Tuesday 30 June 2009

The Xcerts - 'Live At King Tut's' Album

“Ludicrously Punchy” – Steve Lamacq
'...classic piece of air-punching melancholia' - Observer

Release mini album ‘Live At King Tut’s’ exclusively through iTunes.
Perform at the Relentless Garage on the Week of Opening!

Having recently returned from tours with UK heavyweights My Vitriol and Feeder, THE XCERTS are now set to release a live album ‘Live At King Tut’s’ as their headline tour continues to roll through the UK. ‘Live At King Tut’s’ captures a very special sold out show from the launch of their ‘Crisis In The Slow Lane’ single released on Xtra Mile / King Tut’s Recordings. The set was mixed by Dave Eringa (Idlewild, Manic Street Preachers) who produced the band’s debut album, and will be available exclusively through iTunes on 27th July. The energetically charged eight song set includes previously unreleased track, ‘Beige’.

thexcerts press b and w

Singer Murray Macleod said of the show “It’s every kids dream to play King Tut’s and to sell it out was a big milestone for us. When our soundman Nelly suggested recording it we were nervous but it came out so well that we wanted our fans to hear it too. It’s a bit rough and ready but it represents the breaking point of 2 years hard touring and we couldn’t be more proud.”

The Xcerts - Live At King Tuts
THE XCERTS forthcoming tour dates include a show at the newly refurbished Relentless Garage (London) in the venue’s first week of performances in over two years. After that they’ll be stopping off at a slew of summer festivals, playing before old touring buddies BRAKES at Boardmasters Festival.

JUNE
25th Warwick Uni, Warwick
26th Westend Centre, Aldershot
29th Barfly, Cardiff
JULY
1st The Garage, London
2nd The Grapes Cellar, Hereford
3rd Electric Bay Festival, Scotland
4th Electric Bay Festival, Scotland
5th Ice Factory, Perth
24th Wickerman Festival, Scotland
26th Truck Festival, Oxford
AUGUST
1st Hevy Festival, Folkestone
7th Boardmasters Festival, Newquay
9th BBQ Your Life. Brixton Windmill, London (special covers show with Winnebago Deal and 4 or 5 Magicians)
15th Leefest, Kent
22nd GRV - SOS Festival, Edinburgh
31st Beachdown Festival, Brighton
SEPTEMBER
19th Southsea Festival, Portsmouth


The Xcerts debut album ‘In The Cold Wind We Smile’ is out now on Xtra Mile Recordings!
Here’s what the press had to say:
“Charged with youthful hope and exuberance, every riff and anthemic chorus points to a bright future for these talented lads." - Kerrang! 4/5
“...this debut is inch-perfect, merging heartstring-tugging delicacy with buoyant distortion... If you're searching for pop with balls but no bullshit, look no further.” - Rock Sound 8/10
"'In The Cold Wind We Smile' is a triumphant, life-affirming classic" - Big Cheese 5/5

For more information please contact griff@presscounsel.com (National/Online) or anthea@presscounsel.com (Regional) – 020 7792 9400

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Latitude additions - Stephen Frears, Lightspeed Champion, Glen Wool and more!

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16th – 19th July 2009
Henham Park Estate, Southwold, Suffolk

FILM & MUSIC ARENA
BAFTA presents:
Q&A with Stephen Frears, interviewed by David Morrissey
‘Le Donk’ screening and Q&A with Shane Meadows and Paddy Considine
Preview of ‘White Lightnin’ and Q&A with Edward Hogg

~ Lightspeed Champion sings Cat Stevens’ songs from the soundtrack of 1971 film Harold & Maude ~

~ ‘Do You Love Me Like I Love You’ Part 5: Tender Prey, plus Q&A with Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard ~

COMEDY ARENA
~ Robin Ince ~ Glen Wool ~ Tom Stade ~

LITERARY ARENA
~ ID Political Debate ~
~ Orwell: A Celebratiom ~
~ Fflur Dafydd ~ Pete Brown: Man Walks Into A Pub ~

LITERARY SALON
~Talkeoke ~

CABARET ARENA
~ Phil Nichol ~ David Hoyle ~ The Voguettes & Glitterbanditz~
~ The La De Dahs ~ Nathan Evans ~

THE WATERFRONT
~ Music Of The Spheres ~ Avant Garde ~ Revealing Eve~

OUTDOOR THEATRE
~ The Pleasance 'The Gannet' ~ Evi Vine ~ Yeah Sparrow ~

Lavish 'Open Art'
~ Jake Clark ~ Giles Walker ~ Mode 2~ Foundry ~ Paul Burgess~ James Stephens ~
~ Tim Simmons ~ Maria Slovakova ~ Gabi Swiakowska ~ Johnny Cole ~
~Tamsyn Adams ~Emma Jenkins & Dia Jenkins ~Caroline Wright ~Snub & Defacto ~
~ Louise Gray hosting ‘In conversation with Artists’ ~

The pioneering, award-winning Latitude Festival returns to England’s Sunrise Coast for another spectacular edition. Taking place on 16th – 19th July, near Suffolk’s stunning seaside town of Southwold, organisers Festival Republic are promising Latitude will be the perfect British summer destination.


FILM & MUSIC ARENA

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts returns to the festival for a third year and is proud to present a dynamic series of events in 2009. At this year’s festival there will be a number of constructive and captivating workshops, Q&A’s and forums that are all about audience participation!

This year BAFTA presents a stellar line up of events including an on-stage interview with BAFTA and Oscar winning director Stephen Frears; a Q&A with BAFTA-winning director Shane Meadows and BAFTA-winning director and actor Paddy Considine alongside a special premiere of their anticipated new mock-rockumentary Le Donk; and fresh from causing a storm at Sundance festival, an exclusive preview of the new film White Lightnin’ accompanied by a Q&A with its star, Edward Hogg.

BAFTA Chief Executive Amanda Berry said:
“BAFTA is delighted to be returning for a third year to the fantastic Latitude Festival. This year’s line up of events demonstrates the range and versatility of British filmmakers and will appeal to everyone who loves film. Latitude is an excellent platform for BAFTA to fulfil its mission of helping audiences access industry expertise and celebrate excellence in film, television and video games. A special report of BAFTA’s trip to Latitude will be hosted on the BAFTA website www.bafta.org shortly after the festival.”

Established as a leading director in British cinema and TV in the 1980s, Stephen Frears has a keen visual awareness and compelling ability to tell a story. Unexpectedly carving himself an international and extraordinarily wide-ranging career in the past ten years, Frears will be interviewed by actor David Morrissey who worked with Frears on The Deal, in which Morrissey played Gordon Brown. Making films that branch into unfamiliar territory, his career has taken in biographical dramas (Prick Up Your Ears, The Queen), adaptations (Dangerous Liaisons, The Snapper), Hollywood hits (High Fidelity), Oscar nominations (My Beautiful Launderette, The Grifters), television remakes (Fail Safe) indie-thrillers (Dirty Pretty Things), period pieces (Mrs Henderson Presents), countless BAFTA nominations and two BAFTA Awards. Unexpectedly carving himself an international and extraordinarily wide-ranging career, we are delighted to welcome one of this country's most vibrant and recognizable filmmakers, Stephen Frears, to the Film & Music Arena at Latitude. This will captivate film fans and the general public alike.

Highly acclaimed indie film director Shane Meadows brings his latest faux-documentary to Latitude audiences. Having been shot on $50,000 in just five days with no script or funding and a limited crew, ‘Le Donk’ arrives as a short film having first surfaced on ‘One Upon A Time In The Midlands’ DVD extras. After the success and huge critical acclaim of Shane Meadow’s BAFTA Best British Film winner ‘This Is England’, this mock rock-umentary tells the story of the doomed roadie and his hapless charge, real-life Nottingham rapper Scorz-ay-zee, described by Donk at one point as the “Honey Monster with a lobotomy”. The film documents Donk’s attempts to gatecrash the Arctic Monkeys’ 2007 Old Trafford show and get Scorz an opening slot. The film features not only Olivia Colman (Hot Fuzz, Peep Show) and Paddy Considine as the ex-builder, ex-drummer Donk, but also the band Arctic Monkeys. Following the screening, BAFTA winning director Shane Meadows and lead actor Paddy Considine will take part in a Q&A session.

Inspired by the life of the Appalachian "dancing outlaw", ’White Lightnin’ is Dominic Murphy’s first feature film and fictional tribute to the dancer and violent career criminal Jesco White. Starring alongside Carrie Fisher, newcomer Edward Hogg has been steadily building a name as someone to watch. Playing the tortured genius, Hogg goes deep into the dark corners of artistic genius, addiction, and insanity. Jesco White's real life story includes stays in a mental institution, a bit part in Roseanne and copious drug use. Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs composed the music to accompany the film and his score features distorted sounds and melodies to reflect the main characters’ conflicting personalities. Bearing witness to the dual powers of revenge and redemption, and the bone-chilling lengths that White will go to have both, in this sensational film narrated from the fictional moment of Jesco’s death we discover a strict, crazy, illiterate, and fundamentalist man that dictates life with a religious style. Following the screening of this premiere, Edward Hogg will participate in what is sure to be a very special Q&A session.

Acclaimed singer, songwriter and composer Lightspeed Champion a.k.a. Devonte Hynes will be singing the classic songs from cult 1971 film ‘Harold and Maude’. The original soundtrack was penned and performed by Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam) and includes two songs, ‘Don't Be Shy’ and ‘If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out’ that he composed specifically for the movie. Harold and Maude directed by Hal Ashby is a fantastic love story full of slapstick, dark humour and existentialist drama, that revolves around the exploits of a morbid young man – Harold and his relationship with septuagenarian Maude. The film is number 45 on the American Film Institute's list of 100 Funniest Movies of all time, number 69 in its list for most romantic and number 42 on Bravo's 100 Funniest Movies. In 1997, it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress as being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." In what will be a very special live performance from Dev Hynes performing Cat Steven’s songs from the much loved film, this will be unmissable.

