THE boy band Take That – and a stage show based on their work – have been back on the road to demonstrate once again the immense popularity of what is, for obviously very good reasons, known as popular music.

If the success of the present Opera House show, Never Forget, which harks back to Take That’s musical legacy, illustrates this point, it must be seen in the context of the many other events in a similar vein which confirm that Jersey audiences have a tremendous appetite for the vast range of styles that fall into the broad category of modern music.

From the truly big names of the contemporary scene who fill the Gloucester Hall at Fort Regent to the humblest of tribute bands, acts of all sorts seem to be guaranteed support.

Now, in this 40th anniversary year of Woodstock – the historic event which put music festivals on the international map – it is highly encouraging to see that our own contribution to the world of open-air rock and pop, Jersey Live, is not only thriving but winning a reputation that puts it on a footing with the likes of Glastonbury.

Our event might be on a smaller scale than many others, but increasing numbers of pundits are saying that it is perfectly put together. Radio One’s Edith Bowman, for example, has said that it has ‘more pulling power than any other small festival’.

The contribution made to Island life and Island prosperity by Jersey Live – and,
indeed, that newcomer on the scene, Grassroots – should not be underestimated by those who are content to leave the music of the present to the younger generation. Nor should the work put in by the organisers, who have demonstrated high levels of professionalism as well as a deep understanding of what people want to see and hear.

Meanwhile, that the world is still listening to the music of Woodstock four decades on gives the lie to an idea fashionable in some high-brow circles – that
rock and pop are the trivial ephemera of the musical world and that they are therefore of no real or permanent significance.

It is true that the pop industry produces a huge amount of material that does not even deserve nine-day wonder status, but, as ageing rockers such as the Rolling Stones and The Who and their enduring popularity demonstrate, true style and substance not only last, but also bridge the generational divide.

Jersey Live – the programme for which is distributed with today’s JEP – gets under way on 5 September. May the weather smile on it, may the audiences enjoy themselves as much or even more than in previous years, and long may the event continue to be a standing feature of the Island’s entertainment calendar.