Candie Concerts end on a high note
THIS year’s last of 21 concerts in Candie Gardens attracted a sizeable audience as the final event of the Guernsey Street Festival took place.
While the focal point of the annual performances is the festival itself, which this year saw dozens of singers and musicians take to the streets of St Peter Port over two weeks, the concerts have been running since 7 May.
Although some of the festival performers had to cancel or move indoors due to high winds over the summer, all of the Candie shows took place as planned.
‘We’ve been so fortunate,’ said Street Festival fundraiser Jack Honeybill.
‘Twenty one weeks without a drop of rain – every one has gone ahead.’
So far he had 14 acts booked for next year’s run. The shows had been well attended generally, but there had been a lot of interest in The Beatles tribute, which coincided with the anniversary of the original band’s visit to the island.
‘That was particularly successful,’ said Mr Honeybill, and the concert had been the number one in terms of attendance. ‘Gadoc was number two. And the Big Band Collective was also big this year. We’ve made more money than we did last year, which is great.’
The Sarnia Memorial Trust has sponsored the street festival for many years, said Mr Honeybill, and it has already been approached to see if it would continue to do so.
The last show of the year saw singer Ashleigh Jane entertaining the audience with songs by Abba and the Beatles as well as classics from shows and films.
‘I thoroughly enjoyed that,’ said Delma Wilkinson, watching with her friend Hazel Ferbrache.
‘It was absolutely fabulous.’
She had not missed many of the concerts over the summer. ‘I’ve been to practically all of them,’ she said.
Mrs Wilkinson said that she particularly enjoyed the Beatles tribute act. ‘I was at the original concert which was why I wanted to come to see the tribute,’ she said.
‘Once the concerts start we try to come every week,’ said Mrs Ferbrache. ‘There’s not many we don’t see.’
Susan and Ian Souter were also regulars at the Candie concerts although had not been to as many as they would have liked this year due to other commitments. ‘In previous years we’re normally here every week,’ said Mrs Souter.
‘That was a fabulous range of songs for a more mature audience,’ she said of Ashleigh Jane’s performance.
‘She has a great voice,’ said Mr Souter.
