Musicians are again being offered funding to travel across the Channel Islands and northern France.

Arts bodies in Jersey and Guernsey will pay towards touring costs.

So far, 18 bands have been helped to perform at venues in festivals outside their home island, including at the Chaos Festival, The Vault in Guernsey, La Beltane Festival in Sark and The Blue Note, St James and Bergefest in Jersey.

The initiative launched last year, a collaboration between ArtHouse Jersey and Guernsey Arts. 

Musicians might include sound artists, classical musicians, bands and singer-songwriters.  

It gives an opportunities to build local audiences, but also to access the French live-music scene and do exchanges with acts in Brittany and Normandy.

Jersey-based Greg Alliban of the group The Perchard’s Wall describes their summer ‘24 tour supported by the fund:

"The Perchards Wall embarked on a ‘24 summer tour jokingly named ‘The Channel Islands World Tour’, something of a pipe dream that was bought to life by the greatly appreciated funding from the Channel Island Touring Fund. Essentially a tour that saw the band play on all of the islands that make up the CI (even Herm!).

"Rather than being stuck playing gigs in Jersey every weekend we were able to gain further traction as a band and also money to put towards recording our album next year. It fills our hearts that local musicians are being supported to travel across the isles to do what we all love. We have all played in bands all our lives and this is by far the best funding and support we have ever received.”

Sonia Killman performing at ArtHouse Jersey

James Tyson, Head of Programme for ArtHouse Jersey, is delighted to be able to continue offering this support to the music sector:

"These kinds of opportunities can be transformative in enabling professional musicians and bands to get the kind of exposure and experience that’s critical in building their careers as well as truly putting the Channel Islands on the cultural map.”

Russ Fossey, Head of Arts Development for Guernsey Arts, expressed the same sentiment:

"This fund has over the last 12 months allowed grass-roots connections to be built between musicians across the Channel Islands, and we are now thrilled to expand those opportunities to France, giving our creatives the means to promote both Guernsey and Jersey talent while making new musical exchanges.”

Details of how to apply can be found at here or here.