Emily Faye and Evening Acoustics: Weekends at La Terrasse

By Alyssa | WhatsOn music and nightlife writer Alyssa tracks the gigs, festivals, club nights and late-late plans worth leaving the house for.

Ice clinking heavily in crystal glassware, the low, steady hum of St Helier winding down for the day, and the sharp, clean ring of an acoustic guitar cutting through the Friday evening air. You can feel the collective exhale the second you walk onto the terrace. It is that golden hour transition where the week's lingering emails evaporate, the tension drops from the shoulders, and the island's nightlife heartbeat finally starts to kick in.

This is the magnetic energy anchoring the Live Music Weekends at La Terrasse. Tucked into the imposing and elegant Hotel de France, this event provides a striking contrast to bass-heavy basement clubs and sticky-floored pubs. It is an elevated, consistent weekend fixture where the island's finest acoustic acts hold court. Right now, the stage belongs to the soulful, country-pop stylings of Emily Faye, whose flawless live vocals provide the ultimate soundtrack for trading the workweek for the weekend. It is live music designed not to overwhelm the room, but to perfectly curate its atmosphere.

Sunset Cocktails and Country-Pop Chords

The beauty of the La Terrasse sessions lies in the sensory balance. Crisp, ice-cold white wine and the rich, savoury aromas of seared steaks drifting from the kitchen set the stage before the first note is even played. When the music does start, it is expertly pitched. The acoustics of the terrace mean the sound bounces gently across the tables; it is present and engaging, but it never forces you to shout over your dinner partner.

Emily Faye’s set masterfully reads the room, moving effortlessly from stripped-back acoustic ballads that demand a quiet reverence, to toe-tapping, upbeat country-pop hooks that have people subconsciously nodding along over the rims of their cocktail glasses. There is a distinct warmth to a live acoustic gig that simply cannot be replicated by a DJ set or a Spotify playlist. You get the raw, authentic connection of a live performance, paired entirely with the comfort of a plush, stylish hotel environment. It is the kind of evening where you intend to stay for a quick drink and suddenly realise three hours have passed.

The Workweek Wind-Down Crowd

Take a look around the room and you are watching a masterclass in island demographics coming together. You have the St Helier finance crowd loosening their ties and letting out a Friday evening sigh of relief, mingling alongside weekend visitors floating down from their hotel suites, drawn in by the rhythmic strumming echoing up the corridors. Scattered between them are local couples sharing small plates and swapping stories over candlelight.

The atmosphere is wonderfully communal yet deeply intimate. There is an unspoken agreement among the crowd: nobody is rushing. When a particularly impressive vocal run hits, the low murmur of conversation pauses, replaced by genuine applause and appreciative nods. It is a space built for music lovers who prefer their live sets served with a side of sophisticated relaxation rather than a mosh pit.

Know Before You Go

• Secure your spot early: While entry is entirely free, the premium vantage points for the live sets naturally go to diners. Book your table ahead of time through the La Terrasse events page to guarantee a seat with a view of the performer.
• Timing the transition: Arrive around an hour before the first chords are struck. Grabbing a drink and settling in as the daylight fades is the best way to experience the shift from a laid-back afternoon to a vibrant live music evening.
• Dress for the vibe: Smart-casual fits the bill perfectly here. You want to match the refined but incredibly relaxed hotel atmosphere without feeling overdressed.
• Getting back to town: There is plenty of parking on-site if you are the designated driver, but if you are drinking, the hotel reception is incredibly quick at calling cabs back down the hill into the centre of St Helier.

Make a Weekend of It

If the acoustic set leaves you craving a heavier bassline, jump in a cab down to Weighbridge Place. The heated outdoor area at Cafe Zephyr at The Royal Yacht keeps the chic alfresco drinking vibe going late into the night, making it the perfect immediate afterparty. Alternatively, if the live guitar has you geared up for a full-band experience, Chambers Sports Bar & Nightclub is a short walk away, serving up heavy-hitting live music and a proper dancefloor.

For a different pre-gig dinner vibe earlier in the weekend, book a leather booth at Banjo to soak in some high-ceilinged brasserie elegance. If you need something a little more robust to line the stomach before a long night of bar-hopping, The Square offers up incredible steaks and ribs right in the heart of town.

Finally, if you need to blow off the Sunday morning cobwebs after a heavy weekend of live music and late nights, clear your head with an adrenaline-fuelled coastal blast across the water with Jersey Seafaris. The sea breeze is the ultimate cure for any lingering cocktail fatigue.

I will see you by the stage, cocktail in hand. Alyssa for What's On Jersey.