtracks and advertisements have put Buzzcocks among the top echelons of British recording artists.
Buzzcocks are the true godfathers of punk-pop, having laid down that infinitely superior archetype. They are also a band with a past, present, and future. It is a history the group's members could never have imagined back in the hot punk rock summer of '76. Says Pete Shelley: "Looking back on it now, what's going on is like echoes of the Big Bang. You look around you in society and the culture; so many things would not have been the same if there never was punk rock. It's strange; it's like a science fiction novel. But to us at the time, it just sprung naturally."
They're still doing it, better than anyone. Sometimes the archetype is clearly the best. Buzzcocks – no. 1 in people’s hearts. Icons, superstars, legends.
Other acts already confirmed for the Vale Earth Fair include also include folk legend Vin Garbutt, winner of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards "Best Live Act" Award in 2001.
Vin’s career has spanned over 40 years of constant world wide touring which must make him some kind of elder statesman of folk. His songs were inspired by the folk tradition at the beginning of his career, they still are but have transformed into gritty social comment and life observations. He is renowned for his hilarious intros but for him his song lyrics are the crux of his performance. Garbutt has been described as the undisputed master of communicating with an audience, so he is certain to bring some entertainment to the afternoon of the Vale Earth Fair.
“The final touches are still being put to the line-up, and other acts will be announced soon” said Rob Roussel, “but with Buzzcocks and Vin Garbutt already on the bill, it’s shaping up to be another classic”.
The Vale Earth Fair will be supplying ht musical entertainment at the St Andrew’s Liberation Day celebrations at the Last Post, and upcoming fundraisers for the Vale Earth Fair also include an all day event at the KGV on Saturday 8 June.
Profits from the Vale Earth Fair are split between the humanitarian organisations the Burma Campaign UK, Free Tibet, and Bridge2Haiti. If you want to learn more about the causes the Vale Earth Fair supports, information is available at Vale Earth Fair fundraising events, and there are links on the website: www.valeearthfair.org.
Advance tickets are already on sale though the Vale Earth Fair website www.valeearthfair.org for £15 or you can pay £20 at the gate on the day. Children (12 and under) are free if accompanied by an adult.
Guernsey Literary Festival – Linton Kwesi Johnson, Ruts DC, Atilla the Stockbroker, Saturday 15th September
30 August 2012
Guernsey Literary Festival teams up with the Vale Earth Fair for one of the events of this year’s second festival, which features three acts with a rich heritage in poetry and music going back to the late 1970’s. Dubbed as a Punky Poetry Reggae Party, the Fermain Tavern hosts the legendary first poet of reggae Linton Kwesi Johnson, Atilla the Stockbroker, and the Ruts DC on Saturday 15th September.
Linton Kwesi Johnson was born in Jamaica, but moved to London aged 10 in 1963. Whilst still at school he joined the Black Panthers and helped to organise a poetry workshop within the movement. From this early start a career developed combining poetry with dub reggae music. 1978 saw the release of his of his debut album Dread Beat An’ Blood on Virgin Records, before signing to Island Records alongside other reggae artists such as Bob Marley, Burning Spear and Black Uhuru and releasing a number of critically acclaimed albums.
Much of Johnson's poetry is political, dealing mainly with the experiences of being an African-Caribbean in Britain, "Writing was a political act and poetry was a cultural weapon...", he told an interviewer in 2008. His writing also covers other social issues, such as British foreign policy and racism.
Johnson's poetry makes clever use of the unstandardised transcription of Jamaican Patois, and a collection of his poems has been published as Mi Revalueshanary Fren by Penguin Modern Classics, making Johnson one of only three poets to be published by Penguin Modern Classics while still alive.
Sharp-tongued, high energy, social surrealist rebel poet and songwriter, Atilla the Stockbroker joins LKJ on the bill for the night, and will also be compere for the night. Making a welcome return to the Fermain Tavern following a well received performance earlier this year, Atilla expects this to be “…one of the gigs of the year for me!”
His themes are topical, his words hard-hitting, his politics unashamedly radical, but Attila will make you roar with laughter as well as seethe with anger...
Inspired by the spirit and 'Do It Yourself' ethos of punk rock, he started as a bass player in 1977 and took the name Attila the Stockbroker in 1980. Blagging spots for his poems and songs in between bands at punk gigs, he quickly got a couple of John Peel radio sessions, a deal with Cherry Red Records and before very long was on the front cover of Melody Maker...and he hasn't looked back since!
