Village Green Festival 2017 unveil trio of initiatives for this year's event

Arts group Metal have teamed up with Grrrl Zine Fair, kicked off a WOMAD programme and curated a line up of local acts ahead of July's one dayer.

Last updated: 21st Jun 2017

Originally published: 15th Jun 2017

Image: Village Green (credit)

As well as delivering an all round, brilliant festival experience, with theatre, spoken word, poetry, fox trot lessons and literally tonnes of other attractions, Southend's Village Green Festival offers plenty more, as can be seen with a trio of initiatives taking place across three different areas of the Chalkwell Park Festival site.

Firstly, arts group Metal have unveiled a programme that brings black and minority ethnic artists to the Global Village Stage. The news kicksarts a relationship between the WOMAD Foundation and Essex Cultural Diversity Project and will see performances at the festival from 'fiery singer' Mim Suleiman, Jamaican dancer, poet Ripton Lindsay and more.

Metal have also delivered a new area at the festival, curated by local artist Lu Williams and her Grrrl Zine fair which looks to celebrate the DIY movement by delivering the "creative output made by women, lqbtqi and non binary people", all with a political undercurrent. The fair looks to offer safe space for people, namely younger women or girls, to enjoy music. It will feature over 40 self publishers, as well as artists, and music from a heap of exciting female fronted, lgbtqi bands and DJs.

Finally, 14 up and coming, local acts have been selected to play at this year's festival following a rigorous judging process that saw over 200 acts apply. The likes of Hofner endorsed The Velveteens will be playing with industrial punk band BAIT who can call Radio X's John Kennedy a fan, plus many more. 

Taking place on Saturday 8th July, the Village Green 2017 line up features Kate Nash, Nothing But Thieves and tonnes more, whilst delivering plus a Culinary Comedy Big Top, Art Car Boot Sale and plus a further 9 stages of music, comedy, debate, art and performance.

Grab Village Green tickets below.