For a fourth year BBC Music Introducing in Guernsey was part of Guernsey Arts Commission‘s Arts Sunday event on 10th June.

The event, this year focussed on the theme of ‘Express Yourself’, took over the St Peter Port seafront from 10 until 4 and featured a showcase of pretty much every facet of the arts being practiced in the island.

As in the past the BBC Introducing Stage celebrated some of the bands and artists I’ve championed on the monthly radio show or that have impressed on the island’s live scene over the past year.

Young solo performer Kiya Ashton started the day.

While Kiya has yet to record any of her material and upload any to BBC Introducing, her performances, first with band The Violet Diversion and more recently in a solo capacity, combined with her songwriting have impressed greatly.

That continued here as, over a short set, she went down well with those who turned out early and stopped to listen to her darkly soulful songs which belie her age.

More well-known band Ukuladeez brought an upbeat feel as we headed towards lunchtime.

With four of the core group bolstered by Graham on cajon, Melody on banjo and Stretchy on melodica their songs brilliantly mixed a sense of fun with some biting satirical moments to be far more than you might at first expect.

They drew the first proper crowd of the day and delivered one of their most enjoyable sets.

Marking two years since their first ever public outing Track Not Found, I think, surprised a few curious onlookers with their no holds barred rock assault, raising a few eyebrows but impressing many and truly capturing the days ‘express yourself’ theme.

Well known among regular gig goers this was, following on from Sound In The Market, another chance for them to be seen by a wider audience and it should be no surprise they went down well with most (those who weren’t initially scared off by the notion of young ladies doing something other than playing the usual ‘nice’ standards, anyway).

Two years ago, when Track Not Found were just making their first steps, The Honest Crooks were already gracing the BBC Introducing stage at this event.

Since then they have grown with the addition of Naomi Burton’s saxophone and organ to become one of the island’s top musical attractions.

They more than proved that here even getting a few dancing in the street to their mix of original songs and covers, more than a few of which were perfect for a warm summer afternoon.

Veterans of the day, SugarSlam, rounded things off in typically loud style mixing original tracks new and old with covers spanning Nirvana to Rocket From The Crypt to Neil Young.

In fine form, their upbeat brand of rock was well received and they closed the stage on a storming high, no doubt leaving many wanting more and hoping for their long-awaited new record.

While I only got to see the BBC Introducing Stage the organisers say 12,000 people attended the event across the day and it was once again hugely rewarding to be part of this celebration of creativity in Guernsey which, given the fact that the length of the seafront and the Crown Pier were packed with stalls and stages, is in great health.

You can see more of my photos from the event on the BBC Music Introducing In Guernsey Facebook page