Attila has spent the last 30 years performing his work across the world at literary and music festivals, rock venues, arts centres, pubs, universities, schools, folk clubs and punk squats. He co-founded the long running Glastonwick Beer, Music, Poetry and More Beer Festival in 1996 and has released more than 20 music/poetry albums and 6 books of poems.
“When asked to find a band to compliment the poets, Ruts DC immediately sprang to mind” said Vale Earth Fair Collective member Rob Roussel, “and I was chuffed to bits when they agreed to do it”.
The Ruts DC were formed in 1981 by the rhythm section and guitarist of The Ruts. The Ruts had three whirlwind years of success and much critical acclaim and are probably best known for their chart the singles "Babylon's Burning" and "Staring At The Rude Boys". The rebel music of Punk and Reggae came together in the late seventies and The Ruts were without doubt the best of the original punks who dubbed it up.
Following the death of singer Malcolm Owen the booming rhythm section of Dave Ruffy and John 'Segs' Jennings came forward with The Ruts DC with their strong early roots reggae and dub influences coming to the fore. The resulting Dub album "Rhythm Collision Vol. 1" was recorded with the dub specialist Mad Professor and is still in demand.
Having recently reformed and toured with Alabama 3, who Segs also plays Bass for, a long anticipated second Rut DC Dub album was released this year and some exclusive live shows have been arranged, including the Guernsey Literary Festival.
“It’s an absolute honour to have these three acts performing together in Guernsey as part of the Guernsey Literary Festival” said Rob Roussel, “and I have to agree with Atilla – this will be one of the gigs of the year and is not to be missed”. If you don’t want to miss it, get in quick for one of the remaining tickets, available at £20 from www.arts.gg. To complete the bill DJ Limey Banton will be filling in in between acts, and doors open at 8pm on the night, and its over 18’s only.
Vale Earth Fair 2012 full line-up announced.
26 July 2012
The Channel Islands longest running music and arts festival, the Vale Earth Fair, takes place on Sunday 26th August at the Vale Castle. Acts performing on the day are now all confirmed, and it’s shaping up to be a real classic. With UK Hip Hop legend Roots Manuva headlining the show, there is an all-star supporting cast on the bill across six stages, featuring bands from the UK, France, and Jersey, alongside local artists. The full line up can now be revealed:
Castle Stage
23:00 Subsource
21:15 Roots Manuva
20:00 Rebel Control
18:45 Speakeasy
17:30 The Correspondents
16:30 Land of the Giants
15:30 Last of the Light Brigade
14:30 Brave Yesterday
13:30 Sugar Slam
12:30 Rentoclean
Stage against the Machine
23:00 Top Buzzer
22:00 Stan Smith
21:00 Teaspoonriverneck
20:00 The Gaa Gaas
19:00 Blackpool
18:00 Tantale
17:00 Wild Card
16:00 Elmer Henley
15:10 Skid Rue
14:20 Twelve Tribe Mansion
13:30 Stone Em All
12:45 The Deadbeats
12:00 Phantom Cosmonaut
Busking Stage
Acoustic acts from Midday until 19:30, featuring :
Jersey Bob
Ukaladeez
A Day Before Thursday
Emily Powell
Jack Chown
and special guests.
Funk Da Rock presents the Bangorang Stage
23:15 DJ Four Q
22:30 Milaflore, Jimi Riddlz, & Apex (Live)
21:30 Brobots (Live)
20:45 Ooko
19:15 Krossbow (Live)
17:45 DJ Garcee
16:45 Limey Banton
15:45 Bad Boi Selecta vs Black Belt Jones
15:00 Bright Lights (Live)
14:15 Russel T
13:30 DJ Lino
12:45 DJ X-Cut
12:00 Nessi G (Live)
Dance Zone
22:30 DJ Ray Marshall
21:00 DJ Tank
19:30 DJ Mike H
18:00 DJ Warren
16:30 DJ Sean Johnson
15:00 DJ Karl
13:30 DJ Luke
Pixie Stage
22:30 Sephira
21:30 Liquidic
20:00 Psylobster
18:30 Tripnip
17:00 Alex Psymons
16:00 Liquidic
14:30 Badger
13:30 Sephira
12:00 Merkaba Mashu
Advance tickets for £15- are now on sale from Saiko, Kendall Guitars, Yak Wax, HS2, Clobberbox, and online at www.valeearthfair.org. The price on the day is £20- at the gate, and children (12 and under) are free if accompanied by an adult.
