Sunday, 29 June 2008

Rinky Dinks taster

Just to get you in the mood for the Chilled Turtle Ukulele Festival at this year's Paddle Round The Pier, here's the Rinky Dinks performing their version of an Artic Monkeys classic. Enjoy...

Loads of bands and the Chilled Turtle Ukulele Festival

Live bands and Ukuleles bring musical magic to the Paddle Round The Pier Beach Festival

This year’s Paddle Round The Pier Beach Festival, sponsored by the Custom Group, will see a great selection of bands take to the main stage over the weekend of the 5th and 6th of July, plus it will host the inaugural Chilled Turtle Ukulele Festival.

The festival, which is now the UK’s largest free charity watersports event, will have a main stage situated within the ‘Paddle Village’ on Hove Lawns. This stage will see a number of local bands and some from further afield entertain the crowds, which are expected to be in their thousands.

Jenny Collins, who has organised the live entertainment said: “This year we have had requests from a huge amount of bands wanting to take part after the success of previous events.

“It was really hard to shortlist them, but we’re happy that we have a great mix for people of all ages and musical tastes.”

Bands to play this year on the Saturday are: Estrondo, Alex Gigante, Titan System, Samara, Doll And The Kicks, Two Spot Gobi, Hollows Of Venus and Los Albertos.

Sunday’s line up is: The Rinky Dinks, Carlo Sandblow, Seeker, Soul Reality and the Railing Stains.

More musical entertainment comes to the event this year in the form of the Chilled Turtle Ukulele Festival, which is on the Sunday. This unique event aims to unite Ukulele players from across the UK in one place and will be headlined by the legendary Rinky Dinks. This Ukulele ‘supergroup’ from Bristol have gathered a huge following with their versions of classics including “I Predict A Riot”, “Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor” and “A Town Called Malice”.

Rebecca Richardson from Chilled Turtle added: “The response we have had so far from people has been amazing.

“We’ve had hundreds of people saying they want to bring their Ukulele along and have a jamming session.

“To have the Rinky Dinks agree to come and play is fantastic. Not only will they perform on the main stage, but they are also going to play off the people in the main paddle round the pier as they enter the water.

“It just goes to show there are plenty of closet Ukulele fans out there!”

Chilled Turtle have commissioned a special ‘Ukulele Song Book’ for this event and are hoping that if this is a success then they will aim for the world record attempt of ‘most people playing Ukuleles simultaneously next year.

Proceeds from the Paddle Round The Pier Beach Festival are split between the three designated charities – the RNLI, the Chestnut Tree Children’s Hospice and SurfAid International. Although the event is free to enter, people are asked to donate to the official volunteers, who will be collecting with their buckets across the weekend.

For more information about the bands and the event in general can be found on www.paddleroundthepier.com.

Only 6 days til the 'Paddle'!

After a year of planning there's now only 5 days to go until the Paddle Round The Pier Beach Festival. Here's the latest info you may need to know and remember to check out our website for more...
The Paddle Round The Pier Beach Festival, is back in Brighton on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th July and will be double the size of last years event in terms of space and events taking place.

Sponsored by the Custom Group, the event is hoping to raise even more money than ever for its three chosen charities the RNLI, the Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice and SurfAid International.

Across the weekend visitors will be able to watch and take part in a whole host of activities both in the water and on the land, centred around a massive ‘paddle village’ on Hove Lawns.

Saturday is ‘Hardcore Day’ and kicks off with the Oxbow Stand Up Paddle Race, which will see competitors paddle their Stand Up boards from Worthing pier to the West Pier. Other races on the day include the Pure Vacations Pier to Pier race and the Perception Kayaks Pier to Pier to Pier race.

Sunday is ‘Family Day’, with a much more laid-back vibe to it and main events include the Paddle Something Unusual and the main ‘Paddle Round The Pier’.

The paddle village is twice as big as last year and includes a large shopping area, children’s entertainments, the Chilled Turtle Ukulele Festival and the main music stage.

This main stage plays host to a number of bands and musicians throughout the weekend, including the Railing Stains, Los Albertos and Ukulele legends the Rinky Dinks.

David Somerville from the organising team said: “The popularity of the event from the last couple of years has meant that it just keeps growing.

“It’s a great opportunity to bring watersports enthusiasts together to have fun and raise thousands of pounds for three really worthwhile charities. As the largest event of its kind in the UK and is also completely free to visit.

“Being a charity event we rely heavily on the kindness of our sponsors, local businesses and individual volunteers, so make sure you come down on the weekend and do your bit to help too by donating some money.

“There is so much going on across the weekend that people should check out http://www.paddleroundthepier.com/ to get all of the latest info.”

Thursday, 6 March 2008

Oxbow Endurance SUP race to kick off Paddle Round The Pier beach Festival

Here's a copy of our press release that's just gone out...

The Oxbow European Endurance Paddle Board Race is making its debut at this year’s Paddle Round The Pier Beach Festival on Saturday 5th July in Brighton.

With the massive increase in popularity of Stand Up Paddle Surfing in the UK over the past year, it seems fitting to hold a race at the UK’s biggest free charity water sports event.

The Oxbow European Endurance Paddle Board Race will see entrants paddle from Worthing Pier to the West Pier, a distance of 10 miles.

The winner will walk away with a fantastic trophy plus £1500 worth of Oxbow clothing. There are also runners-up prizes on offer.

Vanessa Elton-Smith, Marketing Officer for Oxbow UK said: “Oxbow, official sponsors of the SUP Endurance Race, is stoked to be supporting this exciting new element of the Paddle Round The Pier Festival 2008.

“Oxbow is on board with PRTP’s commitment to raising money and awareness for their chosen charities, and is really pleased to be associated with this fantastic charitable event.”

The Paddle Round The Pier Beach Festival, sponsored by Custom, will be held in Brighton on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th July.

Between 8,000 and 10,000 people are expected to attend over the weekend and organisers hope to raise thousands of pounds for the three nominated charities – the RNLI, Chestnut Tree House and SurfAid International.

There is a whole host of free activities on offer across the weekend, both in and out of the water. The Saturday has been named ‘Hardcore Day’, with the emphasis on races for experienced watermen and women. Sunday is ‘Family Day’, as it will have a more laid back vibe to it and include the world famous sponsored ‘Paddle Round The Pier’.

People looking to enter this tough race should visit paddleroundthepier.com. More information about the PRTP Beach Festival in general can also be obtained here.

Friday, 15 February 2008

It's alive!

Yes folks, the newly pimped Paddle Round The Pier Beach Festival website is now live.


A few tweaks needed and more content will be added soon, but in the meantime have an explore and find out more about the fun stuff we've got planned!


Thursday, 7 February 2008

Promo video

Here's the promo video for this year's event, including a pumping tune kindly donated by our friend Mr Norman Cook...




The new website should be up and running next week so keep checking it.

Friday, 1 February 2008

Great surf vids from VBS.TV

Have been contacted by video site VBS.TV who have got some great surf videos on their online surf show 'Hi-Shreadability'.

Here's Mike Stewart doing what he does best (even though he's a sponger he rules)...




Make sure you check out some of their other shows, including an interview with the delightful Kassia Meador.