News

News News en Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:47:33 GMT Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:47:33 GMT 60 Festival Republic thanks Environment Agency for help at Reading Lowering the levels of the River Thames Managing Director of Festival Republic , Melvin Benn, today thanked the Environment Agency for their assistance with the rainy weather conditions by lowering the levels of The River Thames adjacent to the Reading Festival site.  A quarter of a million gallons of water have been pumped from the site since Wednesday lunchtime by site crew at the festival. This, along with the efforts of the Environment Agency, has meant that the festival will be protected from flooding this weekend. Melvin Benn said: The cooperation and positive response of the Environment Agency has ensured that the thousands of festival fans will continue to have a fantastic weekend here at Reading and I am extremely grateful to them. We have obviously experienced heavy rainfall over the past couple of days but the rest of the weekend is looking good - here's to another great Reading weekend!" Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 25 Aug 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-08-26T00:00:00 0c9c220a-0032-49f5-adf4-ad90e9d6db8a 1 Additions to The Alternative Stage, free downloads and more Plus a Human Car Wash and SilentArena, the Relentless Energy Stage and Gaymers' Lost In The Orchard The final preparations are being made for the greatest festival in the world, the legendary Reading and Leeds Festival. The bands are getting set to play to the best audiences of the summer and lots of other activities are being lined up at both sites to keep everybody entertained. We are pleased to confirm once again dancing will carry on for those in their disco knickers with the SilentArena operating till you drop at both venues.  More names have been added to the Alternative Stage including the hilarious/gruesome (depends on your taste) Angelos Epithemous from BBC’s Shooting Stars and the artist formerly know as Skint and Demoralised, Matt Abbott. We also have several charities encouraging you to get involved and our sponsors also provide entertainment – and even a wash and brush up from one!   Keep an eye out for our comperes at both sites, Huw Stephens will man the main stage at Reading and Colin Murray (Fri/Sat) and Gill Mills (Sunday) at Leeds.  At Reading Bethan Elfin and the Vinyl Vendettas will be on the NME/Radio 1 stage and Mike Davies on the Lock Up.  Gazz Snowden will be keeping the Lock Up Stage in check at Leeds where Cerebral Ballzy and Random Hand have been added to the bill (Reading Sat/Leeds Fri) replacing RX Bandits and Crime In Stereo. Festival Republic are also proud to announce a FREE downloadable programme for the festivals will be available from 23rd August from <a href="http://www.readingfestival.com">www.readingfestival.com</a> and <a href="http://www.leedsfestivals.com">www.leedsfestivals.com</a> . The line up for all stages has now been announced (Main, NME/Radio 1, Lock Up/Dance, Festival Republic, BBC Introducing and Alternative) and there’s not long to go. The READING & LEEDS FESTIVAL is held on 27th – 29th August 2010 at Little John’s Farm in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds.  Tickets for this event are now sold out.   SILENTARENA at Reading and Leeds:  Coming to Reading and Leeds for the first time SilentArena present the world’s largest concurrent silent disco featuring a total capacity of 9000 people across the festival.  Having travelled around the world this summer visiting some of the biggest festivals and events they plan to end the summer in style. The party will on go on into the small hours long after the headline acts have finished, featuring some of the UK’s top DJs competing head-to-head for the crowds attention. Don’t miss your chance to be part an unforgettable experience for you and thousands of others.  Leeds will run from 11pm – 5am. Reading will be over two sites from 10.30pm – 4am with Steve Lamacq, Huw Stephens, Bethan Elfyn and the Vinyl Vendettas, My Ex Boyfriends Records and more names to be confirmed. <a href="http://www.silentarena.com">http://www.silentarena.com</a>  The Salvation Army: If anybody has any problems, are worried about anything or just need a friendly chat the Salvation Army marquee is close to its usual location in Reading on G4 road, near the Green camping area and between the river and the main area and will also be in Leeds.   They will be serving hot drinks and can even help with blankets if anything gets lost.   Last year in Reading they initiated a ‘Food Drive’ where they collected any non perishable food they have left after the weekend.   This resulted in over a tonne of food being collected from the recycling areas and at the marquee which was then distributed for those in need in the Reading area.  Save yourself from having to carry heavy tins home and drop them off here. Free Tunes from Dance To The Radio: On Thursday night the lucky people at Leeds are treated to a night of entertainment from local label Dance To The Radio – and have now kindly made a free album download available for people wanting to check out the bands they’ll see on site.  Visit: <a href="http://dancetotheradio.bandcamp.com/album/dance-to-the-radio-stage-2010-digital-e-p">http://dancetotheradio.bandcamp.com/album/dance-to-the-radio-stage-2010-digital-e-p</a>  Get Fresh For The Weekend with SEAT:   While at this world famous festival make sure you check out the SEAT Human Car Wash.  Whether you’re mucky from the mosh-pit or just feel like a freshen-up, this free-to-use service will lather you up, hose you down and give you a thorough air drying – just like a real carwash! Check it out in the Village at each site. One Water:  One Water is the official water supplier for Reading and Leeds festivals and will be onsite to give away One Festival survival packs which can be won by entering the competition detailed on the One water bottles sold on site. Relentless Energy Stage at Leeds:  This action kicks in between 10pm and 3am each night with DJs and live music.  Check out Plastic Thumbs, Crystal Fighters (Live) Quemist Soundsystem, Goldierocks, Drums of Death (live) Dekker, Punks Jump up and the thrillingly titled Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs. Gaymers – Lost In The Orchard at Leeds: Gaymers Cider will be hosting their own area at Leeds with live music, DJs and entertainment.   Lewis Floyd Henry, Connan Mockasin and Skinny Lister will all perform during the days and Cosmic Truth (DJs), Broken Hearts (DJs) and DJ Kobayashi (DJ) will be spinning the tunes. The ever popular Rockeoke encourages people up to sing their heart out, there will be a music quiz and a Gaymers Jukebox where everybody can be the superstar DJ until 3am each night. ActionAid at Reading: ActionAid will be returning to Reading festival with their infamous tent just outside the main arena. With comfy seating, giant games and table football by day and feel good DJs until 3am, the friendly crew will keep you smiling all weekend.  This year ActionAid are asking you to say Bollocks to Poverty by putting hunger back in the headlines. It’s outrageous that one billion people are hungry and politicians could end it if they put their minds to it, so the Reading crowd can help out by making hunger front page news. You and your mates will be able to put yourself on the cover of specially created magazine NMH by posing with hunger-busting headlines.  Dress up, strike a rock star pose, and say bollocks to poverty by demanding a HungerFREE world. THE ALTERNATIVE STAGE    Comedy on the Alternative Stage: Best know for his hysterical appearances as burger van owner ANGELOS EPITHEMIOU on the TV series Shooting Stars; this is actually just one creation of the talented comedian Renton Skinner. He has appeared on radio, TV and film as a comedian and actor, performed stand up and written for various shows.  We can only pray he brings along his ‘bag’ to show us what’s in it. Described as the bad boy of comedy and nominated for Chortle’s Best Headliner category at this year’s awards, ANDREW LAWRENCE brings his sick and twisted humour to the festival.  With previous shows titled "How to Butcher your Loved Ones" and "Social Leprosy For Beginners & Improvers", don’t expect gentle humour, it would be gross if he wasn’t so funny. <a href="http://www.andrewlawrencecomedy.co.uk">www.andrewlawrencecomedy.co.uk</a> (Leeds only) As seen on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Mock The Week, TOM STADE brings his magnetic stage presence and distinctive laid back style to Reading and Leeds Festivals. In demand around the globe, this clever and controversial Canadian is not to be missed. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tomstadecomedian">www.myspace.com/tomstadecomedian</a>  “King of the surreal one liners” MILTON JONES is a former Perrier Award winner at Edinburgh and constantly touring around the UK and had his own show on Radio 4.  Don’t miss this respected and raved about set. <a href="http://www.thebigfatcat.co.uk/MJ/">www.thebigfatcat.co.uk/MJ/</a>  (Reading only) Recognisable as the face of BBC’s Switch, TOM DEACON is one of comedy’s bright new hopes.  The 24 year old host of  a regular  Radio 1 show on Sunday evenings made his solo debut at last year's Edinburgh Festival having previously stared in the Fringe's longest running group comedy show 'The Comedy Zone' and, despite his relative youth is already an award-winning stand up. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tomdeaconcomedy">www.myspace.com/tomdeaconcomedy</a>  Described as the “comedian’s comedian”, MARTIN MOR has been entertaining for years, first as multi talented performer in the circus until injury curtailed that path.  Since when he has written and warmed up for anyone you’d care to mention. Oh, and his picture has adorned the Trivial Pursuit board game (!) <a href="http://www.myspace.com/martinbigpig">www.myspace.com/martinbigpig</a> (Leeds only) Nominated for last year’s Chortle Awards, heavy metal fan ANDREW O’NEILL has brought his own unique brand of occult comedy to the Edinburgh festival over the past six years and is a vegan to boot. He is not a Goth! <a href="http://www.andrewoneill.co.uk/">www.andrewoneill.co.uk/</a>  Famed as one half of the Eighties comedy duo Skint Video, STEVE GRIBBIN has established himself as one of  the stalwarts on the comedy circuit and since going solo in the early nineties has performed  almost annually at Reading/Leeds festivals. <a href="http://www.stevegribbin.com/">www.stevegribbin.com/</a>  Bristol based comedian MARK OLVER has not updated his website for a while as he’s too busy doing stand up around the country and his warm up acts on TV (including Deal or No Deal, so be sure to ask him to show you his box).  When he’s not doing that he’s catching up on The Wire.  <a href="http://markolver.com">http://markolver.com</a>  Time Out Magazine once described STEPHEN GRANT as “Britain’s best comedy compere and odd job man” and he’s also been said to be the hardest working comedian in the country. A regular at the infamous Komedia clubs he’s been gaining fans wherever he goes for over a decade now. <a href="http://www.stephengrant.com">www.stephengrant.com</a>  Despite only being on the scene for just two years JOSH WIDDICOMBE has already made quite a name for himself and picked up some tasty reviews, award nominations and written for some cool TV such as 8 out of 10 Cats and Mock The Week. <a href="http://www.offthekerb.co.uk/josh-widdicombe">www.offthekerb.co.uk/josh-widdicombe</a>  (Leeds only) Only a few years ago BRIAN GITTINS owned "the best roadside cafe in a 12-mile radius of Pyecombe" but he was determined to make it to the London Palladium.  He’s luckily stopped off at Reading (or rather creator David Earl has) to bring his quirky and giggle-some set to us at the festival. (Reading only) Comedian, actor and writer BARRY CASTAGNOLA has firmly established himself as an accomplished comic performer.   His easy-going (yet very physical) style, mixing personal anecdotes with some sharp topical and political comment has tickled fans all over the world and we are thrilled to welcome him back to Reading. (Reading only) Music on the Alternative Stage: MATT ABBOTT used to be better known as Skint and Demoralised but is now goes by his real name.   He is a spoken word/lyricist from Yorkshire who garnered great reviews and lots of national radio when he first broke through in 2009.  His latest album is called ‘Love and Other Catastrophes’, make sure you catch him performing at Leeds this year. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/iammattabbott">www.myspace.com/iammattabbott</a>   (Leeds only)  Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 17 Aug 2010 09:00:00 GMT 2010-08-17T10:00:00 54eb958c-044a-424c-9c8c-41122f1c967e 2 Win your very own Reading or Leeds single-speed bike! 14 Bikes Competition at Reading & Leeds You could win your very own Reading or Leeds single-speed bike, we have two bikes up for grabs from 14BikeCo, the cyclist’s bike shop of choice. Being the proud owner of a Reading or a Leeds single-speed bike you can be safe in the knowledge that this bike is every inch as green as you will be when you cycle around. Being single-speed, fewer materials are used which is therefore less damaging to the environment during production.   All you need to do is answer these two simple questions. Send your answers to <a href="mailto:info@festivalrepublic.com?subject=Win%20a%20bike!&body=1)%0D%0A2)%0D%0AReading%20or%20Leeds%3F%0D%0AName%3A">info@festivalrepublic.com</a>. The winners will be chosen at random with further details on the closing date on the Reading and Leeds festival sites - <a href="http://www.readingfestival.com/">www.readingfestival.com</a>; <a href="http://www.leedsfestival.com/">www.leedsfestival.com</a>. 1)  How many grams of Carbon Dioxide per mile are put out into the atmosphere by just one passenger travelling in a car to the festival? 2)  How will you be travelling to the festival now you know that scary fact?   Riding your bike to the festival will obviously put out the least amount of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. To get in gear and read more about this and how you can get green – go to the Travel pages for more details: <a href="http://www.readingfestival.com/info/index.aspx?id=402">http://www.readingfestival.com/info/index.aspx?id=402</a> <a href="http://www.leedsfestival.com/info/index.aspx?id=414">http://www.leedsfestival.com/info/index.aspx?id=414</a>   Today, most bikes are little more than a variation on a theme. They come in boxes from factories in the Far East, and when they get to the shop, the handlebars are straightened, the tyres are pumped up, the pedals are fitted and they go onto the sales floor. They’re made to sell, not to inspire. 14 Bike Co was founded by Duncan McNamara and John Wainwright to offer riders, both new and experienced, a different way to get on a bike. The bike frames are exclusively made in Britain, from British steel and using construction techniques that have been perfected over decades. 14 Bike Co are helping to reintroduce the concept of hand made, lightweight, durable – and above all enjoyable – bikes. Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-07-29T00:00:00 e34c041e-f237-4b61-943c-7b9b3cd4f128 3 Work it! with ActionAid Wanted! Backstage reporter for Reading festival to spread the global hunger campaign message! As the UK festival season kicks off around the country, Bollocks to Poverty, the youth arm of anti-poverty charity ActionAid, is urging motivated young people to get involved in spreading the Bollocks to Poverty message backstage at the Reading Festival 2010.  Through the Work it! competition, one lucky winner can live the dream of being an intrepid backstage reporter interviewing bands like Guns n’ Roses, Arcade Fire, LCDSoundsystem and Klaxons. You'll also need to be passionate and articulate about spreading the anti-hunger word- because it will also be your job to get the musicians you interview on board with the campaign. The ideal candidate will be brimming with confidence and totally comfortable about approaching famous people. Applicants are invited to enter the competition by making a video of themselves – showing just how gutsy and up for it they are.  The winner will need to be available to be part of the Bollocks to Poverty team during the Reading Festival 2010 during August 27th, 28th, 29th. Find out more about the competition <a href="http://www.actionaid.org.uk/102462/work_it_competition.html">HERE</a>. Last year's winner Gavin met Dinosaur Pile Up's Matt Bigland at Reading Photograph by Aubrey Wade / ActionAid Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 21 Jun 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-06-22T00:00:00 b06d1653-5913-497b-9af0-d7899626f224 4 Jon Dunn joins Festival Republic on full time basis "I'm very excited at the possibilities!" Jon Dunn, Vice President of Music Promotions UK at Live Nation joins Festival Republic on a full time basis and will relocate to the FR offices in Covent Garden London with immediate effect. Having curated FR music stages at Latitude festival since inception (in 2006) and the first Big Chill festival with FR this year, the move solidifies FR's continued desire to be at the forefront of the best festival talent buying for the best festivals in the UK. Jon will continue to promote Arcade Fire, The National, M.I.A, White Lies, Paloma Faith, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Villagers and Wild Beasts via LN. Jon Dunn: 'I am thrilled to be joining the fantastic team of like-minded people at Festival Republic, and feel very fortunate that the continued support I require for the touring acts will be maintained by the LN team in Argyll Street.  The line-up for this year’s Latitude was the strongest yet and will get stronger and stronger with the additional time I can now put into it and elevating the Big Chill to a similar musical stature is as high on my agenda. This is a fantastic opportunity for me to focus on fewer touring acts and book the best festivals, I'm very excited at the possibilities!' Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 23 Aug 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-08-24T00:00:00 83dde825-a1c2-43b7-992d-6810501426f1 1000000 Marc Almond joins the Electric Picnic line up With a 5 piece band in the famous Electric Arena tent Almond originally found fame as half of the seminal synthpop/New Wave duo Soft Cell and has sold over 30 million records worldwide. In this, his first ever performance in Electric Picnic, he celebrates 30 years of dance floor bliss with a stomping set of what he decribes as 'A-sides, hits and best bits' including Soft Cell classics such as 'Tainted Love', 'Say Hello, Wave Goodbye' and 'Torch'.  He will be performing with a 5 piece band in the famous Electric Arena tent at Electric Picnic.  <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/v/h/q/110810%20-%20Electropop%20Icon%20Marc%20Almond%20has%20just%20been%20announced%20on%20Electric%20Picnic%20line%20up.pdf">Click here to read more</a> Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-08-11T00:00:00 e8c5a052-c41c-4155-9dde-b0e005bd66eb 1000000 The Libertines to play London show Festival Republic by arrangement with WME and Primary Talent International proudly present THE LIBERTINES + guests We are pleased to announce that The Libertines will play a Reading & Leeds festival warm up show at the HMV Forum, London on Wednesday 25th August. To register for the chance to be able to purchase up to 2 tickets please visit  <a href="http://www.thelibertines.com">www.thelibertines.com</a> DEADLINE FOR REGISTERING IS THIS FRIDAY 13 AUG AT 6pm (GMT) Succesful applicants, chosen at random, will be notified by email on Monday 16th August and will have until midday on Wednesday 18th August to purchase their tickets. For full details and terms and conditions, visit <a href="http://www.thelibertines.com">www.thelibertines.com</a> Festival Republic by arrangement with WME and Primary Talent International proudly present THE LIBERTINES + guests. Doors will open at 19.00. Strictly 14+ Tickets will cost £30.00 (subject to booking fee) Please note no tickets will be sent out for this show. The card holder/purchaser must be attending the show. Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 10 Aug 2010 09:00:00 GMT 2010-08-10T10:00:00 5f9099a4-30f6-4c7c-86e3-b5bf6a5e9502 1000000 BBC Introducing Stage The best brand new talent for you to hear before anyone else This is where the very best brand new talent from the UK gets its first chance to appear in front of the greatest tastemakers in the country – the audience at Reading and Leeds Festivals.  This is the third year both sites have enjoyed this popular stage. The bands that play are chosen through a combination of the BBC’s countrywide Introducing shows, Leeds promoters Futuresound and festival promoters Festival Republic. In the past the likes of Everything Everything, General Fiasco, Pulled Apart My Horses and Goldheart Assembly have made their debuts at Reading and Leeds on this stage and gone onto great things.  Several bands have gained their place at the festival through winning highly fought competitions including local boys Kasiuss who bring their intelligent modern rock to the Festival Republic Stage (Saturday 28th Leeds, Sunday 29th Reading). Kvelertak won their spot via a national TV search in their native Norway and Penguin were worthy champions of the Martin House Children’s Hospice battle of the bands – the Centre Stage competition.  With all stages now announced (Main, NME/Radio 1, Lock Up/Dance, Festival Republic and Alternative) the countdown begins with less than a month to go.  Performing on the BBC Introducing at both sites will be: Amy's Ghost, Arcs And Trauma, Blacklisters, Club Smith, End Of Level Baddie, Exit International, G.A.N.G., Gallops, Kverlertak, Lady Fortune, Lafaro, Little Fish, Love Ends Disaster, Midi Midis, Motion Picture Soundtrack, Mr Fogg, My Forever, Nerves, Our Fold, Peers, Penguin,Reaper In Sicily, Redtrack, Rotating Leslie, Runaround Kids, Shockparade, Sketches, Soul Circus, Stagecoach, The Brilliant Things, The Invasion Of, The Law, The Mighty Stef, We’re Only Afraid Of NYC, Wilder, Wot Gorilla For the line-up click <a href="http://www.readingfestival.com/lineup/index.aspx">HERE</a> Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-07-29T00:00:00 06155f04-3e32-441a-81ad-8fc041f4b8c5 1000000 Reading Festival Capacity Increase Increase of 3,500 for 2010 Reading Borough Council have agreed that a further 3,500 tickets can be sold for Reading Festival 2010.  This takes the 2010 capacity to 82,000 public, plus 4,999 guests (86,999). This capacity increase was applied for and agreed as part of the 2009 premises licence variation for Reading Festival and is year 2 of a 3-year arrangement of a staggered increase of 10,000 in total.  In July 2009 Reading Borough Council agreed to increase capacity for the 2009 event by 3,500 with a further 3,500 tickets for the 2010 event and a further proposed increase of 3,000 in 2011.   Melvin Benn, Managing Director of Festival Republic, said:  “Once again I would like to thank the council for its continued support of Reading Festival and for its help in ensuring Reading Festival maintains its pole position as the greatest rock festival in the world.  I am aware that there is a large waiting list via See Tickets and this will go some way to meet some of that demand albeit there are absolutely no early birds left.” Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:00:00 GMT 2010-07-23T11:00:00 645b0b7a-0f99-4a2a-b9cc-ff1a47bf9f23 1000000 Reading & Leeds Alternative Stage announced Emo Philips, Jason Byrne, Stephen K.Amos, Kevin Bridges, Russell Kane and Rufus Hound With five stages full of the biggest artists in the world and the best music you can hear, the Reading and Leeds Festival provides something for everybody, but if you are looking for a break from the tunes fear not, as the ALTERNATIVE STAGE hosts the finest names in comedy, performance art, cabaret, film and plenty to keep you dancing after the main stages have closed for the night. The headliners of this stage are as ever, some of the funniest comedians in the world – EMO PHILIPS, JASON BYRNE, STEPHEN K AMOS, KEVIN BRIDGES, RUSSELL KANE and RUFUS HOUND are set to perform at both sites and each bring their inimitable and unique brand of humour.   They are joined by a mix of the best established and new names on the block. Between the laughs there will also be some amazing artists appearing including human beatbox supremo BEARDYMAN, the lyrical talents of rappers RINSE, WARIKO and AFRIKANBOY and indie superstar EDDIE ARGOS. Later in the day, the Alternative Stage shows films for those wanting to relax before the club action starts. Needless to say, this is where the ravers and rockers unite to dance until 2.30am with the coolest DJ’s, so save some energy till the wee hours.  SMASH N GRAB, SWAP-A-RAMA, REBEL BINGO, DJ GOLDIEROCKS and TRANSGRESSIVE RECORDS will all host nights to round off your festival. The BBC Introducing Stage is still to be announced, which will be the sixth and final stage.Tickets for this event are now sold out.   <a href="http://www.readingfestival.com">www.readingfestival.com</a>         <a href="http://www.leedsfestival.com">www.leedsfestival.com</a> Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-07-20T00:00:00 1a1eca52-84f8-470f-acf5-27aad29aca60 1000000 Latitude Contemporary Art Award Winner announced Graeme Miller's Moth Theatre takes the prize of £10,000 Latitude Festival is proud to reveal that the winner of the first Latitude Contemporary Art Award is Graeme Miller for his visually stunning Moth Theatre installation which was announced at the ceremony on Saturday 17th July at 4pm in the Lavish Lounge, in the beautiful setting of Henham Park Estate on Suffolk’s Sunrise Coast.    Miller received the prize of £10,000 after the LCA judges – Founder and Creator of Latitude Festival and Managing Director of Festival Republic Melvin Benn, broadcaster, journalist and Radio 4's World At One presenter Martha Kearney and Young British Artist Gavin Turk – took an onsite tour of the exhibits of all participating artists. The piece, which can only be seen at night, is “theatre for moths, by moths.” It uses video feedback triggering monochrome pattern from the shadows of insects, which are drawn to the bright lights within the installation at dusk. Miller said: “By night the moths are drawn from the woods by the bright lights of a miniature theatre whose stage is saturated with the irresistible pleasure of ultra-violet illumination. They settle to bask in the limelight of a white screen – drawn to a kind of shared stardom of silhouetted insects. In this world the human observer is a guest. What they are drawn to is the intense bluish radiance and in the quiet auditorium of the trees they can eavesdrop on this unwitting performance.” Graeme Miller is a London-based theatre maker, performer, composer and artist. On winning the prize, Miller was overjoyed and commented how he would now begin the process of creating his installation piece for Latitude 2011. Melvin Benn has always intended contemporary art to be an integral part of Latitude Festival. Speaking on Saturday he said: “It was always my intention that contemporary art would be a key element of the programme at Latitude and that art would be given the same platform as the music, theatre, literature and poetry.  We have always had spectacular works displayed throughout the site and In The Woods and this year, working with the team involved in the LCA, has given me the confidence to take art at Latitude to a new level. I’m really thrilled Graeme Miller’s installation was chosen as the winner and I look forward to seeing what his next piece will be for Latitude 2011.” The LCA comprises Melvin Benn, Independent arts writer Louise Gray, Tate Modern curator Ben Borthwick, curator/deputy editor of ‘The Wire’ Anne Hilde-Neset and Managing Director of Lavish Ami Jade Cadillac. Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 19 Jul 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-07-20T00:00:00 ecb2abb8-54b8-496c-addd-8653fd457ebf 1000000 Putting our fashion foot forward With graduate shows, more arts and music additions and Billy Bragg talks Identity. Unlike any other festival, Latitude has built its sterling reputation as a brave and pioneering event with a line-up like no other. THE WATERFRONT STAGE<o:p></o:p> <v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></v:path><o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"></o:lock></v:shapetype><o:p></o:p> ~ Central St. Martins and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Chelsea</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Fashion</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place> Graduate Shows ~<o:p></o:p> ~ La Belle Reve featuring Quidams, Joji Hirota and Hiten Ryu Daiko ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> LITERARY ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Billy Bragg, Jez Butterworth, Mark Thomas  - Discussion on identity ~<o:p></o:p> ~ Emily Woof ~ Jennie Rooney ~ Richard Herring ~ Bruno Vincent ~ Craig Taylor ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Comperes - Joel Dommett, Joe Bor, Mark Olver, Roisin Conaty, James Acaster, Wendy Wason and Josh Widdicombe.