PRESS RELEASE
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Following the success of last year’s event which drew crowds of around 3000 people, Tunbridge Wells based singer/songwriter Paul Dunton will be staging ‘Local & Live’ 2008 on the Pantiles Bandstand over the late August bank holiday weekend (22nd-25th).
This year’s event is expected to attract even larger audiences and will feature 52 leading local musical acts performing their own material over four days. This superb free festival offers unrivalled variety and a standard of musicianship that is first class with Local & Live 2007 receiving rave reviews including a glowing commendation from Gregg Clarke MP. This was added to by an enthusiastic endorsement from the Courier Newspaper and backed up by over 2000 signatures and gestures of good will from the local community who attended the event. Even more impressive is the fact that the event attracted sponsorship from over 26 local businesses’ which adds to the view that ‘Local & Live’ is arguably Tunbridge Wells’ premier musical event.
In the build up to this year’s event, Paul is giving away 5,000 free copies of the ‘Local and Live’ compilation CD featuring one song from all of the participating artists, together with a full colour programme. “People can also pick up a copy of the CD and programme at the festival,” Paul assures.
Paul is delighted to announce that ‘ALERT5’ have agreed to be the main sponsor for this years event. Alert5 is an innovative alert system and created by a well established Kent communications company and part of the Active Digital group of companies who are based in Paddock Wood and is endorsed by 3 x Olympic medalist, Steve Backley OBE. Please visit www.alert5.co.uk for more information.
Additional support and sponsorship has once again come from Tunbridge Wells based company; INSAFE LTD and Tonbridge based MCM NET LTD. Both companies have been integral to the success of Local & Live over the last two years, with INSAFE LTD providing much needed sponsorship, marketing and organisational support along MCM NET LTD who built the events website free of charge and continue to maintain the site year upon year.
Much of this also rests on the hard work of Paul Dunton who has been instrumental in developing the towns ‘original acoustic scene’ following his highly successful shows at The Grey Lady Music Lounge (situated on the Pantiles) on Wednesday & Sunday nights. ‘An Evening with Paul Dunton & Guests’ is now considered one of the most eclectic and professionally run acoustic shows in the UK with 100 local acts performing on a rotational basis. Paul brings the same professionalism and talent to Local & Live and outlines his vision for the event and local original music:-
’’Local & Live is a free musical event to be enjoyed by the local community in the enchanting and historic setting of The Pantiles. My passion is local, original acoustic music and through my weekly shows at The Grey Lady Music Lounge and this annual musical extravaganza, I am endeavouring to raise awareness of the undoubted creative musical talent that resides in the local area. With a multitude of musical genres and styles on display, there is something for everyone’s musical taste buds!’’
“The 2008 festival is also dedicated to the memory of Ollie Nicholls who tragically died in a car accident in late March of this year. From now on the ‘musicians’ tent will be named after him. Ollie was right at the hub of the local music scene, which we built together. Ollie was a brilliant musician, singer/songwriter, record producer and sound technician. He was a very popular and highly respected soloist at The Grey Lady and supervised the sound for every show and previous Local & Live events. Ollie was a true gentleman with a great sense of humour and he touched the lives of so many people and his memory will live on forever. The Local & Live 2008 compilation CD will feature tracks from his debut solo Album which will be released soon’’ said Paul.
‘Local and Live 2008’ kicks off on Friday 22nd August at 7pm with a stirring performance by Jamie Boyle. Headliners ‘The Rox’ will wrap up the evening with their set starting at 9:55pm.
Saturday 23rd starts at 12:30pm with superb local acts playing all afternoon. Headliners ‘The Original Sinners’ will begin their set at 9:45pm.
Sunday 24th gets underway at 12:30pm with Tom Hunt, and concludes with ‘The Violet Jive’ at 8:55pm.
The pace stays strong on Monday 24th starting at 12:30pm with ‘Staring at Goats’. The festival will close with a performance by the acclaimed ‘Sevenscore’ at 9:55pm.
“There’ll be music all weekend long so come on down to the Pantiles and enjoy it with friends,” said Paul. “The Pantiles is packed full of quality cafes and bars too.”
For a full line up of bands playing throughout the weekend, visit the official festival website: www.localandlive.org.
The new owners of The Pantiles, Targetfollow, are delighted to support ‘Local and Live 2008’: “Promoting local art is one of our key social commitments so it’s natural that we should get behind this great event at The Pantiles,” said Centre Manager, Andrew Gower. “I’ll be enjoying the sights and sounds for sure.”
ENDS
For more information or to request interviews, please contact:
Paul Dunton, festival organiser
07786 547 265 paul@pauldunton.co.uk
