Tuesday 2 June 2009

Latitude - Saint Etienne, The Temper Trap, Frank Skinner, Lee Mack, The Whoopee Club...

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

UNCUT ARENA
~ Saint Etienne ~ The Temper Trap ~

SUNRISE ARENA
~ Kap Bambino ~

FILM & MUSIC ARENA
~ Future Cinema Presents Black Cat White Cat with Taraf de Haidouks~
~ Noise Of Art presents ‘Love Bites – The Dance Of The Vampires ~
~ Vashti Bunyan: From Here to Before with Kieran Evans, Adem & Friends ~
~ Jeremy Deller ~ Jeremy Warmsley ~
~ One eskimO ~ London Short Film Festival ~
~ Night Of The Living Dead – 3D ~

LITERARY ARENA
~ Frank Skinner ~
~ Grace Maxwell & Edwyn Collins ~
~ Punk Fiction with Cathi Unsworth, Nicholas Hogg, Janine Bullman, Salena Godden, Dev Hynes, Lee Bullman ~

COMEDY ARENA
~ Lee Mack ~Stephen Grant ~ Rob Rouse ~ John Gordillo ~ Kerry Godliman ~

CABARET ARENA
~ The Whoopee Club ~ Ima Doll ~ Fancy Chance ~ Ekat ~
~Beaux Belles ~ Russella ~ The Two Wrongies ~
~ Miss Lady G Luck ~ Simon Deville ~ Des O’Connor ~

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.


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. Playing this year are Spiritualised, Bat For Lashes, Gossip, Magazine, Mew and Ladyhawke plus many more and joining them will be:

Indie dance trio Saint Etienne who successfully fused the British pop sounds of '60s London with the club/dance rhythms and productions that defined the post-acid house England of the early '90s. Led by songwriters Bob Stanley and Pete Wiggs, and fronted by vocalist Sarah Cracknell, they spearheaded this cross-over genre and racked up a string of indie hit singles that were driven by deep club beats, encompassing anything from house and techno to hip-hop and disco, and layered with light melodies, detailed productions, clever lyrics, and Cracknell's breathy vocals. They revived the sounds of swinging London, as well as the concept of the three-minute pop single being a catchy, ephemeral piece of ear candy and produced such classics as ‘Only Love Can Break Your Heart’, ‘He’s On The Phone’ and ‘You’re In A Bad Way’.

Australian rock band The Temper Trap also join the line-up. Their atmospheric sound with grand guitars, driving rhythms and soaring vocals set the music industry alight at the showcase Musexpo in London last year and again in SXSW in March of this year. With current single ‘Science Of Fear’ receiving mass acclaim and hotly tipped debut album ‘Conditions’ out later this year, this is a band destined for big things.


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. Confirmed so far are Little Boots, Passion Pit, !!! and 65 DaysOfStatic and just added are:

Electronic musical duo Kap Bambino who hail from Bordeaux in France. Known for Caroline Martial's wild vocals, Orion Bouvier's electronic mixes and their animated, frenetic live performances they’ve been likened to Crystal Castles and The Advantage. Kap Bambino use bleeps and bloops of old-school videogames sampled with dancefloor-beats making raw-edged, hyperactive, and gothy electro-punk songs. They also run their own label, Wwilko Recordings, which released their sold-out debut album, ‘Zero Life, Night Vision’.


FILM & MUSIC ARENA

Uniting alternative worlds of cinematic wonder, musical splendour and visual brilliance, the Film & Music Arena is an exhilarating and intoxicating centre of creativity. Over the festival weekend the Arena will play host to screenings of award winning films, documentaries and shorts with Q&A sessions plus discussions with acclaimed directors and writers. These will be interspersed with musical treats and stunning, transfixing visuals combining together to create a seductive, sensory playground for all ages.

Future Cinema Black Cat, White Cat, a Gypsy fuelled music and film experience that will shake the Film and Music Tent at Latitude this year. Inspired by Kusturica’s cult film featuring the legendary Gypsy Band, Taraf De Haidouks, one of the biggest gypsy bands in the world who will start to play near the Obelisk Arena after the last concert and travel to the Film and Music tent collecting a large following on the way. When the audience arrive at the Film and Music tent, they will enter a Gypsy Wonderworld with music, short films and walkabout characters creating a live experience of the ‘Black Cat, White Cat’ followed by a screening of the film.