There will be the usual array of stalls, food tents, licensed bar, and children’s area, among other attractions, and profits from the event will go towards humanitarian causes the Burma Campaign, Free Tibet, Oxfam and Bridge 2 Haiti. The Vale Earth Fair is not a BYOB event.
AUNG SAN SUU KYI’S ADDRESS TO PARLIAMENT
21 June 2012
As Aung San Suu Kyi , the Burmese opposition leader, gave an historic speech at to both UK Houses of Parliament at Westminster Hall yesterday, one of the organisers of the Vale Earth Fair, Rob Roussel, was in attendance to witness the occasion, and earlier in the week he was at the Royal Albert Hall for the Dalai Lama – two Nobel Peace Prize winners in one week.
It is sometimes forgotten that the Vale Earth Fair is more than just a music festival and has an important role in raising funds for humanitarian causes. “We have had a long standing association with the Burma Campaign UK and Free Tibet” said Vale Earth Fair Collective member Rob Roussel, “and it is through invitations from these organisations that my trip to London this week came about”.
“A couple of weeks ago I received an invitation to Parliament from Mr Speaker & the Lord Speaker to attend the address by Aung San Suu Kyi, and I jumped at the chance to be there”, said Rob Roussel, and by coincidence, it came at the same time as the Dalai Lama’s visit to the UK.
Rob Roussel was one of only a few hundred guests to receive an invitation to Westminster Hall yesterday, rubbing shoulders with other supporters of human rights and democratic reform in Burma, including Maureen Lipman, Jo Brand, Joanna Lumley and Annie Lennox.
After spending most of the last 20 years under house arrest in Burma, this was Aung San Suu Kyi’s first visit to the UK since 1988. “It was truly an honour to represent the Vale Earth Fair at such an historic event” said Rob. The scale of the occasion was apparent from The Speaker the Rt Hon John Bercow MP’s introduction. In recent years only foreign dignitaries such as President Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela and Pope Benedict have spoken in Westminster Hall. Aung San Suu Kyi was not only the first figure other than a Head of State to address both Houses of Parliament, but also the first woman from abroad and the first Asian.
Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest in November 2010, and following electoral reform, she was finally elected to their parliament. After being introduced by John Bercow as a conscience of a country, a heroine of humanity, Aung San Suu Kyi spoke for half an hour of democracy for Burma, electoral reform, freedom of speech, and the right to vote.
However, her visit to Europe this month is far from a victory tour, and she used her speech to ask for practical help towards reforms in her country. She made it clear that this is just the start of a journey to hopefully better times for Burma. “We are only now just beginning to see the fruits of our struggle” she said. In Burma their parliament is still in its infancy, and Aung San Suu Kyi has yet to have the opportunity to address her own parliament. There is cautious optimism but there is now an opportunity to re-establish democracy in Burma.
After her address, Aung San Suu Kyi took time to meet some of the Burmese exiles in attendance, including staff of the Burma Campaign. “It was an unforgettable day”, said Rob Roussel, “particularly for some of the close friends we have made over the years of supporting the Burma Campaign. A day that really brings hope to them for the future for their country”.
Earlier in the week, at the invitation of Free Tibet, Rob also attended a public talk by the Dalai Lama at a packed Royal Albert Hall. This was followed by a reception for Free Tibet supporters to mark twenty five years of campaigning for human rights and freedom for Tibetans. This was also a chance to meet the Free Tibet team and other supporters of the organisation. Stephanie Brigden, Director of Free Tibet, gave a heartfelt speech thanking supporters for their contribution to their work, and talked of the ongoing situation in Tibet, highlighting the resettlement of nomadic Tibetans by their Chinese rulers into ghettos, reminiscent of the reserves used to house Native Americans and Aboriginal Australians, and the shocking self-immolations of Tibetans in protest to Chinese occupation.
