Clancy Mason chats to Under The Town Festival organisers Kirsty Mah and Alice Croft about this weekend’s event.
The Under The Town festival is organised for young people by young people completing their Arts Award with Blackpool Arts Service.
One of the festival organisers, Kirsty Mah and festival mentor, Alice Croft give us their take on this year’s Under The Town Festival to be held at Grundy Art Galley on Saturday 4 August, 3pm-10pm. Tickets are £3 and available from the Grundy Art Gallery before and on the day, but numbers are limited.
When I popped by for a chat, both Kirsty and Alice were up to their elbows in dye getting items ready for one of the festivals fashion shows. They kindly spared me 10 minutes to chat about what it’s all about:
Alice: This is the second year the festival has taken place. This years themes are around light and the Olympics to tie in with the Illuminations Centenary this year.
Kirsty: In fact the Arts Awards students have been working with artist Laurence Payot to design a tableaux especially for the Centenary, but its too big to fit inside the Grundy for the festival, so you’ll have to wait until Switch On to see it.
Clancy: Have you both got anything you are REALLY looking forward to seeing at the festival this year?
Kirsty: Yes, The Den. It’s a specially built den, like the ones you build when you are a kid. You just get in it and relax – there will be rugs, cushions, fairy lights… a proper chill out space. I’m also excited about seeing the fashion shows, especially as some of my own work is in it. Bands..? The Colours and Jekyll!
Alice: The fashion shows. Also some of the acoustic acts such as Katy Pickles.
Kirsty: This year there is a new ‘open mike’ or ‘try out’ stage.
Clancy: How did you go about selecting the bands you have chosen for this years festival?
Kirsty: We advertised for bands to play and drew up a shortlist from about 20 applicants. We had to narrow this down to about 10, and we have tried to get mainly local bands whilst considering who would fit in best for the festival.
Clancy: In a nutshell, how would you describe Under The Town:
Alice: It’s not like anything else in Blackpool. It’s for people our age.
Clancy: What are you currently listening to on you iPods:
Alice: I listen to podcasts mostly, mainly Scott Mills. And I like Radio 1.
Kirsty: The Wombats, The Cure, The Smiths, The Vaccines..
Clancy: Pretty much any band that starts with ‘The’?
Kirsty: Yes. And You Me At Six and the Arctic Monkeys,
Kirsty Mah is 15 years old and is working toward her Gold Arts Award. She is one of the festival organisers with a focus on Music and Fashion.
Alice Croft is 17 years old and has achieved her Gold Arts Award. This year Alice is mentoring the Arts Award students as well as working with Hard Rock Music on their marketing for the festival.
To find out more visit www.facebook.com/underthetown or www.blazeonline.org.uk/event/under-the-town-festival/
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