~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMEDY AT LATITUDE <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Latitude New Act of the Year 2010 ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> CABARET ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Millie and Tillie ~ Delete the Banjax ~ Jessica Ransom ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ And The Devil May Drag You Under ~<o:p></o:p> ~ Vikki Stone and the Flashbacks ~ Ophelia Bitz ~ New Year's Eve Club ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> THEATRE AT LATITUDE<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Circus Space ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> FILM & MUSIC ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Martin Creed & his band ~<o:p></o:p>  ~ Birds Eye View present Fashion Loves Film ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ The One & Only Herb Maguire ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>  PANDORA'S PLAYGROUND<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Pantheonic Empire: Zebraworld ~ Love Calculator ~<o:p></o:p> ~ Barbara and Yogashwara's Safe Space ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> THE FARAWAY <st1:place w:st="on">FOREST</st1:place><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ House of Blue Eye’s Bacchanalian Masked Ball ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Native Faces ~ David's Glamour Mask Workshop ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Duckie Pop-up Mask Workshop ~ Faraway Fashion Studio ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> LITERARY SALON<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Film: The Man Who Stopped The Desert ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> LAVISH LOUNGE <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Jarmean? ~ Rebecca Hollweg ~ Evi Vine ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> THE <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">LAKE</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">STAGE</st1:placename></st1:place><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Eleanor Lou ~ Rachel Furner ~ Samuel Chase ~ The Agitator ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">SUNRISE</st1:place></st1:city> ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Bella Za DJ Set ~ Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-07-08T00:00:00 774a0b70-1aa8-4bd2-bfb3-13c7737ae645 1000000 The Big Chill announces The Buskers' Stage and more Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire After last year’s 15th anniversary celebrations, The Big Chill returns in 2010 with a multi-arts and culture carnival in the rolling countryside of Herefordshire that continues to be as dazzling and diverse as the previous 15 festivals.  With an ensemble of some of the best established and up and coming musical stars, alongside premiere talent from the art world The Big Chill contnues its time honoured tradition of creating that harmonious mix of what is current and original. Words In Motion Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton: The Record Player Cat Weatherill Harry Shearer’s Journey Through Music Rob Deering - The Beat This Quiz Rob Young 'The Secret History of Music Festivals' Roundhouse Poetry Collective Simon Gandolfi Deer Park Stage Broken Bells Clash Stage Mount Kimbie Rye Rye The Chakras SolarAid Buskers’ Stage Animat & Linda Lee Welch present ‘The Woods’ Atalanta Banish Misfortune Culprit 1 Dr. Butler’s Hatstand Medicine Band Emily Portman Gaynor O'Flynn and The Beinghuman Collective Holy Vessels Iris & The Wolves James Moss Jane Bartholomew Magic Drum Orchestra Mezzowave Mike Newsham Oystar Paul Diello Pokey LaFarge & The South City Three Polly & The Billets Duex Pumaflow Rayon Breed The Acoma The Agitator The Quar4er The Woo!Worths Lazyland Alucidnation Belleruche Dominic Glynn Funki Porcini Ghosts You Echo Seahawks Sparky Ralfe Band Tresor Willkommen Collective Tickets are now on sale from <a href="http://www.bigchill.net/festival">www.bigchill.net</a> Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:30:00 GMT 2010-07-05T14:30:00 4f586706-da1a-4f2f-ab29-b44396060e8b 1000000 Spencer Tunick’s installation at The Big Chill Application details are revealed Along with some of the best music acts of our time, The Big Chill 2010 brings the visual arts into the frame to bring us a summer to remember… On August 8th, celebrated artist Spencer Tunick will create one of his world famous nude landscapes, as part of them festival’s Arts Trail. The artist will use the festival’s unique architecture, as well as the stunning backdrop of Eastnor Castle Deer Park, to set the scene for his new and exciting work. Chillers wanting to participate in this unique opportunity can sign up by emailing <a href="mailto:spencertunick@bigchill.net">spencertunick@bigchill.net</a>. “We are calling THE BIG CHILL crowd to sign up to participate in my artwork at the festival. We will be painting people in solid colours with cosmetic make-up, there will be a crew of make-up people that will help you colour your body. There will also be shower stations, soap and towels to remove the make-up. We are encouraging you to be part of art and not just a viewer. The artwork will be far away from people who are not participating. In the works, I will be referencing the recent BP oil spill in some of the set-ups using black paint. Not pointing the blame, but bringing attention to the connection between our massive need for oil and how its connection to the body and our existence is intertwined. I will be also making abstractions with the many nude participants with 4 additional colours, as homage to Yves Kein, Mark Rothko & Ellsworth Kelly. I can't make my art without YOU. So I am hoping you will spend a short period of time with me to make some art. You will be painted, so you will be "dressed" in a way. If you pose you will receive a limited edition print of the work, mailed to you by the Big Chill in the following months.Take a leap of faith, and LEAP INTO COLOUR! See you there.” SPENCER TUNICK Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:30:00 GMT 2010-07-05T14:30:00 e3194a62-8116-4f02-82b9-b4eb07f93bc7 1000000 Win your very own Big Chill single-speed bike! You could win your very own Big Chill single-speed bike from 14BikeCo, the cyclist’s bike shop of choice.  Being the proud owner of a Big Chill single-speed bike you can be safe in the knowledge that this bike is every inch as green as you will be when you cycle around. Being single-speed, fewer materials are used which is therefore less damaging to the environment during production.   All you need to do is answer these two simple questions. Send your answers to <a href="mailto:bigchill@festivalrepublic.com">bigchill@festivalrepublic.com</a>.  The winner will be chosen at random with further details on closing date on The Big Chill festival site. 1)  How many grams of Carbon Dioxide per mile are put out into the atmosphere by just one passenger travelling in a car to the festival? 2)  How will you be travelling to the festival now you know that scary fact?   How will you be travelling to the festival now that you know that scary fact?! Riding your bike to the festival will obviously put out the least amount of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. We will have bike racks available onsite for the environmentally conscious out there; this is your chance to do your bit. To get in gear and read more about this and how you can get green – go to the <a href="http://www.bigchill.net/festival/info/travel">Travel page </a>for more details.   Today, most bikes are little more than a variation on a theme. They come in boxes from factories in the Far East, and when they get to the shop, the handlebars are straightened, the tyres are pumped up, the pedals are fitted and they go onto the sales floor. They’re made to sell, not to inspire. 14 Bike Co was founded by Duncan McNamara and John Wainwright to offer riders, both new and experienced, a different way to get on a bike. The bike frames are exclusively made in Britain, from British steel and using construction techniques that have been perfected over decades. 14 Bike Co are helping to reintroduce the concept of hand made, lightweight, durable – and above all enjoyable – bikes. <a href="http://14bikeco.wordpress.com/">http://14bikeco.wordpress.com/</a>  Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:00:00 GMT 2010-07-05T14:00:00 440b09c5-371e-4354-b0fa-27b3c9e179b1 1000000 Tom Jones to perform 'Praise & Blame' at Latitude In The Woods at midnight on Thursday 15th July Latitude is absolutely delighted to announce that the legendary Tom Jones is set to appear at this year's Latitude Festival with a special performance on Thursday July 15th. The appearance with his band will see Tom performing songs from his forthcoming album 'Praise & Blame' at midnight In The Woods. This landmark album comes in the singer’s 70th year, a glowing achievement in what has been a ground-breaking, unpredictable roller-coaster of a 45-year career.  The songs from ‘Praise & Blame’ (released 26th July on Island Records), are from a repertoire that includes American traditional, gospel and country, seeing Tom going back to his roots and creating a truly evocative musical work, aided and abetted by producer/musician Ethan Johns. Tom Jones says of ‘Praise & Blame’: “It’s food for thought, it’s real, it’s natural, and in that sense it’s truly me.” This performance by Tom Jones will quite possibly be blowing the leaves off the trees when he takes to the secluded and magical stage In The Woods at midnight. Warming up for Tom Jones are Les Clochards who began in 2005 when accordionist Karen Cleave and singer Ian Nixon decided that the chanson tradition is a deeper, wider seam than many had realised, linking Jacques Brel to Southern Soul via Gene Vincent. Fellow travellers and drinking partners Peter Momtchiloff, Gary Neville and Dean Ryan joined along the route, as French standards gave way to imperfectly beautiful original compositions. Their first LP ‘Sweet Tableaux’ was released on Big Red Sky Records in July 2009, following two well-received singles, and has attracted excellent reviews. That’s because it’s really, really good. Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:30:00 GMT 2010-06-30T10:30:00 b18af34b-9c5e-4905-8038-375aea3018b3 1000000 Them Crooked Vultures announce O2 Academy Brixton gig Tickets on sale this Friday 18th June at 9am. Them Crooked Vultures a.k.a Dave Grohl, Joshua Homme and John Paul Jones have announced the addition of a London date to the band’s July festival run.  The new show, to be held July 5th at O2 Academy Brixton, has been organised to provide aid to TCV friend and Homme collaborator, Brian O’Connor. Brian O’Connor, best known as the bass player for the Eagles of Death Metal, has been diagnosed with cancer, and is without medical insurance.  Net Proceeds from the Brixton O2 Academy show will be contributed to a fund which has been established to assist with Brian’s medical aid. Tickets for the July 5th performance will be available beginning 9:00 am Friday, June 18th here <a href="http://www.gigsandtours.com/?a=them+crooked+vultures&site=themcrookedvultures">Click</a> <a href="http://www.gigsandtours.com/?a=them+crooked+vultures&site=themcrookedvultures">here to buy tickets</a>   The July 5th performance at Brixton expands an itinerary that includes appearances at Hove, Peace and Love, Roskilde and Werchter festivals. If you are unable to attend O2 Academy Brixton, but would still like to aid in Brian's treatment, please visit <a href="http://www.pablove.org">www.pablove.org</a>, reference “Brian” in the memo section of Paypal. Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 16 Jun 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-06-17T00:00:00 f9f77e3a-6c62-4f18-bb16-b52f3c277bee 1000000 Using biofuel at The Big Chill The Enchanted Garden at this year's Big Chill Festival will be run on bio fuel. The Enchanted Garden at this year's Big Chill Festival will be run on bio fuel. It is estimated that up to 10,000 litres of bio fuel will be used over the weekend. The biofuels are made from tallow (animal fats) and used cooking oil, currently considered to be the most sustainable feedstocks available. Additionally, the feedstocks are originally from the UK, further reducing the environmental impact of the finished fuel. According to the Government's standard reporting figures used for the carbon and sustainability requirements of the Renewable Fuel Transport Fuel Obligation, UK-sourced tallow and used cooking oil both produce biodiesel with average greenhouse gas emission reductions of 85% over crude-oil-derived diesel. By using biofuels from waste products, Chillers can rest assured they are not participating in future environmental issues. For more information on green initiatives, see <a href="http://www.festivalrepublic.com/green">www.festivalrepublic.com/green</a> Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 15 Jun 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-06-16T00:00:00 d6ae32af-b114-43d6-949e-c25b34825bcb 1000000 The Big Chill add more names to the bill Joe Goddard, Ty, Chris Coco and more... With fewer than 50 sleeps to go until this year's Big Chill Festival, there are still more incredible performers being added to the line-up... The Deer Park Stage Joining Massive Attack, M.I.A., Lily Allen, Thom Yorke and more on The Deer Park Stage line-up is... Joe Goddard Joe Goddard has become a somewhat inescapable figure over the past few years. Though best known for his savvy songwriting and synth-wizardry, all wrapped in layers of Kraftwerky electro-pop, Joe's record box is packed with juicy hip-hop and funky beats guaranteed to get your feet moving. The Enchanted Garden Sonic Journeys #1: Will Gregory (Goldfrapp) Sonic Journeys is the beginning of a new collection of aural landscapes that connect the creator, listener and music with the world around us. Sonic Journeys, produced by sounduk, commission artists to create new works in response to specific stretches of landscape that inspire them. The first artist to create their journey will be the talented musician and songwriter, Will Gregory, best known as one half of the group Goldfrapp. Gregory will compose a score of music inspired by his own personal journey through a specific route at Eastnor on foot, which you'll be able to download before the festival (along with a handy map of Will's route). Watch this space for more info! The Clash Stage Joining the Mystery Jets, Bonobo, Caribou, Riva Starr and many more aboard The Clash Stage (set upon a boat designed by acclaimed Super Furry Animals artist Pete Fowler) are... Chris Coco Chris Coco turned Brighton's Zap club into the south coast's party epicentre he's been juggling multiple careers as a broadcaster, Radio 1's 'Blue Room' co-host and DJ Magazine's editor, as well as a globe-trotting DJ, spinning at parties around the world. Due to release his new album 'Feel Free Live Good' on the Big Chill's record label later this year, we can't think of a better place to catch Chris perform. Primary 1 Primary 1 is a musician, producer and singer who straddles an impressive range of styles, described by the Guardian as 'feel good synth funk anthems with nagging infectiousness and easy danceability.' Armed with a wicked sense of humour and an encyclopedic knowledge of movies, his music is chock full of stop-start melodies, bouncy synths, urgent stream-of-consciousness vocals and even the odd brass section. LoneLady LoneLady emerged from Manchester in 2005, armed with a Telecaster, a 4-track and a drum machine. LoneLady's first show outside Manchester was at 2006's SXSW festival in Texas - where she was invited to play on the strength of her 4-track recordings and, before long, LoneLady had signed to the prestigious Warp Records. Villagers One of Domino's latest slew of excellent signings, Villagers are a Dublin quartet whose gentile, yet robust strummed musings bring to mind Devendra Banhart and the hugely successful Mumford & Sons. Bass Clef A giddy live act and analogue fetishist of the bottom end kind, Bass Clef's live shows bypass laptop/looping and embrace a heavy and warm sound full of ringing cow-bells, woozy trombone blasts and theramin effects that are guaranteed to make you wiggle to their delicously rhythmic undertow. Gallops Gallops arrive at The Big Chill, armed with their immense and complex glitchy instrumental post-rock soundscapes. Together this four-piece band create cerebral, experimental and heavy pieces of music channeling a wide range of styles and influences into a sound that has been described as 'cyborg soul music'. The Revellers' Stage Ty One of the most revolutionary rappers on the British scene, Mercury Prize nominee Ty embodies the intellect, talent and ferocity of an MC always destined to become a legend. Over the years Ty has worked with luminaries such as De La Soul, Arrested Development, Talib Kweli and Estelle, to name but a few. Armed with a new album of tracks to perform at the festival, it's a pleasure to welcome Ty back to The Big Chill! Akala Emerging from London's underground hip-hop scene, Akala burst into the mainstream as one of the leaders of a new British artistic renaissance. Akala has made it his mission to challenge preconceptions and buck prevailing trends, breaking down the culture of stereotypes that smothers the genre he loves, giving impetus to this convention-defying MC. Dansette Junior Dansette Junior combine hypnotic comedy-sequence lyrics, analogue synths and computer geekery to create a unique blend of edgy electro pop. Their anarchic live shows brought them to the attention of label-mate, Calvin Harris, who invited the trio to support him on his 2009 arena tour. Expect Dansette Junior to lead a highly charged sonic assault on the Revellers' Stage! Stac Stac is set to wow the crowds in the Paradiso Tent this year. You may not have heard of Stac or her myriad layers of off-kilter and highly original soulful sounds yet, but as she's recently lent her vocal talents to various house and chill out tracks, as well as being remixed by the likes of Bonobo, we're pretty sure you will soon! <a href="http://www.bigchill.net/festival">www.bigchill.net/festival</a> Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 15 Jun 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-06-16T00:00:00 f880a8f6-d878-4972-9a6a-cfcb9ce04af7 1000000 Festival Republic presents The Wedding Present Koko, 13th December Festival Republic presents THE WEDDING PRESENT (Bizarro Tour) + The Jet Age Monday 13th December KOKO, London £16.00 advance Doors 7pm Leeds-based The Wedding Present formed from the ashes of the Lost Pandas.Throughout their career, they have been led by vocalist and guitarist David Gedge, the band's only constant member. <a href="http://www.seetickets.com/?c=481887">Click here to buy tickets</a> Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 15 Jun 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-06-16T00:00:00 acca25f4-ac0e-4b1a-bfb9-0d4c8204cbe5 1000000 10:10 Do your bit and support 10:10 Festival Republic is pleased to be working alongside with 10:10 to reduce the carbon footprint of Latitude, Reading, Leeds and Big Chill festivals by 10% through efficiency in onsite energy use, waste and water consumption.  By switching to cleaner sources of energy, we are able to reduce carbon emissions and still power the stages, speakers and refreshment stands that make Latitude, Reading, Leeds and Big Chill such great festivals. Our ongoing efforts to reduce landfill waste and ensure minimal impact on the environment include zero waste campaigning, reducing material use, comprehensive recycling, switching to biodegradable materials and composting them as well as collecting re-usable goods for charity.  Working alongside, Festival Republic, Julie’s Bicycle and 10:10 look forward to seeing you onsite at the festivals and enjoying an amazing weekend, and receiving your pledge to support our efforts at <a href="http://www.1010uk.org">www.1010uk.org</a>. Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 15 Jun 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-06-16T00:00:00 400c2881-5349-4cab-b72b-7dcfa115fab6 1000000 Reading & Leeds announce the Festival Republic stage Headlined by Marina & the Diamonds, Ash and British Sea Power The Festival Republic Stage is the place to see the headliners of tomorrow with the hottest up and coming names in music lined up for the Reading & Leeds Festival.  This is the place Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay and Muse first appeared and more recently Hot Chip, Florence + the Machine, Glasvegas, La Roux and Foals.  This really is the place for anybody looking to be the first to spot the next wave of important artists. Headliners for 2010 are the irrepressible MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS, Irish heroes ASH and the acclaimed BRITISH SEA POWER. On the NME/Radio 1 Stage Welsh trio THE JOY FORMIDABLE have been added to the line up after Miike Snow was sadly forced to pull out. Full details of all the new names are below. There are still lots more names to be announced including the full line up for the BBC Introducing Stage and the Alternative Stage.  More news will follow soon.  The READING & LEEDS FESTIVAL is held on 27th – 29th August 2010 at Little John’s Farm in Reading and Bramham Park in Leeds.  Tickets for this event are now sold out. <a href="http://www.readingfestival.com">www.readingfestival.com</a> <a href="http://www.leedsfestival.com">www.leedsfestival.com</a> Friday 27th August at Reading Festival / Sunday 29th August at Leeds Festival MARINA AND THE DIAMONDS <a href="http://www.marinaandthediamonds.com/">www.marinaandthediamonds.com</a>  THE SUNSHINE UNDERGROUND <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thesunshineunderground">www.myspace.com/thesunshineunderground</a>        BLOOD RED SHOES <a href="http://www.bloodredshoes.co.uk/">www.bloodredshoes.co.uk</a>  ADAM GREEN  <a href="http://www.adamgreen.net/">www.adamgreen.net</a> Warpaint                                                               <a href="http://www.warpaintwarpaint.com/">www.warpaintwarpaint.com</a>             Avi Buffalo  <a href="http://www.avibuffalomusic.com/music">www.avibuffalomusic.com/music</a>  Egyptian Hip Hop <a href="http://www.myspace.com/egyptianhiphop">www.myspace.com/egyptianhiphop</a> Pulled Apart By Horses   <a href="http://www.myspace.com/pulledapartbyhorses">www.myspace.com/pulledapartbyhorses</a>  Summer Camp  <a href="http://www.myspace.com/summercampmusic">www.myspace.com/summercampmusic</a>  Funeral Party <a href="http://www.myspace.com/funeralparty">www.myspace.com/funeralparty</a>  Harlem <a href="http://www.myspace.com/harlemduh">www.myspace.com/harlemduh</a>  The Cheek   <a href="http://www.myspace.com/wearethecheek">www.myspace.com/wearethecheek</a>  Gaggle     <a href="http://www.myspace.com/gagglespace">www.myspace.com/gagglespace</a>       Saturday 28th August at Reading Festival / Friday 27th August at Leeds Festival ASH  <a href="http://www.ash-official.com">www.ash-official.com</a> ATARI TEENAGE RIOT  <a href="http://www.myspace.com/atr922000">www.myspace.com/atr922000</a>  THE BLACK ANGELS   <a href="http://www.theblackangels.com/">www.theblackangels.com</a> Fight Like Apes <a href="http://www.fightlikeapesmusic.com">www.fightlikeapesmusic.com</a>  Giggs <a href="http://www.myspace.com/trapstargiggs">www.myspace.com/trapstargiggs</a>  Darwin Deez <a href="http://www.darwindeez.com">www.darwindeez.com</a>  Chapel Club <a href="http://www.chapelclub.com">www.chapelclub.com</a>  Villagers <a href="http://www.myspace.com/villagers">www.myspace.com/villagers</a>  Alberta Cross  <a href="http://www.albertacross.net">www.albertacross.net</a>  I Blame Coco <a href="http://www.iblamecoco.co.uk">www.iblamecoco.co.uk</a> Freelance Whales  <a href="http://www.myspace.com/freelancewhales">www.myspace.com/freelancewhales</a>  Chief  <a href="http://www.myspace.com/chieftheband">www.myspace.com/chieftheband</a>  Yuck <a href="http://www.myspace.com/yuckband">www.myspace.com/yuckband</a>  The Crookes <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thecrookesmusic">www.myspace.com/thecrookesmusic</a>  Sunday 29th August at Reading Festival / Saturday 28th August at Leeds Festival  BRITISH SEA POWER <a href="http://www.britishseapower.co.uk/">www.britishseapower.co.uk</a>  CARIBOU <a href="http://www.caribou.fm">www.caribou.fm</a>  ONE NIGHT ONLY  <a href="http://www.onenightonlyonline.com/">www.onenightonlyonline.com</a>  Minus The Bear  <a href="http://www.minusthebear.com">www.minusthebear.com</a>  Tame Impala <a href="http://www.tameimpala.com">www.tameimpala.com</a>  The Like <a href="http://www.myspace.com/thelike">www.myspace.com/thelike</a>  Free Energy <a href="http://www.freeenergymusic.com">www.freeenergymusic.com</a>  Fools Gold <a href="http://www.myspace.com/foolsgold">www.myspace.com/foolsgold</a>  General Fiasco <a href="http://www.generalfiasco.co.uk">www.generalfiasco.co.uk</a>  Sound of Guns <a href="http://www.myspace.com/soundofguns">www.myspace.com/soundofguns</a> Foxy Shazam <a href="http://www.myspace.com/foxyshazam">www.myspace.com/foxyshazam</a>  Goldhawks <a href="http://www.goldhawks.co.uk">www.goldhawks.co.uk</a>  Kassidy <a href="http://www.kassidymusic.com">www.kassidymusic.com</a> Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-06-15T00:00:00 250e451f-7044-4fdc-b710-b83e31320222 1000000 Latitude Contemporary Art Award Contemporary Art Exhibition £10,000 LCA Award Latitude Festival is extremely proud to announce the launch of the Latitude Contemporary Art Exhibition (LCA) and the LCA Award at this year’s sold out 5th Edition of the festival. The LCA Exhibition will continue Latitude Festival's enormous devotion to the arts with a myriad of new and existing contemporary art works on display In The Woods, a stunning woodland setting and one of the most intriguing areas of the magnificent Latitude site.  For the inaugural LCA Exhibition, six key artists have been specially commissioned by the LCA to craft new works for the 2010 launch: Tim Etchells, Susan Collis, Graham Hudson, Chosil Kil, Graeme Miller and David Blandy. The LCA comprises the Creator of Latitude and Managing Director of Festival Republic Melvin Benn, Independent arts writer Louise Gray, Tate Modern curator Ben Borthwick, curator/deputy editor of ‘The Wire’ Anne Hilde Neset and Managing Director of Lavish Ami Jade Cadillac. The LCA Award of £10,000 will be presented to one of the artists providing new work for the exhibition, chosen by the LCA panel of judges. The prize will cover research, development, production costs and artist fees for a new piece to be debuted for the LCA Exhibition at Latitude 2011. Selecting the 2010 LCA Award winner will be a prestigious panel of LCA judges – Creator of Latitude and Managing Director of Festival Republic Melvin Benn, broadcaster, journalist and presenter on Radio 4's World At One and BBC2’s The Review Show Martha Kearney and Young British Artist Gavin Turk. The panel will select the winner on Saturday 17th July following a tour of the new works, with an official announcement and presentation of the LCA Award in the Lavish Lounge on the Latitude site. Melvin Benn has always intended contemporary art to be an integral part of Latitude Festival. He says: “It was always my intention that contemporary art would be a key element of the programme at Latitude.  We have always had some spectacular works displayed throughout the site and In The Woods.  This year, in Latitude’s fifth edition, I am thrilled to expand this side of the programme by introducing the Latitude Contemporary Art Exhibition and the LCA Award, which will bring some exceptional talent to Latitude this year and help create something very special for next year as well.” Martha Kearney says: "I have always enjoyed Latitude for its unique setting and breadth as a festival, encompassing so much more than music. The new arts prize is an exciting development and I am looking forward to seeing the new work in the beautiful woodland setting." Running in parallel with the LCA selected artists, additional artists that have appeared at Latitude previously are creating  new works to be exhibited as part of the LCA; Mode 2, Johnny Cole and James Rueben. Also exhibiting as part of LCA will be: A large group of artists showing existing works; David Blandy, Caroline Wright, Jake Clarke, Luke Losey, Tim Simmons, Paul Burgess, Louise Colbourne, Dryden Goodwin, Jenny Baines, Zoë Brown, Jim Hobbs, Matt Hulse, Kate Street, Semiconductor and Vicki Thornton. A sound gallery playing existing works by artists including Stephen O'Malley, Carsten Nicolai and Pauline Oliveros as well as a film gallery showing films by artists including Ruth Proctor, Martin Soto Climent and Guido van der Werve. Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-06-15T00:00:00 a92972b9-14db-4d41-a730-8762f1f3b817 1000000 Win your very own Latitude single-speed bike! Just answer 2 simple questions to be in with a chance. You could win your very own Latitude single-speed bike from 14BikeCo, the cyclist’s bike shop of choice. Being the proud owner of a Latitude single-speed bike worth over £1000 you can be safe in the knowledge that this bike is every inch as green as you will be when you cycle around. Being single-speed, fewer materials are used which is therefore less damaging to the environment during production. All you need to do is answer these two simple questions. Send your answers to <a href="mailto:info@latitudefestival.co.uk?subject=Win%20a%20bike!&body=1)%0D%0A2)">info@latitudefestival.co.uk</a> .  