Badlabecques to Ignite Corn Riots Festival 2025 with Jèrriais-Fuelled Folk Fusion

 Sing-along Anthem - Badlabecques to Ignite Corn Riots Festival 2025 with Jèrriais-Fuelled Folk Fusion

Jersey’s beloved folk fusion band Badlabecques is set to take centre stage at the Corn Riots Festival 2025, featuring a special community sing-along of Jersey’s official anthem ‘Beautiful Jersey’.

Known for their electrifying performances and commitment to revitalising the island’s native language, Jèrriais, Badlabecques will perform on Saturday, 27 September, delivering a set that celebrates Jersey’s cultural roots while embracing global musical influences.

The Corn Riots Festival, now in its fifth year, commemorates the historic 1769 uprising that reshaped Jersey’s political landscape. This year’s event promises a dynamic mix of live music, street theatre, heritage tours, and artisan markets—all set against the backdrop of the Royal Square and surrounding streets.

Badlabecques’ performance will be a highlight of the festival’s Saturday programme, offering audiences a chance to experience Jèrriais in a fresh, contemporary context. Their music fuses traditional Jèrriais and English lyrics with folk, pop, and world rhythms, creating a sound that is both deeply local and universally resonant. The climax of their set will be the sing-along of ‘Beautiful Jersey’.

"We’re thrilled to be part of Corn Riots 2025," says Dr Kit Ashton, founder of Badlabecques, "and the anthem sing-along could be a really magical moment. As I found during my PhD research, special occasions with friendly crowds singing together are really unique opportunities to forge local cultural identity through the blend of language and music. It’s through experiencing and performing out our collective identity that it crystallises and deepens. Of course, ‘Beautiful Jersey’ is the most significant song we could do that with!”

There will be a large banner with lyrics as well as paper song sheets to help the crowd join in with the sing-along. The band’s appearance is supported by ArtHouse Jersey and L’Office du Jèrriais, aligning with broader efforts to preserve and promote the island’s linguistic and cultural heritage.

Event Details:

·       Performance: Badlabecques Live at Corn Riots Festival

·       Date and time: 15:25 on Saturday, 27 September 2025.

·       Location: Royal Square, St Helier

·       Admission: Free

To listen to and download Badlabecques’ recording of ‘Beautiful Jersey’

For more information about the Corn Riots Festival