READING AND LEEDS VOTED BEST FESTIVAL FOR 2008

In other news - the world continues to turn.

From: "Sophie Jackson"
Date: 20 June 2008 10:03:44 BST
Subject: READING AND LEEDS VOTED BEST FESTIVAL FOR 2008

Embargoed until 00:01 on 21st June 2008

READING AND LEEDS VOTED BEST FESTIVAL FOR 2008

- MSN Music reveals results of the ultimate festival poll -

21 June, 2008 – While Glastonbury continues to struggle shifting its remaining tickets, Reading and Leeds festival has been voted the best place for live music this summer, according to more than 1200 MSN Music fans. With 35% of the public vote, the August Bank Holiday festival rocked its way to the top, with Glastonbury slumping to third place behind V Festival, with just 13% of the votes.

Michel Eavis’ decision to put US rapper Jay-Z at the top of the Glasto bill has also been voted one of the worst festival moments of all time by 28% of music fans, beaten only by the grotty festival toilets which continue to resonate in the minds of 47% of the music loving public.

Muse Voted Best Live Act

The headliners of this year’s V Festival, Muse, have romped home with the award for best festival performers of all time, polling 31% of the votes. Legendary rockers the Rolling Stones, who headlined last year’s Isle of Wight Festival, come in second place (17%) followed by Mancunian favourites Oasis and grunge legends Nirvana (11%).

Brits are Closet Rockers

If Brits could perform with any headline act this year, almost a quarter (23%) would want to get down and dirty with icons of rock Metallica at Reading and Leeds. And despite her being odds on favourite to miss her slots at Glastonbury and V Festival (again!), 10% of Brits still want to perform alongside Amy Winehouse, with the marginally more choosing to grace the stage with Glasto headliners, The Verve (11%).

What Credit Crunch?

Despite the current penny pinching climate, music lovers still prize their festival ticket above all other luxuries this summer, with 47% citing it as the extravagance they would never give up. A holiday abroad comes in second place (31%) as the summer activity we just couldn’t do without, followed by a brand new summer wardrobe which 11% of Brits would not sacrifice whatever their financial state.

MSN Music Editor James Hurley says: “Once again the UK festival scene is second to none and whether you’re in to rock, rap or ragga there’s a festival that will suit you. People say Brits are always moaning but come rain or shine, and whether we’re in luxury caravans or grotty campsites, we will do anything to nab our place in the crowd! MSN Music will be covering all the top festivals this season so make sure you keep up to date at http://entertainment.uk.msn.com”

To keep up-to-date on all the latest festival news, reviews and tips on how to survive the summer festival season visit http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/music/gigs/summer-festivals/default.aspx.

Ends

For further information please contact:

Sinead Purcell 020 7025 6505 sinead.purcell@redconsultancy.com

Sophie Jackson 020 7025 6412 sophie.jackson@redconsultancy.com


Notes to Editors:

All figures sourced from a survey carried out on the MSN Entertainment site (http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/) over a 9 day period from to 07.06.08 to 15.06.08 from a total sample size of 1,209 people.

The full results of the online poll are:


Best festival performers of all time

1. Muse 31%

2. Rolling Stones 17%

3. Oasis 11%

3. Nirvana 11%

5. The Killers 8%

6. Radiohead 7%

7.David Bowie 5%

8. Coldplay 4%

9. James Brown 3%

10. Morrissey 2%

Best festival line up for 2008

1. Reading / Leeds 35%

2. V Festival 17%

2. Glastonbury 13%

4. Download 10%

4. T in the Park 10%

6. Isle of Wight 7%

7. Bestival 3%

8. Creamfields 2%

9. The Big Chill 1%

10. Wireless 1%
Artist Brits would most like to perform with:

1. Metallica 23%

2. R.E.M 13%

2. Kaiser Chiefs 13%

4. The Verve 11%

5. Amy Winehouse 10%

6. Sex Pistols 8%

7. Kiss 7%

8. Fat Boy Slim 6%

8. Jay-Z 5% Worst festival moment of all time

1. The toilets at any music festival…ever 47%

2. Michael Eavis announcing Jay-Z as a headliner at Glastonbury 08 28%

3. Daphne and Celeste performing at Reading 2000 15%

4. The trench foot of Glastonbury 2005 7%

5. Morrissey singing at Madstock 2002 2%

6. The Stone Roses festival at Spike Island 1990 1%


About MSN and Windows Live

MSN attracts more than 465 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 42 markets and 21 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering compelling programmed content experiences to consumers and online advertising opportunities to businesses worldwide. Windows Live, a new set of personal Internet services and software, is designed to bring together in one place all the relationships, information and interests people care about most, with enhanced safety and security features across their PC, devices and the Web. MSN and Windows Live are being offered alongside each other as complementary services. Windows Live Messenger is available at http://get.live.com/messenger/overview.

MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com MSN worldwide sites are located at http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx


About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Microsoft, Windows Live and MSN are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.







Sophie Jackson
Account Manager
020 7025 6412
07970 611 865

www.redconsultancy.com

The Red Consultancy
41-44 Gt Windmill Street
London, W1D 7NF
+44 (0)20 70256500

THE DAMNED UNITED - 70's FOOTBALL LEGENDS CAST

From: Sophie Glover

Date: Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:02:07 +0100
To: Sophie Glover
Cc: Ginger Corbett
Subject: THE DAMNED UNITED - 70's FOOTBALL LEGENDS CAST

*EMBARGOED UNTIL SATURDAY 21st JUNE 2008*
1970’s FOOTBALL LEGENDS CAST IN ‘THE DAMNED UNITED

Michael Sheen stars as Brian Clough in THE DAMNED UNITED Photographer: Laurie Sparham
These Hi-res pictures are free to access and download from www.picselect.com , online registration is simple and you will be given a password straight away.

Leeds: 20.06.2008.
Stephen Graham and Peter McDonald head up the actors playing 1970’s football legends in THE DAMNED UNITED. Stephen Graham (This is England, Snatch) will play Leeds Captain Billy Bremner while Peter McDonald (Sea of Souls, When Brendan met Trudy) has been cast as his midfield partner Johnny Giles, Mark Cameron (Coronation Street) plays central defender Norman ‘Bites Yer Legs’ Hunter. Martin Compston (Sweet Sixteen) as John O’Hare and Colin Harris as John McGovern are the two players who followed Clough from Derby County to Leeds United, Joe Dempsie (Skins) is cast as Duncan Mackenzie, rounding out the Leeds United players. For Derby County Giles Alderson (I Want Candy) plays Colin Todd, Brian McCardie (Rob Roy) plays Dave Mackay, Stewart Robertson plays Archie Gemmill and Laurie Rea plays Terry Hennessey.

Adapted for the screen by Peter Morgan (The Queen, The Last King of Scotland, Frost/Nixon) from the best-selling and critically acclaimed novel by David Peace. THE DAMNED UNITED stars Michael Sheen (The Deal, The Queen, Frost/Nixon) as the legendary, opinionated football manager Brian Clough with Timothy Spall (Secrets and Lies, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Sweeney Todd) as his right hand man, only friend, and crutch Peter Taylor. Colm Meaney (Layer Cake, Intermission, The Commitments) plays Clough’s nemesis Don Revie. Jim Broadbent

(Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, Longford, Iris) plays Sam Longson, Derby Chairman. The film is directed by Tom Hooper (John Adams, Longford, Elizabeth I).

Set in 1960’s and 1970’s England, THE DAMNED UNITED tells the confrontational and darkly humorous story of Brian Clough’s doomed 44 day tenure as manager of the reigning champions of English football Leeds United. Previously managed by his bitter rival Don Revie and on the back of their most successful period ever as a football club, Leeds had an aggressive and cynical style of football - an anathema to the principled yet flamboyant Brian Clough, who had achieved astonishing success as manager of Hartlepool and Derby County building teams in his own vision with trusty lieutenant Peter Taylor. Taking the Leeds job without Taylor by his side, with a changing room full of Don’s boys, would lead to an unheralded examination of Clough’s belligerence and brilliance over 44 days. This is that story. The story of The Damned United.

