The annual “local event with a global conscience” has been running since 1976 at the Vale Castle, usually taking place over the last bank holiday weekend in August. While some acts play on the main stage on Saturday 24 August the main events and surrounding specialist stages take place on the Sunday.
As with the previous couple of year’s Sound.gg will be showcasing the best under 18 acts on the Saturday taking to the main stage from 14:00 until 20:00 followed by Breakz ‘n’ Beatz DJs until midnight, with full laser show. On the Sunday doors will be at noon and music goes on around the grounds until later on.
Tickets are £26 in advance for the entire weekend or £10 and £26 respectively for each day on the door – with cheaper tickets available for under-18s and OAPs. As per usual the money raised is split between three charities; Free Tibet, Burma Campaign UK and Bridge 2 Haiti.
There will also be an opportunity for members of Extinction Rebellion Guernsey to get entry half-price, a representative from the climate crisis action group will be speaking on stage on the day.
Pictured: The last Extinction Rebellion Guernsey ride and rally.
The group will be meeting at the Tourist Information Centre at 10:00 in order to march up to the event. More details can be found on the facebook event here.
William Carter from Extinction Rebellion said:
“It should be a great atmosphere and the VEF itself raises money for three fantastic causes which promote international development and justice, which are of course inextricable from climate justice. The march is set to be peaceful but not necessarily quiet.”
In honour and dedication to Errol, who died at home in Guernsey in April, one of his favourite artists, The Wakes, have been brought over especially from Glasgow. The Celtic influenced rock/folk band who will be flying in from Glasgow just long enough to fit in an afternoon set between other commitments.
Pictured: The Wakes.
“The Wakes are a folk rock band that fuse a mixture of Celtic traditional music with punk rock and funk. The band’s lyrics embrace their culture, heritage and surroundings. They cover all manner of subjects from anti-fascist politics, immigration and unemployment to uprising and rebellion in Scotland, Ireland and beyond.
“Musical influences include The Pogues, Dick Gaughan, The Clash, Dropkick Murphys and Bob Dylan,” a Vale Earth Fair spokesperson said.
As well as being a no-doubt poignant first festival without Errol Groves present, organisers are taking the opportunity to celebrate 40 years of the 2-tone record label with an appearance from The Specials frontman Neville Staple.
“Neville Staple is the legendary front man of The Specials, Fun Boy Three and Special Beat, also known as the Original Rude Boy. He is credited with changing the face of pop music not only once but twice. His celebrates a super 40-year career in the music business from the early days with The Coventry Automatics and his Jah Baddis Sound System, before taking to the stage with The Specials during the famous ‘Clash’ tour,” said a spokesperson.
Pictured: The Neville Staple Band.
Warming up for the Original Rude Boy will be The King Blues, fronted by punk poet Jonny ‘Itch’ Fox who describes the band’s sound as ‘rebel street music’.
“The King Blues are a British punk rock band from London, England, credited for fusing punk and hip hop together with influences from ska and spoken word. Tariq Ali described them as ‘rough, radical music that should unsettle the rulers of Britain.
“A new generation of musicians who are challenging war-monger politicians and their courtiers’ – right up Errol’s street! Influences include Public Enemy, The Clash and of course The Specials,” said a spokesperson.
On the main stage the will also be performances from local stalwarts Sacred Hearts, new kids on the block Track Not Found, and the undefinable Crowband, along with the Badlabecques from Jersey.
The Electric Shakes and the Recks take up the headline slots on the Viewalalu Stage on the Sunday, with an eclectic blend of bands filling out the rest of days programme for that stage, including the Cor Damme Lars and some special guests – more to follow on that stage nearer the festival.
For the first time this year there will also be a spoken word stage named the Sneakaway.
Tickets for the event can be purchased online or from Vinyl Vaughan, HS2, YakWax, Kendall Guitars, and the St James box office.