New and emerging talent on show at Village Green

Village Green has a reputation for showcasing rising talent and for bringing new and emerging bands to Chalkwell Park. 2019 will be no exception with stages around the festival site offering opportunities for young musicians and new bands to perform live.

SoSlam, Southend’s music community collective, will be running a busking stage at Village Green.  Soslam have gathered together a brilliant selection of artists including Megan Rose, Nicola Collis,  Davey Hal, Chay Appleyard, Dan Crook, Gary Bynorth and David Livings to perform,  busking on this new stage which will sit in the middle of the Bearded Gypsy marketplace. Other great acts to catch on the stage throughout the day are Gavin Bell, Joe Garner, Chris Robson, David Woodcock, Jordan Hemmingway and Owen Williams.

Iain Keenan, SoSlam Founder and Co-ordinator said:

‘SoSlam is proud to be hosting our own stage this year at Village Green. To reflect the work we do in recognising, supporting and encouraging local musicians, the stage has been programmed to reflect those key principles. Appearing on our stage will be members of the SoSlam Songwriting Club. These are musicians SoSlam has helped developed their songwriting and performance skills. For most of them Village Green will be their first opportunity to showcase their original songs. Also appearing on stage, in recognition of the brilliant work they do in encouraging aspiring musicians, will be a selection of accomplished musicians who either host local open mics or have facilitated workshops for our Young Musicians and Adult songwriting club.’ 

14 year old singer/songwriter Scarlett Taylorfrom Leigh on Sea, has worked with SoSlam for two years. Her hard work has paid off and she has won a coveted place at the Brits School for Performing Arts and Technology which she will take up in September. 

Scarlett has fond memories of previous Village Greens and in July will be back in Chalkwell Park, playing and organising:

‘My first experience of Village Green was in 2016 when I joined other young people to sing backing vocals for Longy. In 2017, I sang with my school choir at the festival and saw the SoSlam Young Musicians. I loved their performances and just couldn’t keep my eyes off them. I was desperate to get involved. I was lucky enough to go on two of their song writing courses, taught by local musicians. I also play regularly at Peggy Sue’s Open Mic nights.

This year I am one of the Youth Forum and I am in the group programming the Oak Stage. We will be running the stage on the day of the festival, organising all the young performers. I am really excited to be part of Village Green this year.’ 

The Oak Stage this year has been programmed for young performers by young people and will offer all kinds of musical genres and performances from duos, bands and solo singers. It was on this stage in 2017, that Ruti made her first appearance at Village Green. She returns this year to perform on the Village Green stage.  Scarlett will be performing on the Oak Stage as well as great young local band Cluedo, and singer Eva Tobin. The Oak Stage is designed, programmed and run by members of Village Green’s Youth Forum: 40 young people aged between 12-18 who have volunteered to be part of the festival planning team and contribute to producing and promoting the event. 

Tickets for Village Green are on sale now at early bird prices until the end of May. As in previous years, 500 free tickets are available to holders of Southend Council’s Advantage card C. These can be picked up from the Southend Borough Council reception – just have your Advantage Card ready to show.