“Whilst I have been lucky enough to have an unforgettable few days, hopefully the rest of the Vale Earth Fair Collective, and our supporters, can also take heart from the message that the Vale Earth Fair can make a positive contribution to the lives who do not enjoy the same freedom as us” said Rob Roussel. “A few years ago Zoya Phan of the Burma Campaign was on stage at the Vale Earth Fair leading a chant of “Free Burma”, and it is inspiring to think that the Vale Earth Fair has in a small way contributed to the first signs of that message becoming a reality,” said Rob Roussel, “however, we also know that there is a long way to go, as highlighted by ongoing conflict in ethnic areas of Burma, and the scores of political prisoners who remain incarcerated in the country’s jails”.
If you missed it, Aung San Suu Kyi’s address to parliament can by watched in full on BBC Parliament on BBC iplayer for the next week.
This year’s Vale Earth Fair takes place at the Vale Earth Fair on Sunday 26th August, and tickets can be purchased through www.valeearthfair.org.
UK Hip Hop Legend Roots Manuva to Headline Vale Earth Fair 2012
13 May 2012
The Channel Islands’ longest running music festival, the Vale Earth Fair, will this year be headlined by UK Hip Hop legend Roots Manuva. “It’s a fantastic booking for us. Having Roots Manuva grace the stage at the Vale Castle in the summer will be really special – we’re really excited about this one” said Vale Earth Fair Collective member Rob Roussel.
Roots Manuva aka Rodney Smith has had an illustrious career so far, including picking up the Mobo Award for Best Hip Hop Act in 1999,a Mercury Prize nomination for his groundbreaking 2002 album Run Come Save Me, and starring as a guest vocalist on the Gorillaz number one album Demon Days and its subsequent tour.
Following the release of his latest album 4everevolution, widely regarded as his finest work to date, Roots Manuva has just returned from touring the globe with his band, and will be playing a series of festival dates in the UK including the Vale Earth Fair, which takes place at the Vale Castle on Sunday 26th August.
Best known for his 2001 track Witness, voted greatest UK Hip Hop tune of all time, his back catalogue now spans eight studio LPs, a number of singles, and collaborations with a host of renowned artists including Leftfield, DJ Shadow, Coldcut, and more recently, reggae pioneer Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry.
Other acts already confirmed for the Vale Earth Fair include afro jazz ensemble Ariya Astrobeat Arkestra and mod super group Speakeasy, featuring Guernsey’s own Mark Le Gallez on lead vocals, as well as a number of local and Jersey acts. “We’re just putting the final touches to the line-up with other acts to be announced soon” said Rob Roussel, “but its shaping up to be a classic”.
Upcoming fundraisers for the Vale Earth Fair include a Record and CD fair in the Inner Market in Town, which takes place on Saturday 26th May from 10am until 4pm. If you have stock to sell, please email info@valeearthfair.org. Tables are £10 for one £20 for two or more. If you would like to donate records for sale please email or call Yannic on 07911 732792 so collections can be arranged.
This is followed by the return of Inner Terrestrials, one of the highlights of last year’s Vale Earth Fair, who will play at the Fermain Tavern on Friday 15th June, supported by Insurrection. Tickets are on sale through the Vale Earth Fair website, £10 each.
All profits from these two events will go towards funding the Vale Earth Fair, which supports a number of humanitarian causes. In 2011 £6,000 was donated, split between the Burma Campaign, Free Tibet, Oxfam and Bridge2Haiti. “The importance of what the Vale Earth Fair stands for has really been visible in the last six months” said Rob Roussel. “The move towards democracy in Burma has been really encouraging for us – a cause we have been supporting for many years; however there is still a long way to go, with ethic minorities still suffering horrendous atrocities in Burma at the hands of the military.”
The Vale Earth Fair has contributed towards campaigns against human rights abuses in Burma through a long association with the Burma Campaign UK in London, and the hard work they have put in has helped bring about the recent developments there. Political prisoners have been released, ceasefire agreements achieved, and the first round of democratic elections have taken place, resulting in the Nobel Peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi finally taking he place in their parliament. However there still remains a lot to do, and the Vale Earth Fair will continue to support the work of the Burma Campaign UK for the foreseeable future.
The Vale Earth Fair also continues to support Free Tibet, which campaigns for the right of Tibetans to determine their own future, and for the fundamental human rights of Tibetans to be respected. Under Chinese occupation since 1950, March 2008 saw brutal crackdowns on protests and it is unknown how many Tibetan political prisoners are still being held. Quite shocking images have been emerging in recent months from Tibet where monks have taken to protesting through self-immolation.
