'Combine Harvester' stars make moo-sic to send off West Show

Saturday 22 June 2019

A much-loved country show will tonight celebrate its 21st - and potentially final - year with the help of farmyard rockers The Wurzels.

The West Show Association was set up in 1998 to take over from the parish cattle shows and continue their tradition.

This lasted for 10 years, however Treasurer Andrew Le Brun said that the dwindling numbers of farmers led them to give up the parish shows.

"We had our last big show in 2012 and it was a complete wash-out," Mr Le Brun said. "It rained on the Saturday and the Sunday. It was a bit like Glastonbury."

Since then the association hasn't been able to hold large scale events and has focused on smaller ones.

Pictured: A previous barn dance with the West Show Association.

Last summer, they celebrated Jersey's agriculture and horticultural traditions with demonstrations of breezing, hay-turning, with a horse and a tractor, loading a hay van and then baling.

Mr Le Brun sadly announced that Saturday's barn dance will likely be the Association's final event, as they have now lost the field they used for previous events, as well as several committee members. 

The Treasurer described the evening as a "grand finale" and promised it would be a good evening. "It's all positive," he said.

Video: Known for hits such as “Combine Harvester” and “Cider Drinker”, The Wurzels have appeared at the Glastonbury Festival several times. 

With the Wurzels in tow, there is bound to be a great atmosphere at Manor Farm.

This will be the band's second appearance in Jersey at a barn dance. They will share the stage with local bands including Jèrriais musicians Badlabecques, as well as Kevin Pallot, Run for Cover, Foolish Things and the Jersey Ukulele Band.