The winner will be chosen at random on Friday 2nd July 2010. 1)  How many grams of Carbon Dioxide per mile are put out into the atmosphere by just one passenger travelling in a car to the festival? 2)  How will you be travelling to the festival now you know that scary fact? Riding your bike to the festival will obviously put out the least amount of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. We have bike racks available onsite located Green Gate on the A145. For the environmentally conscious out there; this is your chance to do your bit. To get in gear and read more about this and how you can get green – go to the <a href="http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk/eventinfo/index.aspx?id=637">Travel</a> page for more details. Today, most bikes are little more than a variation on a theme. They come in boxes from factories in the Far East, and when they get to the shop, the handlebars are straightened, the tyres are pumped up, the pedals are fitted and they go onto the sales floor. They’re made to sell, not to inspire. 14 Bike Co was founded by Duncan McNamara and John Wainwright to offer riders, both new and experienced, a different way to get on a bike. The bike frames are exclusively made in Britain, from British steel and using construction techniques that have been perfected over decades. 14 Bike Co are helping to reintroduce the concept of hand made, lightweight, durable – and above all enjoyable – bikes. <a href="http://14bikeco.wordpress.com/">http://14bikeco.wordpress.com/</a>  Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-06-15T00:00:00 ae908023-3795-415a-954f-bae389e8196b 1000000 The Rime of the Modern Mariner at Latitude With live score by Anthony Rossamando, Didz Hammond, Rose Elinor Dougall and more What is the depth of relationship between a nation and a state? Can a way of life, however ancient, survive the force of globalised trade?  ‘The Rime of the Modern Mariner’ is a journey through lost communities, rediscovered pirates, colonial fortresses and the spindrift of folklore and legend.  Following a successful debut at the East End Film Festival in April, Latitude is very excited to announce that ‘The Rime of the Modern Mariner’ is to get a special repeat performance at Latitude.   Written and directed by Mark Donne and narrated by Carl Barat (The Libertines), the two will introduce this documentary to Latitude’s Film & Music Arena, complete with live score composed and performed by Anthony Rossamando (Dirty Pretty Things/ Klaxons). This showing will have a very special guest sound and orchestral band featuring Didz Hammond of Dirty Pretty Things, Rose Elinor Dougall ex-Pipettes, as well as others to be announced, stay on the lookout for further updates.  The adventurous score is completed with a trio of string players to weave the score's melodic tentacles around the rhythm of the film. It utilises the sound of ship engines and a real dynamic aural expression of the nautical themes, threaded with nostalgia, for a truly unique musical experience. With the accompaniment from the assembled indie-rock collective - all performing for one night only - there will never be a more exciting time to see this intriguing and fascinating history of the original shipping heart of London than in the comfort of the Film & Music Arena. For more information go to <a href="http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk">www.latitudefestival.co.uk</a> Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 14 Jun 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-06-15T00:00:00 d55d5bd9-08f4-4be9-aec6-8e4643352f2e 1000000 Economic Impact Assessment Carried out by Baker Associates in association with the University of Reading. Last year Festival Republic commissioned an Economic Impact Assessment for the 2009 Reading Festival. The assessment was carried out by Baker Associates with on site surveys conducted in association with the University of Reading.  Reading UK CIC, the economic development company for Reading, also assisted in inviting local Reading businesses to take part in a short survey.   The assessment found that total gross spend associated with Reading Festival in 2009 was over £31 million, with more than £16 million of this being attributed to spending in the Reading area.  Two main components contributed to the expenditure; spending by visitors to the festival and expenditure by Festival Republic in producing the festival. Festival goer (visitor) spending by over 90,000 people who attended the festival across the August Bank Holiday weekend (staff, traders, weekend and day ticket holders) amounted to an estimated £19,286,481 (an average of £209.19 per visitor - excluding entry ticket, but including transport). This visitor expenditure information was based on 2200 interviews carried out on site over four days by a team from the University of Reading. On top of the visitor spend, Festival Republic spent an estimated £11,811,500 on artists, suppliers, contractors, and staff payroll in production of the festival. Melvin Benn, Managing Director of Festival Republic, said:  “Festivals and the live music industry contribute significantly to the British economy and this survey also demonstrates that the local Reading community benefit enormously, which is what I had hoped to see.” Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-06-10T00:00:00 4c8481c4-be4c-4fcf-ac6c-63889b166a48 1000000 The arts and music on offer at Latitude gets better and better Film screenings, Q&As, ballet, WordTheatre, comedy and more music Spread throughout the site, just waiting to be discovered, expect the highest calibre of art.   Building on its reputation as one of the most respected and highly anticipated events of the season, 2010 promises to be an inspirational and entertaining, sophisticated and scintillating weekend; another spectacular slice of unadulterated cultural fun and adventure.   FILM & MUSIC<o:p></o:p> <v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><o:p></o:p> ~ The Passion of Joan of Arc with live score from Adrian Utley and Will Gregory ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ BAFTA presents: Screening of Four Lions with Chris Morris Q&A ~<o:p></o:p> ~ BAFTA presents: Damon Beesley and cast members from The Inbetweeners Q&A ~<o:p></o:p> ~ Future Cinema presents: The Blues Brothers with Kitty, Daisy and Lewis plus special guests ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Martin Creed ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Screening of Oil City Confidential and Q&A with Julien Temple ~<o:p></o:p> ~ Screening of The Doors: When You're Strange ~            <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> THE WATERFRONT STAGE<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Sadler’s Wells presents: Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake Act II ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Ballet Black ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ DryWrite ~ <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> THEATRE AT LATITUDE  <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ RSC ~<o:p></o:p> ~ Birmingham Repertory Theatre ~<o:p></o:p> ~ Perennial Theatre ~ Eyebrow Productions ~<o:p></o:p> ~ Pick of the Pleasance ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMEDY AT LATITUDE<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Andrew Lawrence ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Miles Jupp ~ Simon Evans ~ Josh Widdicombe ~ Daniel Sloss ~ ~ Deadcat Bounce ~ Midnight Beast ~ Fergus Craig ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Elis James ~ Rosie Wilby ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> LITERARY ARENA <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ WordTheatre presents Brian Cox, Juliet Stevenson, Chris McDonald, Nicole Ansari, Graham Hamilton, Ian Hart, John Schwab, Sally Hawkins, Belinda Stewart-Wilson, David Soul, David Cross, Ben Miller, Edi Gathegi and Amber Tamblyn ~<o:p></o:p> ~ Jackie Kay ~ David Aaronovitch ~<o:p></o:p> ~ 5x15: Craig Brown, Gavin Pretor Pinney and Michaela Wrong ~<o:p></o:p> ~ Scarlett Thomas ~ China Miéville ~ D. J. Taylor ~ Rachel Trezise ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> POETRY ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Martin Newell ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Rhian Edwards ~ NEW VOICES: Sabrina Mahfouz ~ Heather Phillipson ~ <o:p></o:p>  ~ Alex Gwyther ~ Hollie McNish ~ Michelle Madsen ~ Anna Freeman ~ Will Averill ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Simon Mole ~ Rosy Carrick ~ Sam Riviere ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> THE FARAWAY FOREST<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  ~ Les Enfants Terribles - The Masked Ball ~<o:p></o:p> ~ Harp For Hangovers ~ <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> PANDORA'S PLAYGROUND<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  ~ Faery Cruise ~ Nathan Evans ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> THE WORD ARENA <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Jamie Lidell ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> SUNRISE ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ LoneLady ~ Submotion Orchestra ~ Morning Parade ~ O Children ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> THE LAKE STAGE<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Rose Elinor Dougall ~ <o:p></o:p> Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-06-10T00:00:00 510576d6-2b4f-4e36-bf61-d555d43d2aca 1000000 The 2WHEELS 'Tour De Picnic' for Temple Street Children's University Hospital Electric Picnic and 2Wheels unveil a 'Tour de Picnic' cycling fundraiser Join one of the most exciting cycling events in Ireland this year as the Electric Picnic and 2Wheels unveil a 'Tour de Picnic' cycling fundraiser to this year's Picnic. In participating you will be fundraising for a very worthy charity, Temple Street Children's University Hospital, in return for a free ticket to the festival, as well as remaining true to the eco friendly philosophy of the Picnic. Oh..and did we mention how much fun you'll have? The 90km cycle ride will leave Dublin at 10.00am on the morning of Friday 3rd September, with friendly experts from '2Wheels Cycles' traveling with you all the way to advise and lead the groups on a protected cycle route along the quiet, scenic back roads to Stradbally. There will be mechanics on hand to help with any problematic bikes and ensure that everyone arrives in Stradbally safely and in time to enjoy the first beats from the main stage at Electric Picnic. Avoid traffic tail backs and enjoy the lovely countryside and fresh air en route to the festival. Your bags and tents for the weekend will be transported for you and will be waiting there for collection when you arrive at the specially constructed and secure bicycle parking site on the Stradbally Estate. By joining the 'Tour de Picnic' you will raise much needed funds for Temple Street Children's University Hospital, and it couldn't be simpler. 1. Go to <a href="http://www.electricpicnic.ie">www.electricpicnic.ie</a> and fill in your details - we'll do the rest to get your "fundraising wheels in motion" 2. Once you reach your fundraising target of EU500 you will receive your free Electric Picnic ticket and 2Wheels Cycling Itinerary. All funds raised from The 2Wheels 'Tour de Picnic' for Temple Street will go towards the Neurosurgery Appeal to assist patients suffering from diseases or injuries of the brain or spine. These include patients with brain tumours, brain haemorrhage and spinal malformations or injuries as well as the treatment of some forms of cerebral palsy and epilepsy. The proceeds from this event will go toward the purchase of vital neurosurgical equipment to ensure patients receive the best possible standard of care during this traumatic time in their lives. For more info go to <a href="http://www.templestreet.ie">www.templestreet.ie</a>  Whether you cycle to work or for fun, or haven't been on a bike since you were 12…it's time to get festival fit. Join the thousands of people who have been hooked by the cycling bug. It's healthy, economic, environmentally friendly and most of all its fun! Good luck fundraising…and Bon Voyage! Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-06-10T00:00:00 e956624e-3e4e-45ed-9bef-31fccfcdd28c 1000000 Lostprophets announce new London date Wednesday 25th August at the 02 Shepherds Bush Empire Festival Republic present LOSTPROPHETS + Attack! Attack! + Foxy Shazam Wednesday 25 August ~ £20.00 advance ~ 02 Shepherds Bush Empire Just before they take to the Main Stage at the Reading and Leeds Festival, Welsh rockers Lostprophets will play a show in London as they get ready to play the greatest rock festival this August Bank holiday weekend. The Pontypridd boys gave Reading and Leeds the first preview of their fourth album ‘The Betrayed’ last year when they made a special appearance headlining the NME/Radio 1 tent.   The shows at both sites were legendary with crowds packed in for exhilarating performances. The record went top three on release and now everybody will have heard the hits ‘It’s Not the End of The World’, ‘Where We Belong’ and ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Felon’ to sing along to alongside their enviable back catalogue of festival favourites. Click <a href="http://www.seetickets.com/?c=479339">HERE</a> to buy tickets. Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 08 Jun 2010 08:00:00 GMT 2010-06-08T09:00:00 e429417e-1620-4087-b606-c505a6bf91f7 1000000 The Big Chill announces the Clash Stage... Mystery Jets, Bonobo, Caribou, Liars and more • Mystery Jets • Liars • Caribou • Bonobo • Steve Mason • Fionn Regan •<o:p></o:p> • Riva Starr (DJ Set) • Benji B (DJ Set) •<o:p></o:p> • The Leisure Society • James Yuill • The Hundred in the Hands • We Have Band •<o:p></o:p> • Beth Jeans Houghton •<o:p></o:p> • Bullion (DJ Set) • Submotion Orchestra • The Ruby Suns • Clash DJ’s •<o:p></o:p> • Sneaky • John & Jehn • Joe Worricker • Delta Maid •<o:p></o:p> • King Porter Stomp • Ganglians •<o:p></o:p>   The Big Chill festival this year has seen some innovative changes taking place across the site and this year the lake in the Castle Field, which in previous years has played host to some dramatic art pieces as a focal point for the festival, has a new addition in the Clash Stage. The stage will see acts perform on a psychedelic floating boat designed by acclaimed artist Pete Fowler, the artist behind Super Furry Animals album covers and ‘monster’ creator.  The stage which is programmed in conjunction with the popular Clash Magazine will play host to the musical talents of Mystery Jets, Liars, Bonobo, Caribou, Riva Starr, The Leisure Society, We Have Band and many more. The Big Chill is set for its finest year yet with acts such as Massive Attack, M.I.A., Lily Allen, Kruder & Dorfmeister, Thom Yorke, Kelis, Roots Manuva and Plan B who are all set to take to the rolling hills of Eastnor this year. Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 02 Jun 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-06-03T00:00:00 dbe5a4e2-bfd7-4c70-ba40-e93f7c46de54 1000000 ActionAid at Reading Festival Charity / ActionAid say ‘Bollocks to Poverty’ ActionAid doesn’t just hand out aid; they help poor people take control of their lives and end their own poverty for good. People living in poverty don’t want our guilt, they want justice. Festival Republic love the way ActionAid work, and are proud to support them. Since 2002 thousands of people at Reading Festival have been given the opportunity to say “bollocks to poverty!” and take action against HIV, unfair trade, corporate abuse, climate change and hunger. In 2008 Festival Republic donated £10,000 to ActionAid's street children project in India, helping thousands of children off the street and into safe 'drop-in' shelters, where they can get counselling, training and the chance to return home. Find out more about the project  <a href="http://bit.ly/az3PpU">http://bit.ly/az3PpU</a> In 2010 Festival Republic responded instantly to the Haiti earthquake, donating £10,000 to ActionAid’s emergency appeal.  ActionAid have been working in Haiti for several years so were well placed to respond with food, water, hygiene kits and temporary shelters to thousands of people in poor communities. Their long term approach means they will be supporting people, especially women and girls, to get back to work and school for at least three years. ActionAid are also working to ensure Haitian people have a voice in the re-building of their country and that aid is delivered in the most democratic and accountable way. Find out more about the project <a href="http://bit.ly/9Ja9Lv">http://bit.ly/9Ja9Lv</a> Every year at Reading Festival ActionAid provides the masses with a relaxing hangout, complete with comfy seating, giant games like jenga and connect four, table football and ping pong, DJ’s until 3am and of course lots of lovely free Bollocks to Poverty stickers, badges and tattoos! But most importantly, the ActionAid tent gives festival goers the opportunity to support people fighting their way out of poverty. To find out more about ActionAid and how you can say Bollocks to Poverty visit <a href="http://www.actionaid.org.uk/bollocks">www.actionaid.org.uk/bollocks</a> Photo: ActionAid Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 30 May 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-05-31T00:00:00 517dc53f-5c2a-4c4d-bf2f-8b0f72741206 1000000 Nigel Kennedy announced for Latitude World-wide renowned violin virtuoso Nigel Kennedy will be performing on the beautiful Lake Stage on Thursday night Over the past 5 years, Latitude has been home to some truly special performances and 2010 looks set to be no different with the exciting news that multi-award winning and world-wide renowned violin virtuoso Nigel Kennedy will be performing on the beautiful Lake Stage on Thursday night. This will undoubtedly be an exceptional and unique show with which to kick start the weekend’s festivities. Especially for Latitude, Kennedy will be presenting ‘A Night Of Duke Ellington’ - a bold excursion into non-classical repertoire. Playing with his brand new ensemble of exceptional young musicians, ‘The Orchestra of Life’, and his jazz outfit, 'The Nigel Kennedy Quintet', made up of the violinist and four of the most dynamic musicians on the Polish jazz scene including special guests Orphy Robinson on marimba and Doug Boyle on guitar – they will celebrate this American composer, pianist and prominent figure in the history of Jazz, who’s music stretched over 50 years creating an inexhaustible songbook, scoring for movies, and world tours. For over twenty-five years, Nigel Kennedy has been acknowledged as one of the world's leading violin maestros and is, without doubt, one of the most important violinists Britain has ever produced. His skilful technique, unique talent and mass appeal have brought fresh perspectives to both the classical and contemporary repertoire making him the best selling classical violinist of all time. He has been presented with many awards including, amongst others, Outstanding Contribution to British Music and Male Artist of the Year at the UK Brit Awards. Most recently Kennedy has released two albums with The Nigel Kennedy Quintet; 2009’s ‘A Very Nice Album’ and this year’s ‘SHHH’ highlighting his incredible ability as composer, improviser and player. Invited to be Artistic Directorship of London's South Bank Centre Polish Weekend in May 2010, Kennedy will be playing at this weekend’s event celebrating Polish culture, bringing together musicians and artists from a wide range of backgrounds and styles. Catch this once in a life-time chance to see one of the world’s most charismatic musicians at Latitude’s exquisite Lake Stage. Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 26 May 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-05-27T00:00:00 3a7d666f-72f0-4268-a479-10a830b8e690 1000000 The Lock Up & Dance Stages revealed Alkaline Trio, Bad Religion, Roots Manuva and Magnetic Man.... Even more names have joined the already incredible line-up. The King Blues are the final name to be added to The Main Stage. Kids In Glass Houses, Hadouken!, 3OH!3, Band Of Skulls, Everything Everything, Rolo Tomassi have joined the line-up on the NME/Radio 1 Stage along with Miike Snow, Los Campesinos!, Local Natives and Goldheart Assembly. The Lock-Up Stage returns to the twin sites for another two days that are sure to see huge crowds from start to finish.  Headlined by Alkaline Trio and Bad Religion, there are plenty of old and new faces for fans on The Lock Up Stage along with The Get Up Kids, Cancer Bats, Zebrahead, Crime In Stereo, RX Bandits, The Rats, Trash Talk, Paint It Black, Off With Their Heads, Moral Dilemma, Sick Of It All, Against Me!, Hatebreed, Streetlight Manifesto, Strike Anywhere, This Is Hell, Static Thought, Civet, The Skints, Crazy Arm and Blood Or Whiskey. The Dance Stage has also been unveiled and will host Roots Manuva, Magnetic Man, Metronomy, Four Tet, Chiddy Bang, Holy Fuck, Health, Japanese Popstars, Lights, Rusko (DJ) , Sub Focus (DJ) and L'Amour La Morgue (DJ). There are still lots more names to be announced including the full line-up for the Festival Republic Stage, BBC Introducing Stage and The Alternative Stage.  Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 24 May 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-05-25T00:00:00 e2c25898-8d5f-4f02-93fe-d127654e17df 1000000 Design an Electric Picnic advert Electric Picnic in association with The Ticket ask you to don your creative hat. We'd like YOU to design your own Electric Picnic ad. We are giving you a blank canvas to create your own Electric Picnic artwork. From previous competitions such as the Pixel Paintings & Site Map Design competitions we are very aware of how exceptionally talented & innovative Picnic festival goers are. So we thought we'd push the boat out a little this time. We will provide you with what you need to get started. There will be some set parameters to work within but the rest is up to you. You have four weeks to get inspired and submit your entry by the closing date Fri 18th June. We'll then present a gallery of 20 shortlists and the public will vote for the overall winner. The winning submission will be printed as a Full Page ad in The Ticket - The Irish Times entertainment supplement - on Friday 2nd July. The winner will also receive 2 VIP Tickets to the festival. Our three favourite Runner Ups will also win a pair of tickets. For more go to <a href="http://www.electricpicnic.ie">www.electricpicnic.ie</a> Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 23 May 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-05-24T00:00:00 ad6fab2f-693a-4e69-a140-1ee7d4199004 1000000 Crystal Castles added to the Latitude line-up As the weather heats up, so does our outstanding bill. The now sold out Latitude Festival continues to hold its position as a strident and unique summer event with a bill that defies the traditional.  OBELISK ARENA<o:p></o:p> <v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><o:p></o:p> ~ Crystal Castles ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> THE WORD ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Paul Heaton ~ Joshua Radin ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ The Antlers ~ <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> SUNRISE ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  ~ Losers ~ The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart ~ Luna Belle ~ <o:p></o:p>  ~ Arno Carstens ~ Lauren Pritchard ~ White Belt Yellow Tag ~<o:p></o:p> ~ Holly Miranda ~ The Hundred In The Hands ~ Michael Kiwanuka ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> THE LAKE STAGE<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ The Supernovas ~ Cevanne ~ The Cads ~ These Ghosts ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> DJs<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ White Wedding DJs ~ The Vinyl Vendettas ~ Moshi Moshi ~<o:p></o:p> Four music arenas are host to a tantalising blend of musical talent from new bands, rising stars and a global outlook, whilst the arts programme spills over into thirteen arenas and areas providing something for everyone – no matter what you're looking for, you're bound to find it. Once again Latitude is the finest destination for your summer. Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 21 May 2010 09:00:00 GMT 2010-05-21T10:00:00 c90217dd-6522-4a80-ac9f-c493e0d0373c 1000000 Lily Allen added to The Big Chill line up Along with Chrome Hoof, Paloma Faith and more The fabulous Lily Allen will be returning to the festival, four years after she began her rise to international stardom at The Big Chill 2006.  Amongst other names to be added to this year's festival are the eleven piece rock-funk-metal orchestra Chrome Hoof and kooky pop siren Paloma Faith. Plus: The Magic Numbers, Martina Topley-Bird, Husky Rescue, Falling Up, Hoochie Coochie, DJ Ritu,The Heavy, Phantom Limb, Raonindomum, The Temperance Society, The Incredible Sound Track Film Band, Swap-A-Rama and Randy & Earl's Old Record Club. Joining previously announce acts such as Massive Attack, M.I.A., Kruder & Dorfmeisteer, Thom Yorke, Kelis, Roots Manuva and Plan B, the greatest talent around are set to take to the rolling hills of Eastnor this year. For more information, and to buy tickets, please go to <a href="http://www.bigchill.net/festival">www.bigchill.net/festival</a> Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 19 May 2010 09:00:00 GMT 2010-05-19T10:00:00 ee1c50aa-cc24-48cf-841a-cc47cf0dccc1 1000000 The Big Chill add more names to the bill Explosions In The Sky, Newton Faulkner, Morcheeba... The Big Chill Festival is delighted to confirm that the brilliant Texan postrock band Explosions in the Sky have been added to this year’s Big Chill Festival accompanied by Newton Faulkner and Morcheeba. Explosions In The Sky head to The Big Chill, with their instrumental, elaborately developed post-rock guitar sounds, narratively styled instrumentals and cathartic mini-symphonies for what is sure to be an emotionally charged performance on the Deer Park Stage. The Brit nominated guitar virtuoso Newton Faulkner loves performing live, whether in clubs, caves, theatres, festivals and even hot air balloons, so we’re delighted to announce that this have-guitar-will-travel troubadour will be coming to The Big Chill this year! 15 years since they first sketched out the blueprint for trip-hop with their debut ‘Who Can You Trust?’, Morcheeba are back, reunited with singer Skye Edwards and heading to Eastnor with their downtempo psychedelic sounds! For more information, and to buy tickets, please go to <a href="http://www.bigchill.net/festival">www.bigchill.net/festival</a> Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 13 May 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-05-14T00:00:00 c8e53dcf-b26d-43bc-a08e-f618159f2f8c 1000000 The Big Chill announces Thom Yorke, Tate Britain's Rude Britannia... ..plus Metronomy and Tinariwen amongst others The Big Chill Festival is delighted to confirm Thom Yorke, Tinariwen, Metronomy, plus a host of further acts to the music line-up.  The Big Chill’s exceptional arts programme welcomes Tate Britain’s Rude Britannia.  The legendary Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke is one of the latest artists to be announced for this year’s Big Chill Festival (5th – 8th August) in Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire. Yorke released his brilliant debut album ‘Eraser’ to much acclaim, scoring top five chart positions on either side of the Atlantic. Famously, Yorke does not perform many live shows, so The Big Chill are honoured and thrilled that he will taking to the Deer Park Stage on Friday night in what is Yorke’s only UK festival appearance this year to date. Yorke joins previously announced acts such as Massive Attack, M.I.A., Kruder & Dorfmeister, Kelis, Roots Manuva, Plan B, all set to take to the stage this year. The Big Chill Festival is also proud to announce that Tinariwen, the Malian band whose back story is as compelling as their music will join the line-up. Tinariwen is made up of a troupe of Tuareg desert blues-rockers who count the likes of Robert Plant, the forementioned Thom Yorke, Bono and the Edge amongst their fans. The band will also be taking to the Deer Park Stage on Friday and are sure to be a hit with the purveyors of the leftfield planning that made the festival so famous. Two other acts announced to play on the Deer Park Stage are Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions and Metronomy, who will both be performing on Saturday. Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions is a cross-Atlantic mix of Hope Sandoval ex-Opal and Mazzy Star lead singer and the Irish Colm Ó Cíosóig, drummer and ex co-founder of My Bloody Valentine. Metronomy, hailing from Devon are indie electro popsters known for their highly choreographed routines and can often be seen wearing giant lightbulbs. The band has remixed and supported some of the biggest names in indie electro music, such as Klaxons, Bloc Party and Justice, and have recently added Lightspeed Champion drummer Anna Prior to their line-up. Across the other stages additional artists just announced include: Natty, a reggae pop and ska artist from North London who achieved chart success in 2008 with his debut album ‘Man Like I’. Natty will be performing on the Revellers Stage as part of the offering on Sunday.  