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AAA Music | 21 November 2024

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Jersey Live Festival’s Extended Capacity enjoys its first sell-out year.

| On 22, Sep 2010

Jersey Live took place on 4th and 5th September, and enjoyed record numbers, with a packed crowd pouring into the Royal Jersey Showground in Trinity to enjoy show-stopping headline sets by rock legend Paul Weller and dance titans Groove Armada.

With five stages set in the quaint countryside surrounds of the parish of Trinity, and on the southernmost point of the British Isles – with some of Europe’s most stunning beaches – Jersey Live is positioned in one of the most idyllic settings imaginable. With a distinctly Anglo-Gallic flavour to the island and its 90,000 inhabitants, Jersey offers a unique environment and Jersey Live the unique festival experience, as its many visitors will testify.

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Having started life as a one day, 4,000 capacity festival with two stages in 2004, the festival has increased in size and stature in recent years, and this year boasted seven stages and performances from over 70 live acts and DJs. It’s 10,000 tickets sold out in the days leading up to the festival, meaning a full house was there to enjoy the stellar closing set by Paul Weller, who ran through new material from his Mercury-nominated album Wake Up the Nation, as well as older Jam hits such as ‘Town Called Malice’ and ‘That’s Entertainment.’

Main Stage highlights included New Yorkers Darwin Deez, Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro, dance act Chase & Status and rapperProfessor Green, as well as Saturday night’s headline set by Groove Armada in their last British festival date of the year. The snake-hipped lead vocalist St Saviour (coincidentally the name of one of the twelve parishes of Jersey) was in fine form as the dance act ran through their back catalogue, including classic tracks like ‘Superstylin’, ‘Down by the River’ and ‘I See You Baby.’

Groove Armada’s Andy Cato said: “It was a fine way to see out the European festival season. The Jersey crew – festival organisers and crowd – were brilliant. Top weekend.”

The Les Inrocks Magic Stage was a great success too – hosted by French culture mag Les Inrockuptibles, the stage was headlined by bands of the moment Fenech-Soler and Jamaica, as well as featuring up-and-coming acts Here We Go MagicFreelance Whalesand recent Libertines support acts, local Jersey boys The Valentines.

The festival offered a huge opportunity to local acts to share the stage with some of the world’s big guns of music. The Wild West Tease Stage featured over 20 local acts, including the winners of the Jersey Live Battle of the Bands, Bones, who also opened the festival Main Stage on Saturday afternoon. Chris Bell, curator of the Wild West Tease Stage, said: “For an island that is not a regular destination on the British touring circuit, Jersey Live presented a rare opportunity for local acts to be part of a large-scale event. For many of these acts it is the highlight of the year’s musical calendar, and their performances were top-notch without exception.”

Having sold out the festival for the first time at their 10,000 capacity – with 2,000 off-island visitors and 500 children attending per day, the future certainly looks bright for the festival, who will be looking to push on from this success in 2011.

Festival organiser Warren Le Sueur said, “We’re obviously delighted to have sold out the festival ahead of the event and this will hopefully encourage people to get hold of tickets even earlier next year. The crowd were fantastic, and created a really electric atmosphere that the performers couldn’t help but be inspired by, and as much as the artists and staff involved, we have them to thank for making Jersey Live 2010 the best one ever. After the post-event clear-up, we’ll have a day off and then work will begin on making 2011 even bigger and better.”

JERSEY LIVE 2011 EARLYBIRD TICKETS WILL GO ON SALE SOON FROM WWW.JERSEYLIVE.ORG.UK. PLEASE CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR UPCOMING UPDATES.

“This is just the BEST reception we have had at a festival all year. Jersey is just so cool! The audience are amazing! We wanna come back next year. Surreal & super-f***ing cool!” Tom Meighan, Kasabian

“Jersey Live has more pulling power than any other small festival” Edith Bowman, Radio 1

“The Jersey folk really know how to let it hang out. I’ve made some great friends there and always have the best time… It’s a wonderful island, a beautiful island.” Mani, Primal Scream/Stone Roses