The Red Stripe Camden Crawl
18-19th April 2008

All about The Red Stripe Camden Crawl

The amazing Camden Crawl - newly re-named as The Red Stripe Camden Crawl - is set to light up the mile-long stretch from Chalk Farm to Mornington Crescent once again in 2008.

The 2008 Crawl programme kicks off from noon on Friday 18th April along that mile-long stretch from Chalk Farm to Mornington Crescent. This strip of pavement will play host to 130 artists performing across the event’s 25 official venues over 2 days and evenings and into the small wee hours of the mornings.

This is the 7th annual Camden Crawl and it's changing from midweek to the weekend in 2008. Camden Crawl's trademark melting pot of hotly tipped and breaking new artists play alongside special guests and seminal greats each evening, For 2008 the  festival is set to grow and expand significantly to include an extensive daytime arts programme including acoustic sessions, live showcases, unsigned band competitions, pop quizzes, fan forums, comedy, performance art, film screenings, exhibitions and more.

Following its expansion to a two day event last year, the 7th annual Camden Crawl relocates from midweek to weekend in 2008. As well as hosting its trademark melting pot of hotly tipped and breaking new artists alongside special guests and seminal greats each evening, next year’s festival will grow to include an extensive daytime arts programme including acoustic sessions, live showcases, unsigned band competitions, pop quizzes, fan forums, comedy, performance art, film screenings, exhibitions and more. Furthermore, the planned addition of an outdoor stage and street closures in central Camden Town will add a new carnival-style dimension to this already electrifying event.

The 2008 Crawl programme kicks off from noon on Friday 18th April along the mile-long stretch from Chalk Farm to Mornington Crescent. This strip of pavement will play host to 130 artists performing across the event’s 25 official venues over 2 days and evenings and into the wee hours of the mornings. One low cost ticket, available as single or two day passes, will allow up to 15,000 music fans unlimited access to all Crawl venues, after show parties and daytime activities. The price also includes a free dbl CD programme featuring a core selection of the artists appearing at the event.

Not unlike last year, 40 bands will appear on the bill both days, alternating venues on Friday and Saturday to allow die-hard Crawlers two opportunities to see their most coveted artists. All other artists will perform on one day or evening of the event only. Upon arrival, each ‘Crawler’ will be presented with an all-access wristband and CD programme featuring a guide map and timetable for each day’s proceedings. In keeping with the exploratory spirit and musical democracy of past Crawls, the full line-ups and stage times remain a closely guarded secret until each night. Surprise guests may appear at any time or any venue, so festival-goers are advised to arrive early.

Tickets:
£48
Tickets are to be exchanged for wristbands which allow free entry to each of the participating venues throughout the night as individual capacities permit. Wristbands and CD programmes announcing the full line ups and timings for the event are obtainable from 11:30 am onward each day at the Camden Crawl ticket exchange point located at: ELECTRIC BALLROOM (Back Entrance - Kentish Town Road, NW1). Please note that 2-day pass holders will need to return to ticket exchange to collect Saturday’s timetable. Festival goers are advised to arrive early as there will be a full daytime programme on both days from 1:00 pm. Doors open for evening schedule at 5:30

Background:
Prior to the sold out events of the past 3 years, Camden Town played host to a scaled down version of the festival from 1995 – 1997. Although a much smaller affair, the ethos of supporting Britain’s developing artists and live music scene through an uncompromising aesthetic, affordable tickets for music fans and by helping to build relationships between likeminded artists was entirely the same.

These now legendary Crawls featured inaugural performances by Snow Patrol, Beth Orton, Mogwai and such luminaries as Echo and the Bunnymen, Moby, Tanya Donnelly and the venerable Wedding Present.

A then pending tenth anniversary acted as a catalyst to re-launch the event in 2005 and, following its overwhelming success, the Camden Crawl festival has become a permanent fixture in April’s live music diary. True to historical form, the past three year’s events showcased early performances by then rising talents who went on to make a significant impression. These artists included: The Magic Numbers, Hard-Fi, Maximo Park, The Subways, The Kooks, Mystery Jets, The Cribs, Hot Chip, Sway, The Fratellis, Klaxons, The Automatic, Paolo Nutini, Guillemots, Plan B, The Pipettes, Lethal Bizzle, New Young Pony Club, Kate Nash, Calvin Harris and many more…. Influential established artists such as Graham Coxon, Amy Winehouse, Charlatans, Babyshambles, Ash, Travis, Dirty Pretty Things and Supergrass have also made an appearance alongside seminal heroes Buzzcocks, The Damned, Billy Bragg and The Slits.

This is one event not to be missed!

Tickets now on sale via the website -  Camden Crawl