House music great Maurice Fulton has been added to the Paradiso Club Tent on Saturday where he will join the likes of Henrik Schwarz and Andy Weatherall. Fulton shot to prominence in the nineties when he was behind ‘Gypsy Woman’ by Crystal Waters, one of the most successful house tunes of the era, and these days he’s the darling of both the underground house and leftfield scenes as a DJ and a producer.  Tom Middleton, the cult DJ and Big Chill Recordings artist, a Big Chill regular having played at every one of the festivals since its conception, will not only be appearing onstage in Lazyland at the festival, but will also be drawing his ardent followers to the Starburst Open Air Stage on Saturday so you have no excuse not to catch him playing!  Other additions to this year’s line-up include the Brighton jive band Fat 45 and Bristol Hi-Fi feat. Daddy G with a mix of reggae, afro beats, Latin bass, rare grooves, funk, hearty hip hop and plenty of mash-up treats. Daddy G is most famous for being a founding member of Massive Attack, so be sure to check him out on the Deer Park Stage on Friday night and catch his appearance with Bristol Hi-Fi. 2010 will see The Big Chill’s biggest, most varied and vibrant arts programme of its history welcoming a special series of events inspired by the exhibition Rude Britannia: British Comic Art, a forthcoming attraction at the mecca of visual art that is Tate Britain. A heady mix of cartoons, comics, paintings and sculpture, The Big Chill presents Rude Britannia curators and artists Cedar Lewisohn, Doug Fishbone, David Shrigley and London Drawing Presents: Adventures In Drawing Life. The exhibition celebrates our own unique sense of humour and how it has satirised everything from politicians to the great British seaside from as early as the 1600s to the YBA movement. This series transports the ideas behind the exhibition, along with some specially commissioned works and happenings, all the way from Tate Britain’s Millbank location to the Eastnor Castle Deer Park. In the Words in Motion tent Cedar Lewisohn will present a talk outlining the history, vision and artists of Rude Britannia and all it has to offer. Also featuring on this line-up will be the artist Doug Fishbone, with humour being central to his work, Fishbone has created large-scale installations using a huge spectrum of materials including the humble banana in massive quantities creating works in cities across the globe. Best known for his dead-pan cartoons, Glasgow-based artist David Shrigley has several surprises up his sleeve for this year’s Big Chill, so don’t expect him to be confined to any one stage or tent. Those festival goers feeling inspired by Spencer Tunick’s living sculpture set to take place at The Big Chill can try their own hand at capturing the human body with London Drawing Presents: Adventures In Drawing Life. Offering an introduction to the skill of life drawing, workshops and classes will take place on The Big Chill hill early Saturday and Sunday morning. Pencils and paper will be provided so that everyone can unlock their creativity and work on the premise that no skills or drawing experience are needed to make strong and exciting work and with such a stunning backdrop and models to sketch, Chiller’s will be walking away from the festival with their own work of art.  For more information, and to buy tickets, please go to <a href="http://www.bigchill.net/festival">www.bigchill.net/festival</a> Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 13 May 2010 09:00:00 GMT 2010-05-13T10:00:00 9ccf9c56-48c7-458c-a86a-13fd8f242412 1000000 Glade Festival offered Big Chill ticket swap scheme Following today’s unfortunate news that Glade Festival 2010 has been cancelled Today Glade Festival announced that they have unfortunately cancelled their event this year, due to what organisers have called an 'unexpected forced increase in security and police costs as well as a level of advanced ticket sales below expectations'.  Any festival goers who purchased full price Glade Festival tickets via Ticketline for £135, can contact Ticketline requesting to swap their Glade ticket for an Adult Weekend Big Chill ticket.  Glade ticket holders will be charged an additional transaction fee of £7 per ticket swapped, meaning that they will get a Big Chill ticket which would have cost them £155 + £7 booking fee for £135 + £7 booking fee instead, saving them £20. <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/n/q/b/Big Chill - Glade Festival Ticketline Swap_Press Release_120510.pdf">Go here to read more</a> Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 11 May 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-05-12T00:00:00 7c8344c3-21a8-4fce-9299-a1214c50d5aa 1000000 POD & Electric Picnic Republic present LEFTFIELD To get you festival fit here's a little taste of Picnic in Belfast and Dublin. POD & EP Republic presents LEFTFIELD June 02 Belfast, Ulster Hall, Belfast June 03 Dublin, Tripod September 04 Stradbally, Electric Picnic You have your ticket to Electric Picnic, but no matter how many times you click your heels together and get Toto ready for lift off, it's still a little way down the road... To get you festival fit and in training POD and EP Republic are happy to bring a little taste of Picnic to Belfast and Dublin on June 2nd and 3rd before the most hotly anticipated musical hat trick to hit Irish shores this summer concludes with an Electric Picnic climax that promises to be nothing short of incendiary. Ladies and gentlemen, after an almost ten year hiatus from the emerald isle, let us present masters of the musical universe and 21st Century Poets, LEFTFIELD. Playing two intimate and exclusive Pre-Picnic tasters in Dublin's Tripod and Belfast's Ulster Hall before their explosive Saturday night closing slot at Electric Picnic, Neil Barnes says: "The opportunity to perform the songs to a whole new audience with the original sound system and vocalists is an opportunity that I simply couldn't turn down, The good will surrounding the live show has overwhelmed me, the expectation is tremendous. I simply can't wait to blow everybody away, literally." Original vocalists Djum Djum, Earl 16 and Cheshire Cat, all of whom played key roles in Leftfield's classic albums 'Leftism' and 'Rhythm & Stealth', will be joining Neil for the shows. Completing the live line up will be Adam Wren (keyboards), Jess Mills (vocals) and Sebastian Beresford on drums, replacing Paul Daley who is working on other recording projects. Leading the dance music charge of the early '90s, Leftfield carved a path for a raft of great artists including Underworld, The Chemical Brothers and The Prodigy. Their pioneering debut album 'Leftism' often tops 'Best Dance Album' polls, whilst their live shows are the stuff of legend. Leftfield's live return is an opportunity for everyone to experience one of the world's most influential dance artists. Electric Picnic Launch First Ever Festival Loyalty Scheme Electric Picnic 2010 Ticket Holders will be able to avail of a 24 hour priority booking pre-sale for the Dublin & Belfast Leftfield shows. Anyone who has purchased a Picnic ticket online or via phone will receive an email shortly from Ticketmaster advising them of details. Picnic Ticket Holders Pre-Sale 9am Thursday May 13th General on sale date 9am Friday May 14th More information at <a href="http://www.pod.ie">www.pod.ie</a> Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 10 May 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-05-11T00:00:00 e3bc704b-b4e8-4571-b2d5-8bc84142a642 1000000 More arts additions added to Latitude For one glorious weekend and once again, Latitude has a line-up like no other. Spread throughout the site, just waiting to be discovered, expect the highest calibre of art with many performers to be announced over the coming months.  THE WATERFRONT STAGE<o:p></o:p> <v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></v:path><o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"></o:lock></v:shapetype><o:p></o:p> Sadler’s Wells presents:<o:p></o:p> ~ BalletBoyz the TALENT ~ ZooYouth ~ Faun ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> LITERARY ARENA <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  ~ Miles Irving ~ Peter Owen-Jones ~ Robert Forster ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Steven Machat ~ Mike Gayle & Jojo Moyes ~ Katharine Hibbert ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMEDY AT LATITUDE  <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Rufus Hound ~ Jimeoin ~ Abandoman ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> CABARET ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ The la de dah’s ~ Lee Kern ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Ward and White’s Karaoke Circus ~ <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> POETRY ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Psycho Poetica ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Daljit Nagra – Poetry It's A Knockout ~ <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> FILM & MUSIC ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Joby Talbot ~ Amiina ~ Noise Of Art ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Soulboy ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>  THEATRE AT LATITUDE<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p>  ~ Duke Special ~ High Tide ~ NSDF ~ <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> THE FARAWAY <st1:place w:st="on">FOREST</st1:place><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ The Mystery Fax Machine Orchestra ~<o:p></o:p> Building on its reputation as one of the most respected and highly anticipated events of the season, 2010 promises to be an inspirational and entertaining, sophisticated and scintillating weekend; another spectacular slice of unadulterated cultural fun and adventure. All tickets for Latitude 2010 have now sold out. Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 10 May 2010 16:30:00 GMT 2010-05-10T17:30:00 edce748b-7cb5-434c-975d-ba8bc97c2891 1000000 The Rage Factor Support bands announced With the free show fully subscribed, the excitement builds as Rage Against the Machine prepare to play their promised free concert at Finsbury Park in London on Sunday 6th June 2010. The Rage Factor guests have now been confirmed, providing a varied and exciting line up for the day's celebration. Opening acts are the brilliant punk band Gallows, followed by London rap artist Roots Manuva and radical rebel rockers Gogol Bordello. <div align="center"> DOORS OPEN 14.00 GALLOWS 17.20 ROOTS MANUVA 18.30 GOGOL BORDELLO 19.35 RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE 20.50 CURFEW 22.30 </div> Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 10 May 2010 11:00:00 GMT 2010-05-10T12:00:00 93891165-9775-4865-b87b-21892fff002c 1000000 Latitude announces The Lake Stage The place to discover tomorrow’s stars today! A few metres away from the crystal waters of Latitude’s core landscape feature, The Lake Stage provides tantalisingly early glimpses of Radio 1’s DJ and champion of new music Huw Stephens’ freshest tips.  Latitude audiences are treated to a full parade of diverse and exhilarating bands about to be splashed across magazines up and down the country.  The first acts have just been confirmed and Latitude is excited to announce the following rising stars to the line-up: FRIDAY<o:p></o:p> <v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><o:p></o:p> ~ Everything Everything ~ Islet ~ Engine EarZ Experiment ~ Esben And The Witch ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ The Good Natured ~ Yuck ~ Y Niwl ~<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> SATURDAY<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Gaggle ~ Frankie & The Heartstrings ~ Teeth ~ Nedry ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Zun Zun Egui ~ Sweet Baboo ~ Standard Fare ~ <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> SUNDAY<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Beth Jeans Houghton ~ Tom Williams & the Boat ~ Kelpe ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Wilder ~ <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Mitchell</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Museum</st1:placename></st1:place> ~ <o:p></o:p> In addition to all of this; DJs, workshops and late night parties can be found throughout the site. It really is a place like no other; an intimate world away from reality that encourages you to be all that you’ve ever wanted to be whilst indulging in the spirit of exploration and discovery. Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 05 May 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-05-06T00:00:00 91c4f5d5-6f16-4573-b366-33e37a9a4811 1000000 All tickets sold out! All weekend and individual day tickets for Latitude Festival 2010 have now sold out For the fourth year running and with over 2 months still to go, organisers Festival Republic are proud to announce that all weekend and individual day tickets for Latitude Festival 2010 have now sold out. Expanding to 35,000 capacity for this, Latitude’s fifth edition, the success of this festival continues to grow and grow and with a line-up that boasts music headliners Florence + The Machine, Belle and Sebastian and Vampire Weekend, as well as the very best from the worlds of comedy, literary, poetry, cabaret, theatre, film, art and dance – it’s easy to see why all these tickets have been snapped up so quickly. With more acts across all arenas still to be confirmed, the fact that the festival has sold out with still so much to be added speaks volumes of Latitude’s reputation as an unrivalled, unique weekend away. Starting out in 2006, Latitude’s big ideas of being an all-encompassing arts festival with each section of art taking equal prominence alongside the music bill has firmly established it as a cultural haven for the open-minded festival goer. Year on year the festival has not only expanded in size, but also in breadth and quality of the line-up. As well as the designated arenas with programmes running all weekend, fun and laughter can be found round every corner, either on full display or hidden deep within the woods waiting to be discovered. This year’s lucky ticket holders can enjoy: the comedy stylings of Emo Philips, Tommy Tiernan, Ardal O’Hanlon, Rich Hall, Phill Jupitus & Friends Improv Show and Richard Herring; literary musings  from the ever-popular Robin Ince’s Book Club with Kevin Eldon, Jo Neary, Robyn Hitchcock, Josie Long & Gavin Osborn as well as Bret Easton Ellis, Hanif Kureishi and Sebastian Faulks; poetry from Wendy Cope, John Cooper Clarke, Blake Morrison, Luke Wright and WordTheatre; dramatic performances courtesy of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Opera House, Bush Theatre and Sadler’s Wells to name but a few, cabaret performances from Rich Fulcher, Laura Solon and Idiots Of Ants; BAFTA return to the Film & Music Arena with Q&As and discussions with award-winning director Paul Greengrass already confirmed. The magical woods and forests are a place of discovery featuring Masked Balls, a Baccanalian Party, DJ’s and all night parties. It really is a place like no other; an intimate world away from reality that encourages you to be all that you’ve ever wanted to be, whilst indulging in the spirit of exploration and discovery. Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 05 May 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-05-06T00:00:00 07559eda-3324-4879-8fca-4fdb9cda4d2d 1000000 Festival fashion with tent fabric Withintent have made items of clothing and accessories out of tent fabric. From all of the tents that were left at Reading 2009, Withintent have found a very clever way of making new things out of the fabric. The tent fabric found a new life as Withintent products such as clothing and bags. Kate Benton and her friends joined the salvage at Reading 2009 to collect broken tents and have used the fabrics of those tents as materials for new, funky printed, showerproof products to wear and use, ideally at festivals! The first Withintent stall will take place on Friday 30th April 2010 at Spitalfields Market, London. Come and see the new recycling innovation and get yourself unique and clever goods to wear at upcoming festivals this summer. Learn more about the brand: <a href="http://www.withintent.co.uk">www.withintent.co.uk</a>   Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-04-27T00:00:00 258c6d02-7c60-4399-b132-f820b829f459 1000000 Yet more amazing names added to Latitude The 5th Edition of Latitude Festival is the ONLY place to be this summer! Here are some more great names for your delectation at the 5th Edition of Latitude Festival. Not content with filling the Comedy Arena with the greatest comics, the whole site is littered with comedians, from the Literary Arena to the Cabaret Arena. The arts onsite command no less than thirteen arenas and areas providing something for everybody; once again making Latitude the place to be this summer. LITERARY ARENA  ~ Hanif Kureishi~ ~ Robin Ince’s Book Club with Kevin Eldon, Jo Neary, Robyn Hitchcock, Josie Long & Gavin Osborn ~  ~ Julie Burchill and Garry Mulholland ~ ~ The Mark Thomas Community Pub Quiz ~                                       ~ Kristin Hersh ~ Jim Bob ~ Olly Hicks ~                               ~ 5x15: with Zoe Margolis and Tristram Stuart ~   COMEDY AT LATITUDE  ~ Phill Jupitus & Friends Improv Show ~ Jeremy Hardy ~ ~ Micky Flanagan ~ Craig Campbell ~ Andi Osho ~ Marlon Davis ~   CABARET ARENA  ~ The Razzle presented by Christopher Green ~ ~ Frisky & Mannish ~ ~ Sounds Familiar Music Quiz ~ Musical Bingo ~    THEATRE ARENA    ~ Cartoon De Salvo: Pub Rock ~ ~ Tangled Feet ~ Bad Physics ~  POETRY ARENA  ~ Eddie Argos ~ ~ Laura Dockrill and The Word Orchestra ~                                                     LITERARY SALON  ~ Write To Play with Polly Stenham ~  DJs ~ Swap-A-Rama ~ To see the full line-up so far, go <a href="http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk/lineup">HERE</a> Tickets for the 5th Edition are available from <a href="http://www.seetickets.com/latitude">www.seetickets.com/latitude</a> Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 21 Apr 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-04-22T00:00:00 16c2a5f2-0272-4ede-a16b-aceed2f8bd23 1000000 Latitude additions Emerging bands, international stars and homegrown heroes Four arenas are dedicated to an exciting selection of musical talent from emerging bands, international stars and homegrown heroes. The arts onsite command no less than thirteen arenas and areas providing something for everybody – no matter what your tastes or desires; once again making Latitude the place to be this summer.   OBELISK ARENA<o:p></o:p> <v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></v:path><o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"></o:lock></v:shapetype><o:p></o:p> ~ The Strange Boys ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> THE WORD ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ The Feeling ~ The Coral ~ Kristin Hersh ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Black Mountain ~ The Big Pink ~ The Kissaway Trail ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">SUNRISE</st1:place></st1:city> ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Tokyo</st1:city></st1:place> Police Club ~ First Aid Kit ~ Jesca Hoop ~ Egyptian Hip Hop ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Middle East ~ Joe Worricker ~ Delta Maid ~ The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Liberty</st1:city></st1:place> Vessels ~ <o:p></o:p> To see the full line-up so far, go <a href="http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk/lineup">HERE</a> Tickets for the 5th Edition are available from <a href="http://www.seetickets.com/latitude">www.seetickets.com/latitude</a> Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 19 Apr 2010 09:30:00 GMT 2010-04-19T10:30:00 5487bf9d-c469-4174-8a3d-a18557a148b9 1000000 Festival Republic presents The Walkmen + special guests Avi Buffalo O2 Academy, Islington Wednesday 25th August 2010 ~ doors 7pm ~ £12 in advance plus booking fees ~ O2 Academy, Islington, London The Walkmen have an excellent pedigree and a well earned reputation for being one of the most exciting bands on the circuit.  Their debut album ‘Everyone Who Pretended to Like Me is Gone’ was lauded by the critics and the band are currently holed up in a New York recording studio working on album number four. In advance of their performances on the Main Stage at Reading & Leeds, this show is not to be missed. <a href="http://www.seetickets.com/see/event.asp?e%7Cartist=THE+WALKMEN&n|artist=null&resultsperpage=20&filler1=see&filler2=art-srch&orderby=date,time">Tickets are now on sale</a> Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 18 Apr 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-04-19T00:00:00 6be6f8d1-263c-4d7f-8a5d-667fafe91e85 1000000 Reading & Leeds 2010 Three amazing headliners...and so much more. The world famous Reading Festival enters a new decade with the biggest names in music set to play. From across the Atlantic we welcome our three headliners on the main stage all playing exclusive UK festival appearances.  Arguably the biggest rock band of its generation GUNS N’ ROSES kick off proceedings in Reading and close the show in Leeds, the adored and acclaimed ARCADE FIRE make their eagerly awaited headline debut at the festival and the feverishly anticipated return of BLINK-182 will excite all rock fans. Other incredible names appearing on the main stage over the weekend include special guests THE LIBERTINES who reunite for their only two shows anywhere in the world, Also featured are the hottest new rock stars on the planet PARAMORE and kings of cool QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE. A DAY TO REMEMBER, MYSTERY JETS, THRICE, YOUNG GUNS, THE FUTUREHEADS, MOTION CITY SOUNDTRACK and THE WALKMEN will all join the best festival bill of the summer.   At the NME/Radio 1 Stage GIRLS, SERJ TANKIAN, NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB, SURFER BLOOD, WILD BEASTS and FRANKIE & THE HEARTSTRINGS will all appear over the weekend. For the further line-up announcements, go to <a href="http://www.readingfestival.com">www.readingfestival.com</a> and <a href="http://www.leedsfestival.com">www.leedsfestival.com</a> Taking place over the August Bank Holiday weekend, 27th, 28th, and 29th August, you wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-04-14T00:00:00 c0b909b0-5aa7-4e78-a8b5-5c16cff64ea7 1000000 Yet more amazing names for the Latitude bill We are very excited to announce that Daniel Kitson and Gavin Osborn will be performing at Latitude <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Latitude proudly presents…<o:p></o:p> <o:p> <o:p><o:p><o:p> </o:p></o:p></o:p></o:p> ~ Daniel Kitson & Gavin Osborn: <o:p></o:p> Stories For The Starlit Sky ~ <o:p></o:p> <o:p>Latitude is bursting with excitement to proudly announce that Daniel Kitson and Gavin Osborn will be performing on The Waterfront Stage, their trilogy of shows , ‘Stories for the Starlit Sky’, across all three nights of the weekend.</o:p> <o:p></o:p>   Also just announced across the weekend…<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> CABARET ARENA <o:p></o:p> <v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"></v:path><o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"></o:lock></v:shapetype><o:p></o:p> ~ The Crack presents: Miss Behave, Phil Kay, Paul Zenon, Kalki Hula Girl, Raymond and Mr. Timpkins, Tom Flanagan and Jon Hicks ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> POETRY ARENA <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ John Stammers ~ THePETEBOX ~ <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> FILM AND MUSIC ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ The Kominas ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMEDY at LATITUDE <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Funny Women Awards Showcase ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Terry Alderton ~ <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> OBELISK ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ The Unthanks ~ Race Horses ~ <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> THE WORD ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Jonathan Jeremiah ~<o:p></o:p> With many more acts still to be announced, Latitude will provide the perfect highlight to the summer. Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:00:00 GMT 2010-04-07T18:00:00 a54b7ae6-afa8-4926-ba3b-871f5b00956d 1000000 The Big Chill Tickets are now on sale Massive Attack, M.I.A., Roots Manuva, Kruder & Dorfmeister and Kelis among first acts announced for this year’s Big Chill Festival. Celebrating its impressive 16th year in 2010, The Big Chill will return to its stunning home of Eastnor Castle Deer Park in Herefordshire from 5th – 8th August 2010. Friday’s Deer Park Stage headliners Massive Attack have enjoyed a fantastic re-emergence after seven years since their last album. Their brand new album “Heligoland” has brought a new wave of followers to their already huge fan base. With visuals and lasers at the forefront of their live shows and rousing beats ascending up the hill, expect the buzz from their headline set to kick-start the weekend’s atmosphere. and dubstep legends Kruder and Dorfmeister will headline The Revellers Stage, house duo Layo & Bushwacka! and dubstep trio Magnetic Man and are also announced as part of the line-up that will keep Friday night revellers dancing into the early hours of Saturday morning. Saturday’s headline act, M.I.A. will take to The Deer Park Stage in her first festival appearance of the summer following a live hiatus in the UK of over a year.  Having been out of the glare of the public spotlight, M.I.A. enjoyed success last year on the back of her monster hit “Paper Planes” that was featured in the Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire movie. The New York based artist, who was born in the UK from Sri Lankan heritage, was recently named amongst Time Magazine's 2009 Top 100 World's Most Influential People and was Rolling Stone Magazine’s album of the year in 2007. Roots Manuva, the rapper who has collaborated with some of the finest musical acts of the generation will warm The Deer Stage crowd into a frenzy before M.I.A. hits the stage. US star Kelis, will undoubtedly “bring all the boys to her yard” as she performs on The Revellers Stage on the same day along with The Big Chill favourite Mr Scruff and rapper turned soul singer Plan B. UK grime sensation Tinie Tempah is also set to be part of the second day’s performers following his recent success with his number one single “Pass Out”. Dance music fans can head to the Paradiso Club Stage for the likes of Henrik Schwarz, Andy Wetherall and 20:20 Soundsystem or the Starburst Stage for Arctic Monkey’s favourite DJ and fellow Sheffield resident Toddla T and Serocee. Sunday’s first announced acts include headline act Bebel Gilberto, the Grammy nominated American-born Brazilian singer. Gilberto who is the daughter of bossa nova icons Joao Gilberto and Miucha; is known for leaving her bossa heritage behind and blending her country’s fluid samba rhythms with more hard-edged, slinky electronica. The prolific jazz, funk and soul composer and vibraphone player, Roy Ayers is one of the finest jazz talents around and with other 40 major label albums spanning across jazz, disco and even hip hop. Minimal tech stars Seth Troxler and Jamie Jones will make sure that the Open Air Stage is jumping into Monday with support from Gilles Peterson, Theo Parish, Greg Wilson and the prominent producer Starsmith, credited with the recent success of Ellie Goulding among others. One of the highlights of Sunday will surely be Ashley Beedle & Darren Morris Present MAVIS (Live) presenting their new project inspired by Mavis Staples, combining the talents of a number of big name artists. Candi Staton, the first lady of Southern Soul is back after 16 chart topping hits from 1969-1974, such as the Grammy nominated “In the Ghetto”. Staton does a one-off performance for the Big Chill this year alongside some of the most successful soul, country and dance acts of the last century. Including the Deep South singer songwriter Kurt Wanger, after working with Morceeba, Wanger has continued to promote his solo career, writing touching melodic alternative country songs. Chris Coco will be adding an up beat edge to the line-up with his love of house and electronica music that he mixes with downtempo acoustic and all sorts of other styles of music, creating some serious moves on the dance floor.  For more information and the latest line-up, go to <a href="http://www.bigchill.net/festival">www.bigchill.net/festival</a> Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:00:00 GMT 2010-03-31T19:00:00 1155dbe5-8ef4-4906-8100-32b7edec2c63 1000000 More additions to Latitude Even more bands join the line up As well as the stunning headliners, the following acts are a welcome addition to an already exciting line-up:  OBELISK ARENA<o:p></o:p> <v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><o:p></o:p> ~ LAURA MARLING ~ HOCKEY ~ CORINNE BAILEY RAE ~ HERE WE GO MAGIC ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ MUMFORD & SONS ~ SWEET BILLY PILGRIM ~ KASSIDY ~ <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">SUNRISE</st1:place></st1:city> ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ GIRLS ~ NADINE SHAH ~ KURRAN AND THE WOLFNOTES ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ MATTHEW P ~ <o:p></o:p> The Obelisk Arena is the focal point for many of Latitude’s most memorable performances and with a line up that boasts some superb acts. The Sunrise Arena is it is the place to discover tomorrow’s stars today. Elsewhere throughout the weekend, festival goers can enjoy readings from leading poets and authors including Wendy Cope, John Cooper Clarke, Bret Easton Ellis and Arthur Smith; top comics Emo Philips, Ardal O’Hanlon, Rich Hall and Tommy Tiernan; exciting theatre and dance productions presented by Royal Shakespeare Company, Bush Theatre, Sadler’s Wells and Royal Opera House to name but a few, cabaret performances from Rich Fulcher, Idiot Of Ants and The Crack; BAFTA return to the Film & Music Arena with Q&As, discussions and workshops with award-winning director Paul Greengrass already confirmed.  Tickets are available from <a href="http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk/tickets">HERE</a> Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:30:00 GMT 2010-03-31T17:30:00 f8af9bbf-f2cd-43d3-8968-1b2a536e9345 1000000 Latitude additions New acts announced in the Arts Arenas Spread throughout the site, just waiting to be discovered, expect the highest calibre of art with over 700 performers to be announced over the coming months.  Building on its reputation as one of the most respected and highly anticipated events of the season, 2010 promises to be an inspirational and entertaining, sophisticated and scintillating weekend.  THE WATERFRONT STAGE<o:p></o:p> <v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" stroked="f" filled="f" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" coordsize="21600,21600"><v:stroke joinstyle="miter"></v:stroke><v:formulas><v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"></v:f><v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"></v:f><v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"></v:f></v:formulas><v:path o:connecttype="rect" gradientshapeok="t" o:extrusionok="f"></v:path><o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"></o:lock></v:shapetype><o:p></o:p> ~ Sadler’s Wells ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Derevo – Wolves’ Tango ~ FILM & MUSIC ARENA <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ BAFTA: Q&A with Paul Greengrass ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Mark Lamarr presents God’s Jukebox: The Skatroniks, Noel McKoy and <o:p></o:p> The Mummers ~ ~ TAQWACORE: THE BIRTH OF PUNK ISLAM plus Panel Discussion: ‘DON'T PANIC, WE'RE ISLAMIC!’ ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> LITERARY ARENA <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Sebastian Faulks ~ Peter Hook ~ Howard Jacobson ~ <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> THEATRE AT LATITUDE<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Lyric presents: Midsummer Night’s Dream ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Lyric presents: The Island by The <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">London</st1:city></st1:place> Snorkelling Team ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ The Factory ~ Theatre503 ~ Forest Fringe ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> COMEDY at LATITUDE <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Mark Watson ~ David O’Doherty ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Josie Long ~ Angelos Epithemiou ~ ~Jimmy McGhie ~ Chris Ramsey ~ ~ The Al Pitcher Picture Show ~ Colin Hoult: Carnival Of Monsters ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Tom Basden ~ Deborah Frances-White ~ <o:p></o:p> ~Pros From <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dover</st1:city></st1:place> ~ Richard Dedomenici ~ <o:p></o:p> <o:p> POETRY ARENA <o:p></o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Angry Sam ~ Brigitte Aphrodite ~ Byron Vincent ~ Chris Hicks ~ Clare Pollard ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Dean Parkin ~ Hannah Walker ~ Helen Mort ~ Inua Ellams ~<o:p></o:p> ~ Jay Bernard ~ Joe Dunthorne ~John Osborne ~Kate Tempest ~Richard Tyrone Jones ~<o:p></o:p> ~ Kriss Foster ~ Martin Figura ~ Molly Naylor ~ Musa Okwonga ~ Niall O Sullivan ~ <o:p></o:p> ~ Paul Lyalls ~ The Dead Poets ~ El Crisis ~ Joel Stickley ~ Josh Idehen ~ Matt Harvey ~<o:p></o:p> ~ Ross Sutherland ~ Steve Larkin ~ Tim Clare ~ Tim Turnbull ~<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> LITERARY SALON <o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Raindance Film Festival Workshops ~ <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> CABARET ARENA<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> ~ Showstopper! ‘The Improvised Musical’ ~ <o:p></o:p> Latitude Festival returns for an incredible 5th Edition on 15th-18th July 2010 set in the beautiful countryside of Henham Park Estate on Suffolk’s Sunrise Coast.  Weekend tickets cost £155 including VAT and booking fees, Day tickets for Friday, Saturday, Sunday cost £65 and include VAT and booking fees. Weekend ticket prices include car parking and camping and Day tickets include car parking only. Credit Card line: 0871 2310846 Online: <a href="http://www.seetickets.com/latitude">www.seetickets.com/latitude</a>   Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT 2010-03-29T00:00:00 33f42406-d153-4ed8-8655-d140064b22e2 1000000 Music additions to Latitude The Temper Trap, Spoon, James, Midlake, Wild Beasts, Noah and The Whale, Yeasayer, Darwin Deez and many more Latitude Festival takes place on 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th July 2010. Florence + The Machine, Belle and Sebastian and Vampire Weekend are all headlining the Obelisk Arena and with a wealth of musical talent from both emerging and established bands and acts still to be announced, Latitude is once again the place to be this summer. The following acts are a welcome addition to an already exciting line-up: <div align="center">Obelisk Arena The Temper Trap, Spoon, James, Midlake, Dirty Projectors, Frank Turner The Word Arena Wild Beasts, Noah and The Whale, Yeasayer, Chief Sunrise Arena Darwin Deez, Archie Bronson Outfit, Lupen Crook, Active Child   </div> Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 25 Mar 2010 17:15:00 GMT 2010-03-25T17:15:00 26924fc9-70a4-4430-95b9-dc57277f17fe 1000000 Electric Picnic first bands announced Roxy Music, Leftfield and Massive Attack plus many more... Electric Picnic extends another warm invitation to all lovers of music, art, culture and general frivolity to our annual little get-together in Stradbally, Co Laois on 3rd, 4th & 5th September. A tantalizing world to entice and enthrall you, tickle and tease you. Now in our seventh year our ship’s sails are fully hoisted and the journey we annually embark on is becoming more of a home-coming than a new exploration, although taking unknown and adventurous paths along the way is compulsory. How else would we discover the treasures and riches we will be offering to stimulate the senses. All six. Just announced: ROXY MUSIC; LEFTFIELD; MASSIVE ATTACK; LCD SOUNDSYSTEM; THE FRAMES; PUBLIC IMAGE LTD; THE NATIONAL; IMELDA MAY; MUMFORD & SONS; SEASICK STEVE; MODEST MOUSE; HOT CHIP; GIL SCOTT-HERON; FEVER RAY; JONSI (SIGUR ROS); FAT FREDDY’S DROP; BAD LIEUTENANT; CRYSTAL CASTLES; AFRO CELT SOUNDSYSTEM; BOOKA SHADE; BLOODY BEETROOTS DEATH CREW77; STEVE EARLE; THE WATERBOYS; BEACH HOUSE; THE BIG PINK; 808 STATE, LOW ANTHEM; REDNECK MANIFESTO; THE HORRORS; MONOTONIX; LIQUID LIQUID; HERE WE GO MAGIC; FIELD MUSIC; STEVE MASON, CYMANDE; THE ALARM; MESSIAH J & THE EXPERT; DUBLIN GOSPEL CHOIR; CARIBOU; ADRIAN CROWLEY; VILLAGERS; NEW PORNOGRAPHERS; EDAN; BREAKESTRA & CHALI 2 NA; MR SCRUFF; MEMORY TAPES; AND MORE TO BE ANNOUNCED In addition to the music, there will be alot more on offer for those searching for something more cerebral in BODY & SOUL, MINDFIELD stradbally Laughs and much more. Weekend Tickets are €240 / Family Camping Ticket EU240 per adult. Each adult can bring up to 2 kids under 12.. There are no single day tickets. Campervan Tickets for access to Regular & Family Campervan Parks are €60, available also from the same outlets. Above ticket prices include booking fee & VAT and go on sale 9am 26th March 2010 from all usual outlets, <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.ie">www.ticketmaster.ie</a>  / Credit Card Hotline: Ph 0818 719300 Republic of Ireland / 0870 2434455 UK/Northern Ireland. Phone / internet bookings are subject to 12.5% service charges. Agents fee is €2.50. <a href="http://www.electricpicnic.ie">www.electricpicnic.ie</a> Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 24 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT 2010-03-24T00:00:00 893ee803-d13d-434a-9373-6b33705208e7 1000000 Reading Residents Residents’ tickets will go on sale 48 hours before the general on sale date on Saturday 27 March at 6.45pm. Residents’ tickets will go on sale 48 hours before the general on sale date on Saturday 27 March at 6.45pm.  Residents will have until midnight on Sunday 28 March to make their booking. Residents’ tickets are for use only by residents and will become invalid if they are sold or transferred.  They are only for use by people who are residents living within the eligible area at the time of the festival. Residents’ tickets can be purchased from <a href="http://www.seetickets.com/readingresidents">http://www.seetickets.com/readingresidents</a> The link will go live at 6.45pm on Saturday 27 March and expire at midnight on Sunday 28 March.  If you are unable to book your tickets during this period, everyone will have an opportunity to buy tickets when they go on general sale on Monday 29 March at 6.45pm. To buy residents’ tickets, you must first enter your postcode.  Only valid postcodes matching those given to us by the council will be accepted by the booking system.  If your postcode is not recognised, it’s because you live outside of the area of eligibility. We have obtained a list of valid postcodes from Reading Borough Council and South Oxon Council.  Valid postcodes are those beginning RG1, RG2, RG4, RG6, RG30 & RG31 which fall under Reading Borough Council and postcodes beginning RG4 within Mapledurham Village which fall under South Oxon Council. If your postcode is accepted you will be able to book a maximum of 2 tickets per cardholder.  Both ticket holders must have an eligible postcode and corresponding identification.  In the booking system, the postcode field will auto-populate and cannot be changed.  Tickets will only be sent to the address with the valid postcode specified.  You cannot change the address details once you have booked residents tickets. Tickets will be printed with the name and postcode of the customer.  In order to use your residents’ tickets you must bring the ticket and a form of photo ID (passport, driving licence etc) and a form of postal address ID (utility bill, bank statement etc) to the festival wristband exchange.  Your photo and address ID must match the name and postcode printed on the ticket.  If you purchase 2 tickets, both attendees must have valid ID matching the name and postcode on the tickets.   If you are a resident with a valid postcode please do not purchase tickets for non-residents – if you do, the tickets will be invalid and we will be unable to offer a refund.  If you move house between booking your tickets and receiving your tickets: - If you move to another address within the valid postcode area, you must send us proof of your old & new postal address (utility bill, bank statement etc) and we will arrange for your details to be amended on your ticket. - If you move to an address outside the valid postcode area, we’re sorry but you are no longer eligible for Reading residents’ tickets and your booking will be cancelled and refunded. Festival Republic requests that all residents’ ticket holders please use public transport or if they need to come by car, to use the Garrard St NCP car park. Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT 2010-03-19T00:00:00 7ecaa906-b274-42b4-bff4-166e385693a4 1000000 Electric Picnic Early Bird tickets sold out Music and Arts Festival 3rd, 4th, 5th September 2010 The last of the Early Bird tickets for this year’s Electric Picnic were snapped up this morning .The three-day tickets were made available at the reduced rate of €199 in advance of the full ticket release which go on sale next  Friday, March 26th. The bill for this year’s festival will be announced on Wednesday, March 24th through the official festival website <a href="http://www.electricpicnic.ie">electricpicnic.ie</a> Described as the final high of the Irish summer The Electric Picnic takes place in Stradbally, Co. Laois over the weekend of September 3rd.  The annual festival promises a delicious bag of international and local musical tastes together with all the usual trimmings of picnic glitter that go to make this event the best known and loved in Europe. Picnic tickets go on sale from 9am Friday 26th March at <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.ie">ticketmaster .ie</a>   To book using a Credit Card, please call  0818 719300/ NI 0870 2434455. Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT 2010-03-19T00:00:00 0f2537f2-6c37-4ef9-ad7e-bde04a563e86 1000000 Latitude 2010 Florence + The Machine, Belle and Sebastian and Vampire Weekend to headline Florence + The Machine, Belle and Sebastian and Vampire Weekend have been announced as headliners for Latitude 2010. Celebrating its fifth year, Latitude continues to lead the way as a bold and pioneering festival cherry-picking the very best from the worlds of music, theatre, comedy, literature, film, poetry, dance, art, fashion and cabaret and bringing them together for one glorious weekend.  It is a place like no other; an intimate world away from reality that encourages you to be all that you’ve ever wanted to be whilst indulging in the spirit of exploration and discovery. <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/e/c/q/lat1O_web_9-3_7.jpg">Click here to see the poster <img height="225" alt="" width="330" src="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/e/c/q/Image/Launch-thumb.gif" /></a> Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:00:00 GMT 2010-03-09T19:00:00 fee56607-59f4-4c78-8595-809c2f423225 1000000 Electric Picnic wins two awards Best Large Festival and Greenest Festival! Electric Picnic has won two very special awards in the Irish Festival Awards announced on Friday: Best Large Festival and Greenest Festival. Electric Picnic 2009 saw Orbital, The Flaming Lips, Brian Wilson, Basement Jaxx, Madness, Klaxons, Bell X1, Fleet Foxes and MGMT appearing, whilst Tommy Tiernan headlined the comedy tent. More than 15,000 Irish music fans and gig-goers cast their votes in the 100% publicly-voted 2009 Irish Festival Awards.  The winners were revealed last night in the Sugar Club, Dublin. Electric Picnic will be parading back into Stradbally once again next September 3rd, 4th & 5th with all the usual suspects and more, adorned in all their festival finery. The hottest bands, the brightest minds, the most devilish comedians. A unique combination of energy and sparkle, other worldliness and circus pizzazz.. Tickets for Electric Picnic 2010 are now on sale. <a href="http://www.electricpicnic.ie/">Click here to get tickets</a> Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT 2010-02-15T00:00:00 951314fb-a10b-44db-823e-d40ff78c847b 1000000 Watch out for fake websites Beware of unauthorised ticket agencies including eBay, buying from them can be a lot of trouble - You are likely to pay over the odds for a ticket that will have never existed or might never materialise. Beware of unauthorised ticket agencies including eBay, buying from them can be a lot of trouble - You are likely to pay over the odds for a ticket that will have never existed or might never materialise. <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/p/w/y/Authorised Ticket Agents(1).pdf">Info on Authorised agents</a> <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/m/f/k/Unauthorised Ticket Agents(1).pdf">List of Unauthorised touts</a> <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/m/f/k/Unauthorised Ticket Agents and Ticket Touting Info.pdf">Info on Ticket Touting</a> Most notable of these UNAUTHORISED sites are: 1st4londontheatre.co.uk, anyticket.com, anyworldwideevent.com, bakerageLTD, bookfestivalsonline, bookmetickets.com, britevents.com, britishconcerts.com, clickfortickets.co.uk, clickitticket.com, coasttocoasttickets.com, contactmusic.com, cosmictickets.com, craigslist.org, double8tickets.com, Ebay.co.uk, Ebay.com, euroteam.net, euroticketfinder.co.uk, euticketshop.com, everysell.com, exciteticket.com, festivalnews.co.uk, Festivalticketstore.com, festivalz.org, frontrowtickets.com, Getmein.com, getmetickets.com, getmetickets.net, getmetickets.org, gigsport.com, goldstarttickets.co.uk, goodtimeentertainments.co.uk, gotickets.com, gumtree.com, hertsboxoffice.co.uk, independentticketexchange, justtheticket.co.uk, justtheticket.uk.com, lastsecondtickets.co.uk, leeds-festival.com, leedsfestival.net, leeds-festival.net, leedsfestival2009.com, leeds-festival-2010.com, leedsfestivaltickets2010.com, londonnet.co.uk, londonticketbrokers.co.uk, londonticketexchange.com, londonticketmarket.com, londonticketsexpress.com, londonticketshop.co.uk, londonticketshop.com, luckyseventickets.com, lunatickets.com, mostwantedtickets.co.uk, no1eventsltd.co.uk, no1soldoutevents.com, Offthewalltickets.com, onlineseats.com, onlineticketexchange.com, onlineticketexpress.com, onlineticketexpress.net, onlinetravelshops.co.uk, paperticket.co.uk, play.com, premierevents.co.uk, premier-ticket.co.uk, reading-festival.com, readingfestival.net, reading-festival.net, reading-festival.net, readingfestival.org, readingfestival2009.com, reading-festival-2010.com, readingfestivalonline.co.uk, readingfestivalonline.com, readingfestivaltickets.co.uk, readingfestivaltickets2010.com, readingfesty.org, readingleeds.co.uk, reading-leedsfestival.com, redcircletickets.com, seatexchange.co.uk, seatmaster.co.uk, seatwave.com, showtimetickets.co.uk, skiddle.com, sohotickets.com, soldoutentertainments.com, soldoutevents.co.uk, soldouteventtickets.com, soldoutticketmarket.com, songkick.com, SOSmasterticket.com, SOSticketmaster.co.uk, sostickets.com, splendidtickets.com, sportscityevents.com, stagediveonline.com, stereoboard.com, stubhub.com, stubhub.com, stubpass.com, summerfestivaltickets.com, summerfestivetickets.com, superticketshop.com, ThelondonTicketshop.co.uk, theonlineticketshop.com, therealticketcompany.co.uk, Theticketsite.co.uk , threechings.com, tickco.com, ticket2bethere.co.uk, ticket2ride.net, ticket4-you.com, ticketbande.co.uk, ticketeasy.uk.com,  ticketgallery.co.uk, tickethold.com, ticketliquidator.com, Ticketlister.com, ticketloot.com, ticketluck.com, ticketnest.net, ticketnetwork.com, ticketnova.com, tickets.telegraph.co.uk, tickets4readingfestival.com, ticketsinventory.com, TicketsMarket.co.uk, ticketsnow.com, ticketsocial.com, ticketsolutions.co.uk, ticketsolutionsltd.com, tickets-scotland.com, ticketssoldout.co.uk, ticketssoldout.net, ticketstub.com, ticketsukltd.com, tickettout.com, tickettriangle.com, TicketUK.com, Ticketwiz, tickex.com, tix2event.com, TixDaq.com, Tix-On-Sale.com, totaltickets.co.uk, trustedtickets.com, ukticketfactory.com, vipblocktickets.com, vividseats.com, warnfestivals.co.uk, welovefestivals.com, westminsterevents.com, worldticketshop.com, worldwideticketing.com, worldwidetickets.com, worldwideticketstore.com, xclusiveticket.com, yourticketmarket.com, ztickets.com ...and these are just the ones we know about. Additional Unauthorised Sites: Anyone advertised on Readingfestival.org - this is not an authorised site. <a href="http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/reports/consumer_protection/ticketagentquestions.pdf">More tout info from Office of Fair Trading - please read</a>                                ~ . ~ We are currently looking into companies selling 'touted' tickets and we are doing what we can to stop fraudulent activity. FURTHER INFORMATION & CONTACTS:  If you feel a victim of these companies we suggest a number of actions: 1.Call the police; if your money has been taken and no product delivered, this is theft. 2.Report the company to the Trading Standards 3.Contact the BBC's watchdog programme 4.Contact the websites' Internet Service Providers as they have obligations to ensure they are not publishing fraudulent and illegal activity. HELPFUL LINKS: <a href="http://www.direct.gov.uk/RightsAndResponsibilities/RightsAndResponsibilitiesArticles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10015892&chk=I8hfA1">Trading Standards website customer accounts of GetMeTickets</a>  <a href="http://www.easynet.com/legal/acceptable.asp">Easynets Acceptable use policy, Service provider of GetMeTickets</a>  <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/">BBC Watchdog</a> <a href="http://www.getsafeonline.org/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=1446">Get Safe Online</a> <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/Festival_T&Cs_2009.pdf">Festival Republic's Ticket Terms & Conditions</a> Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT 2010-02-12T00:00:00 95586df6-e004-4421-8d1c-5b0ec6fb033d 1000000 The Rage Factor On Sunday 6th June, Finsbury Park will host the victory party to end all victory parties! Rage Against The Machine reached the Christmas No. 1 spot thanks to those that bought the single and now the massive 'Thank you' gig that was promised is finally here! On Sunday 6th June, Finsbury Park will host the victory party to end all victory parties! Let's celebrate! All tickets have now been allocated. PLEASE DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BUY FROM EBAY OR OTHER WEBSITES OR TICKET TOUTS. You will only be allowed entry to the event if you match the photo that is on your ticket. This has been done to prevent tickets being sold on at inflated prices and to guarantee that all the tickets are free and go to genuine fans. Anyone attempting to gain entry without the correct photo, name and address details will be refused entry. Those aged 16 and under must be accompanied by an over 18 adult. <a href="http://www.theragefactor.co.uk">www.theragefactor.co.uk</a>  Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:15:00 GMT 2010-02-11T19:15:00 d7aef7a0-a7d4-4c30-bfe4-9d1b81a36c2e 1000000 Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser The aim of this event is to raise awareness of a culture in trouble and generate desperately needed funds for the people of Haiti. The sole beneficiaries will be <a href="http://www.actionaid.org.uk/">ActionAid</a> & <a href="http://www.msf.org.uk/">Medecins Sans Frontieres</a> with 100% of all ticket sales going to the charities. Tickets are now on sale for the fundraiser at London's Roundhouse on 25th February 2010. <a href="http://www.haitiearthquakefundraiser.com/index.php">http://www.haitiearthquakefundraiser.com/index.php</a> Festival Republic is proud to support ActionAid. Since 2002 ActionAid has teamed up with us at Reading Festival to give thousands of people the opportunity to say "Bollocks To Poverty!" and take action against HIV, unfair trade, corporate abuse, climate change and hunger.                                   <img alt="http://www.actionaid.org.uk/" width="190" height="35" src="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/w/z/y/Image/action-aid-logo.gif" /> <a href="http://www.actionaid.org.uk/">ActionAid</a> are delighted that the Haiti Earthquake fundraiser has chosen them as a beneficiary. The earthquake has been a complete tragedy for Haiti, already the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Up to one-third of the population of Haiti has been affected by this devastating earthquake, the worst seen in the country for 200 years. Haiti’s Prime Minister is estimating that up to 100,000 people may have been killed, and three million people could be affected. Many people are still trapped under the rubble of fallen buildings. There are now serious concerns for the survivors’ health and safe water, sanitation and food become scarce.  ActionAid Haiti Country Director, Jean-Claude Fignole has described the situation being faced: “Conditions are catastrophic - absolutely catastrophic. I have seen some of the most horrible things I have seen in my life. I am putting out a plea to the government, to any of the authorities co-operating with Haiti, to help clean up the bodies on the streets because the health and the sanitation of this situation for the city are potentially of epic proportions." ActionAid's response ActionAid has a long-established programme in Haiti. Our staff and partners are already there working with communities and helping the poorest and most vulnerable people. Emergency specialists are on their way to help local staff to deliver food, shelter, blankets, soap and other items. We will also be providing counselling and support to Haitians who have lost loved ones in the earthquake. We urgently need to raise £800,000 for immediate relief, to provide water, food and shelter for around 20,000 people. Richard Turner, Director of Fundraising, ActionAid UK has called out to supporters  “Now is the time to help - this event will help us to provide emergency care and rebuild the lives of Haitians in the long-term. The earthquake has been a brutal reminder of the force of nature, but also of the capacity of mankind to ease the suffering of others in their hour of need. We are delighted to receive this support.” All funds donated to ActionAid from the Haiti Earthquake fundraiser, will be spent ensuring ActionAid can continue supporting the communities affected, helping them to re-build their lives, restore livelihoods and recover from the trauma of the earthquake. What your money can achieve: £10 could provide water to 25 families for a day £36 could help provide a vital supplies kit to a family who have lost everything £50 could help provide temporary shelter for a whole family To find out more about ActionAid’s work in Haiti and around the world: <a href="http://www.actionaid.org.uk">www.actionaid.org.uk</a>                                   <a href="http://www.msf.org.uk/"><img alt="" width="200" height="120" src="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/w/z/y/Image/medecins.gif" /></a> "On behalf of our patients, our international medical volunteers and our Haitian staff we would like to thank you. By organising the Haiti Earthquake Fundraiser At The Roundhouse you are showing incredible initiative and compassion. Your hard work compliments that of our medical who are working 24 hours a day to save the injured in Haiti. So far we have treated over 1,500 people; people with burns; people with broken bones and head injuries; people in need of amputations as gangrene sets in; children orphaned by the earthquake. The numbers affected are incomprehensible. But each one of you is helping one or more of them, in their greatest hour of need. And MSF is sincerely grateful to you." James Kliffen - Head of Fundraising, Médecins Sans Frontières <a href="http://www.msf.org.uk/">www.msf.org.uk/</a> Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT 2010-01-22T00:00:00 a84c3398-85cf-4b28-890b-c09adcc7b6d9 1000000 Thailand ~ Charity Trip 2010 Ola Nilsson, Festival Republic's Charity Volunteer returns to Thailand The Pakklong School was in a state of utter disrepair. It had only one building, (which was over 4 decades old and dilapidated) and there are only three classrooms to accommodate over a hundred pupils. Also, as the school caters for a variety of age groups, younger children are forced to share washing facilities with older students which means that they have difficulties reaching the taps and other facilities. Festival Republic joined forces with Cradle to open a new school built from funds from guest list donations in the village of Pakklong. Pakklong village was badly affected by the 2004 Tsunami and Sharon has visited the area a number of times prior to the decision to build and Ola spent three months in early 2009 helping with the construction of the school.  Now, Ola returns to Pakklong and the surrounding areas to teach English using his new language skills. See how he gets on with Thai and the new people he meets along the way. The Return To Thailand Read Ola's weekly blogs below: <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/s/b/p/Olas Blog1.pdf">Week 1</a>      <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/s/b/p/Olas Blog2.pdf">Week 2</a>      <a href="media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/s/b/p/Olas Blog3(1).pdf">Week 3</a>      <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/s/b/p/Olas Blog4.pdf">Week 4</a>     <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/s/b/p/Olas Blog5.pdf">Week 5</a>     <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/s/b/p/Olas Blog6.pdf">Week 6</a>      <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/s/b/p/Olas Blog7.pdf">Week 7</a> Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT 2010-01-15T00:00:00 8f6390ea-740c-473f-bdcb-985cfb1ac53b 1000000 Hove Festival 2010 Tickets are now on sale We are happy to see that so many people already are planning for Hove 2010. The first artists for the 2010 lineup were announced last week, and we can tell you that there's lots more in the pipeline! Hove has the best from the world's of indie, electro, metal and hip hop. Hove Festival 2010 takes place between 29th of June and 2nd of July on Tromøya outside Arendal, Norway. The line up so far includes Dizzee Rascal, Gallows, As I Lay Dying, Serena Maneesh and Kråkesølv.  