Liberty X marks hot spot of Summer Wave

MORE than 10,000 flocked into Saumarez Park on Saturday to be part of Summer Wave. The organisers of the largest music event of its kind were delighted with the success of it.

'I am absolutely over the moon with how well it went ' the whole day has just been tremendous,' said Tim Ringsdore, managing director of Wave Telecom, which staged the event in association with Island FM.

'We would like to thank everyone involved ' the ambulance, police and marshals, all the stalls and CMA Public Relations ' for making it such a success.'

Originally a ticketed event, the organisers decided early last week to make the concert free and gave those who had already paid the option to claim back their money, or donate it to charity.

'Out of the 2,000 tickets sold, only 26 claimed back their money. We were overwhelmed by everyone's generosity, enabling a lot to be raised for charity,' said Island FM managing director Gary Burgess.

The radio station supported Help a Guernsey Child and Wave Telecom Childline. Last-minute cancellations by two of the main UK acts went largely unnoticed as the likes of The Faders and Liberty X captivated the crowds alongside a host of local bands.

'The view from the stage just took your breath away ' it was just a sea of people. I am proud that Guernsey as a community can achieve something like this,' said Mr Burgess.

'I was so impressed with the Guernsey bands that really did the island proud and put on a great show.'

Sisters Rose Knight and Sandy Clarke set up chairs in front of the stage and watched the whole concert.

'It has been such a great day out with a wonderful atmosphere,' said 60-year-old Mrs Knight.

Her 53-year-old sister said the island had some great musical talent and all the local bands played very well.

Gaz Le Page, 21, came with a group of 20 friends to enjoy the day.

'It is great that the event was free, but we all would have been prepared to pay to come,' he said.

'It's great that so many people make the effort to come to these events ' they are really good for the island.'

When the concert ended at 8.30pm, Mr Burgess said he was pleased to see people going out of their way to help clear up the park.