Metal announce first programme details for the 10th Village Green Festival 2019

March 31, 2019 by Joanna

Metal is delighted to announce the first of many artists and performers from the packed line-up of its tenth edition of Village Green.  The much-loved family-friendly festival takes place in Chalkwell Park, on 13 July 2019 from 11am until 9pm - ten hours of arts, music and performance for all ages. 

Headline Act

Metal is hugely excited to have secured BUSTED as this year’s music headliners.  The band will be performing on the popular Village Green stage as the sun goes down on the festival!

Southend’s very own BUSTED - James Bourne, Charlie Simpson and Matt Willis - formed in the year 2000, and have enjoyed four UK No. 1 hit singles (You Said No, Crashed The Wedding, Who’s David and 3AM), won two Brit awards and released four studio albums, selling in excess of five million records. Their current album ‘Half Way There’ was released this February, and crashed into the album charts at No. 2. Their sell-out arena tour has just concluded, culminating in a final performance at London’s prestigious Wembley Arena.
 

Sean McLoughlin, Village Green Festival Director, said, ‘We are delighted to be hosting Busted for the first time at Village Green, marking our 10^th edition of the festival. Whilst being internationally acclaimed as a band, Busted continue to have strong roots in Southend on Sea, and we can’t wait for a homecoming show. Village Green has always been focussed on showcasing home-grown talent alongside international stars. Busted (and past headliners Nothing But Thieves) help us to continue celebrating what a creative place Southend on Sea is in which to work and live!’

More exciting music announcements coming shortly (including our co headliner)!

Special guests

Without question, the dynamic Snowboy and the Latin Section are Europe’s leading Afro Cuban Jazz group. Since their debut release in 1985, they have released 16 albums and played concerts and festivals in over 22 countries, from Holland to Australia to Japan, and they’ll be adding their musical magic to Village Green.

Visual arts, theatre, spoken word and family attractions

Artist Village

Returning for Village Green 2019 is the popular Artist Village: a programme of new contemporary artworks created especially for the festival and Chalkwell Park. Organised by Jon Kipps, an artistcurator from Southend, a group of four artists:  Chloe Brooks, Ali Eisa, Brian Griffiths and Milly Peck have been invited to exhibit.

The artists will be spending time in Chalkwell Hall this spring getting to know the area and its communities, developing ideas before returning in the summer with their finished artworks, adding an exciting visual layer to the festival experience.

Alongside the top quality music that festival goers have come to associate with Village Green, there will be even more family-friendly activities. These will include a theatre tent, story emporium, spoken word and storytelling tent, silent disco and family cabaret stage. There will also be more alternative art for adults ranging from visual artists, alternative fashion, an arts and craft market with 75 local artisans, and a pop-up artist led museum. Delicious food stalls offer food from around the world!

Regular Favourites: Stages & Areas for 2019

Back for 2019 are:

Village Green (main stage),

Global Village (sponsored by Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics) (World Music and Dance),

Oak Stage (for young performers run by young people),

Mini Green (Under 11’s stage),

Idea13 (sponsored by C2C) for emerging bands and promoting the regional music industry,

Grrrl Zine Fair (a tent full of zines, bands, workshops and discussions; a party celebrating DIY creativity with a political undercurrent that showcases creative output made particularly by woman, LGBTQI and non-binary people).

New Stages & Areas for 2019

N-Act Theatre Stage

Southend based theatre group, N-Act are designing an area to capture the imagination of festival-goers. Work is being done to recreate the much-loved Chalkwell Beach Theatre from the 1950s. Throughout the festival, there will be a huge variety of performances, all of which will have a particular focus on young people.

N-Act are currently on the hunt for local performers and groups to perform on their stage. Sharon Williams, Artistic Director of N-Act said, ‘We want everyone who is interested in performing at the Village Green to get in touch via the application form.  We are looking for work which is either performed by young people or by adults with a young audience in mind; anyone from 5 to 18!’ Please go to www.theatrestage2019.com to register.

The Space In-Between

Performance, poetry, singing, comedy, games and some feel good pampering exploring mental health, disability and the feeling of being ‘other’.

With a varied programme throughout the day, featuring International beatbox artist Shlomo (who headlined the very first Village Green in 2008), Liverpool artist Ashleigh Owen brings her new theatre show ‘Hip Hip I’m Gay’ and Southend based comedian Pope Lonergan showcases his popular ‘Addiction Clinic’, as featured at this year’s VAULT festival, featuring Pope, Lou Sanders and Ben Target.