The Vale Earth Fair will also lend its support to Oxfam and local charity Bridge2Haiti again this year, and if you want to learn more about the causes the Vale Earth Fair supports, information is available at Vale Earth fair fundraising events, and there are links on the website: www.valeearthfair.org.
Advance tickets are already on sale though the Vale Earth Fair website www.valeearthfair.org, and get in quick for the early bird discount (£12 + £1 admin fee) which is limited to the first 250 tickets. After that it will be £15 in advance or £20 at the gate on the day. Children (12 and under) are free if accompanied by an adult.
Toupe Fundraiser - Fermain Tavern, 21 April 2012
Wednesday April 11th, 2012
Southampton’s bass and drum monster, Toupé, have long been associated with Guernsey and are making plans to return on Saturday 21st April at the Fermain Tavern. Usually a three piece with two bass players and a drummer, the unusual trio have transmogrified in to a beautiful duo due to ‘other bass player’ Karl Evans currently working and playing in Australia.
As drumming master Jason Havelock and bass stalwart Grant Sharkey, has the sound suffered? “Not at all,” responds Jason, “If anything, there’s even more space to flip out and bring an audience up to a frenzy. We’ve made the decision to just play more to fill in for Karl. It’s loads of fun.”
“We miss Karl dearly,” adds Grant, “He hasn’t left the band at all, we tried the two piece out last year when we were kindly asked support Skindred in December and we’ve really enjoyed the way it worked. So we’re just doing this until Karl comes back.”
But their anarchic fun and groove is still present – now bringing a new tool to the stage, Grant has adapted some of the songs to be played on an electric double bass with a bow. “It has a ton of effects to round out the sound. I’m having to play twice as many notes and still sing, but it’s worth it to see the room come together with glee.”
What sort of music is it? After ten years, the answer still remains ‘Anything goes’. “The songs are whatever is coming out of us at the time,” says Jason, “We all listen to so many different bands and composers that we never quite find a middle ground, so we’ve settled with letting the song be themselves.”
“We don’t rehearse,” says Grant, “We let the songs evolve on stage. After ten years we sort of know what the other one is thinking. “The main driving force is that the songs should be delivered with a sense that someone in the audience will be hearing them for the first time, and that’s where we have to grab them and pull them into the weird world of Toupé.”
As well as being regular visitors to Guernsey with the band, Grant will also be a familiar face to anyone who’s attended the Vale Earth Fair as he is also the main stage compere for the event.
“I’ve been told if I don’t do it, it will ruin the Earth Fair,” jokes Grant, “It’s on the same weekend as my Dad’s birthday – I haven’t seen him on his birthday since 2005, I think. But still, I tell him that the causes are worth it and make it up to him when I fly back after the clean up.”
Also performing at this fundraiser will be Black Capsule, made up of Lynchy and Brett from Teaspoonriverneck, and Andre and Jo both formerly of Hobo Sounds - a rare outing for them due to Andre being based in London, but certainly impressed on their debut towards the end of last year. Felanizza Horsepower are also popping over for the occasion from Jersey, following on from a memorable set on the main stage at the Vale Earth Fair last year. Completing the line-up is the debut of 'Of Empires', fronted by Jack Fletcher.
“Of Empires” are 4 dudes from nowhere who fused together at the Vale Earth Fair in 2011 as a result of the all inspiring state that is intoxication. Their declaration: to embark on a stripped down, no bs rock 'n' roll band.
It won't be long until the rest of the world hear Of Empires, bringing genuine and authentic presence, all the while driving the pure fundamentals of that rock 'n' roll tradition which we all believe in.
DJ support on the night comes from Alex Psymons and Binary Reaper, and the event gets underway at 7:30pm, with a £6 entry charge on the door.
This is the first in a series of fundraising events we will be holding in the run up to the Vale Earth Fair, and more information will follow about these, and the Vale Earth fair itself in due course. We are currently working on the line up and hope to make an announcement soon - we think it's shaping up nicely!
The Vale Earth Fair will take place on Sunday 26th August. Advance tickets are already on sale though our website www.valeearthfair.org , and get in quick for the early bird discount (£12 + £1 admin fee) which is limited to the first 250 tickets. After that it will be £15 in advance or £20 at the gate on the day. Children (12 and under) are free if accompanied by an adult.