Tickets are now on sale. See you at Hove 2010! <a href="http://www.hovefestival.com/">www.hovefestival.com/</a> Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT 2009-12-17T00:00:00 e5665c7d-0a61-45a2-98c5-73495490bd20 1000000 Christmas Parcels with The Salvation Army Reading Festival helped The Salvation Army pack up Christmas Food Parcels. At Reading Festival this year, festival goers were asked to donate any unwanted, non-perishable food at dedicated drop-off points around the site and over a tonne of food was collected by The Salvation Army!   Yesterday a team of Festival Republic volunteers went along The Salvation Army in Reading to help pack almost 600 Christmas food parcels for local families and single people nominated by social services. Melvin Benn, Managing Director of Festival Republic:  “It’s been a massive success - the food donation scheme is definitely here to stay and we will look to expand on this next year.” Thanks to everyone who donated this year! You can see the news piece <a href="http://www.itv.com/meridian-west/fullprogramme/">HERE</a> (12.25 minutes in) <img height="210" width="350" alt="" src="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/n/i/e/Image/ChristmasParcels4.jpg" /> Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 08 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT 2009-12-08T00:00:00 b9d456dd-2682-4ffd-a8ec-689b1406a137 1000000 Electric Picnic 2010 The hottest bands, the brightest minds, the most devilish comedians. “..a totally amazing event…a cross between Glastonbury and Hay-on-Wye” Jon Snow, Sept 09 Electric Picnic will be parading back into Stradbally once again next September 3rd, 4th & 5th with all the usual suspects and more, adorned in all their festival finery.  The hottest bands, the brightest minds, the most devilish comedians. A unique combination of energy and sparkle, other worldliness and circus pizzazz. For those eager to get an early start there will be a limited release of Early Bird tickets on Friday 4th December at the usual reduced rate of €199. The Family Early Bird will also go on sale this date. (Be sure to book this ticket to ensure access to the Family Campsite). Tickets will be on sale from 9am Friday 4th December at <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.ie">www.ticketmaster.ie</a> CreditCard Hotline Ph 0818 719300/ NI 0870 2434455 Tune in next Spring for Music line-up announcement. ‘…you know you’re in for a different festival experience. ‘ Irish Independent Sept 2008 <a href="http://www.electricpicnic.ie">www.electricpicnic.ie</a> Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT 2009-12-04T00:00:00 674215d5-ad99-4984-b050-03923a7d6275 1000000 Merchandise Sale Up to 50% off - tshirts, hoodies, programmes... We're having a sale - up to 50% off. Remember the good times with a festival tshirt, a hoodie, a programme or a tote bag! <a href="http://latitude.sandbag.uk.com/Store/DisplayItems-102341-0-0.html">Latitude</a>        <a href="http://readingleedsfestival.sandbag.uk.com/Store/DisplayItems-100921-0-0.html">Reading & Leeds</a> Perfect gifts for Christmas - but remember the last shipping dates for delivery before 25th December: UK: First Class: 21st December Special Delivery: 23rd December Rest Of World [International Airmail & Signed for] 4th December: South & Central America, Caribbean, Africa, Middle East, Far East, Asia, New Zealand Australia 10th December: Japan, USA, Canada, Eastern Europe 11th December: Western Europe Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT 2009-12-02T00:00:00 561ca984-8bd5-4700-b458-e0f317949bb6 1000000 2010 Disabled Customers ~ Festival Information Annual guides for our disabled customers at 2010 festivals next summer. Below are the annual guides to disabled access and facilities at Reading, Leeds and Latitude Festivals. We want everyone to be able to enjoy our events, participate, feel safe, and be part of the crowd. We hope to help you make an informed decision about attending. This information is also contained on each event’s own website. Festival Republic is proud to continue supporting and working alongside Attitude Is Everything, the foremost disability advice and information service currently working to improve D/deaf and disabled people’s access to live music. Disabled consultants, volunteers and gig goers attend and audit our events, and their feedback, with that of our customers, is central to our ongoing work. If you have any comments about this guide, please send them to us. This information is also available in large print, and can be posted or emailed. Details on how to apply are yet to be confirmed. Please note all information may be subject to change, but updated information will be available on site.  <a href="http://readingfestival.co.uk/info/index.aspx?id=407">Reading Information</a> <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/content/z/x/l/Leeds%20Festival%20-%20disabled%20info.pdf">Leeds Information </a> <a href="http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk/eventinfo/index.aspx?id=389">Latitude Information</a> Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT 2009-11-17T00:00:00 675f8c72-cbae-4edd-a7e8-f3dd779a1db4 1000000 Hove Festival 2010 At least two major headliners are confirmed. At the press conference last night, Festival Republic's Managing Director, Melvin Benn, announced that the wheels are in motion for the 2010 Hove Festival. At least two major headliners are confirmed and will hopefully be announced some time before Christmas. The festival dates have been moved so that Hove will be in the same period as the Roskilde festival in Denmark. This is a great opportunity for Hove to attract some of the same artists as Roskilde, one of Europe's biggest and most well known festivals. Festival passes will be available next Tuesday, 17th of November. All tickets will be sold at 2009 prices until 25th of December! The first artists have been announced: English hardcore punkers Gallows, metalcore from As I Lay Dying and Every Time I Die, californian Atreyu, The Antlers, Japandroids and Norwegian act Kråkesølv were announced at the press conferance last night. Many more bands will be confirmed in the next few weeks, so be sure to check in for updates on booking and lots more! Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT 2009-11-11T00:00:00 9943978c-3633-43f5-a776-3ee11a7fd86b 1000000 Adam Green at Electric Ballroom Festival Republic presents the anti-hero of the anti-folk scene Festival Republic presents: ADAM GREEN + The Voluntary Butler Scheme Electric Ballroom Thursday 4th February 2010 Doors 7.00 pm Adv £12.50 (booking fees apply) In support of new material, anti-folk troubadour and famous American celebrity  Adam Green returns to London for a show at the Electric Ballroom in February. His new album 'Minor Love' will be released January 11th 2010 through Rough Trade Records. Recorded with long time producer/friend Noah Georgeson, his sixth album showcases a tender side from the often arrogant and aspiringly bisexual singer. Tickets go on sale Tuesday 10th November from <a href="http://www.seetickets.com/?c=435611">HERE</a> Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT 2009-11-05T00:00:00 e98819cb-16fb-4452-8e1e-8b3d017a4ba9 1000000 Economic Business Impact Assessment We have commissioned Bristol based consultants Baker Associates to assess the festival’s economic impact. Surveys have already been carried out at this year’s event with festival goers and traders.  Students from the University of Reading conducted over 2000 face to face surveys with festival goers which explored demographic profile, festival attendance and spending patterns. A face to face survey with traders, suppliers and promoters on site at the festival was also conducted by Baker Associates to understand business types, expenditure, staffing levels and supply chains. The next step of the assessment is to ask local businesses how Reading Festival affects them in terms of employment, trading and turnover. We have commissioned Bristol based consultants Baker Associates to assess the festival’s economic impact.  The data derived from each of the above components will be fed into an economic impact model which estimates the impact of Reading Festival in terms of the investment it brings to the town and the jobs it helps to secure.  The results of the survey will be used to ensure the economic benefits of the Reading Festival are fully understood and capitalised on. Baker Associates, Festival Republic and Reading UK CIC, the economic development company for Reading, are now inviting Reading businesses to take part in a short survey.  The more businesses that complete the short survey, the more accurate the results will be.  The survey only takes a few minutes to complete and businesses will also have the chance to win 2 race passes at Teamworks Karting. Businesses can complete the survey by visiting: <a href="http://www.bakerassocs.com/reading_survey.php">http://www.bakerassocs.com/reading_survey.php</a>.   The deadline for completing the survey is 9 November. Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 18 Oct 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-10-19T00:00:00 3cada3bd-b8b8-41e8-87a0-a7ba8a70f16d 1000000 Them Crooked Vultures Festival Republic and SJM present two London dates in December Them Crooked Vultures will play HMV Apollo Hammersmith on 17th and 18th December. Tickets are now completely sold out.   Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-09-02T00:00:00 58b1644f-75e3-4323-8d62-8d3641a73567 1000000 Arctic Monkeys play 02 Academy Brixton Festival Republic presents Arctic Monkeys plus support Set to headline Reading & Leeds festivals over the Bank Holiday weekend coming up, Arctic Monkeys will play 02 Academy Brixton on Wednesday 26th August as they prepare to take to the main stage a few days later. To enter lottery for chance to buy a pair of tickets visit <a href="http://www.arcticmonkeys.com">www.arcticmonkeys.com</a>  Please note this is the only way to buy tickets and they are not available anywhere else. This show is strictly 16+ Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:00:00 GMT 2009-08-18T10:00:00 ac99b4ac-b90f-4c7a-8871-f1ea3bca3963 1000000 FestivalBUDi Liftshare to Reading or Leeds FestivalBudi is the new purpose built riding matching service set up just for festivals by Liftshare with the support of Festival Republic. Need to come to the festival by car? Find someone travelling your way to save yourself some money, be kind to the planet and have fun travelling with other festival goers. Sign up for free, and if you’re a driver offer a lift. If you don’t have a car and want to grab a ride, then sign up and put in a lift request. It’s a great way to reduce your petrol costs, reduce your carbon footprint and to make new festival buddies! <a href="http://www.festivalbudi.com">www.festivalbudi.com</a> <a href="http://www.liftshare.com/v3/pages/quickreg.asp?eid=5">Click here to go directly to the Reading Festival FestivalBudi lift matching page.</a> <a href="http://www.liftshare.com/v3/pages/quickreg.asp?eid=4">Click here to go directly to the Leeds Festival FestivalBudi lift matching page</a>. Remember to travel safely. Please read this practical safety guide on liftsharing put together by A Greener Festival: <a href="http://www.agreenerfestival.com/pdfs/Lift_Sharing.pdf">www.agreenerfestival.com/pdfs/Lift_Sharing.pdf</a> If you must bring your car, please consider the following in the interests of the environment and also to reduce congestion: •  Transport as many people as possible with you •  Travel at off peak times (the peak time for arriving onsite is 08.00 to 14.00 on the Thursday) •  Consider car sharing.  <a href="http://www.festivalbudi.com"><img height="86" alt="" width="313" src="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/k/f/f/Image/liftshare-budi.jpg" /></a> Find someone travelling your way to save yourself some money, be kind to the planet and have fun travelling with other festival goers. Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-08-06T00:00:00 d6453798-92b4-47da-9f7a-cda57234d0fe 1000000 Deftones & Rival Schools HMV Forum on Thursday 27th August The Deftones gig at the HMV Forum on Thursday 27th August is now SOLD OUT. Rival Schools will be supporting. Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 20 Jul 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-07-21T00:00:00 77c430ab-82c8-49a8-8a8a-630d9bfa220e 1000000 BBC Radio Arena at Latitude BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music join Radio 4 at Latitude for the first time. BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music today announce details of their debut appearance at the Latitude festival in July. The Latitude festival is an eclectic blend of music, arts and comedy, and both networks will broadcast a selection of live programmes giving festival goers the chance to interact with key arts and culture presenters. With a focus on the music, Radio 2 and 6 Music join festival regular BBC Radio 4 at the four-day event from Thursday 16 – Sunday 19 July in Southwold, Suffolk. Radio 4 is at Latitude for the fourth year with five shows featuring a mix of award-winning comedy and special commissioned programmes. Jeff Smith, Head of Music BBC Radio 2 says “Taking Radio 2 and 6 Music to Latitude demonstrates the continued commitment to bringing the best of live music and events to our audiences. It is important to get out and connect with our listeners around the country and Latitude represents a great opportunity for this – the broad range of music and varied arts and culture elements lend themselves well to our audience and to coverage in our programming. In addition, Radio 2’s lead focus on the music will complement the Latitude output of Radio 4.” Radio 2 kicks off the proceedings with Stuart Maconie broadcasting live from the festival on the Thursday night from 8pm. He’ll be interviewing topper Little Boots plus other big names as they arrive for the festival. Claudia Winkleman, who joined Radio 2 in last autumn, takes her weekly arts show on the road for the first time. She will be broadcasting live from the BBC Radio Arena on Friday night with an audience of 300 festival goers and lots of audience participation with her guests, including Latitude creator and director Melvin Benn. On Friday night, Dermot O’Leary will record a special Radio 2 Introduces performance from burgeoning star Elviin, in the BBC Radio Arena with a live audience. This will then go out as part of his show on Saturday afternoon, along with chats and performances from some of the biggest and most interesting music names at the festival. Radio 2 Introduces is a regular part of Dermot’s show where he hand picks a hot new artist to feature on the programme and the Radio 2 playlist. A special edition of The Great British Songbook Masterclass will be recorded on Saturday evening from the Literary Arena for broadcast as part of Janice Long’s show, (Monday 12.00am – 3.00am). A guest artist, to be announced at a later date, will play one of their songs and invite the audience to deconstruct the piece of music and lyrics and discuss its structure and influence. The audience will then be asked to reconstruct the song and perform it. Janice will also be having ‘campfire’ chats across the weekend with artists and musicians to be broadcast in her show in the early hours of Monday. 6 Music launches Latitude live on Friday with Steve Lamacq as he chats to live guests and plays hand picked performances. On Sunday a special edition of The Music Week is presented by Julie Cullen live from the site with Matt Everitt in the London studio featuring interviews from top festival names, all the music news and a look back over the four days of performance. Radio 4 tickets are available in advance to Latitude ticket holders only (Go <a href="http://shows.external.bbc.co.uk/help/shows/latitude_festival">HERE</a> to book) and will not be available on site.   BBC Radio 4 has five shows recording in front of festival audiences - a mix of old favourites and new specially commissioned output for Latitude. Festival early birds and comedy lovers can watch the award winning team of Steve Punt, Hugh Dennis, Marcus Brigstocke, Mitch Benn, Jon Holmes and Laura Shavin record the week's edition of the topical comedy The Now Show on Thursday night, which will broadcast on Friday 17. On Friday, Stories with Latitude! features a montage of stories written especially for Radio 4 at Latitude and read out loud by their authors; award wining novelist Matt Thorne, Emma Kennedy and Stephen K Amos. The programme will broadcast on Radio 4 the following week. On Saturday Clive Anderson returns to Latitude with Loose Ends for a mix of live music, stand-up comedy and conversation. He will be joined by guests including comedian Seann Walsh and Janeane Garofalo. The show will broadcast later the same evening. Stuart Maconie (Saturday) and Vivienne Westwood (Sunday) share their favourite passages from literature, hand picked especially for you, in two recordings of With Great Pleasure.  Joining Vivienne Westwood to read her selection will be actor David Morrissey. [Broadcast date tbc]. And finally to finish off a busy day, the award winning comedian Adam Hills, hosts 4 In A Field featuring the best of the Festival's comedy including Stephen K Amos and Rob Rouse, recorded for broadcast the following Wednesday. In addition BBC Radio 5 Live’s Gabby Logan brings her popular Sunday morning show live from the festival with her usual mix of topical chat, combined with a flavour of the festival, and a look at some of the stories of the weekend. Anarchic comedy sketch group Pappy's Fun Club will be dropping by with their take on a weekend at the festival, and comedienne Zoe Lyons will be casting her eye over the week’s events as News v Sport goes to Latitude. <a href="http://bbc.co.uk/latitude">bbc.co.uk/latitude</a> will feature broadcast and line up information, feeding out to the respective sites of the networks. <a href="http://bbc.co.uk/radio2">bbc.co.uk/radio2</a> will feature extensive content including pictures, videos, and exclusive content plus behind-the-scenes video with Claudia Winkleman and Dermot O'Leary. Claudia Winkleman will be Twittering her personal experience from the whole weekend here: <a href="http://twitter.com/ClaudiaWinkle">http://twitter.com/ClaudiaWinkle</a> and Radio 2 will be Twittering on behalf of the network as a whole here: <a href="http://twitter.com/BBC_Radio_2">http://twitter.com/BBC_Radio_2</a>. Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 21 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-06-22T00:00:00 f69a1aab-02c2-4c20-ad07-37b249986c0c 1000000 More bands added to Latitude Line Up A wealth of talent has just joined the bill... With the amazing announcement yesterday that Thom Yorke will play a special one-off set at noon on the Obelisk Stage on Sunday at Latitude, there are even more bands added today including Of Montreal, Lykke Li, Fever Ray, Paloma Faith, Maps, Local Natives, Mirrors, Sky Larkin, Villagers, Goldheart Assembly, Alfonzo, Camera Obscura, St Vincent. The last few tickets are available <a href="http://www.seetickets.com/latitude">HERE</a>. Weekend tickets cost £150 and day tickets are £60, all tickets are subject to booking fees. Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-06-09T00:00:00 495a056e-fb58-43ae-95a8-d653d604600a 1000000 Festival Republic Stage announced Marmaduke Duke, The Blackout, Bring Me The Horizon & La Roux With a line-up that crosses all the genres from rock to synth pop and all the names you have read about as tips for the year, The Festival Republic Stage is once again your A to Z of the best new bands in Britain and the world.  Reading and Leeds is not just about the big names, on this stage some of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll stories begin and, this year, here’s who will be writing their names into the history of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll show on earth. Marmaduke Duke, The Blackout & La Roux will be headlining the Festival Republic Stage. Plus: A Day To Remember, A Place To Bury Strangers, Amazing Baby, Atreyu, Baddies, Bear Hands, The Big Pink, Black Lips, Bombay Bicycle Club, Bring Me The Horizon, Broken Records, The Chapman Family, Detroit Social Club, Fight Like Apes, Go Audio, Golden Silvers, Grammatics, Hockey, The Hot Rats, Jack's Mannequin, The Joy Formidable, Lightspeed Champion, Magistrates, Marina And The Diamonds, Middle Class Rut, Pulled Apart By Horses, The Rumble Strips, Single File, Skint And Demoralised, The Soft Pack, Soulsavers, Sweethead, The Temper Trap, Titus Andronicus, White Denim. Also just announced, additions to the Main Stage include Mariachi El Bronx, The View and The Living End. Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-06-09T00:00:00 060c9c4a-0e90-401d-aea1-b09705f38037 1000000 Thom Yorke at Latitude A solo set from Thom Yorke at Latitude Festival. One of the most important and innovative songwriters and musicians of our generation, Thom Yorke, will be playing a solo set on the Obelisk Arena at noon on Sunday.  With this specially created time slot, there is no doubt Yorke will wow audiences with this exclusive and very rare solo performance. As well as worldwide success and dominance with multi-platinum album selling band Radiohead, in 2006 Yorke released his first solo album, ‘The Eraser’, which received a nomination for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize as well as a Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Music Album. Melvin Benn, Managing Director, Festival Republic says: ‘There is nothing I can add that Thom Yorke’s confirmation doesn't already say. That it is a special one-off performance for Latitude only fills me with enormous pride at the statement it makes about the festival. I am overjoyed at the thought of it.”   <a href="http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk">www.latitudefestival.co.uk</a> Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 07 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-06-08T00:00:00 a5a6b09f-29bb-4eb7-8552-382dd861a81c 1000000 Arctic Monkeys draw inspiration from Latitude Festival Third album due out before they headline Reading and Leeds Festivals. Frontman Alex Turner told NME.COM that the band started work on the album last summer, using their trip to the Latitude festival for inspiration. "We went to Latitude, ripped it up, wrote on our faces and eventually wrote some songs," he said. "We spent the first day there on the most complicated riff you've ever heard. "It goes round in seven-and-a-half-time. We used it in the end, it's on an intro. It was like [Black] Sabbath." The band also confirmed that they plan to release the album before their headline performances at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August. Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-06-04T00:00:00 726c80d2-33a7-4d20-902d-e17847374979 1000000 Vampires, Zombies and The Whoopee Club at Latitude Festival The Film & Music Arena is where you should start your night after the music ends! Get your tickets to the fourth edition of the festival on the glorious Sunrise Coast in Suffolk from <a href="http://www.seetickets.com/latitude">SeeTickets.com</a> UNCUT ARENA ~ Saint Etienne ~ The Temper Trap ~ SUNRISE ARENA ~ Kap Bambino ~ FILM & MUSIC ARENA ~ Future Cinema Presents Black Cat White Cat with Taraf de Haidouks~ ~ Noise Of Art presents ‘Love Bites – The Dance Of The Vampires ~ ~ Vashti Bunyan: From Here to Before with Kieran Evans, Adem & Friends ~ ~ Jeremy Deller ~ Jeremy Warmsley ~ ~ One eskimO ~ London Short Film Festival ~ ~ Night Of The Living Dead – 3D ~ LITERARY ARENA ~ Frank Skinner ~ ~ Grace Maxwell & Edwyn Collins ~ ~ Punk Fiction with Cathi Unsworth, Nicholas Hogg, Janine Bullman, Salena Godden, Dev Hynes, Lee Bullman ~ COMEDY ARENA ~ Lee Mack ~Stephen Grant ~ Rob Rouse ~ John Gordillo ~ Kerry Godliman ~ CABARET ARENA ~ The Whoopee Club ~ Ima Doll ~ Fancy Chance ~ Ekat ~ ~Beaux Belles ~ Russella ~ The Two Wrongies ~ ~ Miss Lady G Luck ~ Simon Deville ~ Des O’Connor ~ Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 01 Jun 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-06-02T00:00:00 d198215a-9dd3-4397-8b70-dd3935158f20 1000000 Amazing Art at Latitude Jeremy Deller, Sir Peter Blake, and One eskimO Artist and Turner Prize Winner, Jeremy Deller will give a talk at Latitude in the Film & Music Arena. In huge demand, Deller has recently displayed his latest installation in Louis Vuitton’s newly opened store and was also one of the six selected nominees for the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. His project 'The Spoils of War (Memorial for an Unknown Civilian)’ is an idea which took him all over America towing the burned-out wreck of a car blown up in a suicide bombing in Iraq to discover the reactions to this lump of twisted metal. Deller will also answer questions from the floor with director Nicholas Abrahams about their documentary ‘The Posters Came From The Walls’, a fascinating and inspired study of Depeche Mode fans from around the world which will be played in full on Friday at Latitude. Sir Peter Blake will be in conversation with Mark Ellen discussing his life and work. Initially, Sir Peter Blake may have been most acclaimed in the general public’s eyes through his design of The Beatles ‘Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band’ album sleeve (1967), but continued to produce art for the Band Aid single in 1984, Paul Weller’s ‘Stanley Road’ album a decade later and the late Ian Dury tribute album in 2001 who was highly influenced by Sir Peter Blake’s work. Sir Peter Blake has taught in numerous establishments and currently lives and works in London. Produced by Rollo of Faithless, One eskimO, are a four piece, animated band consisting of a penguin, an Eskimo, a giraffe and a monkey. Together they make beautiful blissed-out music full of soulful vocals, ambient beats and laid-back grooves. At Latitude they will be bringing the worlds of film and music together, the band (consisting of Kristian Leontiou on vocals, Adam Falkner on drums, Pete Rinaldi on guitar and Jamie Sefton on bass and horns) play in front of a big screen showing stunning films of the trials and tribulations of One eskimO and friends. The cartoon characters and their enchanted world are conjured up by Passion Pictures who are the team behind Gorillaz and the video to recent single ‘Hometime’ won the Public Choice Award at the 2008 British Animation Awards. Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 31 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-06-01T00:00:00 b22cd302-2b40-444e-8f5f-923797e57629 1000000 Latest Latitude Acts More great bands just added to the Music Arenas. OBELISK ARENA ~ Datarock ~ The open-air Obelisk Arena has been the stage for some epic performances over the past three years and the line up for Latitude 2009 will continue in this success. Lay out your picnic blanket, bask in the sunshine and get down to some of the best music around. UNCUT ARENA  ~ Marnie Stern ~ iLiKETRAiNS ~ ~ Wildbirds and Peacedrums ~ The impressive structure of the tented Uncut Arena houses a line-up of alternative, leftfield music; a hotbed of genre-spanning artists all offering something unique. This year will once again host a myriad of musical musts from the fields of folk, world, experimental, electronica, rock, indie and any other musical style you can think of. It’s all on offer at the Uncut Arena. SUNRISE ARENA ~ 65 Days Of Static ~ ~ Asaf Avidan and The Mojos ~ Take a stroll through Latitude’s fairytale woods with art exhibited within the trees and dappled sunlight shining through the leaves and you will stumble across the most exquisite space of all; the Sunrise Arena, home to tomorrow’s biggest stars. With a full schedule still to be announced, this cosy and cherished arena is the place to find the most exciting new talent. Discover the next big thing at Latitude’s stunning Sunrise Arena. Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 25 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-05-26T00:00:00 6889f332-aeb1-4788-bfbc-2abdda96c9aa 1000000 More bands announced for Reading and Leeds Check out the following superb additions to what is THE festival bill of the summer! Main Stage  FRIDAY Reading / SUNDAY Leeds New Found Glory  .  Alexisonfire  .  Madina Lake  .  Sonic Boom Six Main Stage  SATURDAY Reading / FRIDAY Leeds The Rakes  .  Fightstar  NME / Radio 1 Stage  FRIDAY Reading / SATURDAY Leeds The Horrors  .  Little Boots  .  The Airborne Toxic Event  .  The Virgins  .  Manchester Orchestra  .  Dananananaykroyd  NME / Radio 1 Stage  SATURDAY Reading / FRIDAY Leeds You Me At Six  .  Patrick Wolf . Metric  .  Spinnerette  . Delphic  . Dinosaur Pile Up NME / Radio 1 Stage  SUNDAY Reading / SATURDAY Leeds Crystal Castles  .  Passion Pit  .  Metronomy  .  Frank Turner  .  Lethal Bizzle  .  In Case Of Fire  .  