This Is Guernsey

By Joel de Woolfson

Workmen who spent all of last week getting Victoria Avenue ready for Guernsey Live yesterday started the job of dismantling the stage and returning it to a sports field. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 0574320)

WORK began yesterday to clear up after Guernsey’s biggest ever music festival.

The operation, which will last for three days, follows a successful weekend, despite a relatively low attendance, which saw more than 3,000 people entertained by some of the best bands in the business.

Organisers praised crowds for their support and said the festival was held in the right spirit. ‘We didn’t really have any trouble,’ he said. ‘There were a few arrests. but you have to expect that. We didn’t have any major incidents, which we were thankful for,’ said co-organiser Warren Holt.

Mr Holt said Guernsey Live had been an excellent event but would not commit to running the festival again next year.

It cost in the region of £500,000 to stage and organisers are believed to have suffered a £200,000 loss.

Mr Holt said support would be needed if there was to be any more Guernsey Lives.

‘We will be looking for support now to continue something like this because it’s such a costly exercise,’ he said.

He added that he had no idea if that would be forthcoming.

‘I’m not confident of anything,’ he said. ‘How can I answer someone else’s question?’

Ticket sales reached 3,000 on Saturday and peaked at 3,500 on Sunday, despite outbreaks of rain.

‘The weather didn’t play any part in ticket sales, it was fine,’ said Mr Holt.

Concerns had been raised before the festival about potential damage to the ground at Victoria Avenue, but Mr Holt said it was still in good condition.

‘It’s not too bad at all,’ he said. ‘We have been  lucky with the weather, which helped keep it in a good state.’

Nine arrests were made over the course of the two-day event and Mr Holt praised the work of the security team and police.

‘The policing of it all went well,’ he said. ‘It was a really good operation.’

Bands including Reverend and the Makers, Biffy Clyro, and Editors wowed the crowd on Saturday and The Enemy stole the show as the final band of the festival.

‘The bands were all really good,’ Mr Holt added.

‘They all said they loved playing here.

‘The highlight of any festival is normally the last band and The Enemy had some really good reactions from the crowd. People really warmed to them. It was a fantastic event. Under-supported, but fantastic.’