Back in 1982 at a conference in Brighton 39 governments voted to suspend the hunting of whales. Thirty years on, WhaleFest 2012 will take place in the very same building where that momentous vote was taken – the Hilton Brighton Metropole. The event is an opportunity to reflect on this success as well as raise awareness and find solutions to the number of threats that exist for whales and dolphins worldwide today. Hundreds of thousands are caught and drown in fishing nets, and millions are affected by pollution, over fishing, habitat loss, climate change, and continuing demand for marine attractions. In fact since the ban an entire dolphin species, the Yangtze River Dolphin has become extinct and nine of the remaining 87 species of whale, dolphin and porpoise remain endangered or critically endangered.
Throughout Saturday and Sunday there will be a series of fascinating and inspiring films to watch, talks to listen to and activities especially designed to appeal to kids. There will be an opportunity to see a life-size Blue Whale, a mammal so vast that their tongue alone can weigh as much as an elephant and so loud they produce sounds more powerful than a jet engine.
Co-founded by two deeply passionate and committed colleagues their goal is to raise awareness and help save whales and dolphins from the threats they face using events like Whalefest to gain exposure, raise support and funds that can be used to make significant changes worldwide.
Ian Rowlands has inspired millions of people to connect with nature – in particular whales and dolphins. His consuming life-long passion for whales and dolphins began aged six with a visit to the ‘Whale Hall’ in The Natural History Museum, London and has never waned since. He co-founded eco-tourism travel company Speyside Wildlife based in the Scottish Highlands – where he met Dylan Walker. The company developed wildlife and whale watching tours in Scotland and subsequently throughout the world. Ian has guided groups of people to see Polar Bears in the Arctic, swim with dolphins in Mexico, watch wolves in Yellowstone and much more. He has seen whales and dolphins close to home and in every wild corner of
the Earth.
Dylan Walker is a former marine mammal scientist and renowned expert on whales and dolphins. An accomplished author, he has written several acclaimed books on cetaceans, including ‘Whales and Dolphins of the North American Pacific’, ‘Whales and Dolphins of the European Atlantic’ and ‘Whales and Dolphins of Great Britain’.
However if an evening of folksie music of locally based rising talent is more up your twitten then support WhaleFest Live taking place this Saturday night at The Old Market.
Whalefest Live, The Old Market, 11a Upper Market Street, Hove BN3 1AS
Saturday 27 October
Time: Doors 19:00.
Tickets: £7 in advance or £9 on the door.
TOM’s Box Office online and on 01273 201 801
The line-up is set to include some really exciting talent:
Lauded by Perez Hilton 22 year-old Jose Vanders has built up an impressive repertoire of songs and sung alongside the likes of Ed Sheeran, Little Boots, Supergrass as well as Noah and the Whales. She was chosen as Xfm’s unsigned artist of the week, she has performed a live session on Rob da Bank’s Radio 1 show and has featured on the E4 series Made in Chelsea. Her music has already had over two million plays across MySpace and YouTube and has recorded a collection of songs at Abbey Road studios. According to her Facebook page she also likes beards.
Anna Rice, singer, songwriter and guitar player based in Brighton plays, writes and records original, folk-influenced music as a solo artist. She accompanies her singing with finger-picked guitar parts to form a uniquely crafted sound, very influenced by the 60's and 70's folk scene including major artists such as Joni Mitchell, Sandi Denny, and John Martyn, adapting the sound giving it a beautiful, contemporary take.
Nick Williams, Brighton based songwriter who has worked with Mark Wallis, the producer of the Smiths, U2 and Travis on his demo material and performed alongside The Magic Numbers, Ben Howard and folk hero Willy Mason. Backed by double bass, drums and violin he switches between piano, guitar, mandolin and vocal looping. Williams has a flamboyant stage persona using poetic lyrics and crushing melodies singing in falsetto.
Lewis McKale given advice by Frank Turner at the Flowerpot in Camden, according to his Facebook page, to write as many songs as possible he has been doing just that. He writes songs mostly about his life but without "the boring bits" he says, "armed with a guitar and a harmonica using a stand that I built from an old coat hanger. I’m not entirely sure on my genre but I will let you decide on that one, my biggest influences are The Beatles, Radiohead, Frank Turner and Biffy Clyro".
You Me Tree a nu-folk band based in the South of England but from all over the globe. Writing about their life and travels, they draw from folk rock, alt country and the blues. There are comparisons to the likes of Mumford and Sons, but songs featuring mandolins are blended with synthesisers as well as ukelele fused with distortion heavy electric rhythms giving their music an original edge.
