- Nightlife round-up
- Mango Tree launch event at the Watersplash tonight
- Read our interview with one of its founders below
- Check out our What’s On Diary
A JERSEY lifestyle and clothing brand that was born after some hungover friends spontaneously decided they needed to change their lives while travelling in Indonesia are hosting an official launch party tonight.
New business The Mango Tree, which is the brainchild of two Jersey surfers, has already started selling merchandise online but they are promising Islanders the ‘biggest party of the year’ when they officially launch the brand at the Watersplash.
Lifeguard Jake Powell is one of the men behind the initiative alongside his RNLI colleague Will Glenn. Together they have teamed up with Reasons – Jersey’s newest music festival – to host the party.
Glastonbury-bound Ska/Reggae act The Skints will be performing as well as new school backbeat legends Evil Nine.
The event starts at midday with live music on the terrace while Jersey take on Guernsey in the Breda Surf Muratti.
The party then moves inside before the doors close at 2 am.
Tickets are £18 and available online at eventbrite.com or at Watersplash or White Label Records.
Jake spoke to the JEPs Nightlife about the launch of the new brand:
What can you tell us about the headliners?
The Skints have been one of our favourite bands for a few years now so I’m still in disbelief that we managed to book them and get them over to Jersey.
They’re an amazing ska/reggae band that have three different vocalists and a tonne of different instruments.
They’re coming here fresh from their headline US tour and with Glastonbury and Reading on the schedule too.
Evil Nine will headline downstairs.
They are one of the acts that defined the new school breakbeat sound which was a massive moment in the late 1990s/early 2000s.
And there is a party in the day too?
The day event is the Breda Surf Muratti which will see eight of Guernsey’s top surfers take on eight of Jersey’s top surfers in a fun competition format.
There will be live music from midday which will take us the whole way through to the start of the launch party.
There will also be The Mango Tree stall, a Reasons stall and many more activities yet to be announced.
You’ve teamed up with the guys from Reasons. Why?
We wanted our night to have everything and to be run to the standards of how theirs were so when they were keen to get involved we were stoked.
What is The Mango Tree?
It is a local lifestyle brand that aims to promote a pro-active way of life.
Through selling our clothes to hosting the odd event we want to create a community that gets people together and gets people making the most of life.
Where did the idea come from?
We got the inspiration whilst on a routine surf getaway to Indonesia.
We’d been to see a DJ the night before and found ourselves in bed suffering with a major hangover.
Throughout the unproductive day we watched daily updates of the DJ, who had partied harder than us, having fun, surfing and continuing to party whilst we stayed in bed feeling sorry for ourselves.
It was kind of the reality check we needed to stop wasting days and to get up and make the most of life.
No more wasting days, no more complaining, no excuses, if we weren’t enjoying life we’d do something about it.
Whether it was something small like brushing off a hangover with a surf or a bigger decision like choosing to build a life around stuff we love doing.
That night we headed out for dinner at one of our favourite places – The Mango Tree. We started playing around with ideas about building a brand that would represent what we’d just learnt.
By the end of the night, we’d decided we would start a clothing company.
By the next day we had organised meetings at a local factory and started designing our first range – spontaneous eh? But that’s what we’re about.
