Armed Forces Day Live

British Forces Broadcasting Service: giving the nation the opportunity to come together to celebrate 2012's Armed Forces Day

Saturday 30th June, from 11am to 1pm, Information TV (Sky Channel 231 and Freesat 402) and streamed live from the Information TV web site www.information.tv

For the first time the British Forces Broadcasting Service (BFBS) will be offering viewers in the UK live coverage from the flagship venue for this year’s Armed Forces day National Event , which takes place in Plymouth on Saturday 30th June 2012. Coverage is also available live on BFBS Radio overseas and in the UK on DAB.

The UK's Armed Forces Day, now in its fourth year, is the annual opportunity for the nation to show its support and appreciation for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community: serving troops, their families, veterans and cadets.

Armed Forces Day Live will be presented by Kate Gerbeau. She will be joined by historian and defence analyst Christopher Lee and British Forces News reporters for two hours of expert coverage of the main parade, Drumhead Service - a religious service in the field - and displays by Typhoon, Spitfire and Seafury aircraft, interspersed with messages of support from military commanders and senior politicians. Senior royalty are expected to attend the event in Plymouth while the Chiefs of Staff will attend regional events across the country

BFBS correspondents will broadcast live from Camp Bastion in Afghanistan and will also file special reports on the work of those serving their country in the front line in Afghanistan and in Sierra Leone, the Falkland Islands, Germany, Cyprus and the UK. Kate will interview a number of senior military guests on the significance of Armed Forces Day and the wider issues facing the forces at a time of transition.

Kate Gerbeau said: "Armed Forces Day is one of the most important days in the military calendar. 10 million people in the UK have family or professional links to the military and it is fantastic that they'll be able to share in this important national celebration. Importantly, the broadcast will also devote time to paying tribute to those who have died in the service of their country."

Armed Forces Day Live is being broadcast in the UK on Information TV (Sky Channel 231 and Freesat Channel 402) and online at www.information.tv It will also be broadcast worldwide to service men and women and their families overseas and on Royal Navy ships on BFBS 1 TV.

Art in the Dancehall

While many music genres have been celebrated for their intimate relation with art, dancehall and Jamaican soundsystem culture has for the most part been left out of the canon, despite its rich and vibrant artistic past and present, not to mention its undeniable influence on design and letterform in pop culture today. Art in the Dancehall, curated by Shimmy Shimmy and Al Fingers, and in association with the PUMA YARD and Jamaica50, aims to redress the balance, celebrating dancehall illustration and design from 1980 to the present day.

Early 1980s Jamaica was a changing place, politically and musically, with a new generation of deejays bringing in a brand new sound. Mirroring this change in the music were graphic designers and illustrators translating the energy, colour and playfulness of dancehall into images, painting a world of crazy characters in highly saturated colours. As an introduction to this foundation, Art in the Dancehall will feature cover art by seminal 1980s Jamaican artists Limonious and Jamaal Pete, alongside UK artist Tony McDermott and posters by Jamaica’s most celebrated poster designer, Sassafras. Exclusive to the show will be a previously unseen photograph of the prolific yet little-known artist Limonious, alongside preparatory artwork by Tony McDermott that has never before been exhibited in the UK.

This foundation will be complemented by the work of five young artists from four different countries (Jamaica, Israel, Germany and England) who are keeping the tradition alive: Robin Clare’s bright depictions of popular dances, Ellen G’s detailed illustrations and portraits of dancehall deities, Gabe’s bold black & white patterned take on reggae iconography, Peter Edwards’ zine covers and Daniel David Freeman’s hand-made recreation of part of the suit worn by Buju Banton on the cover of his Stamina Daddy LP. Launching on 27 June at the BASS Festival, Birmingham, the show will move with the Jamaican athletic team to London, where it will be exhibited at the PUMA YARD from 27 July to 12 August.

Birmingham (27 June–13 July): The Drum, 144 Potters Lane, Aston, Birmingham B6 4UU Launch night: 27 June, 6:30–8:30 PM.