Vale Earth Fair 2011 – Tickets are on sale
Tuesday July 5th, 2011
Tickets are now on sale for this year’s Vale Earth Fair, with the first 250 available at a discounted early bird rate of £13. The annual live music event organised by the Vale Earth Fair Collective is set to return to Vale Castle this coming August bank holiday weekend after a year out, bringing with it an eclectic range of music and entertainment for all ages.
“We’re very excited to be bringing the event back to Vale Castle this year” said Rob Roussel, Collective member “the last festival we put on at the Castle was in 2009 and we raised over £9000 for Free Tibet, Oxfam and The Burma Campaign. This year we hope to raise even more than that”.
The main stage will be headlined by UK band, Senser. With their unique fusion of rock, metal, hip hop and alternative electronica, they have enjoyed worldwide success in recent years.
Among those also performing on the main stage will be Concrete Disco, a live dance music act that is being welcomed back to Guernsey after a fantastic performance at the 2010 New Year’s Eve Scuro Disco event, Punk/Ska act Inner Terrestrials from London, and reggae band Hikoikoi all the way from New Zealand.
In addition to this, there will be a number of other UK, Jersey and local bands and DJs performing across four different stages around the castle.
The full line up as well as the discounted early bird tickets can be found at http://www.valeearthfair.org/.
Other Details
Date & Time – Sunday 28th August 2011, 1200 – 0000
Location – Vale Castle
Tickets – £13 early bird via website, £15 normal ticket price, or £20 on the door
Strict No Glass Policy
Buses will be operating to and from St Peter Port on a regular basis
Further Information:
http://www.valeearthfair.org/
http://www.senser.co.uk/
http://www.concretedisco.com/
http://www.innerterrestrials.co.uk/
http://www.myspace.com/hikoikoi
http://soundcloud.com/krossbow
Beach Life 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Beach Life, The Vale Earth Fair Collective live music event held at Petit Bot, is to return to the bay this bank holiday weekend. Spread over two stages, the eclectic line up spans a wide range of musical tastes, from reggae through to drum & bass.
Headlining the main stage is UK band, Mellow Star. They Star have been creating and honing their atmospheric, soaring sound at festivals and local venues for just over a year now, citing influences as diverse as Hip Hop, Jazz, Reggae, World, Classical and film music. The supporting acts on the main stage include Schema, Chaos Monkey, Sub Zero, Oneofakind, DJ Pressure and Anders Riddle.
The legendary Funk Da Rock will managing the second stage, with acts & DJs such as Asylum Seekas, Manzur, B-Long, Limey Banton & Deemas J. They even have a string quartet in the line up.
Following on from the unexpected success of the 2009 event, the Earth Fair Collective have improved the infrastructure of the event including the installation of additional toilet facilities, a re-positioned bar and additional security.
“The good weather that we experienced in 2009 generated a lot more revellers than we had anticipated, and so the facilities at Petit Bot were pushed to their limit.” Said Rob Roussel, Collective member, “This year we have made a number of improvements to ensure that the venue can cope with the influx of people with minimal impact to the surrounding area and its residents.”
Other Details
Date & Time – Sunday 29th May 2011, 1200 – 0000
Location – Petit Bot
Entry Fee – £5 on the the door
Strict No Glass Policy
Buses will be operating to and from St Peter Port on a regular basis
Further Information
http://www.valeearthfair.org/
http://www.myspace.com/mellowstarmusic
30/06/2010 - Vale Earth Fair Scaling Down for 2010
The Vale Earth Fair Collective have decided to give the Vale Castle a rest for 2010, and instead will be putting on an alternative festival at Le Château des Marais. "2009's festival was the best yet, and we raised £9,000 for Oxfam, Free Tibet and The Burma Campaign. However, this year we have decided to give both Vale Castle and the Collective a well deserved year off" said Rob Roussel, a Collective member, "that's not to say there'll be nothing happening though. We have an alternative festival planned for Le Château des Marais in the August, plus numerous other fundraising gigs throughout the year".
Preparations are under way for the 'Ivy Earth Fair' which is planned for the weekend of the 7th August. This will follow on from the Chateau De Sound events the Collective have organised in recent years at Le Château des Marais, which most locals know as the 'Ivy Castle'. "The Chateau is another wonderful venue with huge potential. When we decided to have a year off the Vale Earth Fair, we still wanted to do something, so it was an ideal opportunity to raise the profile of the Chateau events."" said Rob Roussel.
The Vale Castle has been booked for the 2011 Vale Earth Fair festival, and plans for the event have already started.