Noise of Art is delighted to debut "Love Bites", a contemporary dance of the vampires, at Latitude festival. In partnership with the BFI and films from the National Archive, Noise of Art will feature some of the earliest Vampire silent films (the Vampire genre goes back to 1909 - 20 years before Nosferatu was made). The sound track to Love Bites has been specially created for Latitude festival by a collaboration between They Came From The Stars I Saw Them, Serge Santiago and Les Hommes Du Train (the alter ego of Noise of Art founder) Ben Osborne. They Came From The Stars I Saw Them are veterans of the UK's indie dance scene and are the closest thing the contemporary music world has to legendary Kraut rockers, Can. The band are currently going through a purple patch, with recent songs becoming surprise radio hits, TV Commercial music and TV themes, while their live shows have seen them spread their wings from playing rock venues to pack out nightclub dance floors. Serge Santiago carved a name for himself as resident at legendary long running disco ‘Stompa Phunk’ and as half of the legendary Radioslave production duo with Matt Edwards, he is currently renowned as the UK's foremost producer of contemporary Italo Disco. Taking his inspiration from the film scores of people such as Jon Carpenter, his music is often dark and moody and always percussively complex. And he's guaranteed to get any dancefloor going. Les Hommes Du Train uses analogue sounds and live recording techniques resulting in dance music that embraces disco, techno, dub, house and rock, without being any of them! Love Bites will be preceded by a unique live version of Piccadilly Nites, featuring 80 year old silent movie footage of London clubbers filmed in 1928, set to new club music by Les Hommes Du Train. The Immaculate Extremists will perform the interactive Love Bites vampire show for the first time at Latitude festival; the performances will emerge and blend into the dancefloor ….and to complete the 360 degree experience, Prick Image's unique flying projections will ensure the vampires are not confined to the dancefloor.

Artist and Turner Prize Winner, Jeremy Deller will give a talk at Latitude in the Film & Music Arena. In huge demand, Deller has recently displayed his latest installation in Louis Vuitton’s newly opened store and was also one of the six selected nominees for the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square. His project 'The Spoils of War (Memorial for an Unknown Civilian)’ is an idea which took him all over America towing the burned-out wreck of a car blown up in a suicide bombing in Iraq to discover the reactions to this lump of twisted metal. Deller will also answer questions from the floor with director Nicholas Abrahams about their documentary ‘The Posters Came From The Walls’, a fascinating and inspired study of Depeche Mode fans from around the world which will be played in full on Friday at Latitude.

'Vashti Bunyan: From Here To Before’ is a feature documentary about influential UK singer songwriter Vashti Bunyan, directed by acclaimed UK filmmaker Kieran Evans. The enigmatic singer-songwriter retraces the journey across the British Isles that led her to record her first album, the hugely influential ‘Just Another Diamond Day’. Featuring a performance from contributor Adem live onstage, this is an honest and informative insight into Vashti’s place in the most creative period of twentieth century popular music.

Half English, half French solo artist Jeremy Warmsley will be performing the bizarrely beautiful songs of Tom Waits and Daniel Johnston. A fantastic singer songwriter, Warmsley dabbles in madcap electronic explorations to create dynamic and influential combinations; Warmsley has received critical and commercial acclaim with his two albums ‘The Art Of Fiction’ and ‘How We Became’. He is however, also renowned for his stunning videos that accompany his singles. Beautiful shorts, timed perfectly with the music, they visually tell the story the music is portraying.

Produced by Rollo of Faithless, One eskimO, are a four piece, animated band consisting of a penguin, an Eskimo, a giraffe and a monkey. Together they make beautiful blissed-out music full of soulful vocals, ambient beats and laid-back grooves. At Latitude they will be bringing the worlds of film and music together, the band (consisting of Kristian Leontiou on vocals, Adam Falkner on drums, Pete Rinaldi on guitar and Jamie Sefton on bass and horns) play in front of a big screen showing stunning films of the trials and tribulations of One eskimO and friends. The cartoon characters and their enchanted world are conjured up by Passion Pictures who are the team behind Gorillaz and the video to recent single ‘Hometime’ won the Public Choice Award at the 2008 British Animation Awards.

The London Short Film Festival presents the cream of the short film crop, celebrating the art of the moving image in all its forms alongside a strong programme of live music and multi-media events. For Latitude’s Film & Music Arena they will be bringing the new award-winning film-makers of the future with this choice selection.

