Preview // Wirral Earth Fest 2014

Wirral Earth Fest returns for a second year of good green fun on Saturday, September 13th with music, workshops, food and more to be enjoyed over the day! The festival attracted over 3000 visitors in its first year and this year looks set to entice even more with an exciting programme of events over a weekend in a beautiful setting.

The festival will launch on the evening of September 12th with the premiere performance of a specially commissioned multi-media musical performance for the festival from Operation Lightfoot. The composition, entitled Midgard, will feature special guest vocalist Kaya Herstad-Carney and noted Liverpool based artist Silent Cities and will set the festival off in just the right spirit. Be sure not to miss it!  

Inspired by the Hogback Stone, located inside the venue for the performance, St Bridget’s Church, West Kirby, it will be a must see for those with an interest in  the local history of the Wirral and West Kirby’s natural surrounds.  

Luke Moore of Operation Lightfoot said: “I am very excited to be composing a new musical work especially for the launch of Wirral Earth Fest this year.  When I initially visited St Bridget’s church, I was fascinated by the story behind the Hogback burial stone on display there and it became a jumping off point for the rest of the process.  The piece’s title is ‘Midgard’, which was one of nine worlds in Viking mythology and the only one in which humans lived.  I can’t give too much away, but the piece will use the space within the church in a particularly interesting way.”

This will be followed by a not to be missed appearance from renowned broadcaster, author and Vicar Peter Owen Jones talking on the topic of Well Being in the 21st Century. With limited spaces, tickets will sell quickly so to avoid disappointment please buy your ticket in advance. With tickets costing £5 and the welcoming venue of St Bridget’s Centre, just opposite the church, it will be the perfect start to what promises to be a very special festival.  “Peter’s appearance at the festival is quite a coup for us”, enthused Andrew Gibb of the festival team, “as he is an extremely busy local vicar in the south of England  in addition to writing books and being a broadcaster.”

The main day of the festival will take place over St Bridget’s Church, Centre and Field from 10am on the following day, Saturday September 13th. As with last year’s activity packed festival, there will be much to see and do across the site for all the family. With two stages of music outside featuring music from the excellent Thom Morecroft, Creaky Bones, Jo Bywater, Kenny and the Energy and many more to be announced closer to the time. Music co-producer Sebastian Gahan said: “This year we’re welcoming back a few artists from last year and many more new to the festival as well. As ever, it has been a joy to program the music for Wirral Earth Fest and this year will see many excellent artists, both local and Merseyside based, converge on West Kirby. Don’t miss it!”

Workshops including a street art workshop, the return of the Wirral Vikings for more demonstrations of the old way of life and choice stalls from local food sellers including a BBQ, a homemade vegetarian paella, an authentic Indian ‘thali’, homemade marshmallows, real ale and more to be discovered on the day.  Also look out for the return of urban artist Love ArtUk, who will be placing some of his distinctive art around the festival, as well as designing the back drop for our music stages. “I am very happy to be part of Wirral Earth Fest for a second year. I’m looking forward to a great day!” the artist said.

For the kids, there will be craft activities, storytelling, bike powered smoothie machines, face painting, pony rides and much more to enjoy the beautiful surrounds of West Kirby.  Mike Loach of St Bridget’s Church said “We’re delighted to be hosting Wirral Earth Fest at St Bridget’s Church fields and to be able to join in with telling a story of care, justice and love in our communities."

But that’s not all! The day will be rounded off with the now traditional (if one year is long enough to establish a tradition) Ceilidh in the evening at St Bridget’s Centre with music from Reckless Elbow and Blackthorn Root to end the festival in the way it deserves. That is, with lots of energy, music and dancing! Tickets will be available on the day of the festival or via St Bridget’s Church Centre before the festival. The event starts at 7:30 pm and goes on until late.

With so much going on over a very busy weekend this year’s second Wirral Earth Fest will be something to tell your friends about in future years.