On August 8th in a field in Horam, East Sussex, Gary Moore will top the bill, supported by Mo Foster and local legend Ray Russell. There will also be a special guest appearance by Geno Washington of The Ram Jam Band fame and Chris Difford from Squeeze.
Vibes from the Vines '09 follows the first hugely successful festival in 2006, when organizers raised an impressive £32,000 for Cancer Research UK. This year, with a much bigger show and substantially improved production facilities organizers will be looking to top this figure.
Lighting designer for the event Mike Le Fevre, head of PSB vision, PSB Music Ltd explains: "Vibes from the Vines will have the same production and technical values as a festival twice its size. We'll ensure that it benefits from the very best design and entertainment technology in lighting, sound, video and staging and is serviced and supported at the highest level by skilled, capable technicians and management. Some of the best professional lighting designers, FOH sound engineers, programmers and technicians from the world of theatre, TV, Music and events have kindly offered their time and energy for free so we expect Vibes from the Vines '09 to be a fun, stimulating and dynamic event."
Technical manager Ron Bonner continues: "2006 was a great success for Vibes from the Vines and we hope to improve on that this year with a technically and visually exhilarating event. In 2006 the Local Authority congratulated us for our health and safety approach and performance - this year will be no different. With an even bigger set up and infinitely more sophisticated entertainment technology systems, along with the presence of numerous volunteers, many of them amateurs, health and safety is a priority. We're also hoping to make our event as sustainable as possible and will be doing our best to implement many of the recommendations in the latest British Standard for Sustainable Events - BS8901."
In addition, the electrical install will also follow the recently published BS7909 with James Eade eager to apply the standard he and others such as LD Mike LeFevre worked so hard to produce."
The event is scheduled to happen on August 8th 2009 in Horam, Sussex, and is sponsored by various respected industry stalwarts including: Hawthorn, Britannia Row, Northern Light, Nippy Industries Mojo Barriers, Avolites and many others.
Joining PLASA's Ron Bonner and L&SI Technical Editor James Eade on the day will be lighting designers Mike Le Fevre, Marie Sanders and Paddy Sollit - LD for the Pigeon Detectives. In addition numerous professional technicians have offered their services, free of charge, and will support and oversee the enthusiastic volunteers and supporters.
Martin Hawthorn whose company Hawthorn has donated the entire stage lighting inventory says: "Most of us have been affected by cancer at some point in our lives. Often loved ones will have benefited, directly and indirectly, from research charities like Cancer Research UK do in order to cure, prolong or improve the quality of life. Over the years the entertainment industry has given me much and it's always important to try and find ways to put something back."
Vibes for the Vines will happen on August 8th, if you would like to get involved, in any capacity, please contact organisers on ron@plasa.org or sarah@thefifthestate.co.uk
(Claire Beeson)
