End of Jersey Live - reaction

Friday 27 January 2017

Artists, politicians and punters have come together in a deluge of nostalgia and gratitude for the Jersey Live music festival, which yesterday announced it would end after 13 years of supplying the Island with some of the world’s top tunes.

Hundreds took to social media to lament the festival’s sudden end, thanking founders Warren Le Sueur and Warren Holt, “…for the many memories” and for bringing, “…such great performers to this little island.”

In the political arena, Minister for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture Lyndon Farnham led tributes, having been involved in the organisation of the first ever edition of ‘JL’ in 2004. He told Express:

“They had a small grant to get things going so it was always very rewarding to see it become the success that it did. We have such fantastic memories – and I hope everybody I’m sure across the Island have got some great memories.

“Although it’s a bit of a shock, it hasn’t come as a total surprise. Since the inaugural Jersey Live in 2004, the festival scene in Britain and Europe has grown exponentially so there’s many more festivals and there’s a lot more competition so I can really understand the position that it’s in at the end of an era.

“But knowing the Warrens, I’m sure they’ve got some other ideas. Jersey is a great place to hold all events and we’re hopeful that perhaps something else will come along to fill that niche.”

Pictured: Madness perform at Jersey Live 2016, the festival's final showing.

While Visit Jersey said that they were “disappointed” about the news, they shared Senator Farnham’s hope for a new event, pledging their support:

“This successful event has built up by the organisers and enjoyed by visitors and islanders alike over many years now. At Visit Jersey we will continue to work with other event organisers in the promotion of the Jersey events programme.”

Those involved in the festival were soon to chime in too, with Jersey band Brave Yesterday expressing their gratitude in a Facebook post:

Facepainters Ink – famous among locals for the jazzy designs that adorned many festival faces – was another name to add their memories: “It was a part-work-part-party event that was difficult to refuse. We will mourn its passing - perhaps we'll have a party ... A wake! We'll call it 'Jersey Dead'!!! And Folk-no-more at Folklore is just a crime!! But if it is not to be - here's thanks to Warren Holt & Warren Le Sueur and all the guys behind the scenes for bringing such brilliant events to Jersey.”

Pictured: A view from the stage.

Express heard from a number of islanders about their favourite stand-out memories:

“The rush of excitement as you spot the flags in the distance while in the mile-long queue.”

“One friend’s mate looked really like Ed Sheeran, and then everyone was getting photos with him as they were all convinced it was Ed.”

“The year someone asked a family friend to move their picnic blanket as they’d buried a few bottles of vodka underneath before the festival started.”

Pictured: The famous Jersey Live flags.

“Bumping into the drummer and bassist from Darwin Deez, a band we’d just seen perform on the Main Stage.”

“Taking the headphones off at the silent disco and suddenly realising how ridiculous we all look dancing in different styles to different songs at different rhythms.”

The last word lies with next generation festival-throwers John and Ben, the guys behind dance spectacular Reasons:

“As Islanders and fellow event organisers we are saddened by the news of Jersey Live and Folklore being cancelled, whilst there’s a lot of conversation surrounding the challenges in running events in Jersey, Jersey’s Live’s reasons appear to be due to a difference in creative direction, rather than a decision imposed by these difficulties.

"Knowing both Warrens, we are confident that there will be plenty of new and exciting events being announced by them individually in the not too distant future. We wish them all the best in these endeavours and look forward to being inspired and entertained, as we were by Jersey Live for all those years.”