Guernsey Press

Chaos organisers excited that festival is able to bring back bands from outside island

FESTIVAL-GOERS are planning to party, come rain or shine this weekend, as Chaos returns to Torteval.

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A man who has seen it all before, but ‘Ozzy’ Chris Chadwick, who heads the Greenman MCC organising team for Chaos, is delighted the festival can have bands and visitors from off-island again this year. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 30962385)

The Greenman Motorcycle Club event will be returning for its 17th year this weekend.

The family-friendly festival will take place at Pleinmont.

Organiser ‘Ozzy’ Chris Chadwick was excited to be able to welcome bands from Jersey and even the UK.

He mentioned that getting bigger bands involved was all down to word of mouth.

‘Last year we kept it local because of Covid, but this year we are back to welcoming visitors and bands from outside of the island,’ he said.

He added that ticket sales in Jersey had been good, with a boatload of Jersey visitors expected.

‘This year there is a lot less uncertainty with the borders being open,’ he added.

‘We are still being very mindful. There will be hand-sanitising stations and a lot of ventilation.’

Mr Chadwick said he is particularly looking forward to the set from Dub War, a Welsh metal band who will be playing at Glastonbury the day before they fly over to Guernsey.

‘We had to work hard to make it fit with their schedule, so we are really, really looking forward to it,’ he said.

The festival will feature a total of 25 acts, including Flashmob, Watercolour Matchbox, and Teaspoonriverneck.

As well as music and motorbikes, there will be various fun and games, such as a chilli-eating competition, which is rumoured to be hotter than ever this year.

The weather is set to pull through for the event, with temperatures averaging 19C. But there is a risk of rain on the Saturday afternoon and evening.

‘Not that it matters. If it rains, we party in the rain,’ said Mr Chadwick.

Each year, the organisers focus on making the event as environmentally-friendly as possible.

Staff will be on site 24 hours a day to make sure that anything that can be recycled is separated.

Most years, the festival generates less than one skip of rubbish.

‘It is just the right thing to do, it helps to keep our island clean,’ added Mr Chadwick.

‘We put on the party that we would want to go to.'

Festival-goers can camp, but that is open to over-18’s only. Items such as gas canisters, petrol-fuelled cookers, and knives are prohibited on the camp site, and no fires or barbecues are allowed.

Tickets are £15 day, or £30 for a weekend pass. Under-14’s go free if accompanied by an adult.

The festival gates open at noon today and close at 10pm Sunday.

n For information, go to chaosevents.com/