Rounding out the casting, Liz Carling (Casualty) plays Barbara Clough, Brian’s wife. Henry Goodman (Fiddler on the Roof) plays Manny Cussins, the Leeds Chairman of the time and Maurice Roeves (The Last of the Mohicans) plays Jimmy Gordon, Brian Clough’s stalwart trainer.

THE DAMNED UNITED will shoot on locations throughout Yorkshire, Leeds, Derbyshire and Spain. Ben Smithard (Cranford) is the director of photography, costumes are by Mike O’Neill (Elizabeth I), Jan Archibald (La Vie En Rose) is hair and make-up designer, Eve Stewart (Topsy-Turvy) is production designer. The film is produced by Andy Harries and Grainne Marmion. Christine Langan and Peter Morgan are Executive Producers. A Left Bank Pictures Production, the film is financed by BBC Films, Columbia Pictures and Screen Yorkshire. Sony Pictures Entertainment has worldwide rights and will release the film in 2009.

…ends…

For further information please contact:

Rob Deacon: mrandmrsdeacon@hotmail.com
Mobile: 07930 334126

Sophie Glover
Premier PR
91 Berwick Street, London W1T 0NE

Something monkey blah blah Monkey Damon albarn blah zzzz

EMBARGOED until Thursday 12 June 2008

Monkey: Journey to the West at the Royal Opera House

Monkey: Journey To The West will make its London debut next month, with a run at the Royal Opera House.

Monkey: Journey To The West's premiere season sold out at Manchester International Festival in 2007, which has been followed by further sell outs in Paris and the US.

Directed by Chen Shi-Zheng, with music composed by Damon Albarn, and designed by Jamie Hewlett, Monkey: Journey to the West, is a contemporary opera using nearly 40 Chinese performers including acrobats, martial artists and singers, with an orchestra combining Western and Chinese instruments.

Designer Jamie Hewlett, "Monkey is the story of the Monkey King, who believes he is better than all the Gods, wants to be a God. And basically he breaks into heaven and trashes the Peaches banquet and for his crime he is imprisoned in the mountain by Buddha". Monkey: Journey to The West tells the story of Monkey's quest for redemption and enlightenment as he accompanies the monk Tripitaka to bring the sacred Buddhist scrolls back from India.

Tickets for the Royal Opera House go on sale to the public at 2pm on Thursday 12 June. There are a number of pricing options from £10, up to a top ticket of £75, tickets are available online at www.roh.org.uk or from the ROH Box Office on 0207 304 4000.

The show dates are:

Wednesday 23 July 8.00pm
Thursday 24 July 2.30pm and 7.30pm
Friday 25 July 4pm and 8.30pm
Saturday 26 July 2.30pm and 7.30pm

June 2008
For more info, contact RMP – press@rmplondon.co.uk / +44 208 749 7999

I'll Give you Donkey Punch.

*UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 00.01 HRS FRIDAY 30th MAY 2008*
Hi,

Apologies for the group email!

Please see the attached images and copy of an exclusive interview that Empire magazine has done with Jamie Winstone and the cast of the new and very controversial film Donkey Punch.

If you would like to run a news story any coverage must include a written credit e.g. ‘The latest issue of Empire is out now’.
Probably the most appropriate quotes are the following, however you can use whatever you like from the attached interview:

Jamie Winstone – Donkey Punch

“They’re real, normal people who just happen to end up in a really fucked-up situation. It’s very believable. I just hope that it gets focused on in the right way — it’s like an urban sex myth. It’s pretty shocking, but I guess that’s the beauty of it. It’s not meant to be a scary film — ‘Look behind you!’ None of that shit. It’s about what can happen if you get carried away.”

Please confirm that this is going to run and that Empire is going to receive the credit. If you can send us the link or tell us if you will be running coverage it would be really appreciated.

Thanks
Nazia



Nazia Ahmed
Account Executive
Ocean Media and Public Relations Ltd
3-4a Little Portland Street
London
W1W 7JB

T: +44 (0) 207 636 8303
M: +44 (0) 773 705 8937
E: nazia@oceanmediapr.co.uk

W: www.oceanmediapr.co.uk

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