Coinciding with what will be a phenomenal festival finale by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds the Film & Music Arena will be hosting a pre-release screening of the fifth film in Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard's ongoing ‘Do You Love Me Like I Love You’ series of 14 films commissioned by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds to accompany the reissues of their influential catalogue. This advance screening will be followed by an audience Q&A session with Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard. This particular film focuses on the Tender Prey album, originally released by Mute in 1988, and including the legendary 'Mercy Seat'. The films themselves are the creation of artists Iain Forsyth & Jane Pollard and each 40 minute film is a collection of straight to camera pieces from fans and collaborators, including Kid Congo Powers, Blixa Bargeld, Flood, Bobby Gillespie, Alan Vega, Nick Zinner, Simon Reynolds, Kris Needs, Mark Arm, Sean Hughes, Daniel Miller and Noah Taylor. The result is a subjective human portrait of the truly unique body of work produced by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds over the last 25 years, told through those who have lived and loved the music. A must for any Nick Cave fan!


COMEDY ARENA

As well as presenting his legendary Book Club over in the Literary Arena, Robin Ince pitches up in the Comedy Arena to perform his critically acclaimed show, ‘Bleeding Heart Liberal’. The show is all about astronomers with noses made of gold, crazed fundamentalists, TV spats with Vanessa Feltz, Charles Darwin, the behaviour of bonobos and the poo fairy, plus pretty much anything else Robin has read about in the last year. Robin has made many TV appearances on programmes The News Quiz, Just A Minute, Loose Ends, The Now Show, and Armando Iannucci's Charm Offensive as well as Mock the Week, The Office, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Lab Rats, and Richard and Judy. He also supported Ricky Gervais on his recent arena shows. Robin is also the winner of Time Out Outstanding Achievement in Comedy Award, two Chortle Awards and was nominated for a British XComedy award for best live show.

Another Canadian comic Glen Wool is also confirmed for the Comedy Arena. His material veers between sagely political and gleefully silly, discussing both the pop group Franz Ferdinand and the Pope's contribution to cryogenic programmes. Wool starred in a self-titled show produced for Channel 4's ‘comedy lab’ season in 2004. The show saw him attempting to exorcise a ghost from his place of residence. His random flights of fancy and hilarious ad hoc stories are a must see.

Joining the Comedy Arena line-up is clever and controversial Canadian comic Tom Stade. In demand around the globe, he is a versatile and naturally gifted performer who quickly became a star in Canada, appearing in the critically acclaimed sitcom The Newsroom and the award-winning feature film My Own Private Oshawa. As a stand-up he starred in Club 54, Open Mike, and Comics, as well as hosting his own show on CBC/Comedy Central Stade And Confused and has appeared on every series of Paramount/Channel 5’s The Comedy Store, BBC TV’s The Live Floor Show, Comedy Central/ Paramount’s The World Stands Up, ITV2’s Comedy Cuts and BBC1’s Primetime Show Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow.


LITERARY ARENA

Instigate Debate – the counterculture project formed by a collective of musicians including Carl Barat, and Jon “The Reverend” McClure host a unique debate at Latitude Festival to discuss with you tomorrow’s chip paper: Our media. A high profile and diverse panel of media guests including Jon McClure will scream, shout, rant, rave, consider and combine ideas relating to the following title: “Tabloid Culture: Is Our News Media Walking a New Street of Shame?” Topics up for discussion will include; Are the freesheets & the blogosphere killing quality journalism? Will Rupert Murdoch swing his empire behind David Cameron and will it matter? How much is online news worth to you? Is the line between editorial & advertisers still being held and does it matter? Come along to the Literary Arena and bring your tuppence worth on the subjects above. Speed debate with our panel and other guests and win a gig in your house for you and your friends from the likes of Babyshambles, The View, Reverend and the Makers, The Libertines, The La’s and more.

Orwell: A Celebration is an unprecedented theatrical tribute to the work of George Orwell. Directed by Gene David Kirk, it marks the 60th and 70th anniversaries of the publication of Nineteen Eighty-Four and Coming up for Air. ‘A Celebration’ which has recently finished a West End run prior to national tour and features the chilling distillation of the ‘Ministry of Love’ interrogation scene from Nineteen Eighty-Four which we will be screening at Latitude. “…The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power… If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - for ever…” The scene from Nineteen Eighty-Four features party apparatchik O'Brien (Alan Cox) and the novel’s lone hero Winston Smith (Ben Porter) and contains some of the most famous lines in 20th century English literature.

Novelist and singer-songwriter Fflur Dafydd is a graduate of UEA’s Creative Writing MA and was selected in 2005 for the Scritture Giovani project for emerging European writers. With even more strings to her bow, Fflur has performed in festivals across Europe as both musician and author, has a PhD on the poetry of R.S. Thomas and currently lectures in Creative Writing at Swansea University. Writing poems and songs in both Welsh and English, and has won numerous awards for her writing, including the prestigious Prose Medal at the National Eisteddfod in 2006. Her first English novel Twenty Thousand Saints (Alcemi, 2008) was recently awarded the Oxfam Hay Emerging Writer of the Year Award and follows two Welsh language novels and two albums as a singer-songwriter.

Beer has been at the heart of British society and culture for over 300 years and our love-affair for it refuses to dwindle or die. In his compelling book ‘Man Walks Into A Pub : A Sociable History Of Beer’ author Pete Brown presents an entertaining look into our favourite brews packed with bar-room bet-winning facts and entertaining digression which every pub-goer will want to dip into. "Like a good drinking companion, Pete Brown tells a remarkable story: a stream of fascinating facts, etymologies, and pub-related urban phenomena." Daily Express


LITERARY SALON

Join in on Thursday at Latitude with Talkaoke, a mobile chat-show that invites participants to sit down and air their views around the talkaoke table ('the doughnut of chat'). The host sits in the middle on a swivel chair wielding the microphone and facilitating the flow of discussion between participants. The talkaoke table's internal PA and video projection system broadcasts live from the table into whatever environment it is placed in, and onto the Internet, and remote participants can make their contributions to the debate via email. The tone and content of conversation shifts unpredictably from raucous and irreverent to serious and intimate; anything can happen but there are two rules: no singing and no punch-ups.


CABARET ARENA

Winner of The Stage Award for Acting Excellence in 2005 for The Zoo Story and nominee for The Stage Award for Acting Excellence in 2006 for Talk Radio, Phil Nichol is an acclaimed performer. He was first known as the guitar playing member of top classic musical comedy trio 'Corky and The Juice Pigs' but it’s Phil's solo performances that have earned him huge critical praise and many awards. He is a Tasmanian devil with a guitar, wickedly funny songs and superb improvisational skills. Phil is also a superb character comedian performing greasy fist Joe, Kenny Smiles and his own rendition of Björk as part of the Lenny Beige show.

Performance artist and comedian David Hoyle joins the Cabaret Arena line-up. He first came to fame with his arts TV programme under his stage-name and alter-ego ‘The Divine David’. After killing off this screeching character in 2000 at an Ice Show in Streatham he returned six years later as The David Hoyle a more true to his own self character, less sinister than Divine David, yet still as sharp and controversial in confronting taboo subjects. He has done this no better than with his recent run of shows at the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, the pioneering alternative gay venue in South London. Dave's Drop-in Centre was loosely inspired by a psychiatric daycare centre and all the activities that go on, from occupational therapy to hobbies to empowerment, and group catharsis. Collaborating with different performers from the alternative scene including burlesque comedian and fellow Latitude performer Fancy Chance the shows touch on issues such as nationalism, nationality and immigration; the past and childhood. The shows are car-crash, rage-fuelled, issue-based comedy constructed by the King – or Queen – of alternative humour.

Nathan Evans is a puppeteer, performer, writer, director, producer, filmmaker, artist and musician among other things. His films have screened in the Raindance, East End and London Lesbian & Gay Film Festivals, been broadcast on Channel 4, toured nationally with the BFI, and internationally with the British Council. One of them even won an award in the London Short Film Festival a few years ago. He’s performed at venues and festivals including The Royal Court, The Royal Vauxhall Tavern, BAC, Soho Theatre, Bethnal Green, and Glastonbury. You may remember him as the impresario of Vauxhallville, described by the Guardian as ‘a high camp attack on high art’. This year he brings his politically incorrect Punch & Jude show for big kids to Pandora’s Playground. He’ll also be running a puppet workshop. Bring a sock. Unused if possible.

Last year, three musical friends Rachel Dawson, Grace Williamson and Claire Lawrence joined forces to create the wonder that is The La De Dahs. Originally inspired by the music of The Andrews Sisters, they began to re-arrange well loved modern day songs into a 1940s style. Half the fun of their performances is guessing what modern song they’ve transformed (could it be Blur, The Darkness, Steppenwolf or even Radiohead?) The La De Dahs are an a capella, comedic, all-singing girl group who will swing you in ways you’ve never been swung before! There are no gimmicks, no instruments and no recorded sounds… these girls make all of the music with their voices, blended together perfectly with their beautiful harmonies.

Sassy, sexy, soulful and smart, The Voguettes will perform one of their classic DJ sets that will set hearts pumping and minds racing. These five blonde women always present something special with equal measures of sunshine and thunder. Last year they spread the love by handing out paper hearts for people to leave messages on for that someone special and offered a kissing booth for all those lusting festival go-ers. Expect something similarly special for this year’s event.

With hot pants that are too tight and enough glitter to just about cover the beer bellies underneath, winners of the World Disco Dancing Competition in 1983 Glitterbanditz will be treating festival-ravers to some killer dance routines. Belting out original tracks influenced by the feel good retro of Wham! and Mark Bolan, Glitterbanditz interpretive dance routines have to be seen to be believed. The boys have supported Blondie at the London Hippodrome and George Michael at Wembley (as the second act ever to perform at the new Wembley stadium) so they certainly know how to work an audience – don’t miss them strutting their stuff at Henham Park.


THE WATERFRONT STAGE

Imagine: a Sphere the size of a small house floats surreally on the Latitude lake, a flautist suspended within its exact centre as radio microphones transmit the flute’s sound to computers on the shore, so that the sound is bounced around the lake from speaker to speaker. As the music moves through various scenes the Sphere weaves a ballet on the water and the computers create a whole orchestra of flutes from the one live instrument. Well that was last year at Latitude – this year there will be a second giant sphere joining the first with an aerial dancer spinning within! Surrounding the audience with a stunning kaleidoscope of aural and visual effects, Simon Desorgher’s ‘Music of the Spheres’ will perform the perfect lake-side spectacle.