Inspired by last year's RSC zombies, we will be handing out 3D glasses for a special screening of 'Night of the Living Dead', the horror movie that influenced the modern pop-culture zombie archetype. The 2006 version is the second remake of the 1968 horror classic and this version of the movie has been made into a 'funny, so bad it's good' film, with great 3D effects. The perfect start to a night out in the woods...

Also in the Film & Music Arena is LateNightTales, Cape Farewell Project, Encounters Film Festival as well as Mark Lamarr presenting God’s Jukebox with: T-99, Chas & Dave, The Flirtations, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour and Prince Fatty, plus much, much more.


COMEDY ARENA

Welcome to one of the biggest and best comedy festivals in Britain positioned on the hill overlooking the luscious landscape of the Latitude site. 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. Joining Jo Brand, Sean Lock, Ed Byrne, Dave Gorman, Mark Thomas and many others is:

Stand-up comic from the North West, Lee Mack, best known for his work on BAFTA winning ‘The Sketch Show’ and the Rose d’Or and RTS award winning BBC sitcom ‘Not Going Out’, the “always cheeky, never blue” Lee Mack joins the Latitude line up. With his constant determination to have fun, with high energy, and fast pace, Mack jumps quickly and confidently from one hilarious subject to another, leaving the audience on the edge of their seat if not on the floor. Mack had a stint presenting ‘They Think It’s All Over’ and is now a regular on BBC panel show ‘Would I Lie to You’.

Described as “brilliant” by no lesser judge than Harry Enfield, baby-faced comic Stephen Grant has been added to the Latitude Comedy Arena line up. Widely regarded as one of the best comperes on the UK circuit, he won Best Compere Of The Year at the 2008 Chortle Awards. But his unstoppable, ebullient motor mouth gabbling away an easy mix of anecdotes, observations and gags has meant that his stand-up routines are just as entertaining.

Fast-paced quick-fire wit and friendly banter comedy is Rob Rouse’s trademark. His comic style helped him win the coveted Channel 4 new act competition ‘So You Think You're Funny?’ in 1998. As well as stand-up, he also performed as part of the Big And Daft trio with Ian Boldsworth and Jon Williams from 1997 to 2002, before going solo in 2002. His has also done TV work, presenting the first series of The Friday Night Project on Channel 4, the C4 sketch show Spoons, and playing Mike in the first series of the BBC3 sitcom Grown Ups.

After a six year break concentrating on directing work for the likes of Eddie Izzard and Reginald D. Hunter, John Gordillo returned to the stand-up circuit in 2006. His intellectual, personally political and heartfelt comedy is better than ever with receiving glowing reviews and selling out tours. He’s back this year with brand new work called ‘Fuckonomics’. “A grown-up comic who combines emotional intimacy with high-quality gags. You may not find a more accomplished Fringe show." The Guardian

Actress and stand-up comedian, Kerry Godliman, has been causing a stir with her television work as one half of the sketch duo Godliman and Lane, and one of the stars of the 2005 Channel 4 sketch show Spoons. But her stand-up routines are equally praised, reaching the final in The Babycham Funny Women Stand-up competition, and won second place in The Hackney Empire New Act Final in 2004. "This cocky Londoner, and up-and-coming actress, knows how to hold an audience's attention, with a well-honed delivery that ensures her material always gets the best response." Chortle.


LITERARY ARENA

Latitude celebrates the art of the written word and all its many splendid facets at Suffolk’s now legendary library by the sea. 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 book readings with a difference. Immerse yourself in Latitude’s literary world and learn, explore, laugh and discover at the best literary event of the summer.

Award-winning comedian Frank Skinner, well known for 'The Frank Skinner Show' and, with his comedy partner David Baddiel, 'Fantasy Football' and the iconic football anthem, 'Three Lions', recently made a triumphant return to his stand-up roots. At Latitude he will discuss his life and work as featured in his new book Frank Skinner ‘On The Road’, a follow-up to his critically acclaimed autobiography, ‘Frank Skinner’.

In February 2005, Scottish musician Edwyn Collins suffered two devastating brain haemorrhages. He should have died. Doctors advised that if he did survive, there would be little of him left. If that wasn't enough, he went on to contract MRSA as a result of an operation to his skull and spent six months in hospital. Initially, Edwyn couldn't speak, read, write, walk, sit up or feed himself. He had lost all movement in his right side and was suffering from aphasia - an inability to use or understand language.
With help from his partner and manager Grace Maxwell he began to fight back and teach his brain to read and speak again and with a long arduous road of therapy he began to walk again. He improved so much that he was able to write a new album ‘Home Again’ (2007) and play shows all over the world. During his recovery Grace started to write a book about the emotional and physical impact on the family. ‘Falling and Laughing: The Restoration Of Edwyn Collins’ is an intimate and inspiring account of what you do to survive when your husband is all but taken away without warning by a stroke.

