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EJECTORSEAT – THE ARTS, CULTURE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL IS BACK: THIS SUMMER AND IN SOUTHAMPTON.

EjectorSeat Arts Festival is back this summer for a successful third year running - bringing a free, eclectic mix of music, art, theatre, poetry, family activity and food to Southampton's Palmerston Park on Saturday August 25th 2012 from noon until 10pm.

Bands confirmed so far to play include those from all over the South such as Happy Mammoth (London), Abi Wade (Brighton), Crooked Beat (Southampton), The Spiraltones (Southampton), Flamingods (London), Living Tall In Dallas (Southampton), Gang Colours (Southampton) and more still to be confirmed. All these bands will play the iconic bandstand in the park and throughout the day.

The film tent this year will be a collaboration with City Eye. There will also be a special element to the day where local bands will be playing music to the backdrop of computer games, abstract visuals and specially commissioned films. Band playing the Film Tent include Auspices (Southampton), After the Rain (Southampton), |'bleiki| (Southampton), and The Limes (Winchester).

Working in partnership with The Point, Eastleigh, the theatre area will this year spill out into the open air with the help of Spinney Hollow's Waggon Band and will be headlined by Winchester's Shady Jane as well as performances from the likes of street theatre company Public Attraction, comedian Emma Nias, and interactive workshops from Annie Sanger-Davies.

To keep you occupied in between all these wonderful acts, there will be an arts market manned by many of the different Southampton creatives who are involved in the festival, selling prints, vintage wares, vegan cupcakes and more. Special workshops will also take place in the arts market such as SoCo's vegetable orchestra and badge making and screen printing t-shirts from Media Workshop.

A special open gallery will be created with the help of the best local artists, including interactive instillations, like Unit 11's Sarah Filmer and her blue jumper project. An instillation that seeks to both create and connect, acting as a metaphor for inclusion, diversity and 'a community of individuals'.

The Arts House will also be hosting their very own 'big red tent' offering story telling, music, poetry and more.

Food will be provided by the Art House, Gilded Teapot, and Oink and will include various seasonal dishes, cakes, cookies and other delights.

Festival Director, Mac Ince, said, "EjectorSeat Arts Festival just keeps growing each year and evolving into something bigger and better each time we programme the festival. There really is something for everyone.... from those passing by on the day with an hour to spare to those who are looking for a full day of cultural programming on their doorstep. What's also so special about the festival too is it's collaborative nature– everyone from Solent University to some of the smaller grassroots arts organisations across Hampshire have got behind the festival. Last year we had almost 4000 visitors – here's hoping for even more for 2012!"

Notes to editors:

For more information contact Nicola Jeffs, Red Dress Press – nicojeffs@gmail.com - 07794 694 754

www.ejectorseat.co.uk
www.facebook.com/groups/6606103730
twitter.com/#!/EjectorSeatArts

Bands include:
Crooked Beat www.facebook.com/thecrookedbeat Southampton band featuring members of Thomas Tantrum, Mach schau, and Hijera.
Happy Mammoth (London based). www.happymammoth.co.uk/happymammoth/Home.html
Abi Wade. Brighton based signer songwriter.
Etao Shin. Southampton based on Sotones records recently featured on BBC Radio Solent.
Living Tall in Dallas Southampton post-rock, ambient 4 piece. Recorded at The Ranch studios.
Flamingos. London based (member from Southampton). Described as "psychedelic ethnic pop" for fans of Animal Collective's 2004 album 'Sung Tongs'"
Spiraltones. (Southampton). Describe themselves as Country punk pop. Use a range of folk instruments.
After the Rain (Southampton) emsemble featuring Ignacio Agrimbau, Hossein Hadisi and Joe Kelly. Debut album forthcoming on Bang the Bore and ATField.
|'bleiki| (Southampton) a solo electronica artist, performed and expanded with live drums and accompanying visuals that further explore the real life starting point for each composition.
Gang Colours (Southampton) strike a peculiar balance between otherworldly and familiarity on Brownswood Recordings.

Ejectorseat Festival is a collaboration with or has been supported by Soco, City Eye, Arts House, SUSE Wessex Films, PRS, Solent University, Southampton University, Winchester University, Lush, Voice FM, BBC Radio Solent, Southampton City Council, Hampshire Constabulary, Ocean Ward Southampton, Johnny Toaster, The Co-op Group, Nice Events, The Point Eastleigh.

Ejectorseat Festival began three years ago and was founded by Festival Director and Southampton culture enthusiast Mac Ince. It evolved from EjectorSeat, a collective founded by Mac and his friend Andy Rossiter, also then of Southampton, back in 2004. Ejectorseat still programme gigs in and around the South during the time when the festival does not take place, mainly working with local venues and artists but also national names such as 65daysofstatic, HEALTH and Errors.