Choreographed by Tony Adigun, ‘The Silver Tree’ by Avant Garde Dance sees the company collaborate with Chinese pole artists in an explosive new show. At first glance, Chinese Pole and Hip Hop Dance might appear strange bedfellows, however they share a similar physicality and acrobatic shape throwing. Expect these ingredients to create an original, fresh, contemporary circus dance piece. Avant Garde Dance was established in 2001 by choreographer Tony Adigun. With their unique style of Abstract Streetdance they constantly strive to challenge the norm and be different from others around them. Mixing different styles and shapes together their ethos is to Innovate Never Replicate!!! Avant Garde have previously presented their work at the The Place, Sadler’s Wells Theatre and The South Bank Centre as well as the Lovebox Weekender and the Paradise Gardens Festival (2006-8). The show is commissioned by Paradise Gardens and Stockton International Riverside Festival and produced by Circus Space and Remarkable Productions in association with East London Dance.

Famed choreographer and performer Charlotte Eatock brings her stunning production 'Revealing Eve' to Latitude’s stage on the lake as well as performing in the Cabaret Arena. ‘Revealing Eve’ is a short solo about the objectification of women. Motivated by her own insecurities and doubts the piece reveals her link to Eve and the female form as a symbol of strength. Originally performed at Stratford Circus as part of Small Dances it will be accompanied with music by Camper Van Beethoven.


OUTDOOR THEATRE

Pleasance Theatre are presenting three ‘Picks’ for Latitude this year, including ‘The Gannet’ by Fat Content Theatre. Using Latitude’s stunning woodland area ‘The Gannet’ is a story of siblings fleeing from a city destroyed by a plague. Manoeuvred by a ravenous eye, they venture into a dark forest embarking upon a surreal odyssey. Can they escape taboo breaking animals and sugar coated enemies as strange temptations strain their unusual bond? Enter the weird and wonderful world presented by Fat Content as their unique storytelling comes to life in a promenade-come-cabaret event with mountains of cakes, sweets, dancing animals, an act from contortionist Maxlastic and a live set from DJ J-Lynx.

Performing on Latitude’s enchanted woodland stage as well as in the Lavish Lounge; Brixton based Yeah Sparrow will bring their unique blend of folk and rock influences to Latitude’s outside spaces. With edgy storytelling that comes from the seedier side of South London, Yeah Sparrow is a ball of energy fusing the rasping voice and guitar of vocalist Kevin Hadley, with the relentless percussion and vocals of Dave Mackie and the driving bass of Christoph Bauschinger, to invoke a sound that is part art-pop, part anti-folk and part twisted blues, ranging from tense low-fire melancholy moments to tremendous wall of folk.

The hypnotic and hauntingly beautiful Evi Vine will also be performing in the Lavish Lounge & on the In The Woods Stage. Evi is a singer/songwriter emerging from the UK’s underground music scene, inspired by such diverse artists as Leonard Cohen, the Cocteau Twins, Arvo Part and Nine Inch Nails. Raw and emotive, Evi’s powerful, but minimalist narrative style is very much her own. Her voice is described as haunting and other-worldly; her lyrics telling of isolation, sex, death and alienation. Few performers can consistently deliver such an impassioned, emotional and hypnotic show as her potent and mesmerising live performances draw the audience into compelled silence. “Excellent…absorbing, haunting and sensual…welcome to the darkside of the blues.” (Sunday Times)


LAVISH ~ OPEN ART

Latitude’s woodland, lush green fields and winding lake are the perfect backdrop for displaying inspiring, individual pieces of art created specifically for the festival. Lavish artists have created some of Latitude’s most iconic images including the 200 multi-coloured sheep that graze lazily by the lake and the tree-hung paintings deep in the woodland. This year Lavish artists have conjured up yet more incredible pieces that will be displayed all over the festival site. Their extraordinary pieces will create fabulous little surprises and treats waiting at every turn.

Exhibited within the woods, painting from award-winning artist Jake Clark will delight festival goers as the already scenic footpath is made even more beautiful with a series of paintings. Clark’s works are populated with images of vaguely remembered holiday exploits of family groups; sketchy staged bodies in sports gear and action; and the burning clarity of gaudy hallucinated Lidos. Tableaux of organised leisure, they trigger historical associations with sports culture in the period of modernism after World War I, and critically engage with the related concept of ‘utopia’. The garishness of the paint and the fragmented nature of forms imply looming disaster rather than fun. The recent paintings depict bungalows sitting within seaside resorts, acting like modernist blocks in the landscape. Jakes & his work have been featured in many publications including The Independent & the New York Times.

In the Cabaret Arena, Giles Walker will present ‘Peep Show’ – an astonishing show of two fully animated exotic pole-dancers. As a founder member of the guerilla-art group The Mutoid Waste Company Giles Walker has worked with robots for over 20 years & started building kinetic sculptures & robots from materials found in various scrap-yards around Europe. In 1993 he created ‘Antibody’ a robotic rock’n’roll band consisting of fourteen robotic musicians and in 1994 he worked with the legendary Ian Dury on a project, Ruby Throat; a combination of performance, music, and a radio-controlled, robotic, lead vocalist.

Inside the Lavish Lounge you’ll find one of the most influential graffiti artists there has ever been; Mode 2. A founding member of one of Europe's first serious graffiti crews, the Chrome Angelz, whose paintings had pride of place in Henry Chalfant and James Prigoff's Spraycan Art, he moved to Paris where he painted throughout the 90s, with Parisian graffiti outfit 93 NTM. Mode 2 is one of only a few people who successfully bridge the linguistic and cultural divide that separates the two cities. His lettering and crisp character paintings are world-famous, and Latitude are proud to welcome him back for the third year running, where he will for the first time be painting live at the Festival!

In the dank and murky midst that is the mind of Neil Antcliff’s Foundry, eclectic material is collected and fused under high temperatures and once molten the viscous liquid poured from the pot into the casks producing perfectly imperfect forms. Although Neil utilises a variety of media he is still drawn to the inherent qualities of aerosol. A medium that has been used in the earliest forms of cave painting (spraying chewed pigment from the mouth) and one that is essentially controlling particles of paint. What happens to those particles between the can and the surface is predictably unpredictable. Using the can as a mere tool to control the paint, a tool that allows you to move from microscopic pondering to macroscopic movement. From the faint cackle of a partially blocked skinny cap to the foaming gasp of a fat cap as paint flatly coats a surface……bulges……then slowly bleeds downwards…… mmmmmmmmm paint.

Paul Burgess will produce portraits of some of the key artists and performers at Latitude, such as Grace Jones, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Pet Shop Boys and these images will be completed live during the Festival using paint/collage on wood/found objects and situated within the woods. Since graduating from Camberwell School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London, Paul Burgess has worked as a freelance illustrator for many different clients including: The Guardian, Sex Pistols, Rough Trade Records, Pulp, Top Shop, Vintage Books, MTV, Penguin Books, Island Records, The Observer, Wolff Olins, Greenpeace, The Independent, Sunday Times, The Delays, and many others.
James Stephens has created ‘Gladys & Me’ an Interactive Art trail located In The Woods. Things are never quite what they seem in James’s world, and those things we do recognise divide, dissolve, blend and fuse to create uncanny visions that are partly new, partly familiar, but always unique, witty and challenging. The way in which James will be lifting these characters outside of the limits of their frames by replicating and wearing the costumes and characteristics of these bizarre characters himself - within the context of the festival - will also explore the barriers between people, animals and things, art and life, normal and abnormal. James’ unusual exhibit will be in the form of an interactive trail which will be great fun for guests to take part in.

As the sun sets over Latitude Festival the site takes on an altogether different look with illuminated trees and projections courtesy of Tim Simmons who presents ‘Intervention’, an ongoing series of immaculately crafted images. The culmination of 20 years’ experimentation in illuminating the landscape he instinctively seeks out texture and form, coaxing out the physical peculiarities of a place through the careful introduction of artificial light. The resulting images are tableau of places at once familiar and unknown, imbued with an illusive, beckoning quality, which pushes them to the brink of recognition and into the realms of fantasy.

Found at the Magic Faraway Tree near the Cabaret Arena Maria Slovakova brings her colourful creatures to Latitude Festival. Her playful installations include coverage of vehicles, large scale murals, as well as short animation films and design in form of stickers, badges as well as cross stitch kits… Her hand painted sneakers are currently travelling with Sneaker Pimps tour! Maria is an internationally acclaimed artist, who has, in last number of years, exhibited her artwork worldwide in both galleries and alternative locations. Going by the principle: 'Go full coverage', she does not limit herself to a particular surface but always finds interest in exploring new ways of applying her images...this includes digital design, acrylic paintings on canvas and wood, animation, as well as working in both interiors and exteriors on large scale murals and installations.

Adorning the trees and bushes of Latitude’s fairytale forest area will be a series of works by famed artist Gabi Swiatkowska. Having studied at New York’s prestigious Cooper Union, the highly selective art and engineering school, part of the beauty and, frankly, the fun of Swiatkowska's art lies in her exceptional skill as a painter and her references to Old Masters. Her intricate drawings of random objects, weird creatures, and strange-yet-familiar seem to channel some combination of Rube Goldberg and Hieronymus Bosch.

A graduate of the Royal Academy of Art, cult British artist Johnny Cole specialises in the production of small black & white comic books that hold fantastic stories and illustrations about his daily life. Ranging from the poignantly insightful to the downright hilarious, these illustrative masterpieces often cover entire walls, and his covetable pocket-sized editions are fast becoming collector’s items. Johnny will be working in situ again this year on giant comic book pages, drawing on his experiences of the festival and its guests as he proceeds; so if you head down to the woods today, you may just find yourself eternalised in one of his storyboards…or invited by him to join in!