ForwardMotion (nb no space between d and M)

ForwardMotion is a collaboration between Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock Councils and is funded by the Department for Transport.

The ‘ForwardMotion Village’ within the festival focuses on cycling, walking and public transport. There will be fun activities such as performances from Team Extreme including professional skateboarders and BMXers, static bike racing, balance bikes and a pop-up cycling track.

The goal of ForwardMotion is to reduce reliance on cars and get people to consider alternative travel options such as cycling, catching public transport or walking. There will be representatives from local train and bus operators on hand to offer new ideas on travel.

Cafe Valise

Based inside Metal’s HQ - the beautiful Chalkwell Hall audiences will find music and poetry from very special guests, alongside a 90^th anniversary exhibition by DECCA Records, one of the most iconic record labels in the world. Since its formation in 1929, Decca has grown from a prosperous British company to a fully-fledged international powerhouse – quickly earning the title as ‘The Supreme Record

Decca has been the home to countless legendary musicians from Luciano Pavarotti to David Bowie, Bing Crosby to Billie Holiday, The Rolling Stones to Mantovani and now provides the platform for a new generation of ambitious artists at the forefront of their scenes such as Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Gregory Porter.

The Jazz Centre UK hosts a Jazz Cafe in Chalkwell Park Rooms

This new stage will present live music by regional, national and international jazz stars throughout the day and also celebrate the work of The Jazz Centre UK based in Southend’s Beecroft Gallery.
 

Inkhead

Here for the first time at Village Green, Metal presents Inkhead - a group of eight indie comic artists, each bringing their unique, quirky vision of the world to sunny Southend. The Inkhead tent is a continuation of Metal’s work with these brilliant artists, all of whom attended a week long Culture LAB at Metal Southend in 2018.

Meet the Inkheads, check out their work, join in the creative action and release your inner cartoonist with these brilliant artists. All ages welcome.

SoSlam Busking Stage

Southend’s SoSlam music collective present an invited selection of artists from their songwriters club and other prominent musicians on the local open mic scene to busk on the new ‘SoSlam Busking Stage’ sited in the middle of the Bearded Gypsy marketplace.

Outdoor Silent Disco

TwoTwelveTens Record shop (sponsored by Silent Disco) present an exciting new outdoor dance event, including a Silent Disco for young people and families, plus exciting sets from regional and national DJs playing all genres of music. Grab a set of headphones, choose your channel and get dancing. All ages welcome on the dancefloor.

Bearded Gypsy

The Bearded Gypsy’s Trade Fayre brings together the very best artists, designers and emerging brands together through a variety of events. Discover and support all things small, handmade, unique and boost the creative community. The Trade Fayre offers a happy environment filled with great music and  great products .

The Bearded Gypsy’s Trade Fayre ask all traders to consumer consciously and to be as kind to the planet as possible.
 

Village Green – an inclusive festival

As in previous years, Metal offers 500 free adult and teen tickets through the Southend Borough Council Advantage Card C scheme, ensuring no-one need miss out on the fun. These can be picked up from the reception at Southend Borough Council reception – just have your Advantage Card ready to show.

Village Green: The Next Generation

Metal is also pleased to announce that Village Green: Next Generation takes place on Friday 12^th July 2019, the day before Village Green. This is a free one-day arts festival for all local school age children, offering creative workshops, opportunities to perform onstage and excellent arts training to every school pupil in the  borough. 2019 marks the sixth Next Generation. More than 5,000 local students and teachers attended in 2017. 2019 looks set to be an even bigger and brighter day.

Cllr Andrew Moring, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Southend-on-Sea Council said: “We are proud to announce that we will be an official sponsor for Village Green Festival 2019. The festival has continued to grow year-on-year and after a year without the festival in 2018, the anticipation for this event is building.

“We would be delighted to see you all and to have a chat about how you can improve your health and wellbeing and also help to protect the local environment.”

TICKETS NOW ON SALE from www.villagegreenfestival.com   

Early Bird – until 31 May 2019

Adults £15 / 11-17yrs £10 / 0-10yrs FREE

 
Full Price                                                                                                     

Adults £20 / 11-17yrs £15/ 0-10yrs FREE

N.B Booking fees apply whenever you book

Any ticket issues?  There is a customer helpline at Skiddle on 0333 3010101 (open Mon-Fri 9am-6pm; Sat 10am-5pm; Closed Sunday).

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