Guernsey Press

Town Carnival acts enjoy chance to perform on the street

THE Town Carnival is proving a hit with performers and the public, although some shop workers have raised concerns over noise levels.

Published
Last updated
Town Carnival street entertainer Ivy Botzenhardt, 16. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 22062291)

The carnival began on Saturday, with performances taking place around St Peter Port until 29 July.

A range of different acts from Guernsey and the UK will be entertaining passers-by from 10.30am until 3.30pm, six days a week.

Ivy Botzenhardt, who was playing acoustic guitar and singing along the Pollet, said the reception had been good.

‘I like to see all the little children come past and dancing, it’s really cute,’ she said.

‘I think it’s really important that we have a range of ages performing, we have so many different acts, an older gentleman who performed before me borrowed my amp.

‘It’s just nice to meet people.

‘I perform as part of a quartet as well and they have quartets coming over from England.

‘To see people like that who are so experienced, it’s really cool for me and I’m sure it’s really cool for everyone who is walking past as well.’

In the Arcade, Jaike Smith was entertaining diners outside Dix-Neuf restaurant.

Having played the saxophone for nine years, he was looking forward to playing at the carnival most days.

‘I’ve had a good reception so far, it’s been pretty decent,’ he said.

Jilly and Colin Robin had stopped for a drink at Dix-Neuf, after making their way into Town especially to see the carnival before they spend the next six weeks looking after their twin five-year-old grandchildren.

‘They break up for school today, so this is our holiday,’ said Mrs Robin.

‘We usually come down here one day every year.’

‘The saxophone player is absolutely amazing, he’s really good.’

Although the public and performers were enjoying the carnival, some shop workers had concerns about the noise.

Lucy Meader, who was working at a shop near Dix-Neuf, said: ‘If it’s quite close it can be slightly intrusive, but other than that it’s really nice, I am loving the whole jazz saxophone.

‘He’s really rather good.’

One shop worker who did not wish to be named said she felt the carnival could have more going on and it was affecting how she dealt with customers.

‘It depends who’s playing, but we’ve had a couple of people who are really loud and we can’t hear the customers,’ she said.

‘I have had to ring up and ask them to tell the performers to turn it down.

‘It can be quite intrusive, we’ve had to turn our in-store music off.

‘I don’t see why there can’t be more.

‘There could be roundabouts, face-painting up in the Market Square, more things for children.

‘Coming from the UK I feel they could do more.

‘This is the norm in England, this happens every weekend.’