Tamsyn Adams is our youngest exhibiting artist this year at just 15 yrs old & she lives on Henham Estate. For Latitude Tamsyn will be roaming the site and painting live during the festival creating a piece depicting Henham & how it is complete, not only the festival in full swing as we all see it but as it is for the rest of the year as well. Tamsyn has just left school & will be going to Sir John Leman college in September to study A level Art, English, Science, BTEC performing arts and BTEC Media.

Emma Hart & Dia Jenkins join the open art exhibition this year with ‘Pay And Display’ an incredible piece of conceptual multidisciplinary art presented in the Cabaret Arena. An ordinary looking car with opaque windows is mysteriously parked up, reminiscent of an illicit meeting, a secret tryst. As dusk falls the windscreen becomes illuminated - becoming home to a back projected series of art films made specifically for the car. Once a night, chance passers by become voyeurs to ‘Disco Kissing’ a simply dazzling display, eminating from within the car, of coloured light projections, silhouette and shadow play, choreographed to a sound track. 3 films have already been made by the artists for the car that run continuously on a loop after the hours of darkness. Hart and Jenkins propose to create a 4th ‘Latitude’ film for the programme, created onsite and involving the Festival audience.

Located at the Welcome Entrance and In The Woods Caroline Wright explores the four principles of the ancient rituals of The Japanese Tea Ceremony with stunning neon installations. Interested in the nature of human interaction, exploring the way we create habits, rites and communal actions, ‘Untitled’ (believe) is focused on the way, in the 21st Century the urban Japanese culture is shifting as it absorbs and adopts western ways and young people challenge age-old boundaries. The ancient Japanese tea ceremony is in danger of dying out, as young people choose not to learn how to host a tea ceremony, an undertaking that can take over ten years. In the tea ceremony, which is influenced by Taoism and Zen Buddhism, powdered green tea, or matcha, is traditionally prepared and served to others in the ‘way of tea’. Each of the four principles of tea - Harmony, Respect, Tranquillity and Purity - underlines the different ritualistic elements of the formal procedure. Untitled (believe) proclaims the four principles of a now dying tradition in today’s visual language of the young. The vividness of the message delivered by the bright green neon asks the audience to consider the influence of western life and consumerism and instead think of traditional ways, heritage and the principles of life

Following on from their success at Latitude last year artists SNUB & Defacto return as this years featured artists. Once again they have designed & produced stunning work to feature within the Cabaret, Comedy, Music & Film, Poetry & Literature Arena’s. The work of SNUB23 & DEFACTO (who form a part of Grafik Warfare), has been integrated not only into the 6 Arena Facades but also within the tents this year. You can also see the work of these Featured Artists by the lake on large letters. SNUB23 & DEFACTO & Grafik Warfare are a street art collective who are bringing colour back to the streets and anything else they can get their paints, stickers and paste-ups on. Most recently part of 'The Cans Festival' in London (organised by Banksy), the pair bring a slice of Grafik Warfare's internationally renowned talent to Latitude lovers.

Within the Lavish Lounge Louise Gray will host ‘In conversation with Artists’. Following extensive research Gray together with a panel will tour the festival site on Sunday morning and then take part in 2 timetabled ‘panel’ discussions in the intimate environment of the Lavish Lounge on Sunday afternoon. Artists exhibiting in Open Art are programmed to appear on stage ‘In Conversation’ with Louise & the panel in 2 separate groups, all coming together in the final section. Gray will lead the live discussion, where the audience will have the opportunity to hear the artists talk about their work in general, ask questions, and for the critics to comment on the pieces at the site. The discussions will extend further to talk about Latitude Festival as a new model context for making and viewing contemporary visual artwork: how it influences the nature of the work, how artists and curators can use the potential for reaching new audiences, how it sits with the music & performance program and festival vibe. Quotes from the discussions will then be compiled and posted on the Latitude website. This will be the first of these discussions to take place at Latitude. Gray is an arts and performance writer whose work has appeared in The Wire, New Internationalist, Museums Journal, The Independent on Sunday, Art Review and Art Press. Her book, The No-Nonsense Guide to World Music, was published by New Internationalist in April 2009. The panel consists of Ben Borthwick a curator at the Tate Modern and specialist in sound-related practices and large scale installations & Anne Hilde Neset, deputy editor of The Wire magazine and co-founder of Electra Productions.

Elsewhere, the very best in film, theatre, comedy, literature, poetry, dance, art and cabaret will be pitching up at the fourth edition of Latitude Festival. Sadler’s Wells and the Royal Opera House will be showcasing stunning performances on The Waterfront Stage; Royal Shakespeare Company, The Bush, National Theatre, Paines Plough, and nabokov plus more will all be coming to the Theatre Arena along with the English Touring Theatre presenting Latitude’s first musical ‘Been So Long’. Also for the first time is the dynamic orchestral brilliance of Britten Sinfonia performing in Latitude’s outdoor spaces. The House Of BlueEyes collective will be presenting a stunning fashionrock n’ roll circus over the lake at sunset plus stellar poets Andrew Motion, Brian Patten, Jackie Kay and Simon Armitage will be in the Poetry Arena. The Cabaret Arena welcomes Pippa Evans, Ida Barr, Dusty Limits, Johnny Woo, Timberlina, David Mills and Watson & Oliver plus 4 stages dedicated to a full range of music from established iconic performers like headliners Grace Jones, Pet Shop Boys, Nick & The Bad Seeds, Doves, Editors, and Pretenders as well as emerging artists like Little Boots, Ladyhawke and Bat For Lashes.


TICKET INFORMATION

Weekend tickets £150 plus booking fees • Day tickets Fri, Sat, Sun £60 plus booking fee. Weekend tickets prices include car parking and camping • Days include car parking only.

Credit Card line: 0871 231 0821
Online at: www.festivalrepublic.com • www.seetickets.com • www.latitudefestival.co.uk

For a full list of national and regional outlets please visit www.latitudefestival.co.uk

For further Press info contact: 020-7792-9400
Charlie Caplowe: charlie@presscounsel.com
Dani Cotter: dani@presscounsel.com
Anthea Thomas: anthea@presscounsel.com
Dan Griffiths: griff@presscounsel.com

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Tuesday 23 June 2009

Latitude - The Broken Family Band, Broken Records, The Vaselines, Manchester Orchestra ...

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16th – 19th July 2009
Henham Park Estate, Southwold, Suffolk

OBELISK ARENA
~ The Broken Family Band ~
~ Broken Records ~

UNCUT ARENA
~ Miike Snow ~ Gurrumul ~ The Vaselines ~
~ Manchester Orchestra ~ Alela Diane ~ Red Light Company ~

SUNRISE ARENA
~ The Phenomenal Handclap Band ~

The pioneering, award-winning Latitude Festival returns to England’s Sunrise Coast for another spectacular edition. Taking place on 16th – 19th July, near Suffolk’s stunning seaside town of Southwold, organisers Festival Republic are promising Latitude will be the perfect British summer destination.


OBELISK ARENA

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. The latest act to join the likes of Pet Shop Boys, Grace Jones, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Editors, Doves, Pretenders, Regina Spektor, White Lies is:

The Broken Family Band, hailing from Cambridge, the prolific four piece are considered the hidden gem of the alt-country-rock scene. With a constantly growing fanbase they are renowned for their beautifully crafted music, bitingly witty lyrics and superb live show. Their seventh full length studio album ‘Please and Thank You’ came out earlier this year which saw a shift from their country style to full-on alt-rock akin to American alternative heroes Pavement. Discover the brilliance of The Broken Family Band at the Obelisk Arena at Latitude.

Seven piece Broken Records have been tipped as the Scottish answer to Arcade Fire. Their variety and constant swapping of instruments result in a breathtakingly brilliant live act where cellos, fiddles, drums, trumpets, ukuleles and pianos are combined with perfection creating a folk-dancing nostalgic sound. Don’t miss the opportunity to watch them present their debut album ‘Until The Earth Begins To Part’ at the Obelisk Arena. “They deal in big lush, string-soaked songs with a pop sensibility. Think a British Arcade Fire with soaring, Jeff Buckley-esque melodies.” (Rough Trade)


UNCUT ARENA

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.

Miike Snow is Pontus Winnberg, Kristian Carlsson and Andrew Wyatt. Named after controversial Japanese director Takashi Miike, they are very experienced in the music industry. Two of the members are responsible for Britney Spears’ most successful single, Toxic, and producers of artists such as Madonna and Kylie Minogue. The other member has worked on Daniel Merriweather’s album with Mark Ronson. Although their pop background is irrefutable, Miike Snow’s sound is surprisingly far from teenage pop. They combine guitar, piano and electronics to originate light, airy and sweet music.

Gurrumul is a member of the Gumatj clan of north east Arnhemland in Australia and it is the songs and stories of the Gumatj clan that he sublimely adapts into contemporary song styles. Currently a member of the hugely talented Saltwater Band he has contributed greatly to the Indigenous music industry which was recognised at the NT Indigenous Music Awards where he was awarded the Album of the Year and Song of the Year 2008. He earned the attention of the mainstream music scene in Australia and was nominated for several 2008 ARIA Awards including the coveted Male Artist of the Year and Album of the Year. His debut self-titled album ‘Gurrumul’ released last year received exceptional worldwide reviews. Gurrumul’s solo performances are a rare treat for music lovers and should not be missed. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu’s solo excursions highlight his amazing talent and his beautiful voice that will stay with you forever as he sings the songs of his Gumatj country.

Formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1990, Glaswegians The Vaselines are coming to Latitude in what is one of only a handful of shows the recently reformed band are doing. Though popular in their native country it was super-fan Kurt Cobain who helped get them worldwide acclaim by covering songs, ‘Molly’s Lips’, ‘Son Of A Gun’ and ‘Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam’. Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee reformed last year to audiences with their folky punk-garage sound. Tongue-in-cheek references in the lyrics and grungy guitars bring us back to those summers of the late 80s and give the young generation a chance to hear the music that inspired one of rock’s greatest icons.