Broadway Calls  Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 25 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-05-26T00:00:00 b8ff903e-e416-4020-8dd3-efed23f0247e 1000000 Fabulous Fashion at Latitude Festival Vivienne Westwood, House of Blueyues Fashion Extravaganza and of course the glamourous Cabaret Arena Bringing together the worlds of fashion, art, music and film in an exciting and vibrant culture collision the House Of BlueEyes collective will be staging an incredible fashion show exclusively at Latitude Festival this year. Using Latitude’s striking setting as the backdrop and performed over the festival’s beautiful lake, label creator Johnny BlueEyes together wit h his army of designers and artists will stage a magnificent showcase of an exquisite collection of garments and accessories accompanied by fantastic music and live performances. Titled, ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Faerie’, this will be a magical show of high fashion, loud music and stunning art. The fashion show including fierce catwalks and performance art, will feature fabulous designs and specially made special pieces to be premiered at the Festival. As always, music will play an integral part of the show and soundtracking the event will be a heart-pumping mixture of classic and modern rock ‘n’ roll, anything from Primal Scream to Iggy Pop with a few extra little surprises to keep the party going. The grande dame of fashion Vivienne Westwood will be reading from her challenging and thought-provoking manifesto 'Active Resistance to Propaganda' in Latitude's Literary Arena. A collection of essays it is full of ideas about art and culture that claims to "...penetrate to the root of the human predicament and offer the underlying solution."  If you want to experience something entirely different then seek out Latitude’s quirky den of mischief and mayhem; the Cabaret Arena. Inside you will witness comedy sketch shows, burlesque, freak shows, drag queens, sing-a-longs, illusionists and much, much more. With Vaudeville fun, sharp, incisive wit, camp entertainment and a good ol’ fashioned knees up, the Cabaret Arena positively encourages you to leave your inhibitions at the door and be game for anything and everything. This surreal bordello of surprises and spectacular stage shows is visually rich, beautiful and bizarre and will tempt and titillate in equal measure. Ever dreamt of 1950’s pin up girls bursting out of giant cakes and bathing in champagne? Britain’s famous Whoopee Club will make your dreams come true live in the Cabaret Arena. Established in 2003 and having performed at various events such as the Hackney Empire and the V&A museum, the Whoopee Club will bring joie de vivre back into our hearts through their fusion of burlesque and theatre with Fancy Chance, eKat, The Two Wrongies, Ima Doll, Russella, Beaux Belles, Miss Lady G Luck, Simon Deville, and Des O'Connor. Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 24 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-05-25T00:00:00 f6b726dd-5aed-41f5-bffe-1a4594415462 1000000 Festival Republic & Cradle - Thailand Project 2009 We hope that the new facilities will provide the children with the safe, calm and inspiring environment they need to study. With Cradle we announced in February that we had started to build the new Pakklong School in Thailand. The digging for the school’s foundations began back on the 17th of December 2008. If the children of the Kapong District are to develop and thrive academically they will need financial support and it is crucial that they receive funding for a new building, new classrooms and basic schoolbooks. The Pakklong School is in a state of utter disrepair. It has only one building, (which is over 40 years old and dilapidated) and there are only three classrooms to accommodate over a hundred pupils. Also, as the school caters for a variety of age groups, younger children are forced to share washing facilities with older students which means that they have difficulties reaching the taps and other facilities. We hope that the new facilities will provide the children with the safe, calm and inspiring environment they need to study. In an attempt to assist the building of the new Pakklong school Ola Nilsson from Festival Republic, was on site in Thailand to give the building crew a helping hand.  "It is inspiring to be here and meet the students, teachers and the building crew. Everyone is very excited about the new school and once it is ready the new facilities will provide a much better foundation for the children’s education. I was based in Thailand for ten weeks and during my time here I worked a few days a week on the building site and the rest of the week II taught the students music and sport. As Festival Republic and Cradle supports two other schools in the area, Thahan and Ban Bang Muang schools I also had classes there. All students were very keen to take part in both music and sport activities and it is with great enthusiasm they threw themselves into playing with the instruments, footballs and volleyballs on each occasion. For me personally it felt great to be part of this project and it is with great excitement I arrived at work every day.    Below are my weekly updates from Thailand" Ola Nilsson <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/d/h/q/OlasBlog1.pdf">Week 1</a>      <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/d/h/q/Olas%20Blog2.pdf">Week 2</a>     <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/d/h/q/OlasBlog3(1).pdf">Week 3</a>     <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/m/h/p/OlasBlog4.pdf">Week 4</a>     <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/d/h/q/OlasBlog5.pdf">Week 5</a>     <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/d/h/q/OlasBlog6.pdf">Week 6</a>     <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/d/h/q/OlasBlog7.pdf">Week 7</a>   <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/d/h/q/OlasBlog8.pdf">Week 8</a>     <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/d/h/q/OlasBlog9.pdf">Week 9</a>        <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/d/h/q/OlasBlog10.pdf">Week 10</a>  Two volunteers, Leah and Brad from the UK, joined Ola in his penultimate week in Pakklong. Leah and Brad were part of the Festival Republic volunteer project where two people get the chance to go abroad and work for a week on one of our projects in Thailand or Bosnia. Read their blogs below: <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/d/h/q/Brads Thailand Blog1.pdf">Brad's Blog</a>           <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/j/s/g/ChloesThailandBlog.pdf">Leah's Blog</a> Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 21 May 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-05-22T00:00:00 2a6ee257-db60-40f3-b71f-29d755c422be 1000000 Latitude Book Club 2009 Calling all bookworms... We are starting up the Book Club again.  For those of you that don't remember it from last year; together we select a book to read, and in the following fortnight we'll discuss it on these forums. Then towards the end, you can send in your Book Reviews which we will publish on the website, and the best will win literary-based prizes.  This month's vote went to: New vote on the forums at the moment. Results out Friday 1st May. <a href="http://forums.latitudefestival.co.uk/tm.aspx?m=40022">Join in on the forums here...</a> Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-04-30T00:00:00 998d19f0-1f69-43a6-9f0f-33acb6551767 1000000 Become a CAT Gain free entrance to this summer's Festivals by joining our Campsite Assistant Teams (CATs) Gain free entrance to this summer's Festivals by joining our Campsite Assistant Teams (CATs)  We are recruiting volunteers for Reading, Leeds, and Latitude Festivals. Typical duties of a volunteer include: • Assisting festival goes with directions. • Helping festival goers carry their belongings and pitch their tents. • Reporting back on any problems – such as litter and facilities. In return for their efforts all volunteers are provided with: • A Crew Pass. • A CAT Pack. • A CAT Uniform. • A Secure Camping area. • Access to the Crew Café, Bar, Toilets, and Hot Showers! All volunteers are welcome to enjoy the festival when they are off-shift. To apply volunteers need to: • Be 18 or over. • Reading/Leeds – be available to arrive at the Festival site by midday (21:00 at the latest) on the Wednesday prior to the weekend of the event. Please note the shifts are allocated on a first come first served basis. • Reading/Leeds – be available for a briefing at either 13:00 or 22:00. • Reading/Leeds – be available to work 3 x 8 hour shifts at any time between 14:00 Wednesday (or midnight Wednesday if arriving for the 21:00 briefing) and 16:00 Monday. • Latitude – be available to arrive at the Festival site by 09:00 at the latest on Thursday 16th July 2009 - you're welcome to arrive from midday on Wednesday 15th. Please note the shifts are allocated on a first come first served basis. • Latitude – be available for a briefing at either 22:00 Wednesday 16th or 11:00 Thursday 16th. • Latitude – be available to work 3 x 8 hour shifts at any time between 13:00 Thursday 16th and 14:00 Monday 21st. • Wear a CAT uniform when on-shift. • Report in every two hours to your area supervisor, or immediately in the case of any problems. • Supply photographic ID on arrival. • Provide a refundable deposit of £200. The festival volunteers play a big part in creating a good atmosphere and helping all to get the most out of their festival. By being there helping people you will help us achieve this! If you're interested in volunteering to be a CAT please visit <a href="http://www.hotboxevents.com/">www.hotboxevents.com</a> Or you can email <a href="mailto:info@hotboxevents.com">info@hotboxevents.com</a> Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-04-30T00:00:00 3fc2dfbf-71c3-42fd-b453-a0c73481e250 1000000 Dashboard Confessional gig cancelled Any refunds required will need to be posted back to Festival Republic The Dashboard Confessional gig that was postponed from last December at the Astoria has now been cancelled. If you bought a ticket from the Astoria Box Office in 2008 and require a refund, please send the ticket back to Festival Republic at the address below and a cheque will be sent back to you. Please include your postal address. c/o Ticketing Department Festival Republic 35 Bow Street Covent Garden London WC2E 7AU Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 29 Apr 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-04-30T00:00:00 37d44037-843b-4cf1-8348-1ef1d1f656a0 1000000 Reading & Leeds Lock Up Stage announced Billy Talent and Rise Against headline Yet another amazing line up. Join the following bands at their best in the Lock Up Stage. Only four months to go... Reading Friday 28th August / Leeds Sunday 20th August Billy Talent Anti Flag AlexisonFire Bouncing Souls Leftover Crack The Aggrolites Streetlight Manifesto Fake Problems Riverboat Gamblers The Flatliners The Ghost Of A Thousand The Plight Reading Saturday 29th August / Leeds Friday 28th August Rise Against Thursday The Bronx Mad Caddies Rival Schools Set Your Goals Snuff Municipal Waste A Wilhelm Scream Chuck Ragan Polar Bear Club The Computers Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 07 Apr 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-04-08T00:00:00 5d0407a2-f251-4441-aec3-a27c491c8667 1000000 All Reading & Leeds Weekend Tickets SOLD OUT All weekend tickets for this year’s event are sold out for both sites. This includes all combined ticket and coach packages. In addition, all day tickets for all days have sold out for The Reading Festival. A small amount of day tickets are, at time of writing, available for all days at The Leeds Festival, priced £70 per day. See <a href="http://www.leedsfestival.com">www.leedsfestival.com</a> for details of where to buy these tickets. Melvin Benn, MD of Festival Republic, said of the dual sell out: “This is the 7th year in succession that both events have sold out within 24 hours of going on sale and I am very very pleased of course. The stature of the events have grown and grown each year and this year’s line up only adds to that. However, I must express caution towards all those who will now try to get their hands on tickets in whatever way they can as they do need to be careful of dodgy sites. The only site I can recommend will be viagogo who will at least guarantee anything they sell.” The world famous Reading and Leeds Festival takes place from Friday 28th August to Sunday 30th August 2009. Headliners this year are The Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead and Kings Of Leon. For more details on the bill and further information on the event please visit <a href="http://www.readingfestival.com">www.readingfestival.com</a> / <a href="http://www.leedsfestival.com">www.leedsfestival.com</a>. Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 31 Mar 2009 23:00:00 GMT 2009-04-01T00:00:00 d620a0a8-12aa-46ce-9727-dcf0d0b9b131 1000000 Festivals take anti-tout action Europe’s leading secondary ticketing company signs deal with Festival Republic to become the official secondary ticketing partner for the Reading, Leeds and Latitude Festivals. Europe’s leading secondary ticketing company signs deal with Festival Republic to become the official secondary ticketing partner for the Reading, Leeds and Latitude Festivals.   viagogo (<a href="http://www.viagogo.co.uk">www.viagogo.co.uk</a>), Europe's leading secondary ticketing company, has today signed a deal with Festival Republic to become the official secondary ticketing and ticket exchange partner of the Reading, Leeds and Latitude Festivals. This deal marks the first time major music festivals have signed a partnership of this kind. viagogo is not a primary ticket seller but allows fans to buy and sell tickets in a secure environment. viagogo guarantees the transaction and delivery of tickets so fans who buy will actually get their tickets, and fans who sell will actually get paid. viagogo will not sell a ticket it doesn’t have. viagogo will also have a physical pick-up point at Leeds and Latitude festival sites and a pick up point in Reading town centre to allow fans to collect their tickets at or very close to the event. Since 2006, viagogo has provided the official ticket resale service for top football clubs such as Manchester United, and Chelsea FC. The Manchester United and Chelsea FC ticket exchanges allow season ticket holders to sell their spare tickets to other fans in a safe and secure environment. This new deal follows viagogo’s partnerships with Madonna and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group and further cements viagogo as Europe’s market leading secondary ticketing company. Melvin Benn, Managing Director of Festival Republic said: “There were some disastrous ticketing issues last year leaving many fans disappointed after ‘buying’ non-existent resale tickets. A number of rogue ticketing websites sprung up offering fans tickets to our festivals that they did not posses. We have therefore agreed to work with viagogo as the recommended and only official ticket exchange for the Reading, Leeds, and Latitude festivals. If fans use other ticket exchanges or buy from unauthorised agents they risk being defrauded and not getting their festival tickets.” Eric Baker, CEO of viagogo said: “viagogo is thrilled to have been chosen as the official ticket exchange for 2009’s Reading, Leeds and Latitude festivals. It is an honour to be working with these events, which are among the premiere music festivals in all the world.” Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:15:00 GMT 2009-03-30T10:15:00 8b9a5d28-d5b0-4e7b-bd45-8e0a3b66d0ba 1000000 Latitude Festival Launches With 50% more tickets than last year being sold on the first day. Pet Shop Boys (Fri), Grace Jones (Sat),and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds (Sun) are headlining the festival. There are a huge number of arts arenas acts confirmed already! <a href="http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk/lineup">Go here to check them out</a> The following HMV stores will sell tickets from Tuesday 24th March at 9am: Cambridge, Colchester, Ipswich, Kings Lynn, Lincoln, Luton, Milton Keynes,  Peterborough, Norwich Chapelfield, Norwich Gentleman's. You can buy tickets at face value from the following places: Norwich Arts Centre, The Theatre Royal (Bury St Edmunds), Foxtail Lily, Lowestoft Tourist Information Centre, Colchester Arts Centre Online/Phones: <a href="http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk/">www.latitudefestival.co.uk</a> <a href="http://www.festivalrepublic.com/">www.festivalrepublic.com</a> <a href="http://seetickets.com/see/event.asp?artist=LATITUDE&orderby=date&filler1=see&filler3=id1latitude">SEE Tickets.com </a><a href="http://www.ticketweb.com/">Ticketweb</a> <a href="http://www.ticketline.co.uk/">Ticketline</a> <a href="http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/">Ticketmaster</a> <a href="http://www.gigantic.com/">Gigantic</a> <a href="http://www.stargreen.com/">Stargreen</a> <a href="http://lastminute.com/">Lastminute.com</a> <a href="http://www.norwichartscentre.co.uk/">Norwich Arts Centre</a> 01603 660352 Lowestoft Tourist Information Centre 01502 533600         <a href="http://www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk/">The Theatre Royal</a> (Bury St Edmunds) 01284 769505 Foxtail Lily 59 High Street, Southwold <a href="http://www.ipswichregent.com/">Ipswich Regent Theatre</a> 01473 433 100 <a href="http://www.ipswichregent.com/">Ipswich Corn Exchange</a> 01473 433 100 <a href="http://www.colchesterartscentre.com/">Colchester Arts Centre</a> 01206 500900 <a href="http://www.ueastudent.com/">Union of UEA Students</a> <a href="http://www.ticketqueen.com/">Ticket Queen</a> – <a href="http://www.ticketqueen.com/">www.ticketqueen.com</a> Ticket Queen Outlets – In person only: TQ Tickets Ltd, Flairsways Travel, Music Lovers, West Norfolk Travel, The Bus Station, Sounds Music, Galaxy Travel, Better Leisure, Beestons Hadleigh Ticketmaster outlets – in person only Greenwich Tourist Information, Camden Tourist Information, Wembley Arena Box Office, Bury St Edmunds Tourist Information, Harwich Tourist Information, Hastings Tourist Information, Luton Tourist Info Centre, Oxford Carling Academy, Southampton Guildhall, Southend-on-Sea Tourist Info Centre, Stowmarket Tourist Info Centre, Witham Visitor Information Centre, Taunton Heart of Somerset Info Centre, Birmingham Ticket Shop, Gloucester Tourist Info Centre, Leicester Tourist Info Centre, Nottingham City Information Centre, Peterborough Tourist Info Centre, Ripley Tourist Info Centre, Tamworth Tourist Info Centre, Carlisle Tourist Info Centre, Cleethorpes Tourist Info Centre, Darlington Tourist Info Centre, Harrogate Tourist Info Centre, Knaresborough Pear, Leeds Tourist Info Centre, Newcastle Carling Academy, Stockton Tourist Info Centre, Wakefield Tourist Info Centre, Accrington Tourist Info Centre, Altrincham Tourist Info Centre, Birkenhead GB Tours, Blackpool Tourist Info Centre, Blackpool Theatre Box Office, Bolton Albert Hall Box Office, Bury Tourist Info Centre, Cardiff Ticketline UK Ltd, Manchester Palace Theatre, Manchester Visitor Info Centre, Old Trafford Trafford Direct, Salford Tourist Info Centre, Southport Tourist Info Centre, St. Helens Tourist Info Centre, Swansea Derricks Music, Tameside Tourist Info Centre, Urmston Urmston Library, Warrington Parr Hall, Wigan Tourist Info Centre, Aberdeen Visitor Info Centre, Dundee VisitScotland, Dundee Groucho’s, Dunfermline VisitScotland, Edinburgh Playhouse, Edinburgh VisitScotland, Edinburgh VisitScotland Edinburgh International Airport, Greenock Rhythmic, Glasgow ABC, Glasgow VisitScotland, Glasgow Buchanan Galleries, Kirkcaldy VisitScotland, Perth Concorde, St Andrews VisitScotland  Sweden Stockholm Box Office AB Palmhuset Norrmalmstorg Norway Oslo Ticket Service Denmark Copenhagen ARTE Udland Kompagnistraede 20A Turkey Istanbul Biletix Call Centre – no personal callers Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT 2009-03-24T00:00:00 25147c0c-06bb-4b92-88b3-5fe794270463 1000000 Heavenly Planet Festival Cancelled The new festival planned for July 2009 has been cancelled due to the effect of the current economic climate. Reading Borough Council and Festival Republic announce that the new Heavenly Planet Festival planned for July 2009 has been cancelled due to the effect of the current economic climate.  Last month Festival Republic, Thomas Brooman and Reading Borough Council - joint organisers of the new festival - announced that entry to the festival would be free in its first year, with costs covered equally by the three partners. However the worsening economic climate has meant that one of the partners Thomas Brooman has been unable to commit to funding the event on the basis that had been agreed and has pulled out. As a result the two remaining partners, Reading Borough Council and Festival Republic, have reluctantly agreed to cancel the festival. Quote from Melvin Benn of Festival Republic:  “It is with regret that we make this announcement to cancel our new festival Heavenly Planet which was due to take place in Reading in July. The worsening economic crisis and circumstances beyond our control have been major factors in the final decision.” Quote from Graeme Hoskin, Lead Councillor for Culture & Sport, Reading Borough Council: "People everywhere are tightening their belts and making savings and we are no different. Through no fault of his own, Thomas was no longer able to make the equal financial commitment necessary. Whilst this is unfortunate, as a Council we do not feel we can commit any more public money to cover the additional costs that are now needed.” Whilst Reading Borough Council and Festival Republic are not in a position to make any financial commitment to holding an event next year, both organisers have now agreed to monitor the recession and any economic recovery with a view to planning for possible festivals in future years. Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:00:00 GMT 2009-03-17T09:00:00 fba54c40-27d8-4e4e-a4fc-f1175a84c668 1000000 Festival Republic Invests in Electric Picnic After five years the festival has become one of the most heralded around the world receiving critical acclaim from music fans and media alike. The UK's leading festival & event promoter Festival Republic is investing in the Electric Picnic Music & Arts Festival in what will be a fresh new chapter in the festival’s evolution. After five years the festival has become one of the most heralded around the world receiving critical acclaim from music fans and media alike. It is now a three day multi staged family event with some of the biggest names in music performing as well as featuring a large spoken word area, an arts & crafts field, a cookery stage and a designated family campsite and kids area.  Festival Republic, which is co-owned by Live Nation & Gaiety Investments, has a festival portfolio which includes the iconic Glastonbury as well as the Latitude festival and Reading & Leeds festivals in the UK. “I have been a friend of John Reynolds for a long, long time and have been a fan of the Electric Picnic Festival since its inception; it is Ireland’s version of Glastonbury as far as I am concerned and has been a great inspiration to Latitude too. I am very excited about partnering with John and his team to become part of it" said Melvin Benn, Managing Director of Festival Republic.  Part of this new deal sees the buying out of Aiken Promotion’s interest in the festival.  With regards to the new collaborators John Reynolds says: “I look forward to the new partnership with Melvin Benn and his team. Melvin and I have been friends for many years and I really look up to him as festival promoter.” The Electric Picnic Music & Arts Festival will take place as usual in Stradbally on 4th, 5th & 6th of September. This year’s lineup will be announced mid March which is when tickets will also go on sale. For more information check <a href="http://www.electricpicnic.ie">www.electricpicnic.ie</a> <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/g/m/u/ELECTRIC_PICNIC.pdf">Click here to read the press release</a> Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 17 Mar 2009 07:00:00 GMT 2009-03-17T07:00:00 975c5d04-88d3-4080-92a0-3c4d40c794e1 1000000 Information for Disabled Customers at our Festivals Check out the 2-for-1 scheme for 2009 <align></align><a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/u/m/g/2009_Guide_for_Disabled_Customers.pdf">Click here to read Reading & Leeds information</a> Please note application forms for Reading and Leeds must be received at our office by Friday 24th July 2009. <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/u/m/g/2009_Guide_for_Disabled_Customers_Latitude.pdf">Click here to read Latitude information</a> Application forms for Latitude must be received at our office by Friday 19th June 2009. <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/u/m/g/DISAB_APP 09.xls">Click here for the application form</a> Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT 2009-03-17T00:00:00 0e88f662-a2f1-4a67-bf57-6f87c8b4550d 1000000 Latitude Festival Tickets On sale Monday 23rd March at 7pm Tickets for the fourth edition will go on sale Monday 23rd March at 7pm. There are a number of authorised agents and websites that will be selling them <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/w/y/f/AuthorisedTicketAgents_2009.pdf">CLICK HERE TO SEE AUTHORISED LIST</a> More details coming soon. We recommend you do not buy from unauthorised agents. Please <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/w/y/f/Info_Unauthorised_TicketAgentsAndTicketTouting.pdf">read this PDF</a> with information about how to protect yourself when you are buying festival tickets Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 26 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT 2009-02-26T00:00:00 e79f8ee8-7f90-4deb-bb2f-189ca8561d44 1000000 Festival Republic adds Hove Festival to its portfolio The Norwegian Festival has been added to our festival portfolio. Norway’s Hove Festival is the first festival outside of Britain to join us, Festival Republic, the organisers behind some of the major festivals in the UK, including Reading/Leeds Festival, Latitude and Glastonbury.  Situated on an island outside the southern town of Arendal, the Hove Festival has in the two years since its formation grown to become the largest music festival in the country. It has also managed to raise tremendous acclaim from audience and artists alike. Festival Republic’s Melvin Benn says they are very pleased to take part in further developing the Hove experience. With Festival Republic now being the main owner and driving force behind the festival, he believes Hove has the potential to become one of the leading musical events in Northern Europe: We are very fond of the whole attitude behind the Hove Festival, in particular its environmental concerns and it’s booking profile. The surroundings are spectacular and gave us the right feeling straight away, he says.  Festival Republic regards Hove as a long term investment, and we are aware of its unique status among Norwegian and even European festivals in general. We want this festival to be something more than just your ordinary music festival, says Benn. Hove prides itself in being the first carbon neutral festival in Scandinavia, and takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously. Surrounded by deep forest and sea, the festival is a grand nature experience in itself, and an excellent opportunity for camping and leisure activities as well as taking in music, poetry, films, art and food. Former headliners at Hove include, among others, Jay Z, Beck, Amy Winehouse, The Killers, Arcade Fire, Kaiser Chiefs, Queens of The Stone Age, Slayer, The Raconteurs, and My Chemical Romance, but an important task for the festival has also been to introduce smaller, less known acts to a wider audience. This years festival will take place between the 22nd and 25th of June. <a href="http://www.hovefestival.com">Go to Hove's website</a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Hove-Festival-Norway/79977991278?ref=ts">Become a fan of Hove on Facebook</a> Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT 2009-02-12T00:00:00 41f22175-4a3b-462f-8d69-4d5d8951a068 1000000 No tickets for Reading will be onsale at the Festival NO WEEKEND OR DAY TICKETS for the Reading festivals will be sold at the festival again. NO WEEKEND OR DAY TICKETS for the Reading festivals will be sold at the festival again. There will be no box office of any kind. All tickets will be sent out to customers. If you are an overseas customer that has purchased tickets from an OFFICIAL ticket agent (<a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/m/f/k/2009UnauthorisedTicketAgentsandTicketTouting.pdf">see list here</a>), your tickets will be at The Hexagon in Reading. If you do not have tickets when approaching the gates you will be sent away. Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 26 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT 2009-01-26T00:00:00 aa12ab1c-a98d-47c2-a9d6-226e361f2794 1000000 Cradle and Festival Republic visit Thailand Festival Republic set off for Thailand to build a new school Pakklong is a small school in the Kapong District of Thailand, north of Phuket. Currently there are 110 children between the ages of 3 to 12 years old attending the school. There are only five teachers.  The school caters for a region of approximately 177 families. Over 80% work in the local rubber plantations and fruit farms. They earn roughly 5,000. - bht/month which is the equivalent of just over £19.00 a week. If the children of the Kapong District are to develop and thrive academically they will need financial support and it is crucial that they receive funding for a new building, new classrooms and basic schoolbooks.  The Pakklong school is in a state of utter disrepair. It has only one building, which is over 40 years old and dilapidated.  