Turning point festival
If you’ve been a festival junkie this summer, racing through months of mud, sweat and beers, it might be bittersweet to finally be rounding it all up over the next week. But never fear! Though the wellies won’t be necessary, there’s one final festival to tempt you back home to the heart of NW1 in Camden’s awesome Roundhouse, and it’s sounding damn good.
Turning Point festival is taking place from the 17th – 19th September, and boasts an enviable programme full of diverse music, comedy, cabaret and quirky sideshows. What’s more, it’s been entirely organised by under-25s as part of the Roundhouse’s scheme to deliver creative projects to young people of all backgrounds. This gives them a chance to earn valuable skills like promoting the event, organising the logistics and above all booking the acts, the majority of whom are glowing with hype.
Friday night kicks off with Professor Green headlining the Main Space as a suitable round up to an incredible year for the rap star. Having dominated the underground scene for over six years, no one can begrudge him top 10 hit I Need You Tonight. Expect an explosive set with tracks from his number 2 album, Alive Till I’m Dead.
He’s in good company – Toddla T, Breakage, Redlight and the hotly-tipped Jakwob (responsible for that Ellie Goulding remix) are his warm-ups acts for the evening. Also watch out for Glasgow promoters turned record label Numbers, hosting a slot earlier on in the evening to showcase their hottest signings including the master that is Deadboy.
Friday’s Marquee is hosted by the weird and wonderful Marisa Carnesky – expect everything from twisted theatrics to trapeze and burlesque, courtesy of London’s finest cabaret stars.
If you’re off to Bestival the weekend before, you’ll be pleased to hear festival God and Bestie founder Rob Da Bank has been confirmed for the Main Space on Saturday, no doubt to deliver a set-worth of leftfield gold. He’ll be followed by infamous grime collective Roll Deep, who we interviewed for this month’s upcoming edition of Pi, and whose members have included Wiley and Dizzie Rascal. Fresh from Number 1 single Green Light, they’ve promised a rare performance backed by a full live band.
Singer and MC Ms. Dynamite will return to North London for her homecoming gig. The star will showcase the songs that made her one of the most exciting stars of the new millennium and helped her bag the Mercury Music Prize.
Room 2 will be hosted by Redux, with live music, DJs (including headliner P-Money) and a graffiti battle, and the Show & Tell stage will host an evening of comedy with performances from Ivo Graham, Will Andrews and James Acaster, all compered by Simon Munnery.
Sunday winds down with an eclectic mix of music, poetry, comedy and artistic interventions throughout the Roundhouse’s more intimate spaces. Pioneering independent promoters Eat Your Own Ears head up Room 2 with the best up-and-coming new music talent from London and beyond including Actress, Bo Ningen, and Radiant Dragon. London Word Festival play host in the Marquee with Laura Dockrill, Ross Sutherland and Terry Saunders performing alongside the Roundhouse Poetry Collective and Roundhouse Experimental Choir.
Love Music Hate Racism will also be hosting a programme of special guests in The Hub, and Edinburgh Festival’s most progressive young theatre venue Forest Fringe present their Travelling Sounds Library. As if that wasn’t enough, there’ll be an outdoor market with DJs, a dress-up box hosted by Escapade and more.
Last year’s Turning Point completely sold out and has led to another evidently jam packed line-up for 2010. The festival epitomises the Roundhouse’s aim to nurture and champion fledgling talent and provide young people with the skills required for their chosen careers. Ms Dynamite agrees: “What’s unique and super exciting about this festival is that it’s all arranged and totally done by young people. I’m really excited to just be getting on stage!”
For a student-friendly price, and so close to home, what’s stopping you?
Venue: Roundhouse, Chalk Farm Road, London NW1 8EH
Performances: 17-19 September 2010
Tickets on sale now: 0844 482 8008 or www.myspace.com/turningpointfestival
Tickets: Friday £15 | Saturday £18 | Sunday £8 | 3-day pass £28
For more about the Camden Roundhouse and its London projects visit www.roundhouse.org.uk