Manchester Orchestra come from Atlanta, USA to bring us their raw, emotional and authentic music. Inspired by the pounding, primal assault of Weezer’s ‘Pinkerton’, Nirvana’s ‘In Utero’, and Foo Fighters’ ‘The Colour and the Shape’, this young band has created its own version of what a classic rock album should sound like. Their second album ‘Mean Everything to Nothing’ perfectly exemplifies their loud/soft dynamics complete with fiercely beautiful melodies, shifting guitar and keyboard textures which live is am engaging and powerful performance.

Alela Diane’s gentle acoustic style has been described as campfire gospel as it is driven by trance-like arpeggios played on the guitar and her remarkable warm voice. She has been compared to fellow female solo artist Joanna Newsom, who helped and encouraged Alela to her first solo appearance. Her innocent, meditative lyrics about family and mostly nature saw her debut album, The Pirate's Gospel being voted best album of 2007 by the Rough Trade. Her second album, ‘To Be Still’ came out in February.

Been named as one of the hottest bands for 2009, eclectic Red Light Company formed through an ad just over 2 years ago, but demonstrate the expertise and quality of music veterans. They have wowed critics like Radio 1’s Jo Whiley and Zane Lowe as well as amassing a legion of fans through touring with the Editors last year. Their debut album ‘Fine Fascination’ came out earlier this year to wide acclaim.


SUNRISE ARENA

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.

The Phenomenal Handclap Band started when Collás and Marquand, two New York underground club DJs, became restless with the concept of playing other people’s music. Both had also been involved in the thriving nightlife scene and had an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of esoteric music ranging from Brazilian soul to vintage psych-rock, so becoming producers seemed to be the next logical step. They gathered talented musicians and artists from Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn and started creating anthemic, dancefloor-oriented and orchestral sounds borrowing elements from progressive rock, disco, electro, and psychedelia. Live, The Phenomenal Handclap Band is distilled to an eight-member powerhouse, an eye-popping spectacle that overwhelms the senses. It pulses with a savage rhythm section that provides the ultimate foil for cascading guitars and electrified washes of organ and synthesizers. Their delirious sermonizing whips crowds into a charismatic frenzy. Needless to say, their live shows are more akin to a spiritual church revival than an actual rock show.

Elsewhere, the very best in film, theatre, comedy, literature, poetry, dance, art and cabaret will be pitching up at the fourth edition of Latitude Festival. Sadler’s Wells and the Royal Opera House will be showcasing stunning performances on The Waterfront Stage; Royal Shakespeare Company, The Bush, National Theatre, Paines Plough, and nabokov plus many more will be coming to the Theatre Arena along with the English Touring Theatre presenting Latitude’s first musical ‘Been So Long’. Also for the first time is the dynamic orchestral brilliance of Britten Sinfonia performing in Latitude’s outdoor spaces. The House Of BlueEyes collective will be presenting a stunning fashion show over the lake at sunset plus stellar poets Andrew Motion, Brian Patten, Jackie Kay and Simon Armitage will be in the Poetry Arena. The Cabaret Arena welcomes Pippa Evans, Ida Barr, Dusty Limits, Johnny Woo, Timberlina, David Mills and Watson & Oliver plus plenty more exciting performances to announce.


TICKET INFORMATION

Weekend tickets £150 plus booking fees • Day tickets Fri, Sat, Sun £60 plus booking fee. Weekend tickets prices include car parking and camping • Days include car parking only.

Credit Card line: 0871 231 0821
Online at: www.festivalrepublic.com • www.seetickets.com • www.latitudefestival.co.uk

For a full list of national and regional outlets please visit www.latitudefestival.co.uk

For further Press info contact: 020-7792-9400
Charlie Caplowe: charlie@presscounsel.com
Dani Cotter: dani@presscounsel.com
Anthea Thomas: anthea@presscounsel.com
Dan Griffiths: griff@presscounsel.com

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The Jacks - Debut single 'Not Me Not You'

The Jacks are: DOMINICK GOLDSMITH – Vocals and rhythm guitar; PAUL COLLEY – Vocals and bass; JACK GOURLAY – Guitar MARTIN ROONEY- Drums

www.myspace.com/thejackstunes

The Jacks will release their debut single “Not Me Not You” on 29th June. Formed in Spring 2007, The Jacks are Dom Goldsmith, Paul Colley, Jack Gourlay and Martin Rooney. Hailing from Northampton, some of The Jacks met at school, some of them met in a local music store and some of them met in a pub. Plundering sonics from a variety of styles and an array of genres their sound is not limited and will always evolve. Of late, some say their sound is more infectious than swine flu and that it makes you twice as sweaty. Having proven themselves on the live scene by employing immaculate attention to detail they create an impressive live show that is fizzing with energy and yet still incredibly tight.

In their first year this live reputation saw them sell out the Camden Barfly on two occasions and play everywhere from London to Liverpool, leaving a trail of chorus chanting crowds in their wake. They also gained support slots with the likes of One Night Only, Newton Faulkner and Imperial Leisure, and in April 2008 they could be found in their little bus behind press darlings The Long Blondes, having managed to hustle a few opening slots of their UK tour. On the back of this The Jacks attracted the expertise of Saul Davies to produce “Not Me Not You” at the Fish Factory Studios in Neasden. The track was recorded live - like in the good old days.

The term “sound of the summer” is here aptly applied; Not Me Not You, along with B-side “Do Or Don’t”, is the perfect accompaniment to your beach barbeque, better than ketchup in fact. Twinkling harmonies and genuine sing-a-long lyrics combine with a catchy melody to create a song that gallops along faster than Black Beauty on speed. In fact, the only thing better than listening to this song on a sunny day, driving with the windows down and the sun blazing, is seeing it performed live.

The Jacks first single ‘NOT ME NOT YOU’ b/w ‘DO OR DON’T’ will be released on 29th June 2009 on the bands own label, Jangle Chain Records. Cat No. JCR001.
9 June Club Fandango @ Dublin Castle London
10 June The Star of Bethnal Green London
26 June The Ridley Park Blyth
27 June Bedford Esquires Bedford
30 June Club fandango @ Dublin Castle London
4 July The William Cobbett Farnham
21 July The Roadmender w/Kid British Northampton
5 Sept The Roadmender Northampton

Want to know more? Contact Anthea Or Griff on 020 7792 9400 firstname@presscounsel.com

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Thursday 18 June 2009

Latitude - Smoke Fairies, Hofesh Shechter, Jake & Dinos Chapman, Brendon Burns...

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16th – 19th July 2009
Henham Park Estate, Southwold, Suffolk


FILM & MUSIC ARENA
~ ‘Age Of Stupid’ plus a Q&A with Franny Armstrong and Ed Miliband ~
~ Noah & The Whale present ‘The First Days Of Spring’ ~
~ Smoke Fairies ~

THE WATERFRONT STAGE
~ Hofesh Shechter ~
~ Swan Lake Excerpt ~
~ Freestyle Hip Hop from Psycho Stylez ~

LITERARY ARENA
~ Jake & Dinos Chapman ~
~ Sketchatron featuring The Penny Dreadfuls and Pappy's Fun Club ~

LITERARY SALON
~ Write To Play with Che Walker ~

COMEDY ARENA
~ Brendon Burns ~ Jamie Kilstein ~

THEATRE ARENA
~ Adriano Adewale ~Teenager of the Year ~

POETRY ARENA
~ The PeteBox ~

CABARET ARENA
~ Lucifire ~ Fat 45 ~The Penny Dreadfuls ~

PANDORA’S PLAYGROUND
~ Sadler’s Wells Dance Club ~
~ Scrabble Sunday ~ Seraph Id ~ Hide N’ Seek ~ Bootworks ~ Disco Shed ~

The pioneering, award-winning Latitude Festival returns to England ’s Sunrise Coast for another spectacular edition. Taking place on 16th – 19th July, near Suffolk ’s stunning sea-side town of Southwold , organisers Festival Republic are promising Latitude will be the perfect British summer destination.


FILM & MUSIC ARENA

Uniting alternative worlds of cinematic wonder, musical splendour and visual brilliance, the Music & Film Arena is an exhilarating and intoxicating centre of creativity.

The Age Of Stupid addresses the issue of climate change, resource wars, consumerism, and the need for massive personal and social change. Director Franny Armstrong's docu-drama is out to change the minds of the masses and make them more eco-conscious. Oscar-nominated Pete Postlethwaite stars as a man living alone in the devastated world of 2055, watching 'archive' footage from 2008 and asking: why didn't we stop climate change while we had the chance? Following the varied cast of characters - a guide who has seen the Alp’s glaciers disappear in his lifetime, a builder of wind-farms and an Indian entrepreneur opening a low-cost airline – this creates a powerful, shocking, in some ways quite extraordinary documentary. Franny Armstrong will also open the floor to questions in a Q&A session that follows and will be demanding answers from Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband MP who will be talking after the film is shown. In October of last year Miliband was promoted to the cabinet with the portfolio and responsibility for the newly created government department, the Department Of Energy and Climate Change as its Secretary of State. Ahead of the crucial UN Summit in Copenhagen in December Miliband has announced that the British government would legislate to oblige itself to cut greenhouse emissions by 80% by 2050, rather than the 60% cut in carbon dioxide emissions previously announced. This film is a passionate campaign demanding for more commitment, more awareness and more answers from the MP and his department so join in the debate and help give this film the impact it needs.

London indie-folk band Noah & The Whale will present ‘The First Days Of Spring’, the narrative film created by the band’s singer Charlie Fink to accompany the soundscape of their latest album. Premiering at Latitude 2009, the film and the album may share the same title but are separate entities that support and compliment each other. Drummer Doug Fink says of how to describe the new material ‘Sidestepping drawn-out overanalysis, the pithiest, if crudest, aphorism we have used consistently for the sum of its parts is ‘feature-length music video’. But truly it stands as a wonderful work in its own right." The third album from the four-piece will be out in August.

Female duo Smoke Fairies sing haunting melodies, stripped back to the bare bones where subtly spooky sounds build to a dramatic yet sensuous sound. Jessica Davies and Katherine Blamire met at school and spent time travelling the Southern states of America and have since toured with Brian Ferry. Their debut single 'Living With Ghosts' was released last year.


LITERARY ARENA

Like all good books, the Literary Arena will transport you to the far reaches of your imagination guided by the storytelling talents of the very best authors and special guests scheduled for the weekend. Discussions, Q & As, stories and comic genius are the order of the day for these talks and readings with a difference.

2003 Turner Prize shortlisted conceptual artists Jake & Dinos Chapman will be appearing in the Literary Arena and will be interviewed by editor, correspondent and regular panel member on Newsnight Review, Miranda Sawyer. Bad boys of Brit Art, the brothers work almost exclusively in collaboration with each other and shot to fame as part of the Young British Artists movement promoted by art collector and advertising mogul Charles Saatchi. They received critical acclaim in 1991 for a diorama sculpture entitled 'Disasters of War' created out of remodelled plastic figurines enacting scenes from Goya's 'Disasters of War' etchings and have since exhibited numerous pieces which have since gone in to a retrospective at the Tate Liverpool in 2007. Their sculptures and installations examine, with searing wit and energy, the most pertinent and controversial issues in politics, religion and morality. Join them in the Literary Arena to discover their style and fascination for the grotesque and bizarre.

Write to Play events focus on a prolific playwright, striving to give audiences the opportunity to engage with playwrights. At Latitude, In The Same Boat presents Write to Play with Ché Walker. Listen to Ché in conversation about his life, career and work; hear Ché read an extract from his writing; and join us in discussion with Ché about his themes, styles and methods of writing. Born in Camden Town , Ché Walker trained as an actor at the Webber Douglas Academy before starting to write. His plays frequently celebrate London life in all its richness, vibrancy and cruelty. Lyrical and tender, dark and comic, Ché Walker’s writing is fast making him one of Britain ’s most important contemporary playwrights. His plays have been performed in renowned theatres including Southwark Playhouse, Royal Court , Young Vic/ ETT and Shakespeare’s Globe.

The biggest sketch showcase in the UK comes to Latitude. Sketchatron featuring The Penny Dreadfuls and Pappy's Fun Club is exclusive to this year's festival. Sketchatron presents extended sets from two of the best up-and-coming live sketch troupes in the country. Pappy’s Fun Club are from Radio 4 and BBC2 and Chortle Award Winners and if.com award nominees. Sketchatron favourites The Penny Dreadfuls, straight off the back of two critically acclaimed Radio 4 Victorian comedy series "The Brothers Faversham will also be joining in the fun.


COMEDY ARENA

The Comedy Arena is one of the biggest draws of the weekend; bursting at the seams with people as they sit back and enjoy the stellar stand up performances from the cream of the comedy circuit. A programme of the biggest names and the newest rising talent will ensure continuous laughter throughout the weekend.

Australian comic Brendon Burns' television career began alongside Sacha Baron Cohen and Ricky Gervais as a performer on Channel 4's late-night spontaneous comedy show 'The Eleven O'Clock Show'. His wittily controversial show 'So I Suppose This Is Offensive Now' won the top prize at the if.comedy awards at the 2007 Edinburgh Festival Fringe and also appeared alongside fellow Comedy Arena stand up Adam Hills in a stage version of Breaker Morant directed by Phil Nichol at the same festival. However it is his solo shows that have shown the basis for his revered reputation with six live show recordings under his belt.

Critically acclaimed, left-wing political comic Jamie Kilstein joins the superb line up in the Comedy Arena. He received a standing ovation when he made his debut with razor sharp show 'There's No God And That's OK' at the Edinburgh Fringe last year. Dissecting the racism with his derisive wit, Jamie conducts a one-man war on American religious extremism, racism, sexism and homophobia despite having a right-wing evangelical Christian sister.


THE WATERFRONT STAGE

Renamed The Waterfront Stage, this year the floating stage will once again showcase contemporary, modern dance from the world’s leading companies and choreographers.

Watch from the grassy banks as Sadler’s Wells bring an excerpt from Swan Lake and freestyle hip hop from Psycho Stylez to Latitude. As the UK’s number one venue for dance, Sadler’s Wells has been absolutely at the centre of this resurgence, presenting a staggering range of shows, many of which have involved exciting cross-artform collaborations and have broadened our perception of what dance can be. ‘The Art of Not Looking Back’ by Hofesh Shechter the first of the triple bill has already been announced, and the further two dance pieces will include a ballet excerpt from Swan Lake and freestyle hip hop from Scotland’s number one breakdance crew.

The duet from Act Two of Swan Lake is one of the most famous moments in classical ballet. This truly iconic piece of dance will be performed by Begoña Cao and James Forbat from English National Ballet. Presented on a floating stage on the lake, this looks set to be a truly magical performance. Begoña trained at Arts Educational School , London and at the Royal Ballet Upper School . After joining English National Ballet in 1997, she was quickly promoted to First Soloist, dancing Principal roles across many of the major works in the ballet repertoire. She recently received the 2009 Spotlight Award for Best Female Classical Artist. James trained at the Royal Ballet School and has danced with English National Ballet since 2004. Last year he was nominated for the Times/South Bank Show Breakthrough Award.

Based in Edinburgh , Psycho Stylez have competed and performed across the world, with a host of UK titles under their belts. This year, the company brought their piece Cirque du Psycho to Sadler’s Wells’ annual festival of hip hop Dance Theatre, Breakin' Convention, and they are continuing to push the boundaries of hip hop dance and create new styles within b-boying.

Got the urge to hit the dancefloor? Sadler’s Wells Dance Club in Pandora’s Playground gives you the chance to learn a range of diverse dance styles with top dance teachers, and get a glimpse of how they dance it for real. Seema Parma will be teaching Bollywood classes on Friday with a fun, energetic class to bring out the Bollywood heroes and princesses in you, mixing of pure Bollywood cheese, some classical Indian steps, and facial expressions,. Then following his performance on Saturday morning, Psycho Stylez dancer Iain Bleakley will be teaching the foundations of b-boying/breakdancing for you to build on and add your own style to. You will work on top rock, footwork and freezes - everything you need to have some fun and start getting busy on the dance floor! Sunday sees Mariana and Romero taking festival goers through Rio-style Samba where, starting with the basic step, you will have the chance to learn how to develop your sense of rhythm, play with the music and have some fun. This is a solo dance, so you can come as you are or with a mate.


CABARET ARENA

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 to be announced. 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.

Glamorous underground cabaret artist Lucifire brings ‘The Furry Bitches From Hell’ to the Cabaret Arena. Joined by Alternative Miss World winner Fancy Chance, the unrivalled pair of burlesque performers team up to stage a show that includes a grumpy, chainsmoking dormouse and a bubbly, cheerful white rabbit. Watch their interpretation of ‘Bright Eyes’, you won’t have seen anything like it before.

Blistering eleven piece big band bringing back the dance music of the 1940’s & 50’s with their slick quiffs, sharp suits, swingin hips & high heels. Fat 45 play jump jive, swing, rhythm & blues and rock & roll setting the dance floors alight wherever they go, guaranteed to make every party shake, rattle & roll…All you juice hounds, hep cats, night hawks, jitterbug zooters & hop heads get your finest thread and cut some rug to the boogie woogie big beat sound of the Fat 45…

The critically-acclaimed trio, The Penny Dreadfuls, from BBC2 and Radio 4 are famed for their Victorian antics as part of their critical and commercial success with the ‘Aeneas Faversham Trilogy’, they now present brand new modern day comedy. Nominated for the Brighton Fringe Comedy Award for their new work in May of this year, and sell out shows across the UK, they're already making waves, regardless of which era they're in.


POETRY ARENA

Positioned enticingly by the banks of the lake at the entrance to the main festival arena, Latitude’s perfectly placed Poetry Arena is a wonderful den of distraction. Curious passers-by are pulled inside by barrels of raucous laughter, pensive silences and fascinated faces, all transfixed by the raconteurs on stage.

THePETEBOX is a leading player on the beatboxing scene, making his mark after only a few months of gigging by winning the Radio 1 beatbox championships in 2005. Since then his breathtaking abilities to create, and re-create many styles of music such as hip-hop, drum ’n’ bass, jazz, house, garage and rock, has established him as an explosive live performer, having appeared at club nights and festivals around the UK and abroad over the past three years. THePETEBOX is one of the world’s finest human beatbox artists hailing from Nottingham . Check out this astonishing talent who creates music, mimicking a wide range of instruments and effects using just the mouth and vocal chords.


THEATRE ARENA

With the involvement of the country’s leading theatre companies, Latitude has established itself as one of the best theatre festivals in Europe . An auditorium has been specially designed to perfectly present a full schedule of contemporary, physical, classical, performance and local productions bespoke to the festival.

Created and performed by master percussionist Adriano Adewale, Sound Journey is a solo work which uses music, theatre and dance to explore its core contemporary themes. The piece speaks to and about our current concerns of cultural identity, immigration, migration and climate change. Based on the aesthetics of afro-Brazilian culture, it employs conventional, traditional, organic and experimental instruments, which are redolent of both rootedness and migration (for example the Berimbau, an instrument taken from Africa to Brazil by Angolan slaves) and played with specific techniques. Combining music, theatre and dance in an innovative and unique way, join the master percussionist’s remarkable journey from Africa to South America , desert to rain forest, village to city. A virtuoso, moving and intimate performance appealing directly to the senses!

'Teenager Of The Year' was written by Jamie Huxley and has had short runs amongst other plays at the White Bear and the Rosemary Branch. Marking the crowning of Teenage Of The Year, who is both monosyllabic and poetic, both apathetic and rebellious. The theatre piece is set in front of a live studio audience with regular bulletins from the on-going war between adults and teenagers via DVD (with real footage of Jon Snow who has been recorded delivering the text), dancers, and a manic presenter.


PANDORA’S PLAYGROUND

New to Latitude last year, Pandora’s Playground will again have all manner of side shows, interactive art, dance troupes, theatre and an all night disco shed.

Everyone knows the best board game in the world is Scrabble. Not only can you pit your vocabulary and word-making skills against someone else, you can have a pint, a bite to eat and a bit of a lounge about in the sun while you do it. Perfect. That's why between 1pm and 4pm on Sunday in Pandora's Playground, you'll find Scrabble Sunday. We'll provide lovely boards (from 50s ones to 80s ones, from swivelly ones to inflatable ones), a referee (with official Scrabble dictionary of course) to rule on any arguments, some comfy blankets and maybe even an opponent. Prizes will be awarded to those who come up with extra special words. All you have to do is bring your brain. Be there and be square. Be there AND be square, get it?

Seraph Id is a young performance company, run by creative improviser Aedin Walsh, the company works fluidly with each project, drawing on the particular skills of each performer and needs of each work. The integration of skills and response to the built and natural environment is at the core of Seraph Id. This year at Latitude they will present the premiere of their newest work, an Aerial Dance Theatre interpretation of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Nightingale and The Rose’. Performed outside by the light of the setting sun, in the arms and lap of Luci's tree, this powerful, timeless story of love and sacrifice will draw breath through visceral live performance, spoken text, live music, aerial and dance.

Join creators of social games Hide&Seek for three wonderful games at Latitude. In Checkpoint, designed by Andy Field, you take the part of a smuggler. Your aim - to disassemble a living room and reconstruct it piece-by-piece on the other side of a central no man's land. Unfortunately, the space between the installation and your end-point is patrolled by Border Guards, and they're suspicious, surly and out to stop you in your tracks. Sneak, lie, distract and run! In the Reality Reality Helmet Experience, from Gethan Dick and Myles Quin, you could experience any one of 12 new and astonishing realities. Roll up, roll up and take your chances - a twist of fate decides what new world awaits. Fall in love, become a giant, eat clouds or experience any one of the 12 new realities of the Reality Reality Helmet Experience. In Grandmother's Footsteps, you creep or bolt across a field, trying to reach Grandmother before she spins around and catches you in motion. It might be a familiar game - but this time, Grandmother is, well, she's pretty big. And a puppet.

Bootworks Theatre Collective is an unincorporated and multi - disciplined group of artists committed to making high quality and innovative street art and performance. After a successful show with The Black Box at Latitude last year, they return with a new box and a new show - their most innovative production to date; ‘the Little Box of Horrors’. If you dare, step inside their BlackBox and witness a 5 minute peep-show for an audience of one. The show uses three shuttered windows to frame the performers as they make a film in real-time. Or watch from outside TheBlackBox where you can watch the mechanics of the performance as it unfolds.

Kitsch, cool, and full of character, the Disco Shed was conceived in a moment of garden party madness by club promoters and long time festival goers Peepshow Paddy and Aidan ‘Count’ Skylarkin. Taking inspiration from their actual shed, in which they‘d enjoyed one too many parties for their neighbours liking, they set about converting an ordinary 8 x 6 ft Billy O garden shed into the must-have accessory for any self-respecting festival – the Disco Shed! By day, chill out and enjoy the good-time garden party vibe, with classic garden games, and Jane Fonda workouts. Then dance the night away to top quality DJ sets, with a full light show and live visuals on the shed's giant rooftop screen. The Disco Shed is a unique, adaptable, ready-to-go self-contained performance area, with the personnel on hand to rock your festival. We can also work with you to accommodate artists of your choice.


TICKET INFORMATION

Weekend tickets £150 plus booking fees • Day tickets Fri, Sat, Sun £60 plus booking fee. Weekend tickets prices include car parking and camping • Days include car parking only.

Credit Card line: 0871 231 0821
Online at: www.festivalrepublic.com • www.seetickets.com • www.latitudefestival.co.uk

For a full list of national and regional outlets please visit www.latitudefestival.co.uk

For further Press info contact: 020-7792-9400
Charlie Caplowe: charlie@presscounsel.com
Dani Cotter: dani@presscounsel.com
Anthea Thomas: anthea@presscounsel.com
Dan Griffiths: griff@presscounsel.com

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Friday 12 June 2009

Latitude - Phoenix, The Gaslight Anthem, The Rumble Strips, Mika, Scott Matthews...

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16th – 19th July 2009
Henham Park Estate, Southwold, Suffolk

OBELISK ARENA
~ Phoenix ~ The Gaslight Anthem ~ The Rumble Strips ~

UNCUT ARENA
~ Mika ~ Scott Matthews ~ The Duckworth Lewis Method ~ Emmy The Great ~

SUNRISE ARENA
~ Charlotte Hatherley ~

LAKE STAGE
~ Colorama ~

The pioneering, award-winning Latitude Festival returns to England’s Sunrise Coast for another spectacular edition. Taking place on 16th – 19th July, near Suffolk’s stunning seaside town of Southwold, organisers Festival Republic are promising Latitude will be the perfect British summer destination.


OBELISK ARENA

The open-air Obelisk Arena has been the stage of some epic performances over the past three years and Latitude 2009 will be no different. Lay out your picnic blanket, bask in the sunshine and get down to some of the best music around.

French alternative four-piece Phoenix bring their eclectic '80s influenced rock-synth sound to Latitude. Cutting their teeth with follow French band Air (they actually acted as Air’s backing band on several UK TV appearances) and with links to Daft Punk the band developed a unique sound that has earned their critical and commercial success throughout Europe. Their fourth album ‘Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix’ came out last month and reached the Top 40 in the US and Top 20 in Australia and France.

The Gaslight Anthem were New Jersey’s best kept secret until their much publicised performance at last year’s Reading Festival. The release of their incredible second album ‘The '59 Sound’ saw the band take on an army of new fans and play sold out shows up and down the UK with folk singer songwriter Frank Turner earlier this year. Gaslight’s Springsteen-esque sound and punk sensibilities seem to have a genre defying appeal making them the perfect band for Latitude.

The Rumble Strips had great success with their debut album ‘Girls And Weather’ that featured several chart singles. Currently the band are putting the finishing touches to its follow up with famed producer Mark Ronson and fans can expect the first single in June. Speaking about the band’s new album they said that "Ronson's kitchen sink production is evident after little more than a minute" with the record sounding "lush". Let’s hope to hear a sneak preview of some new material at this year’s Latitude.


UNCUT ARENA

The impressive structure of the tented Uncut Arena houses an eclectic line-up of alternative, leftfield music; a hotbed of genre-spanning artists all offering something unique

Enveloped in an imaginative musical world of his own creation, Mika is one of the few British male pop stars of his age that doesn’t run with the pack. A classically trained musician that revels in pop’s flamboyancy his music is joyful and empowering and doesn’t kowtow to fashion or convention. Since he burst onto the scene with first single ‘Grace Kelly’ he has gone on to sell beyond 5 million albums and win awards at the Brits, the Grammys and an Ivor Novello to name but a few. His performance will be electrifying in the Uncut Arena.

Wolverhampton-based Scott Matthews has been compared to such icons as Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley and John Martyn over the years and with his incredible song writing craft – it’s easy to see why. His second album ‘Elsewhere’ came out last month and features a stunning duet with Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant on ‘12 Harps’. His acclaimed debut album ‘Passing Stranger’, went Silver in the UK and won him an Ivor Novello Best Song Award for the signature single ‘Elusive’.

Emma-Lee Moss, better known as Emmy The Great specialises in articulate anti-folk songs that has earned her a steady underground following for a number of years. Her enchanting debut album ‘First Love’ came out earlier this year, full of beautifully crafted songs with outstanding lyrical ability and melodies that will no doubt propel her to mainstream success so catch her captivating live show at Latitude this year.

In the sport of cricket, the Duckworth-Lewis method is a mathematical way to calculate the target score for the team batting second in a one-day cricket or Twenty-20 cricket match interrupted by weather or other circumstance. The Duckworth Lewis Method is also a cricket-inspired Irish pop group formed by Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy and Thomas Walsh of Pugwash, and is also the title of the group's forthcoming album, which is due to be released this July. Hannon and Walsh have described their album as “a kaleidoscopic musical adventure through the beautiful and rather silly world of cricket.”


SUNRISE ARENA

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.

Former Ash guitarist and now successful solo artist Charlotte Hatherley will be bringing her trademark guitar sound and post-punk melodies to Latitude. Although she is the touring guitarist for Bat For Lashes she has somehow managed to write her second solo album which will be released later this year. For a sneak preview of some of those tracks check her set on the Sunrise Arena.


THE LAKE STAGE
curated by Huw Stephens

With the shimmering lake as a stunning backdrop The Lake Stage is an open air hub of rising stars handpicked by Radio 1 DJ and new music aficionado, Huw Stephens. A place for discovery and recognition The Lake Stage brings you the freshest new acts before they even register on the radar of the music press.

Welsh psychedelic-folk outfit Colorama bring their blissed-out quirky acoustic world to the Lake Stage at Latitude. Their debut album ‘Cookie Zoo’ has only come out in Japan so far but with their kooky, psych pop starting to make waves on the underground scene plus support from our very own Huw Stephens this band is destined for bigger things. Catch them here first!


TICKET INFORMATION

Weekend tickets £150 plus booking fees • Day tickets Fri, Sat, Sun £60 plus booking fee. Weekend tickets prices include car parking and camping • Days include car parking only.

Credit Card line: 0871 231 0821
Online at: www.festivalrepublic.com • www.seetickets.com • www.latitudefestival.co.uk

For a full list of national and regional outlets please visit www.latitudefestival.co.uk

For further Press info contact: 020-7792-9400
Charlie Caplowe: charlie@presscounsel.com
Dani Cotter: dani@presscounsel.com
Anthea Thomas: anthea@presscounsel.com
Dan Griffiths: griff@presscounsel.com

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Wednesday 10 June 2009

Subkicks - Debut Atudio Album ‘threes, fives and sevens’!

www.myspace.com/subkicks

Matt Bellamy (v&g) and James Allen (b) and Chris Robinson (d) and Andy Brookes (g)

15th June sees the release of West Midlands band subkicks debut studio album ‘threes, fives and sevens’ through SNS Records. They have been sharing their funk-beat influenced indie for over 2 years having played a host of UK tours and supports with the likes of Boy Kill Boy, Maximo Park and the Shins. Since the demise of their previous band Exist in 2007, the band have been kicking up a bit of a storm in the UK and over in Japan.

When a copy of their single ‘The Fear’ found it’s way to Japan 2007 it became a Top 5 radio hit and sold over 10,000 copies and spurned a cluster of live sell-out shows in Tokyo. From there the band were able to record their debut album ‘threes, fives and sevens’ with producer Gavin Monahan - Twang/Editors/Kings of Leon. He passionately guided the band through 12 new anthemic indie-rock tracks which include the single ‘Fatman’ and the upbeat slice of indie pop ‘Goodbye Caroline’. The rich and smooth track ‘Sirens’ and the driving ‘Searchlights’ were written and recorded in 1 take while in the studio; the band are raring to share their edgy indie rock.

‘threes, fives and sevens’ overflows with all the ingredients you want from a young talented and determined band, classic guitar riffs, stadium rock choruses with a few dance beats thrown in for good measure.

CD
Forminas Star
Fatman
Goodbye Caroline
Last Time
Searchlights
Rewind Me
Barricades
Do You Feel Loved
Paper Thin
Eucalyptus
Sirens
Vanilla

DVD
‘Fatman’ promo video
Live in Tokyo:
Catching Flies
Spiders and Saints
Beautiful Mistake
Time Will Tell
The Fear

The album will be available as a digital download and on limited edition CD, all signed and individually numbered together with a free DVD featuring live footage from Tokyo and ‘Fatman’ promo film.

The stunning video which was shot for ‘Fatman’ (www.youtube.com/watch?v=7R9sCjf0MFA) will spearhead the band’s campaign to prove themselves as one of the UK’s best kept secrets become a secret no more…

Want to see them live:
19 Jun Bar Academy Birmingham 8pm

For more info please contact: Anthea 020 7792 9400 anthea@presscounsel.com

Labels:

Latitude - Of Montreal, Lykke Li, Goldheart Assembly, Sky Larkin...

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16th – 19th July 2009
Henham Park Estate, Southwold, Suffolk

OBELISK ARENA
~ Of Montreal ~

UNCUT ARENA
~ Maps ~ Lykke Li ~ Fever Ray ~ Paloma Faith ~

SUNRISE ARENA
~ Local Natives ~ Mirrors ~ Sky Larkin ~ Villagers ~
~ Goldheart Assembly ~

THE LAKE STAGE
~ Alfonzo ~

ALSO CONFIRMED
~ Camera Obscura ~ St Vincent ~

The pioneering, award-winning Latitude Festival returns to England’s Sunrise Coast for another spectacular year. Taking place on 16th – 19th July, near Suffolk’s stunning seaside town of Southwold, organisers Festival Republic are promising Latitude will be the perfect British summer destination.


OBELISK ARENA

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. The latest act to join the likes of Pet Shop Boys, Grace Jones, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Editors, Doves, Pretenders, Regina Spektor, White Lies is:

The brainchild of singer/guitarist Kevin Barnes, euphoric indie popsters Of Montreal. Among the second wave of bands to emerge from the sprawling Elephant 6 collective, Of Montreal from Athens, Georgia, appeared in mid-1997, with their sunny, sixties-pop styled debut ‘Cherry Peel’. Since then, over the course of nine albums, they have continuously explored new styles and concepts fusing afro-beats, psychedelic and reggae, with their distinctive indie pop melodies. The upbeat and bouncy music is often off-set with gloomy and surreal lyrics which make the band an interesting and forever intriguing outfit and certainly ones to check out at Latitude.


UNCUT ARENA

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.

Critically acclaimed sound-sculptor James Chapman better known as Maps joins the bill on the Uncut Arena. Nominated for a Mercury Prize for his last album ‘We Can Create’, Maps have come a long way from Chapman’s bedroom-produced songs. After playing Latitude in 2007, Maps are back once again to present their ‘Turning The Mind’, a darker, angrier and more mature new album.

One of the sensations of last year, Swedish Lykke Li will be bringing her beautiful mix of blues, electro and "powdered-sugar pop". Li’s quirky voice combined with bass-heavy dance has a charismatic charm and her fantastically energetic, inspiring and magical live set proves why she has been causing a stir all around the world.

Fever Ray is Karin Dreijer Andersson, former singer with ‘90s pop hopes Honey Is Cool and one half of electronic duo The Knife. After winning six Swedish Grammys with The Knife, Karin embarked on her new project, Fever Ray which brings us an intense and anxious, yet luminous sound. Inventive, emotional and magical lyrics come through an electronic, slightly minimal foundation that is embellished with traditional instruments. A performance that will certainly have the audience hypnotised.

Paloma Faith is an explosive mix. She is a singer, actress, burlesque performer, ex-magician’s assistant. Singing blues and soul with a vampish feel, she has been described as "Björk meets Róisín Murphy while possessed by the ghost of Billie Holiday". Paloma Faith has been known in the underground arts circle in London for quite a while, and now the whole world is learning to appreciate the wonder of her music. What to say about her live show? Expect the unexpected!


SUNRISE ARENA

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.

One of the big breakthroughs from this year’s SXSW showcase Local Natives have been wowing crowds both here in the UK and on home soil in USA. With epic soaring music reminiscent of Arcade Fire and strong vocals working beautifully together to make sweet sounding harmonies, this band has true musical talent. Their debut, due later this year, is already eagerly anticipated and their performance on the Sunrise will be hotly tipped. Catch them before they hit the big time.

Brighton three-piece Mirrors echo the early 80’s synth-driven art pop of Depeche Mode, New Order, and Echo & The Bunnymen. They call it ‘pop noir’ which is an apt description for their, at times, sombre but beautifully dark music. Visually and musically rich – this is a band to look out for.

Tipped by Radio 1’s Huw Stephens Leeds trio Sky Larkin are emerging from the underground. Their debut album 'The Golden Spike' arrived in February to critical acclaim after releasing a string of singles and EPs. Bright and warm guitar hooks effortlessly combine with indie pop melodies resulting in a heartfelt and memorable effort.

Goldheart Assembly create moving melodies that has seen them being touted as the British Fleet Foxes. Although currently unsigned they will surely be snapped up by a record label soon seeing as the band have already scored page features in music weeklies and have gained the support of tastemaker DJs. Steve Lamacq has described them by saying “they take a joyous acoustic beardy bunch of ideas and mess around with them like a cat playing with a ball of string”. Check them out for yourself when they play the Sunrise Arena at Latitude.

Villagers (aka Conor J. O'Brien) hail from Dublin and create a unique form of dream-like indie. The collective began life as a nameless collection of musical poems penned by O’Brien before evolving into songs. The band recently released the 'Hollow Kind' EP that was written and performed solely by Conor, recorded by guitarist Tommy McLaughlin, and released on drummer James Byrne’s own label.


THE LAKE STAGE
curated by DJ Huw Stephens (Radio 1)

With the shimmering lake as a stunning backdrop The Lake Stage is an open air hub of rising stars handpicked by Radio 1 DJ and new music aficionado, Huw Stephens. A place for discovery and recognition The Lake Stage brings you the freshest new acts before they even register on the radar of the music press. It is a place for up-and-coming creativity from across the musical spectrum to be unearthed and given a chance to shine. Come witness the next generation emerge at Latitude’s wonderful Lake Stage.

For lovers of 70s rock, check out Alfonzo rocking their stuff on the Lake Stage. Hailing from Edinburgh they were nominated for the Indy Music Awards 2008 with their Hendrix/Who/Zeppelin hi-level riffage. They are currently making their debut album with award-winning Scottish producer Jim Sutherland and are about to set the world alight with their incendiary live performances. They have gigged in the main venues around Scotland with the likes of Snow Patrol, Doves and Feeder and with their debut album out next year, the world is waiting for the next generation of rock to shine through.

Legendary Glaswegian band Camera Obscura have been making music for the last 10 years, and like wine it gets better with time. Imaginative, powerful and brutal lyrics still describe the daily pain in our lives and this year they come to Latitude to play their critically acclaimed new release ‘My Maudlin Career’. NME said about it: Make no mistake, this is a remarkably beautiful record. (It) exists to reward those both mad, and sad, in love” (9/10).

Two years ago, Annie Clark’s recorded debut as St. Vincent, ‘Marry Me’, gave immediate notice that a dizzying new talent had emerged from the flatlands of Texas. Critics from all points of the cultural compass—from Pitchfork to Spin to the New York Times Magazine—were entranced by the album’s precocious arrangements and elegant lyrics, and the steadily growing crowds at St. Vincent’s live shows were astonished by Clark’s gargantuan musical chops and her magnetic stage presence. St. Vincent’s beguiling, sophisticated new record, ’Actor’, takes that debut’s ambition as its starting point and never looks back.

Elsewhere, the very best in film, theatre, comedy, literature, poetry, dance, art and cabaret will be pitching up at the fourth edition of Latitude Festival. Sadler’s Wells and the Royal Opera House will be showcasing stunning performances on The Waterfront Stage; Royal Shakespeare Company, The Bush, National Theatre, Paines Plough, and nabokov plus more will all be coming to the Theatre Arena along with the English Touring Theatre presenting Latitude’s first musical ‘Been So Long’. Also for the first time is the dynamic orchestral brilliance of Britten Sinfonia performing in Latitude’s outdoor spaces. The House Of BlueEyes collective will be presenting a stunning fashion show over the lake at sunset plus stellar poets Andrew Motion, Brian Patten, Jackie Kay and Simon Armitage will be in the Poetry Arena. The Cabaret Arena welcomes Pippa Evans, Ida Barr, Dusty Limits, Johnny Woo, Timberlina, David Mills and Watson & Oliver plus plenty more exciting performances to announce.


TICKET INFORMATION

Weekend tickets £150 plus booking fees • Day tickets Fri, Sat, Sun £60 plus booking fee. Weekend tickets prices include car parking and camping • Days include car parking only.

Credit Card line: 0871 231 0821
Online at: www.festivalrepublic.com • www.seetickets.com • www.latitudefestival.co.uk

For a full list of national and regional outlets please visit www.latitudefestival.co.uk

For further Press info contact: 020-7792-9400
Charlie Caplowe: charlie@presscounsel.com
Dani Cotter: dani@presscounsel.com
Anthea Thomas: anthea@presscounsel.com
Dan Griffiths: griff@presscounsel.com

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