Build the stages and they will come – countdown to Earth Fair
THE annual operation to set up the Vale Earth Fair has begun, with volunteers gathering at Vale Castle.
Eight members of the VEF Collective began the process on Tuesday and their numbers are expected to grow until the start of the event on Sunday.
Collective member Jade Kershaw said anyone wanting to join in as a volunteer could just ‘come to the venue, pop their head in and say “Hi”’.
‘People are welcome to come and join us up until about 11.59am on Sunday,’ she said.
Fellow collective member Nick Farnham, who will be undertaking compering duties on one of the festival’s six stages, said the hard work was all worth it.
‘We’ll be here until it gets dark, really, every day up until the big day and many days after that as well. It’s a real labour of love. I started coming when I was in my early teens and always enjoyed the music but also the sense of community,’ he said.
A London duo, who released a multi-award winning album last year, will be the headliners at this year’s festival.
Bob Vylan’s music has been described as ‘a style merging elements of grime, punk rock and hip hop’ and they will be one of many visiting acts taking to the stages at this year’s event.
Last year, Bob Vylan Presents: The Price of Life became the winner of the first Mobo award for an alternative act.
‘We have so many great local and UK acts to show you and we are so excited,’ said Ms Kershaw.
Another of the visiting acts will be reggae artist Kiko Bun, who will be performing with his backing act Run Come Down.
As well as the main Castle Stage there will be entertainment across five other areas – the Next Up stage, the Magic Pyramid, Breaks ‘N’ Beats, Pixie, Psy-Trance and the Sneakaway stages.
Music lovers will be able to see even more live performances at two separate gigs linked to the event.
On Saturday there is a warm-up gig and there is a wind-down gig on Monday, both at the Thomas De La Rue pub in St Peter Port.
The warm-up will feature Jersey band Perchard’s Wall as well as Guernsey’s own Tantale, who have just recorded a new album, ‘Where Nothing Ends’.
Jersey group Swajen, The Electric Shakes from Bournemouth and the ‘endlessly energetic and entertaining’ Baron DenDen of ‘party specialists’ Imperial Leisure will appear in the wind-down.
Volunteers are being sought to help out for a few hours on the day, perhaps on the bar, painting boards, ticket-taking or selling merchandise, and they will receive a free ticket to the event for their efforts. Anyone interested is asked to email holly@valeearthfair.org.
Tickets are available at valeearthfair.org/tickets
