Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway bring their award winning concept to the Southbank Centre this Weekend
Over the 29th, 30th and 31st July, taking its lead from the Festival of Britain (1951) there is no single focus in terms of creative arts. The festival will celebrate musical, fashion, film, art, design and cultural lineages, from the 1920s to the 1980s, and offer a glimpse of where we go from here? The 21 acre Southbank site will be transformed into a Vintage wonderland. All the wonderful clubs, bands, fashions, art, and design, film, shops, vintage retailers, dance lessons, makeovers, workshops that made Vintage 2010 so memorable will be there along with some cool new Thames boat party surprises. London’s best cultural quarter to host Britain’s best new cultural event… A perfect fit. Throw on your best frock, pack your dancing shoes and join us for Vintage’s annual celebration of British cool.Whether your thing is swing, rockabilly, mod, soul, funk, disco, ska, electro, cabaret, film, art or design, or if you just want to dress up and get an authentic make-over for a day, Vintage at Southbank Centre is a sensual delight, a big dressing-up box, a collector’s dream and a joyous creative feast for all ages. For one glamorous weekend we celebrate the music, fashion, film, art , design, and dance from the 1920s to the 1980s (and maybe even a peek at the early ‘90s) that has made Britain the world’s creative and cultural hotbed. Over the three days, one of the world’s greatest pieces of mid-century architecture is being treated to a 60th birthday suit: Royal Festival Hall will be set dressed like you have never seen it before. The six levels of this great building will be transformed (for the first time) into a multi-venue playground where, over 13 hours per day, pass holders can ‘learn the dances’, enjoy a makeover take in the live performances, exclusive DJ sets, catwalk shows, wonderfully conceived food and cocktails, the cream of the crop vintage retailers and surprises galore. Vintage favourites The Soul Casino, Let it Rock, The Torch Club, The Leisure Lounge and The Warehouse are amongst the ten nightclubs contained within Royal Festival Hall. New clubs to the Vintage family include The Studio, Shhh! The Vintage Prohibition Club, and the North South Divide.Each evening the RFH Auditorium will host a one-off, themed ‘Vintage Revue’ – a concert featuring some of the world’s greatest performers coming together to create a one off genre specific revue. Vintage has a policy to curate a line up that sets it apart from other festivals and actively works with artist to create memorable “I was there” events.To gain exclusive access to Royal Festival Hall, simply book a pass for Friday, Saturday or Sunday (£60). If you’d also like to access the stunning ‘Vintage Revue’ book a Friday, Saturday or Sunday pass + revue show (starting from £75). Tickets for the RFH Auditorium revue shows are strictly limited. Additionally, Southbank Centre’s outside spaces host the enormous Vintage Marketplace, hair and make-up parlours, tea parties, creative workshops for all ages, themed bars and restaurants curated by Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway and the Hemingway Design team and a vintage funfair. Featuring vintage favourites such as The Chap Olympiad, ‘Best in Show’ parades and pop-up catwalk shows, prepare for eye candy, brilliantly dressed folk and great music, performance art and design. This promises to be London’s best looking and most uplifting weekend for many a year so “get yer glad rags on”, shine your dancing shoes, pack your cameras and let’s celebrate everything that’s great about British creativity. Vintage – Southbank Centre over the 29th, 30th and 31st July 2011