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With no overseas artists to call on for this year’s Vale Earth Fair, the line-up has been packed top-to-bottom with local talent in a stunning realisation of the ‘Guernsey Together’ spirit.
In previous years, headliners have come from as far afield as Jamaica and the United States. But ongoing travel restrictions have forced the 2020 festival to find talent closer to home.
So few festivals have been able to take place at all this year, but rather than throw in the towel, the Vale Earth Fair has taken these challenges in its stride.
This year’s line-up is as jam-packed as ever, with 67 acts across six stages in and around Vale Castle. Many of the artists involved see the festival as a welcome dose of joy in a particularly difficult year.
“Performing at the VEF is a bit of a dream come true for me,” said Jack Ingrouille, who will be performing on the Sneakaway Stage. “Festivals are my favourite places to be, and to be on the line-up for one is unbelievable,”
“Obviously the circumstances behind this year’s VEF make it even more special. It’s really one of the only places we can experience something like this in 2020.”
Mr Ingrouille is one of several acts to be performing spoken-word poetry, which he has been delighted to find a community for in the Bailiwick. “It feels like there’s a bit of a movement brewing in spoken-word poetry in Guernsey, and I feel like we’re all just feeding off each other’s momentum and creativity,” he said. “Until I came back to the island for lockdown, I really didn’t realise there was such a thing here.”
The Vale Earth Fair is also a valuable opportunity for up-and-coming artists to present their music to a wider audience. Elliot Albert Orchard, who has started a new solo project since his return to the island, is excited to share his new material at the festival.
“As I embark on this new musical endeavour, I am grateful for any platform given to me to share my music,” he said. “And the fact that profits from the VEF go to charity is important to me, and a significant reason for me wanting to be involved.”
Not only are smaller artists being boosted by the festival, but local acts, who are higher on the line-up than they might normally be, are excited to celebrate the Guernsey Together spirit. The Recks, who are headlining this year, are excited to be part of the festival atmosphere.
“We spent over a month on the road last year in total, touring and playing festivals in the UK and Europe,” said a member of the band. “We love it! We are very much a festival band.”
Pictured: The Recks, the Sark-based psychedelic band who will be headlining this year's Vale Earth Fair
The Recks have found significant success in the past few years, one of the highlights of which has been playing the UK’s Latitude Festival in 2018.
After their planned UK tour was cancelled earlier this year, the band have taken every opportunity to perform locally, and the VEF is something they’re looking forward to. “We all have a lot of love for VEF and this year is going to be a particularly special one. The local music scene over here is ridiculously talented, and this year's festival is going to prove that for sure.”
The Vale Earth Fair spirit has even brought one of the island’s most beloved acts back from hiatus. Popular psychedelic rockers Lord Vapour announced last year that they were taking a break – but will be playing a ‘massive one-off show’ at the Viewalalu Stage.
“We’ve been long-time supporters of the Fair, be it playing shows, volunteering, running stages or just showing up as punters,” said one band member. “What the idea of a reunion show at the VEF came up, we thought there was no place more perfect to get together again and have some fun.”
Last year, Lord Vapour’s guitarist Henry Fears took charge of one of the stages. This year, the band’s record label Magic Moustache have been invited to run their own ‘Magic Pyramid’ stage, with Mr Fears and vocalist Joe Le Long taking the reins. They have relished the opportunity to draw on Guernsey’s wide range of artists to put together their line-up.
“The fact that the line-up is completely homegrown local talent is a testament to how diverse and strong the Guernsey Music Scene is,” they said. “We are looking forward to an amazing day of live music and hope to see everyone there!”
The Vale Earth Fair’s website proudly states that it is “not just a music festival; it is part of Guernsey Culture.” This year, with a thriving line-up of local acts in spite of the challenges of recent months, that statement has never felt more true.
The Vale Earth Fair takes place on Sunday, August 30 from noon-midnight at Vale Castle. Tickets are £10 in advance and can be purchased online or through various physical stores listed on their website.
Pictured top: The Vale Earth Fair is one of few festivals to be able to go ahead in the British Isles this year, and is going ahead with almost entirely local acts.
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