The lack of space affects both the quality of the lessons and the students’ ability to work. Children who differ in age and who are at various stages of learning are being taught in the same classroom – effectively hindering any chances of academic progress and individual development. Also, as the school caters for a variety of age groups, younger children are forced to share washing facilities with older students which means that they have difficulties reaching the taps and other facilities. The school’s principle reported this to Thai Authorities and Education Councils on a number of occasions but he has yet to receive even an acknowledgment of their situation.  <a href="http://www.festivalrepublic.com/charity">Click here for more information about the trip</a> Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:00:00 GMT 2009-01-12T14:00:00 4e996470-8773-4c6a-8105-7999d4db1783 1000000 Announcement ~ The Astoria Iconic music venue is set to close on the 15th January It is with great sadness we announce that one of London’s most iconic venues will be closing its doors before the end of the month. The Astoria is London’s best known music venue and is due to be demolished to make way for a Crossrail project that will install a new train line linking the east and west of the capital. On top of daily shows from the biggest current bands on the circuit, the Astoria has in the past played host to the Rolling Stones, Prince, U2, Foo Fighters, Eminem, David Bowie, Nirvana, Radiohead, Alice Cooper, Black Crowes, and Black Sabbath amongst many other world-class acts. The Astoria 2 will also be going as part of the Crossrail project. Sitting in the underbelly of the Astoria with a capacity of 1000, it too has a reputation for playing host to some of the freshest and most exciting bands on the scene. With its fair share of prestigious shows, the Astoria 2 holds claim to a similarly stellar rock’n’roll heritage, with artists such as Iggy Pop, Yoko Ono, Primal Scream, Moby and Metallica, forming part of its history. Regional Manager, Ivor Wilkins, who has overseen all shows at both the Astoria and Astoria 2 comments; “Having witnessed over 20 years of incredible music, the loss of such a fantastic venue with its electric atmosphere that few others possess is a terrible shame, and one, unfortunately, we had no control over. Its history of live music will remain in our hearts; beer-soaked and memory-stained. It is the end of an era. “ If you have purchased tickets for any event cancelled as a result of the closure of the Astoria & Astoria 2 please refer to your point of purchase for a refund. If you purchased direct from the venue Box Office please return your tickets by post to The Ticketing Department,Festival Republic,35 Bow Street,Covent Garden, London, WC2E 7AU If you require any further assistance or information regarding refunds or information on events that have changed venues as a result of the closure please call our Information Line on  020 7009 3001. Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:00:00 GMT 2009-01-05T18:00:00 5d3982a0-7cec-4b47-99eb-26ebf5bec3f9 1000000 Arrests made over ticket company Five people have been arrested in London in connection with a company selling festival tickets. Hundreds of people missed out on V Festival tickets and five people have been arrested in London in connection with a company selling festival tickets which went into liquidation in August. The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) is also launching an investigation into Xclusive Tickets, and is making a direct appeal for the public's help. They would like people who bought tickets from the site but did not receive them to get in touch. The five people were questioned and later released on unconditional bail. Parent company Xclusive Leisure and Hospitality Limited is registered to an address in Southwark, south London. 'Very valuable' SFO director Richard Alderman told BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme it was appealing for some 4,000 people who failed to receive 18,000 tickets for events, including festivals, to make contact. More than 2,500 people who purchased Reading, Leeds and V Festival tickets from the company were affected. People who bought tickets for the Beijing Olympics also missed out. "We've put a simple form on our website which will enable people to put details of the tickets they wanted and the loss they suffered," he said. Mr Alderman added that the public's help would enable his team establish the problem's "full extent" and make a "very valuable" contribution to their fraud probe. You and Yours reporter Shari Vahl said the move was very unusual and the SFO's first direct appeal for public information in an investigation. Taken from <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7750358.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7750358.stm</a> Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT 2008-11-28T00:00:00 f601a43e-fda5-4f26-a538-07d61df22299 1000000 WARNING: Beware of unauthorised ticket agencies Please read our document on unauthorised ticket websites before you part with your hard-earned cash. A number of people have contacted us to enquire about the website <a href="http://www.bookmetickets.com/">www.bookmetickets.com</a> and whether that site will have any official tickets for Festival Republic events (Reading & Leeds festivals, Latitude festival) Please note that BOOKMETICKETS.com are NOT AUTHORISED by us to sell our event tickets, we have not supplied them with any official tickets to sell and we have no relationship with them at all. Therefore we would not advise buying tickets for our events from them. To protect yourself, please read further information about touts <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido//publishing/news/n/l/j/2008%20Unauthorised%20Ticket%20Agents%20and%20Ticket%20Touting.pdf">here</a> We have a limited number of AUTHORISED agent’s websites we sell our festival tickets through, these are listed <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido//publishing/news/n/l/j/2008%20Unauthorised%20Ticket%20Agents%20and%20Ticket%20Touting.pdf">here</a> We are currently looking into companies selling 'touted' tickets and we are doing what we can to stop fraudulent activity. Festival Republic does not condone buying from tout sites and will never knowingly supply touts with tickets. <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/m/f/k/2009UnauthorisedTicketAgentsandTicketTouting.pdf">Full Festival Republic PDF information on Unauthorised Ticket Agents</a> Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 18 Nov 2008 00:00:00 GMT 2008-11-18T00:00:00 e891a34f-0730-4a05-a617-83442efc85cf 1000000 Latitude wins The Stage Award at the TMAs Latitude won The Stage Award for special achievement in regional theatre at the TMA awards. This is a massive achievement for any theatre company and to have a festival up there in the running, would previously have been unheard of!  This places the theatre programme at Latitude up there with the great and the good of the theatre and performing arts world. The TMA Theatre and Management Awards celebrate the very best in British theatre, opera and dance. These unique awards recognise the achievements of artists and companies based throughout the United Kingdom. The awards champion the excellence and diversity of artistic activity and the high standard of professional, specialist work which contributes to and supports the success of the performing arts. The Theatre Awards honour individual creative excellence and collaborative artistic effort in performance and production and applaud the outstanding work seen in regional theatres each year: work which contributes so much to the vibrant cultural life of theatre. Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT 2008-10-28T00:00:00 cdd7ba77-6ee9-449c-91b3-e6d741ae869b 1000000 H<a href="http://www.heavenlyplanetfestival.co.uk/">eavenly Planet</a> Reading's New Festival A Match Made In Heaven Reading's reputation as one of the south-east's biggest and most successful cultural hubs received a huge boost today with the news that the town will play host to an exciting new music festival from 2009. The`<a href="http://www.heavenlyplanetfestival.co.uk/">Heavenly Planet</a>' festival is a two day music festival aimed at both families and younger festival goers which will take place annually on the same site as the Reading Rock Festival. This initiative is the result of a partnership between Reading Borough Council (RBC) and Heavenly Planet UK Festivals - a company jointly owned by rock festival organisers Festival Republic, and Thomas Brooman CBE, previously Artistic Director of WOMAD. The three-way tie-up will tap into the years of knowledge and experience accumulated by Melvin Benn of Festival Republic, Thomas Brooman and the Borough Council in running highly successful music events in Reading and aims to build upon RBC's commitment to enhance further the cultural life of the town. Subject to the proposal being approved at a meeting of the Council's Cabinet on September 29, the first-ever Heavenly Planet Festival is currently scheduled for Friday July 10 and Saturday July 11 2009. The aim is for 15,000 people to attend in year one, although it is hoped this figure will grow significantly as the event becomes more established. Graeme Hoskin, Lead Councillor for Culture and Sport at Reading Borough Council, said: "We're extremely excited to be announcing this new summer festival. When WOMAD left there was real disappointment in Reading and many people were telling us they hoped we could introduce a new family friendly, internationalist festival. There has been a huge amount of work behind the scenes and we have faced some big challenges, but I believe 'Heavenly Planet' fits that bill. We're particularly delighted to be entering into a partnership with Thomas Brooman and Melvin Benn with their huge experience and knowledge of festivals and international music and culture". Melvin Benn of Festival Republic said: "For two years now the council and I have been discussing the idea of a new, innovative, diverse and outward-looking festival. But it was only when I ran the idea by Thomas and established that it was possible to bring his idea's into the structure as Artistic Director and joint shareholder, it became a must. Thomas brings everything we were looking for to the table and the partnership is now complete. It will make for a very exciting future - a heavenly future I hope!" Thomas Brooman said: "This festival, with its concepts of music, optimism and positivity, will create an event entirely new and unique for Reading. It is a privilege to be able to work together with Melvin and Reading Borough Council on the Heavenly Planet project and we are wholly committed to a long-term and successful future for the festival in the town. Viva Reading!" The WOMAD festival was a well-recognised and established festival that had a relationship with Reading, growing from 5,000 people attending in 1990 to more than 40,000 in 2006. WOMAD left in 2006 to establish a new home in Wiltshire but there has been a strong desire by Reading Borough Council to find a festival that would provide a complement to the current cultural offering in Reading. The intention of the Heavenly Planet title is to evoke ideas of optimism, global awareness and an open-minded enthusiasm for music, culture and society. While planning for the festival is still at an early stage, the current thinking is that two big top tents will be the focal point for the event, accommodating two stages of equal scale. It is hoped that the close involvement of Thomas Brooman - a well known figure in the genre of world music - will help to attract major artists to the event but the aim is also for up-and-coming artists from the Reading area to be given a major platform to showcase their talents.  Camping will be available as well as a food court concept, celebrating food from around the world. Discussions are also underway about Rivermead Leisure Centre being used as a possible indoor venue for night and day-time events, offering a reliable venue in case of bad weather. And while Heavenly Planet is currently a two-day event, there is the possibility of offering some sort of festival activity on the Sunday as well. The proposal for a <a href="http://www.heavenlyplanetfestival.co.uk/">Heavenly Planet</a> Festival will go before a meeting of Reading Borough Council's Cabinet on Monday September 29 for approval. Full agenda papers can be found at <a href="http://www.reading.gov.uk">www.reading.gov.uk</a> Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:00:00 GMT 2008-09-19T09:00:00 8e193507-97d8-4949-91ed-c531acde2f46 1000000 Latitude 2009 The pre-sale tickets have now sold out. Presale weekend tickets for 16th, 17,th, 18th, & 19th July 2009 have now sold out. More on sale next year. - £130 Weekend - £130 Family* - £10 Campervans and Caravans - standard - £10 Campervans and Caravans - family - £15 Lockers - FREE Child tickets, but you must indicate the number of children attending when booking  IMPORTANT Please note: Groups or indiviuals arriving without children will need to purchase a standard ticket and will not be able to enter the Family Campsite. In addition, you will be unable to pitch a tent in advance of your family's arrival. PLEASE BE AWARE, ANYONE SELLING TICKETS NOW IS NOT AN AUTHORISED TICKET AGENT AND THE TICKET MAY NOT EVEN EXIST. <a href="http://2008.latitudefestival.co.uk/news/story.aspx?aid=ec3c7c3b-0445-456d-8b4d-32dc21d8524a">Read all about our authorised agents here</a> Photo credit: Jon Appleyard Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 31 Aug 2008 23:00:00 GMT 2008-09-01T00:00:00 e9b759b2-86a2-430a-8bde-114b4d68d4c8 1000000 Trees For Cities Improving local communities with trees. Who are Trees For Cities? <a href="http://www.treesforcities.org/">Trees for Cities</a> is an independent charity working to improve the environment in urban areas by involving local people in community tree planting, training and landscaping projects. They manage projects across London, in Brighton, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester and Reading as well as internationally in Addis Ababa, Nairobi and Ica, Peru. All of their community greening projects are supported by extensive community consultation and involvement programmes that incorporate local residents, schools and community groups.  As well as educating local people about our projects, in London they also run a series of horticulture, arboriculture and woodland management courses specialising in developing and up-skilling the long-term unemployed.      <img height="200" alt="" width="148" src="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/e/z/e/Image/Tfcurban2.jpg" />  <img height="200" alt="" width="148" src="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/e/z/e/Image/treesoflife.jpg" /> Festival Republic and Trees for Cities Festival Republic have been supporting <a href="http://www.treesforcities.org/">Trees for Cities’</a> projects in the UK and further afield since 2006. Festival Republic fund planting projects in Bristol, Leeds, London and Manchester, as well supporting our greening activities abroad, including Nairobi in Kenya and Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, where young people are employed to care for the trees they plant and fruit from the trees is sold to generate income for the project. Thanks for your support! Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 28 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT 2008-05-29T00:00:00 e1d44d86-c3b4-4c6e-b1d4-8dc681ab68bf 1000000 Warning - Festival Ticket Scam Authorised Ticket Agents, See Tickets, do not cold call to sell tickets. WARNING - We have had reports of people being called by someone claiming to be from See Tickets and offering to sell them Reading Festival tickets. This is a scam. See Tickets do not cold call to sell tickets. The number being used is from a mobile phone. Once the card details are taken the charge appears on the customer's statement as being debited to an account in Budapest - no connection at all to See Tickets.   If you get a call of this nature please report it to Reading Trading Standards Office. "See Tickets the official provider of ticketing services to the Reading and Leeds festivals are aware of a few cases where members of the public have been contacted by persons to claiming to work for See. See do not contact  any customer unless firstly they have made a fully confirmed booking and then only, if there is a problem that needs customer input. Orders made via See will be confirmed by way of an email from a "@seetickets.com" address and the charge will appear on the credit or debit card statement as TICKETS 0871 220 0260. If you are in doubt at any time as to the validity of your order you may track the order at <a href="http://www.seetickets.com/tracker">www.seetickets.com/tracker</a> or check your bank statement." Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 19 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT 2008-05-20T00:00:00 5aa4f631-8404-47f3-9040-fcbc7bd608a5 1000000 Cradle & Festival Republic visit Bosnia and Herzegovina We are committed to finding new ways to introduce our audiences to Cradle. I’m Rhiannon and I have attended Leeds festival for the past two years (I lived abroad before that).  I am studying my MA in Music Management and Promotion and am passionate about all aspects of Music.  I love travelling and enjoy being involved in charity projects so when I was on the Festival Republic website last year, doing research for a module, I came across the details for the Cradle Project and thought I’ve got to apply for that, several months later here is my diary of the trip………. <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/h/w/k/RhiannonBosniaBlog.pdf">Click to read</a> Hi my name is Mark and I’m a 22yr old Trainee producer for a Video production company. One of my passions is going to gigs and the Reading Festival in particular. I’ve been every year since 2003 it gets better every year. When I randomly read on the forums that there was a chance of doing some charity work on behalf of Festival Republic for Cradle, I jumped at the opportunity. I have always been interested in doing something like that, but I never thought in a million years I would ever get chosen. A couple of months later and here I am, on my way to Bosnia. <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/k/h/l/Mostar Trip 2008.pdf">Click to read</a> <a href="http://www.cradle.ie/taxonomy/term/4">Cradle's Website</a> http://www.cradle.ie/taxonomy/term/4 Jennifer Roberts General Sun, 18 May 2008 23:00:00 GMT 2008-05-19T00:00:00 1ef430bd-a920-4205-8a8c-ebf6415e6153 1000000 Cotton Workers in southern India: standing up for their rights Oxfam have encouraged cotton farmers to take up organic farming. Through Oxfam, Glastonbury Festival employ more than 1700 volunteer stewards at each festival. The cost of employing the Oxfam stewards is given to Oxfam as a donation; on top of this Oxfam is one of the three main charities that benefit from ticket sales profit. After the 2007 festival Melvin Benn, Director of Glastonbury Festival and Festival Republic approached Oxfam regarding donating £50,000 to a specific project in India. The Project that was chosen was helping to support cotton workers in southern India. In April 2008 Melvin asked Festival Republic employee Julie Syer who is employed as Licence Co-ordinator at Glastonbury, to visit the farming and handloom projects in the Warangal and Nalgonda Districts of southern India to experience the projects first hand. The projects were set up to help improve incomes, working conditions and quality of life for people working across the cotton industry, from encouraging the farming communities to work with organic farming techniques, to helping handloom weavers secure new markets and helping factory workers form co-operatives to speak up for their rights and challenge their appalling working conditions.  <a href="http://media.livenation.co.uk/fido/publishing/news/j/r/e/Cotton workers in southern India.pdf">Click here to read the project diary from Julie Syer</a> Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 28 Apr 2008 03:15:00 GMT 2008-04-28T04:15:00 83862b57-64dd-4ee8-8254-6c360a68c9e0 1000000 ActionAid at Reading Festival Take action against HIV, unfair trade, corporate abuse & hunger. ActionAid doesn’t just hand out aid; they help poor people take control of their lives and end their own poverty for good. People living in poverty don’t want our guilt, they want justice. Festival Republic love they way Action Aid work, and are proud to support them, and since 2002 thousands of people at Reading Festival have been given the opportunity to say “bollocks to poverty!” and take action against HIV, unfair trade, corporate abuse and hunger. 2008 marks their 7th year of providing the masses with a relaxing hangout, complete with comfy seating, giant games like jenga and connect four, table football and ping pong, DJ’s until 3am and of course lots of lovely free Bollocks to Poverty stickers, badges and tattoos! But most importantly, the ActionAid tent gives festival goers the opportunity to support people fighting their way out of poverty. To find out more about ActionAid and how you can say Bollocks to Poverty visit: <a href="http://www.actionaid.org.uk/bollocks">www.actionaid.org.uk/bollocks</a> Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 24 Apr 2008 05:45:00 GMT 2008-04-24T06:45:00 8f28e2e2-e946-4038-938c-962bcceef584 1000000 Festival Republic & Sport Relief Chappers and Dave ran a mile at 33 UK football grounds and raised £215,035. Dynamic duo Chappers and Dave embarked on an epic attempt to run one mile at every English and Scottish Premier League ground. Kicking off on March 7th, the pair had just a week to complete the task and with no idea of where they were going to be sent each day and Chris Moyles throwing in a few extra challenges en route, it was no mean feat.  Festival Republic donated £10,000 to Sport Relief which helped them reach a staggering fundraising total of £215,035 which will help transform the lives of vulnerable people both at home in the UK and in the world's poorest countries. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/chrismoyles/2008/03/moyles_finishes_a_5_mile_run_w.shtml Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:45:00 GMT 2008-04-18T01:45:00 f4610cfd-92af-4d67-9174-c15062d315dc 1000000 Working towards a greener festival Latitude's Theatre Arena will be the world's first fuel-cell powered stage. The ground breaking Latitude Festival returns to the sunrise coast in Suffolk for its incredible third year. Nestled in the historic and beautiful surroundings of Henham Park Estate, Southwold, and taking place on 17th – 20th July, organisers Festival Republic are promising another truly spectacular event. Teaming up with London’s Arcola Theatre, Latitude are working towards a greener festival. With environmental issues at its core, Latitude are pleased to announce that this year’s Theatre Arena will be the worlds first fuel cell powered festival stage. Arcola will be providing state of the art low energy LED lighting and a Hydrogen Fuel Cell to power the stage. The fuel cell operates almost silently and will produce nothing but electricity and clean water. This ground-breaking advancement in technology will bring down the carbon footprint of the festival and lessen the event’s impact on its immediate surroundings and the world’s climate as a whole. The Arcola Theatre is a converted factory in East London and one of the UK’s leading independent venues.  This partnership with Latitude is part of Arcola Theatre’s extensive range of sustainability activities, collectively referred to as the Arcola Energy project which in partnership with the Greening London Theatre Initiative is driving the eco-cultural frontier. Over the weekend Theatre Arena at Latitude is a buzzing hotbed of creativity and inspiration, hosting a wealth of bespoke productions and performances exclusive to the festival. Some of the biggest names in contemporary, physical, classical, performance and local theatre, including The Royal Court, the Bush Theatre, nabokov, and Paines Plough, are coming to the Theatre Arena. It really has something for everyone; provoking thought, emotions, laughs and entertainment all weekend long. As well as powering the arena The Arcola Theatre will present their series of short but perfectly formed writer-led plays The Miniaturists. Each piece is no longer than 15 minutes, and the dizzying mix makes every event as various and unpredictable as life itself.  Latitude and Arcola will be supported by the London Hydrogen Partnership, Thomas Engineering & ETC. Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 08 Apr 2008 23:30:00 GMT 2008-04-09T00:30:00 8fd79330-8696-46ab-b6c7-c92174e53ac1 1000000 Reading & Leeds Win Best Live Event Thanks for voting! The Shockwaves NME Awards 2008 took place last night (February 28) at the IndigO2 venue in London, where a variety of music stars and industry folk picked up awards for their achievements over the past year. The Reading & Leeds Festivals picked up the award for Best Live Event. Thanks to all those that voted! Jennifer Roberts General Fri, 29 Feb 2008 08:30:00 GMT 2008-02-29T08:30:00 cd922156-e06d-4a44-9896-34bf73337ff8 1000000 Festival Manifesto - Read all about it... Less corporate, more eco-friendly, improved transport..... Our Festival Director, Melvin Benn, spoke to The Music Week programme on BBC 6Music, about their Festival Manifesto that had been put together with ideas from the fans - to see the Ten-point plan, click <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/shows/music_week/festival_manifesto.shtml">here</a> Hear what he had to say in the podcast <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/podcasts/musicweek/">here</a> And pay close attention to the news about the Reading & Leeds headliners....there'll be more of where that came from in the coming weeks -  so make sure you've signed up to the <a href="http://www.festivalrepublic.com/register">newsletters</a> Happy listening! Jennifer Roberts General Wed, 23 Jan 2008 06:00:00 GMT 2008-01-23T06:00:00 68beb2bc-503b-437e-9883-936e404e4260 1000000 Latitude Festival wins 'Fan-Friendly Award' We won!!! We are very proud to tell you that we won the 'Fan-Friendly Award' at the Festival Awards. We take pride in making sure you have the greatest experience at our festival and we are so glad that you think we do! Thanks to everyone that voted. Jennifer Roberts General Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:00:00 GMT 2007-11-06T22:00:00 139e8c82-dec0-469b-adc1-378287028633 1000000 Music, Mud and Mayhem: The Official History Available online or email: orders@orcabookservices.co.uk A major festival since its inception, Reading is the music fans' favourite and continues to draw the biggest and best in rock from all over the world. This lavishly-illustrated official history covers every event from 1971 to 2007, and will be launched at this year's festival with the support and collaboration of the Festival's promoters, Festival Republic. The bands that have appeared at Reading over the last 36 years are a virtual Who's Who of festival rock, including such diverse acts as: AC/DC, Arthur Brown, Bjork, Black Sabbath, The Buzzcocks, The Chemical Brothers, Eminem, The Faces, Foo Fighters, Hawkwind, Iggy Pop, Iron Maiden, The Libertines, Lou Reed, Manfred Mann, Manic Street Preachers, Marilyn Manson, Motorhead, Neil Young, Nick Cave, Oasis, P.J. Harvey, Paul Weller, Peter Gabriel, The Prodigy, Public Enemy, Radiohead and Status Quo. Many of the acts who have appeared over the years have chosen to contribute their memories of the festival to this book, giving it a unique inside perspective. But Ian Carroll's account of the festival is much more than a roll-call of bands and artists. It is also the story of the festival itself, its complex relationship with the media, and with local government, business and the police.  Above all, this is the story of the fans and their annual pilgrimage to the festival site by the Thames. Rain or shine, heatwave or mudslide, they make the Reading Festival what it is, and ensure that its special atmosphere will continue for many years to come. Online orders: <a href="mailto:orders@orcabookservices.co.uk">orders@orcabookservices.co.uk</a> The book is also available online at <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Reading-Festival-Music-Mud-Mayhem/dp/1905287437/ref=sr_1_8/026-3597701-0520448?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194472389&sr=1-8">Amazon</a>, W H Smith, Virgin, Play.com, HMV, Waterstones and available in stores nationwide. Jennifer Roberts General Mon, 05 Nov 2007 14:00:00 GMT 2007-11-05T14:00:00 69de413c-3ca8-43e9-8316-082fb629a26e 1000000 Festival Republic is born New name, new website, new offices. We are delighted to announce our new Festival Republic name. As promoters of the best festivals in the world we are extremely proud to list Carling Weekend: Reading and Leeds Festivals, the critically applauded new kid on the block - Latitude, our involvement in Glastonbury not to mention our annual London festivals including Rise, St Patricks Day, Fleadh. As part of our new focus we have sold the Borderline, Jazz Cafe, The Garage, The Old Fiddler, G-A-Y Bar and G-A-Y Late Club to Mama Group. But have retained ownership of the much celebrated Astoria with the newly remained Mean Fiddler, The Astoria 2 We will continue to bring to you the greatest festivals on the planet and are looking forward to many exciting new projects on the horizon. Watch this website. Jennifer Roberts General Thu, 18 Oct 2007 00:15:00 GMT 2007-10-18T01:15:00 62b288e2-7c55-45af-9633-e881e264d6dc 1000000