Guillemots check in at Station Sessions Festival
Millions to be entertained at new summer music festival at St. Pancras International
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The millions of commuters, tourists and visitors to St. Pancras International this summer are set to be entertained for free at a new music festival.
Starting on 15 June, 2011 with a performance by the BRIT and Mercury nominated band, Guillemots, the Station Sessions Festival opens at St. Pancras International, and runs for six weeks until 29 July.
The Station Sessions Festival is the only music festival of its kind in the UK - with new and emerging artists performing daily at the heart of London's most iconic station. Over nearly 50 days, around 100 musicians will perform on a main stage and a series of fringe stages located around the station.
Guillemots will launch the festival on Wednesday 15 June, starting at 6.30pm, with tracks from their new album, Walk the River. After a break of nearly three years the band has returned in 2011 with a new tour and a number of festival appearances, including Glastonbury later this month.
With up to 1 million people travelling through St Pancras International every week, the Station Sessions Festival will reach more 'festival goers' than Glastonbury, the Isle of Wight, Reading and Leeds and V Festival put together.
There will be performances every evening on the main stage, Monday - Friday, between 6-.00pm-7.00pm, every Tuesday lunchtime between 12.30pm-1.30pm at the Sourced Market fringe stage, every Monday evening between 7.30pm-8.30pm at the Searcys fringe stage and then every Thursday evening at the Betjeman Arms fringe stage between 7.30pm-8.30pm.
Guillemots headline Bandstand Busking stage @ Ray Davies Meltdown Festival
Wendy Spinks, from HS1 Ltd, the owners of St. Pancras International, said:
"At St Pancras International anyone can now enjoy the best in new live music, while either sipping champagne and cocktails at Europe's longest champagne bar or enjoying a pint at our gastro pub.
"St Pancras International is a 'must see' place this summer."
HS1 Ltd has partnered with its official entertainment partner, The Syllabus Agency, to host the festival and is also working with youth charity The Prince's Trust, with funds being raised and young people supported by the youth charity taking part in some of the performances too. All proceed raised will go to The Prince's Trust to help change the lives of disadvantaged young people, supporting them into work, education or training.
Julian Barrell, from the Prince's Trust, said:
"Funds raised at this incredibly exciting event will help The Prince's Trust to change young lives here in the UK. With youth unemployment high and the jobs market uncertain, there has never been a better time to help us get disadvantaged young people into work, education or training. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to HS1 Ltd for getting behind our cause".
The full line-up is currently being finalised and for up to the minute updates about the festival visit www.stationsessions.com.
The festival is being curated by a number of renowned cultural institutions and organisations such as The Eden Project, who will host different musical acts during the course of the festival. Building on the success of the station’s weekly Station Session performances the Station Sessions Festival will feature a mix of music, from Indie and Alternative to Jazz and Classical. Festival acts include, Youth Music Voices, Natalie Williams and The Soul Family.
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St Pancras International
Designed by William Barlow, St Pancras originally opened in 1868 and for its time was an engineering marvel - it was the largest enclosed space in the world and provided the grandest entrance into London.
Almost 150 years later, after a £800m restoration project, St Pancras International reopened in 2007 and has set new standards for railway stations. Now it is much more than just a station, with more shops than any other railway station, its own fresh produce market, the longest Champagne Bar in Europe and a Gastro Pub.
HS1 Ltd
HS1 Ltd has the 30 year concession to own and operate High Speed 1, the UK’s first section of high speed rail as well as the stations along the route: St Pancras International, Stratford International, Ebbsfleet International and Ashford International. In November 2010, the DfT and London & Continental Railways sold HS1 Ltd to a consortium of Borealis Infrastructure and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
Station Sessions
Station Sessions launched back in July 2009, and since then it has provided a regular 'platform' for new music with emerging artists performing in the heart of St Pancras International. Now in season 5, since 2009 more than 70 new musical acts have performed at St Pancras International for Station Sessions, numerous videos of the performances have been produced and even a Station Sessions album has been released.
The Syllabus Agency
The Syllabus Agency is the official entertainment partner of HS1. The Syllabus Agency design and implement, innovative music-based entertainment solutions that are tailored to enhance brand communication, foster credibility and build commercial value.
The Prince's Trust
Youth charity The Prince's Trust helps change young lives. It gives practical and financial support, developing key workplace skills such as confidence and motivation. It works with 13-to-30-year-olds who have struggled at school, have been in care, are long-term unemployed or have been in trouble with the law.
The Prince of Wales's charity has helped more than 650,000 young people since 1976. Last year, more than three in four young people supported by The Trust moved into work, education, or training. Further information about The Prince's Trust is available at The Prince's Trust Official Website or on 0800 842 842.
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