Barnstaple switches on with Noisettes
BARNSTAPLE'S Spirit of Christmas event heralded the start of the festive season in the town.
Despite the rain and wind crowds flocked to The Square for the lights switch-on event yesterday.
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The Noisettes and Dolly Rockers switch on Barnstaple lights
Local musicians, Jaden Cornelious, Jenna Witts, Maybe Naked and Sam Dowden set the scene for the build up to the switch on.
Breaks Collective appeared just before the North Devon Hospice bumper draw where a new Ford KA was won by Sharon Lee, 39, from Filleigh.
Despite the absence of their lead vocalist who was ill, The Dolly Rockers took to the stage followed by headline band the Noisettes.
YouTube: Ryan Martin's video of the event.
The Noisettes opened their show with the band's highest charting single to date, Don't Upset the Rhythm.
Barnstaple town centre manager Craig Bulley said: "It is always difficult to estimate the number of people who turn up to celebrate but in the scheme of things numbers are not the most important aspect of any event.
"It is about ensuring that everyone who comes along on the day has a great day out and, judging from the positive feedback we have received from shoppers, retailers and entertainers, we achieved what we set out to do."
The police were pleased with the event
PC Tim Quick said: "This has been a real family event and it is fantastic to see so many local people having fun in Barnstaple."
The North Devon Gang Show at the Spirit of Christmas event.
The first of the late night shopping evenings begins on Thursday.
For more in formation about forthcoming Winter Festival events see this week's North Devon Journal.
Watch Ryan Martin's YouTube video of the Barnstaple Christmas Lights switch on.
Watch the North Devon Gang Show team who started off the event at 1pm
4 Comments
by localascowdoo, Barnstaple
Friday, December 11 2009, 10:36AM
“The event ran late on a freezing and soaking wet evening. The dolly rockers were a joke....it was like watching a couple of kids in their bedroom singing with their hairbrushes (did their mothers know they were out?!) but The Noisettes were pretty good. They sang and played live, much better than a backing track/volcals, and lifted the crowd.
It was the 10 minute highlight on a pretty unorganised night!”
by janet, barnstaple
Tuesday, November 24 2009, 12:18PM
“what a disapointment, the sound during the dolly rockers was almost inaudible, and then the main event mime. granted, the singer of the noisettes belted out her outstanding vocal, but watching 2 grown men ponce about pretending they were playing their instruments was risiculous. they got paid a serious amount of money, for what? surely we could spend that on something more worthy, I for one don't agree with lining mimers pockets.”
by Jill Hayward, Barnstaple
Monday, November 23 2009, 3:51PM
“Great idea and venue but what a shame that most of us couldn't hear what was being said or sung, it wasn't until the Noisettes came on that the volume was turned up!”
by Martin, Barnstaple
Monday, November 23 2009, 1:26PM
“Well Done Barnstaple, another well supported local Town event. The new Town Square makes a great central venue.
And well done to the North Devon Gang Show who started the event off at 1pm. If you missed it, see their performance on YouTube. See the links above”