Folklore is the latest addition to Jersey’s live music calendar from the team behind Jersey Live and they have just confirmed folk act Joan Armatrading to the bill.
Jersey Folklore festival plans are well underway for a festival that will be unlike anything yet seen on theses shores. With a capacity of just 5,000 on each day, an eclectic and imaginative bill of alternative live music, comedy, theatre, poetry and film will be on display in relatively intimate surrounds, across two stages at an as-yet unconfirmed site in Jersey on the weekend of June 30th and July 1st.
The organisers are pleased to announce that they have confirmed the first of many artists for Folklore’s Main Stage, the internationally renowned blues and folk artist Joan Armatrading. With 19 albums to her name since her 1972 debut LP Whatever’s For Us, (and a new one due out in 2012) Joan Armatrading (MBE)’s career has been long, prolific and incredibly decorated. She holds the distinction of being the first UK female artist to enter the US Billboard Blues Chart at Number One, with 2007’s Into The Blues, and has numerous awards wins and nominations.
She has been nominated three times for a Grammy, picking up a nod for the Grammy Blues category in 2007 – the first UK female artist to do so. She has also twice been nominated for a Best Female Artist Brit Award, won an Ivor Novello for Outstanding Contemporary Song Collection in 1996, and a much-coveted Gold Badge Award. Not to mention the numerous platinum, gold and silver discs to her name.
As well as her plentiful accolades, Armatrading can boast of having worked with some of the most important musicians in living memory, including Mark Knopfler, Steve Lillywhite and members of The Police, Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band, Fairport Convention. She has performed twice for Nelson Mandela, including for his historic 70th birthday concert at Wembley Stadium. As the first female UK artist to achieve mainstream international success, she truly is one of Britain’s very finest national treasures.
Having performed in Jersey to a sold out Opera House audience for three consecutive nights in 2008, it’s clear that she has a firm fan base already in the island, and that her return will be warmly welcomed. 2012 is set to be a big year for the artist, with a new album on the way and a huge world tour planned for later in the year. Her international standing, huge back catalogue and uplifting blend of blues, folk and pop make her the perfect first addition to the FOLKLORE line up.
As well as the Main Stage featuring live music from Joan Armatrading and many others, the festival will also feature Comedy, acoustic acts, theatre, film, poetry, literature. arts and crafts, organic Food Village, holistic Village, kids Creative Playground.
Warren Holt, Folklore Co-Director
“Joan was last here in 2008 where she sold out at the Opera House for 3 nights in a row. She is an incredible artist that we are so happy to have
confirmed her booking. The festival will hold 5000 people per day over 2 days. We of course require the Bailiffs Entertainment Permit, but have
confirmed our dates and intentions. Work is well underway to make this a fantastic addition to the festival calendar, and one that we hope will not
only be warmly embraced by Jersey’s music lovers, but will attract visitors from England, France and beyond.”
Published on 03 February 2012 by Wayne Feltham