SATURDAY 20 JUNE
- Blue Note: Live Electric Blues, at 4 pm
- Dolphin Hotel: Rockin Robins
- The Green Rooster: Backbeat House Party
- The Inn: Matt Holcroft
- Kitty OSheas: The Reasons
- Mayfair Hotel: Skyline
- Soleil: Northern Soul & Motown with DJ Rex
- The Star: Western Promises
FRIDAY 26 JUNE
- Best Western Royal Hotel: Bar 27: The Dice Men [figure caption=”The Blind Drivers will be performing at the Blue Note” title=”DSC_2886″ align=”none” url=”/?attachment_id=1358285″ id=”1358285″ align=”right”]
- Blue Note: The Blind Drivers
- The Inn: Breezin
- Kitty OSheas: Kat-R
- Metropole Hotel: Skyline
- Merton Hotel: One Night Only: Showgirls performing songs
- The Star: Raw Prawns
SATURDAY 27 JUNE
- Blue Note: Live Electric Blues, at 4 pm
- Dolphin Hotel: Sgt Pipon
- The Green Rooster: Backbeat House Party
- Horse and Hound: Lesina & Matt
- The Inn: Adam
- Kitty OSheas: Megan & Johnny
- Mayfair Hotel: Skyline
- Merton Hotel: Goldstar: Retro party cover band
- Savoy Hotel: The LQ 5 piece Latin-Jazz band
- Soleil: Northern Soul & Motown with DJ Rex
- The Star: Run for Cover
- Troubadour: The Blind Drivers
Notion is ready to Splash out with something new
ONE of Jersey’s newest event labels – who are on a mission to bring to the Island music scene something different – are preparing to host an event at the Watersplash next month.
The guys behind Notion are welcoming electronic DJ Kidnap Kid as well as Jersey’s own Max Van Dijk, who is bringing his label Tessellate, which has made waves since it was formed in the UK.
Lifeguard-cum-event organiser Brad Ferguson is one of those behind Notion. The DJ, who will be performing at the event, says he is delighted to team up with the guys from Reasons – Jersey’s newest festival.
Ahead of the event on Saturday 4 July, Brad told the JEP’s Nightlife how the Island is enjoying one its best eras for local music.
The pre-party on the terrace starts, weather permitting, at 5 pm.
Doors for the club event open at 10 pm.
Tickets are £15 and are available online at eventbrite.com or at White Label Records, Roulette or the Watersplash.
What can Islanders expect from the event?
A lot of fun and a unique mix of summery house music accompanied with great vibes and a lot of two-stepping.
What will the headliners offer?
Kidnap Kid made his name with a string of successful singles, with debut Vehl on Black Butter going on to receive the accolade of US iTunes’ Best Electronic Song of 2012.
The follow-up, So Close, racked up more than 100,000 plays on Soundcloud in just one week, and summer anthem Survive went straight to the top of the Hype Machine charts.
This year has been filled with a comprehensive list of UK and US solo dates, performances at some of the most highly regarded festivals, including Coachella, Glastonbury and Tomorrow World.
Tessellate was set up in the UK by Jersey’s own Max Van Dijk. Initially it was a residents-only midweek party, but it has quickly risen to being one of the more exciting club brands on the London scene. Proud of a diverse music policy that has seen guests including Chez Damier, Andres, Konstantin Sibold, Dark Sky, Dungeon Meat and Genius of Time, its events frequently juggle different genres and cover the full spectrum of dance floor-friendly music.
What has the response been like so far?
Amazing. Early bird tickets are now sold out.
If we keep going at this rate, we are on for a sell-out crowd, which would be great as we are really keen to make it even bigger than last year.
Is the Watersplash the perfect venue for this type of event?
It is a great venue for us. I don’t think there are many venues out there that can offer partying by the sea as the sun sets on the terrace and then move a few metres inside to a buzzy club environment.
It worked really well for us last time, so we are looking to build on that and hopefully provide everyone with what was experienced for our first event – plus a few surprises.
You will also be performing –what’s it like to perform at the Splash in front of so many people you know?
I absolutely love it!
The atmosphere is so much better when you’re in a room full of your mates, as you all vibe off each other.
Plus, they don’t mind it so much if I mess up a little, so you’re able to take a few more risks.
You have joined forces with Reasons. How important are events like these in terms of adding diversity to the Island music scene?
It’s great for the Island. I think Jersey’s music scene is the best it’s been for a long time.
We are seeing more types of nights and events springing up now, which I think is really healthy. Islanders are exposed to a real variety and a greater range of event and night now on offer, which can only be a good thing.
What does the future hold for Notion?
We want to hold more and more events. We are taking it step by step and looking to slowly build things so we make sure we get it right.
Our main aim is to bring a unique event or night to the Island, and we are currently exploring various options as to what that might be – so keep your eyes peeled for that one.
