2009 is the 50th anniversary of the founding of Island Records, and to mark this milestone the label is collaborating with Island founder Chris Blackwell to arrange the Island 50 festival. The festival will feature special anniversary gigs happening in London from legendary current and heritage Island artists.
The Island 50 festival will kick off in May 2009 with 'Island Life' – a week of live shows by Island artists past and present, which will take place at London's Shepherds Bush Empire. The line-up confirmed so far is as follows:
Tue 26th May – Sly & Robbie & The Compass Point Allstars feat Grace Jones, Aswad (reuniting especially for the show), The I-Threes (comprising of Rita Marley, Marcia Griffiths and Erica Newell), VV Brown, and Tinchy Stryder.
Wed 27th May – The Fratellis; Steel Pulse; Bombay Bicycle Club.
Thu 28th May – Cat Stevens/Yusuf And Friends, Baaba Maal.
Fri 29th May – Paul Weller; Ernest Ranglin; Spooky Tooth.
Sat 30th May – Keane; Tom Tom Club; Ladyhawke.
Sun 31st May – Toots & The Maytals; I Blame Coco.
The festival will run for a week all proceeds from the shows donated to Amnesty International and The Oracabessa Foundation in Jamaica.
The festival will also include cinema, TV and radio documentaries, music re-issues, and an exhibition of photography, artwork, and memorabilia which will travel around the country through the year.
Ticket prices for each show at the festival vary from £27.50 to £37.50, depending on ticket type. To buy tickets, click here.
More information will be here when available.
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