‘Punk Fiction’ is Janine Bullman’s anthology of fiction inspired by the Punk movement. Short stories and poems are shared from an impressive line up of hand-picked contributors from a range of generations that were at the forefront or were influenced by the punk revolution. Music journalist Cathi Unsworth, author of ‘Show Me The Sky’ Nicholas Hogg, poet and singer Salena Godden, the brains behind Lightspeed Champion Dev Hynes and director and writer Lee Bullman all join music PR and editor of the book, Janine Bullman, in explaining their song choice that inspired them to get involved and forge a path in writing and playing music.

This will be an incredible addition to the Literary Arena which also features readings from Blake Morrison, School Of Life, Robin Ince’s Book Club, David Peace, Mark Steel and Vivienne Westwood amongst many others.


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. With Vaudeville fun, sharp, incisive wit, camp entertainment and a good ol’ fashioned knees up, the Cabaret Arena positively encourages you to leave your inhibitions at the door and be game for anything and everything. This surreal bordello of surprises and spectacular stage shows is visually rich, beautiful and bizarre and will tempt and titillate in equal measure.

Ever dreamt of 1950’s pin up girls bursting out of giant cakes and bathing in champagne? Britain’s famous Whoopee Club will make your dreams come true live in the Cabaret Arena. Established in 2003 and having performed at various events such as the Hackney Empire and the V&A museum, the Whoopee Club will bring joie de vivre back into our hearts through their fusion of burlesque and theatre.

Diminutive comedy burlesque star Fancy Chance is a hilarious yet irreverent glamorous tassel twirler from Korea via America. Coming from a background of cabaret, theatre and performance arts she was brought into ‘nouveau burlesque’ by legendary Miss Indigo Blue. Earlier this year she added to her wonderful career a winning title of the infamous Alternative Miss World award. “The undoubtable star… At times the coquette and at times the seductress, (she) steals the show…” – The Stage

eKat is Russian born and raised Ekaterina ‘Miss Coney Island 2007’. Now living in New York City, she has been performing since she put her first pair of fake eyelashes on aged just five years old. Her fabulous aerials, contortions and burlesque dancing routines have taken her from the pages of FHM magazine to the glittering lights of Off-Broadway. This time you won’t have to go to Coney Island to experience her fantastic energy live.

Born from the ashes of the Perverted Turkeys, Avis Cockbill and Janine Fletcher form The Two Wrongies. Together they re-interpret the classic double act in a witty, crude and sarcastic way that is so natural to women. Their absurdist humour and onstage relationship is not for the faint-hearted. They create work with comic prowess, inspired choreographed moments and a considered visual impact… they are ‘the double act who dare to do the dirty!

Canadian-born Ima Doll will grace the Cabaret stage with her sexy innovative pole dancing. Combining a wonderful selection of music with her powerful, strong routine, Ima’s twirling acrobatics will prove why she is the next best thing when it comes to exotic dancing.

Russella is a Drag-Queen Supermodel. Her grace and style has featured in a number of fashion magazines and music videos. Her most recent glamorous appearance is on Paloma Faith’s video ‘Stone Cold Sober’. Russella is an experienced dancer and cabaret performer that Time Out has described as ‘‘nothing short of fabulous'’.

Beaux Belles are an all female dance troupe, their name is inspired by the Bow Bells of London and the famous Parisian dance troupe The Bluebell Girls. All professional dancers, they have performed tap dancing and burlesque routines for numerous high profile events. Their show never fails to entertain and impress and at the same time they seek to subvert the traditional expectations of showgirls, transforming them into an emblem of female power.

Cabaret star and burlesque choreographer Miss Lady G Luck always surprises the audience with her astonishing fire-breathing Egyptian curse or performing her incredible aerial rope act. Catch her in this den of iniquity!

Tightrope walker, Simon Deville, was originally with NoFit State Circus. His daring, high-wire routine is the first to be seen at Latitude.

Des O'Connor, a comic whose lyrics are offset by his Ukelele skills, will be bringing his unique humour and musical talent to the Cabaret Arena alongside famed burlesque, drag queens, and comedy sketch shows.


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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