Corn Riots Festival

The Corn Riots Festival, La Folle d’Avoût, is being held in the Royal Square on Friday 30 September and Sunday 1 October 2023.

Come and join a celebration of Jersey's culture and history, with a fantastic line up of Jersey bands.

What's on

Find out what Corn Riots Festival events are this year.

Timings below can change.

Saturday 30 September 2023

Time	Event	Details
12pm	Youth bands including Moronica, Jeans on the Floor, Steamed Men and Jims House	The future of Jersey music is in good hands and this is a small showcase of our youth band talent playing covers and original music. You can expect warm eclectic pop sounds, explorative explosive prog-rock and adventurous energy. The recent Jersey Music Association Battle of the Bands included these three winning bands, including the overall winners Jims House.
1.45pm	A Little Bit of Jazz	Jazz is freedom, and in it’s very nature empowers musical revolution! You can expect smooth latin swing and funk grooves. Jazz doesn’t have to be serious, and we bring the fun! Martin ‘Le Martin’ Coxshall (piano and vocals) presents ‘A little Bit of Jazz’ with a top notch crew including Rod Garwood (Bass with knobs on), Jonny ‘Disco’ Pearse (drums), Ali Houiellebecq (Sax & Flute) and special guest, Poet, Traci O’Dea.
2.45pm	Children’s Jèrriais Choir and Les Chaboleurs Dancers performing J'allons song on Learn Jerriais	Join the Children’s Jèrriais Choir and sing along. This will help you understand the power of our language, and how young and old see it as part of our identity.
3.15pm	Badlabecques	An impressive 8 peice folk-rock spectacle not to be missed featuring international recording sensation Dr Kit Ashton and the Badlabecques. Singing in our own Jèrriais Language this band have released two full albums and a number of singles with notability not only across the Channel Islands but also across the globe, for their endeavours in representing language within our culture.
4.30pm	Rick Jones	Rick is a formidable presence and commanding performer. Exploring subtle and complex guitar songs that will leave an impression. If you like your music to be meaningful and powerful this is for you.
5pm	Sula	Celtic folk with mandolin, Bodhran, whistles and fiddles will have your feet on fire. Expect fun Jigs and reels and be transported back to what could be a St Patricks Day Party all over again.
6.15pm	Pam Bindi	Pam Bindi is a five-piece bringing seriously cool grooves from the menu of Herbie Hancock, Vulfpeck, Grant Green and the like... They are effortlessly likeable, and each member is a made from a recipe involving music, rainbows and occasionally a wonderfully handsome moustache.
7.45pm	Jersey Pop Group	Prolific songwriter Mark Sims brings his love letter to Jersey in the form of this excellent band. Painting his passion across the island for a number of years now, Mark has recorded multiple albums and his songs have become part of the fabric of Jersey. You can expect to hear sing-along-able pop songs including ‘Swimming at Harve des Pas’, ‘Real Jersey House Wife’, ‘Oui r Ouen’, ‘Number 15’ and ‘Jersey Calling’.
8.45pm	The Fado Singers	Renowned for its expressive and profoundly melancholic character, Fado is a traditional type of Portuguese singing, often played in pubs and cafés. We warmly welcome this very special Jersey duo, who will provide a window to part of our shared culture.
9.30pm	The Jersey Bounce	There’s no party like a Bounce party. Pulling out all the stops, Jersey Bounce will fuel the night with charismatic dancing tunes and entertainment. Expect shiny instruments, energy, singing and dancing and bouncing fun.

Sunday 1 October 2023

Time	Event	Details
12pm	The Reasons	The Reasons play all the songs you want to hear, exceptionally experienced professionals kicking off the day.
12.45pm	Musical Riot Play Along Musical Riot chords and lyrics	Everyone is invited to join in, picture a Musical Riot!! A Royal Square filled with people, all playing their instruments together, rocking out, simply strumming or even learning something new and playing in the biggest community play along Jersey has ever seen. This is an invite for anyone to bring their instrument and join in. Hosted by Youth Arts Guitar Club, The Ukulele Club, The Reasons, Badlabecques, Meli Melo and musicians of any ability from across the island.
1.30pm	The Word on the Street	Feel the raw energy of brass with this new and exciting ensemble rooted in the New Orleans brass tradition. Influenced by the likes of The Young Blood Brass Band, this group delivers hard-hitting funk, Pop and R&B right where it belongs on the street.
2.15pm	Caesarean Ceilidh Band	Everyone is invited to get their dancing shoes for a Ceilidh. This well established band of musicians and qualified dance callers who are experienced with instructing groups of all ages and brings English, Scottish and Irish traditional music and dance to the masses.
3.45pm	Benny the Moth	It’s been a busy time for BTM, having recently been selected to support 90’s pop band Dodgy and releasing their ‘Rise and Fall’ album. BTM have been compelling audiences to dance with juicy reggae and ska vibes for literally decades. Find out who is BTM is.
5pm	88 BunkFace	This will be something new to feel proud about in the Royal Square a revolutionary pop-punk Power house with a mix of original and cover music.
6pm	The Beantles	We’re talking about a revolution and well you know we all want to change the world. Your mother should know its time to Twist and shout.
7.30pm	Intermission	Electrifying guitar solos, belting vocals, crowd surfable energy, this is Intermission. Tantalising performances from a band of such warm, excellent performers that are impossible not to love. This is the day you’ll become an intermission fan.
9pm	L is M band	Instead of getting our energy from France, we could probably power all parishes from the L is M band. The Bass player alone (Dougie Joseph) could power St Helier. This stylish and fun group of local musical heroes will play out the Corn Riots, reminding us that within all our important endeavours, it’s most important overall to have a good time, get down and boogie.

Learn Jèrriais

The Corn Riots is a chance to celebrate Jersey's native language.

J'allons phrases on Learn Jerriais

Jèrriais	English
J'allons	We’re going
à la Folle d’Avoût	to the Corn Riots Festival
changi chu monde	to change the world
trouver dé l’endgèrbéthie	to find togetherness
chanter et danser	to sing and dance
sauver not’ langue	to save our language

If you're interested in learning Jersey's native language, find out more on Learn Jerriais.

About the Corn Riots Festival

The Corn Riots first took place from Friday 24 September to Monday 27 September 2021 to mark the 250 year anniversary of the major legislative reform that transformed society in Jersey, as a result of the Corn Riots.

It was next held in 2022 and was expanded to include more educational and culinary events during the build-up. It is an annual celebration of Jersey’s history, language, creativity and an expression of its potential to change the Island.

Corn Riots by Jersey Heritage

Educational links

You can learn more about the importance of harvest in Jersey and around the world, and how bad harvests were a direct cause of the Corn Riots: