There’s a big week of art ahead this bank holiday weekend.
Vale Earth Fair 2025
It’s Vale Earth Fair weekend.
The long-awaited festival will return to Vale Castle this bank holiday weekend, Sunday 24 August.
There will be live music and DJs across six fabulous stages from midday until midnight, featuring UK and Channel Island artists.
“We are once again lucky enough to bring over some massive acts from overseas alongside incredible local talent. This year, we have not held back on bringing you a full day of music and arts with all six stages filled with talent, entertainment and the usual Vale Earth Fair ridiculousness,” the Collective said.
“Throughout the castle, you will experience performances from every genre across our six stages put together by a hard-working group of dedicated volunteers. Some of the acts from today will be familiar and some will be new. We are sure you will find those you know and love as well as some new artists you will discover for the first time! Regardless of whether they are old or new favourites, you can guarantee that everyone has relentlessly rehearsed and poured hours of work into the performances you see today.”
This year’s poster is by Christina Allen (@christinardesigns on Instagram).
Pick up your tickets today.
VEF warm-up and wind-down
If you, like us, just can’t get enough of Guernsey’s fabulous music scene… worry not.
The Vale Earth Fair collective return to the Thomas De La Rue once again for their duo of warm-up and wind-down gigs.
Taking place on Saturday 23 will be the annual VEF warm-up – a chance to get a taste of what you can expect at the festival.
They’ve got some great acts to kick off the weekend with Mountain Peaks (UK), Rosemary and The Jars at the ready to get you dancing and having a good time.
Bank holiday Monday (25 August) brings the wind-down event.
Come along and see some favourites from the festival, The Shabs (South Africa) and Tarantulips (Jersey) will be there to entertain you and help you to forget it’s another year until the next VEF…
Both events will be kicking off at 20:00 and they’re both free entry. What’s not to love?
ECSOC Concerts at St James
This weekend, members of the Elizabeth College Summer Orchestral Course (ECSOC) will take to the stage of St James.
2025 sees ECSOC celebrating its 50th Anniversary, and to mark the occasion, a very special trio of performances will be put on in the evenings of Friday 22, Saturday 23 and Sunday the 24 August.
The Friday evening concert will include The String Group and Training Band, the groups for their youngest players, as well as the Course Jazz Band featuring intermediate and senior wind, brass and percussion players.
The Saturday evening concert will include the String Orchestra for intermediate players, Intermediate Wind Band, and all Senior players culminating with the full Symphony Orchestra.
Both shows start at 19:00, doors 18:00.
Last but certainly not least… To celebrate the 50th anniversary, all former students and tutors are invited to take part in a ’scratch concert’, rehearsing during the day with a concert performance at 18:00.
Taking place on the Sunday, items are likely to include pieces for full orchestra, string orchestra and wind band. ECSOC also hope that one of theiir eminent former students will be able to play a concerto movement.
This should be a truly memorable concert to celebrate what has become a Guernsey and St James institution.
RADIO SILENCE: A NEW MUSICAL
Radio Silence is a brand-new musical set against the backdrop of the Occupation of Guernsey in World War Two, taking place next week at the Princess Royal Centre for the Performing Arts.
This story examines the complex relationships of oppressor and the oppressed, thrown together in a situation not of their choosing, and highlights the resilience of the Guernsey folk who stayed behind when thousands were evacuated.
Set against real historical events, Radio Silence explores the universal themes of communication, good and evil and what freedom means to us all. Although firmly set in 1940s Guernsey, the story is just as relevant today as we try to navigate a world more polarised than ever. At its heart, Radio Silence celebrates our Island spirit. Created by international award winning Guernsey artists Laura Simpson and Lydia Jane Pugh, this captivating musical is a deeply human story of love, loss and loyalty and asks: What would you risk to resist?
There will be just four shows between Thursday 28 and Saturday 30 August. Don’t miss your chance to see this enthralling performance… Grab tickets while you can.
Bailiwick Social Prescribing: Community Art Exhibition – LAST WEEK TO ENJOY
Bailiwick Social Prescribing are proud to present a vibrant and celebratory community art exhibition at the George Crossan Gallery, running from Friday 1 August until Friday 29 August.
Paint and Create are a welcoming, inclusive group who meet weekly to get creative. They are showcasing their art at the gallery for the month of August, but the emphasis of the group is on the long term positive effect that creativity has on well-being and enhancing social connections.
The gallery space, hosted by Guernsey Arts, is open within the Inner Market from 09:00 – 17:00. Free admission.
Enjoy the show.