'Fifth Beach Fest will be bigger than ever'

Cup Match kicks off with Beach Fest tomorrow and it promises to be the biggest showcase of Bermudian talent to date.

Five years into the all day and night music festival, sponsorship continues to grow allowing for the largest number of artists, sports, games ever and, for the first time, the inclusion of a skaters’ and bikers’ half pipe.

The musical line up this year is fully Bermudian. Where last year’s event ­attracted an estimated 5,000 revellers, organizers expect there will be between 7,000 and 8,000 this year.

The Emancipation Day event on Horseshoe Bay aims to raise funds for The Chewstick Foundation which last year became a registered charity to help improve the arts in Bermuda through youth ­programmes in schools, prisons and the community at large.

Festival organizer and CEO of Chewstick Gavin Smith said: “We have the strongest line up we have ever had, I believe the strongest representation of Bermuda artists. We will have everything from rock to rap to reggae to folk. We’ve got artists as far a field as The Narrows who do a rock, pop kind of thing and Starchild who is our major underground reggae artist.

“One of the performers I am looking forward to watching this year is Jelani — a young up and coming rapper. Because of the ­success and cohesion that came out of the New York tour experience (which took place earlier this year) our band, DIA, is really ­galvanized to back a lot of the artists. In the past we haven’t been organized enough to get all the ­rehearsal time in but these guys have been working ­really hard.”

Other acts to look out for are folk singer Rachael Brown, Joy Barnum ahead of her tour with Heather Nova, Home Grown and KASE. Due to the strongest ever volunteer support this year, Mr. Smith himself will be able to get up and perform a few songs — the first time he has been able to do so in the festival’s ­history. Clips of many of the artists can be viewed on beach-fest.com. After the live music ends there will be music from DJs including Chubb, Aztec and the Freedom Fighters.

Games

As well as the music there will be one of the most popular events of the day, the tug ‘o’ war contest as well as volley ball, beach rugby and performances from Capoeira Camara and the Bermuda African Dance Company. There will be a number of wacky games and the traditional Crown and Anchor set up where you can cash in your winnings for prizes. Teams can register to take part in a mini World Cup on the day and it is a first come first serve basis as to which country you represent. Mr. Smith said that there had been a lot of enthusiasm about the inclusion of a half pipe at the festival.

“The main thing we are amped about is the skateboard / BMX half pipe at the west end of the beach. Everyone in the skate ­community is excited about this and are helping to build it.

“Because it is on the beach it needs to be a true half pipe. It will be three and a half feet high by 12 feet wide. It will be tall enough for some good tricks but small enough for beginners.

“We are also hoping to place it in a public space ­afterwards so the skate community can use it. Even non-skaters are excited.”

Another change to this year’s festival is the ­positioning of the main stage. While Mr. Smith ­didn’t want to give too much away he did hint that more people would be able to see the stage and that you could even watch bands from the ocean.

Mr. Smith said that ­lessons had been learned since last year when ­hundreds of Beach Fest-goers were plunged into ­darkness after a power cut.

He said: “The infrastructure has gone to the next level, this year we will have a full generator for the stage, sounds and the lights. There are fundamental power constraints at Horseshoe Bay and we are really trying to advocate getting a power sub station get put on the beach in the future — not just for us but for the ­community. If there was a power supply there could be more premium events.”

Beach Fest is not a ticketed event — it is all free.­ Mr. Smith is relying on raising any money for the Chewstick Foundation through purchase at the bar and through donations. He therefore encourages peopel to just bring their bathing suits and towels and to enjoy the food and drinks provided. Any proceeds will go towards the Chewstick Foundation. There will be an admin tent and there will be membership applications.