London (27 July–12 August): PUMA YARD, Boiler House, 150–152 Brick Lane, London E1 6RU Launch night: 30 July, 6:30–9:30 PM.

Art in the Dancehall: PUMA YARD:
W www.artinthedancehall.co.uk W www.puma.com/yard

Remarkable ratings for BBC Worldwide Channels with close to 5 million viewers watching live Diamond Jubilee festivities

London Calling, the superlative season of programming highlighting everything wonderful about the city as it prepares to host the 2012 Olympic Games, began with live coverage of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, which achieved record-breaking results for BBC channels across the globe.

As the United Kingdom joyfully commemorated the 60 years Queen Elizabeth II has been on the throne, millions of people across the globe tuned in to enjoy the spectacular festivities as they were broadcast live by BBC Worldwide Channels. Close to 5 million¹ viewers around the World watched The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations during 3-5 June, setting regional records for several channels during the broadcasts.

The broadcast was wildly popular in Singapore, positioning BBC Knowledge as the top factual channel and the most watched non-kids international channel among all Pay TV channels during 1-5 June². The live programming delivered BBC Knowledge’s best performance for Sunday-Tuesday, in terms of percentage of overall television share, since it was launched in 2007.

In South Africa, The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: Thames Pageant was watched by more people than any other programme on BBC Entertainment since January of 2011. In Australia, the Diamond Jubilee coverage was also a success, with two of the events clinching top ratings for STV programmes in their respective time slots and categories.

Likewise, people in Poland viewed the broadcast in large numbers, with two of the events earning the highest reach for individual programmes on BBC Entertainment thus far this year. Additionally, BBC Entertainment became the third most popular international channel in the cable satellite universe for its time slot³ during The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: Concert. Norwegians also pushed BBC Entertainment to record numbers during the concert with the channel earning the highest ever share in Norway⁴.

To find out about the diverse BBC programmes being shown during the London Calling season, such as Olympic-themed programming like the hilarious comedy series Twenty Twelve, which will get viewers even more excited to watch the Olympics on TV later in the summer, please visit www.londoncallingbbc.com or your local BBC website.

Dionne Warwick confirmed for Breacon Jazz Festival

Five-time Grammy Award winner Dionne Warwick is one of the star names at this year’s Brecon Jazz festival in August, a great family day out in Wales.

Orchard, new operator of the world famous festival, has announced a compact and powerful programme to bring a sprinkling of star names, jazz favourites, emerging and Welsh talent, Jazz Club nights, innovative collaborations and a party atmosphere to the streets of Brecon from August 10-12.

Dionne Warwick, who is celebrating 50 years in the business and 100 million records sold, will appear in concert in the Brecon Jazz Festival’s iconic Market Hall on Friday, August 10.

Another big name gracing the Market Hall stage is vibraphonist/vocalist Roy Ayers. This respected Jazz/R&B artist and renowned as the Godfather of Neo-soul will be making an exclusive UK appearance.

Welsh pianist Huw Warren is involved this year as artist-in-residence, in collaborations with Thomas Stronen and Peter Herbert. Jazz fans can look forward to performances by the likes of Neil Yates, Lighthouse, Trio Libero, Neil Cowley, Claire Martin, YolanDa Brown, Stan Tracey, Bobby Wellins, Alan Barnes, Kit Downes, Ginger Baker and many more.

In addition to the Market Hall, there will be concerts in Theatr Brycheiniog, emerging artists and home grown Welsh talent will largely perform in the Guildhall and there will be special events in Brecon Cathedral, providing a great family day out.

The town centre will be the location for some spectacular street entertainment and the Brecon Fringe is running an extensive programme of music in bars, venues and around the town throughout the weekend.

There is even a commemorative concert for Jed Williams, the founder and Artistic Director of Brecon Jazz throughout much of its 28 year history, promoting Jazz4Jed, a bursary set up in his name to benefit Jazz talent in Wales, along with workshops held in Christ College.

