30 June 2010 One of Europe’s biggest marinas is hosting a packed day filled with Cajun, Zydeco and New Orleans music this weekend to raise money towards the GNOF Gulf Coast Oil Spill Fund.
The Waterfront at Sovereign Harbour will be packed with Gulf Coast inspired live music, dance workshops and a southern BBQ on Sunday 4 July with all proceeds raised going towards the fund set up by the Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) to help the communities and wildlife affected by the spill.
From 11am until 7pm, visitors to the harbour will be met with performances from bands from across the south east including The Cajun Dawgs, Jumbo Gumbo and The Fabulous Jazz Caverners, plus visitors will be able to try their hand at traditional Cajun dance with free workshops on offer.
Eastbourne Borough Council Cabinet Member for Tourism, Cllr Neil Stanley said “This is a really great initiative that I hope residents and visitors will go along to and support those affected by the oil spill on the Gulf Coast. It sounds like there will be plenty going on promising a unique and fun atmosphere with the chance for everyone to get in on the action and try something different at the same time! With two new exhibitions opening in Eastbourne art galleries this weekend too, the town will be buzzing with cultural events.”
Organiser of the Swamp Aid Music Festival Zephyr Grayland, who grew up on the Gulf Coast, said “The Gulf Coast oil spill is a monumental environmental catastrophe, which threatens to destroy forever a wildlife paradise and the unique communities, which live within it. The aim of this music festival is to share this rich cultural heritage while showing solidarity with the people affected and raising funds to help them.
“Sovereign Harbour, which has a fishing fleet, restaurants and recreational boating, has much in common with its Gulf Coast counterparts and it would be a nice gesture to show that people in other countries do care and want to help.”
The event is free for visitors to enjoy but organisers will be collecting donations on the day and selling a benefit CD, which has been put together by some of Europe’s leading Cajun and Zydeco bands.