Mr Janczur again: “Brecon Jazz is a heritage brand with a great international reputation. If we can get close to recapturing the values, spirit and magic of the heyday of Brecon Jazz, we’ll have done our job. The musical line-up is exciting, we’ve had a great amount of goodwill from the town, the county and the Festival Fringe, so we’re now all set for a fantastic weekend in August.”

London Calling finds the grit amidst the glamour with compelling crime drama Luther

BBC Worldwide Channels continues to bring London to the World with the remarkable London Calling season highlighting the human element of the city of 2012 with all its quirks, charms, triumphs, and challenges. Turning to the darker side of the sprawling metropolis, the season is presenting the thrilling crime series Luther to audiences in participating regions.

Critically acclaimed for his role in the cult classic television series The Wire, Idris Elba has won a Golden Globe® for his portrayal of the troubled Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) John Luther. The series focuses on Luther’s struggles to keep his dark genius and the grisly subject matter of his career from consuming his life. As Luther wrestles with his demons, the distinctive psychological drama delves into the minds of the murderers he is charged with capturing.

Depending on regional scheduling, viewers will be treated to the first series consisting of six episodes and/or the second series with four episodes. The first series introduces viewers to the obsessive, nearly possessed, and occasionally violent approach Luther takes toward his work in the Serious Crime Unit. Set and filmed in the London, the cinematography parallels the brooding nature of the story line and the driven title character. Luther faces a sniper taking out police officers, a serial killer draining the blood from mothers, secrets from his past, hostage situations, corruption, and being framed for the murder of someone he loves.

In the second series, Luther is nearly destroyed by this grisly murder and the battle to clear his name. He returns to work, entering a different world in the police department. His former unit has been disbanded and he is placed in a new department in which he must rapidly assemble a new team, picking up his former partner Detective Justin Ripley (Warren Brown). Soon, they are grappling with their first case involving a masked stranger wandering London and committing truly appalling murders in a historic spots with ritualistic flourishes. Can the team catch him before he achieves his final, horrifying masterpiece?

Pulsating with dark energy, the series has met with positive reviews at home, with The Times calling it: “Taut, punchy, brilliantly filmed and acted with total conviction”. The Daily Mail said: “Beautifully done and deliciously intriguing – and the powerfully charismatic Elba is terrific”.

To find out about London-focused crime dramas like Luther and the engaging Sherlock series, along with information on other BBC programmes in the London Calling season, such as Olympic-themed programming like the hilarious comedy series Twenty Twelve, which will get viewers even more excited to watch the Olympics on TV later in the summer, please visit www.londoncallingbbc.com or your local BBC website.

Get The Hottest Ticket In Town And Have A Ball

With the French Open, Wimbledon, Ascot, the Tour de France and Goodwood Festival of Speed about to open this month everyone is trying to get these hot tickets. The world’s leading luxury concierge service Quintessentially Lifestyle can not only get access to tickets but also offer a lot of other great services surrounding sport.

 

Keep on track with the latest sports events and get into the full swing of things this month. Quintessentially Lifestyle name the top 5 sporting luxury experiences they can offer.

Quintessentially Gifts has a great service offering gifts associated with sport. The whole family benefits. Quintessentially Gifts suggest giving that teenage tear away a Damien Hirst Supreme Sports Skateboard Deck, or why not a Geoffrey Parker Garden Games Compendium for great family fun in the garden. To make those summer holidays more fun, a McQueen GTX Limited Jet Ski is the way forward.

Quintessentially Escape the bespoke, luxury experience and adventure company, offering the inaccessible, the rare and the unique. For motorsports why not join them on a super car tour across Europe or spend an unforgettable weekend at the wheel of a rally car in Rally Finland. Why not sample salmon fishing in Iceland, Deerstalking in New Zealand or shooting in the UK countryside, nothing is beyond Quintessentially Escape’s reach.
 
Quintessentially Lifestyle opens doors to a world of exclusive sporting events. Watch a football match from a VIP box. Experience the Tour de France or immerse yourself in a tennis match at Wimbledon with strawberries and cream. Quintessentially Lifestyle can organise the best seats in the house and bespoke and attentive service throughout the day.

Quintessentially Events are renowned for exclusive global events that include sporting events. The multi-award winning service can create bespoke corporate packages at these highly regarded occasions, birthday parties with a sporting theme or even charity events with unrivalled access and celebrity guests.

With London 2012 events, Quintessentially Villas offers awe-inspiring properties. What about a Swish 2-bedorom apartment in London just down the road from Wimbledon or Elkstone, a 5-bedroom property in Gloucestershire? Everything is close at hand, especially if you take advantage of Quintessentially Driven’s unparalleled services.

FACTFILE: Quintessentially (www.quintessentially.com) is the leading international luxury lifestyle company. Started in 2000 as a small London based concierge service, Quintessentially has experienced a complete transformation in a decade, and currently have offices in over 60 cities around the world.

The service provided to their discerning and HNW members is proactive and personalised, catering to every member’s need, from last minute restaurant bookings, travel arrangements, and access to private parties, as well as fulfilling every unusual request and successfully connecting businesses all over the world.

Quintessentially can offer access to the inaccessible and can make the seemingly impossible, possible. In a bid to ensure only the very best service is delivered across the luxury market, Quintessentially has also launched 32 luxury sister businesses comprised of experts in every luxury division. This includes real estate, travel, luxury retail, wine, art, flowers, private aviation and more (www.quintessentiallygroup.com).

Sunshine at the Royal Albert Hall with JLSnd more!

JLS ambassadors of Rays of Sunshine

Rays of Sunshine at The Royal Albert Hall

JLS, Pixie Lott, Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, Adam Lambert, Conor Maynard, Jaz Ellington Stooshe, and Spelbound will perform at the Rays of Sunshine Concert at The Royal Albert Hall on Thursday 7th June. The event will be hosted by Kiss Fm’s Melvin Odoom and Rochelle Wiseman from The Saturdays.

JLS and Leona Lewis are ambassadors for Rays of Sunshine www.raysofsunshine.org.uk/, a charity which grants wishes for seriously ill children and teenagers in the UK aged 3-18.

JLS said: “JLS loves supporting Rays of Sunshine and has been privileged to meet hundreds of amazing children and teenagers through their work. Every one of these young people has inspired us with their strength and bravery. ‘The Rays of Sunshine Concert’ will be a moving event for the performers and an amazing night of entertainment for music fans everywhere.”

Leona Lewis added: “I love being an ambassador for Rays of Sunshine. Every day of the year the charity adds a touch of sparkle into the lives of brave and deserving children. The Rays of Sunshine Concert will bring hundreds of children together for a precious night of fun and I’m so happy to be a part of it.”

Amongst the audience will be 1500 seriously ill children who have previously had their wishes granted by Rays of Sunshine.

These will include:
Isabelle (14) from Barnet who is living with Congenital Pseudarthrosis of the tibia. On the day of the concert Isabelle will be fulfilling her wish to go for a shopping spree at Lipsy in Brent Cross before coming to the concert at meeting Pixie Lott.

Wasim (17) from Harrow. Wasim had a liver transplant last year and was doing very well. Unfortunately, as a result of the transplant has developed a life threatening illness which is currently undiagnosed. Last year Rays of Sunshine fulfilled his wish to cook with Gordon Ramsay at Claridges Hotel. He also attended a recent reception hosted by Samantha Cameron at No 10 Downing Street.

Katie (10) from Lambhill, Glasgow is living with Neurofibromatosis (tumours) diagnosed in 2007. Katie’s greatest wish was to design a giant teddy bear and name it after her consultant, Jennifer. In August last year, Katie designed her giant bear complete with a pink spotty dress and pink bow in her hair!

The Rays of Sunshine Concert is sponsored by www.adot.com