aaamusic | On 09, Mar 2011

SQUEEZE, STATUS QUO,

DIVINE COMEDY, JOSÉ GONZÁLEZ, THE POGUES AND MARK RONSON & THE BUSINESS INTL CONFIRMED TO HEADLINE

GREENWICH SUMMER SESSIONS 2011

ONE OF LONDON’S OLYMPIC BOROUGH’S HOSTS SIX DAYS OF MUSIC AS THE COUNTDOWN TO 2012 BEGINS

Tuesday 26, Wednesday 27, Thursday 28, Friday 29, Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 July 2011 – Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich

London, 7 March 2011: Following the huge success of its inaugural concert series last year, Peter Conway Promotions is delighted to announce a return for the second year of Greenwich Summer Sessions (GSS), part of The Greenwich Festivals: Music, funded by Greenwich Borough Council.

Staged over six nights at the spectacular and historic riverside location of the Old Royal Naval College, during the last week of July, headliners for this year’s event include locally-based Greenwich artists Squeeze; a first ever Greenwich performance from the legendary Status Quo; pop sophisticate The Divine Comedy; neo-classical Swedish singer-songwriter José González; Irish punk folk heroes The Pogues; and BRIT Award winning Mark Ronson with his groundbreaking new band The Business Intl. With Sunday 31 July acts to be announced shortly.

Coinciding with the start of the year-long countdown to the 2012 London Olympics, Greenwich Summer Sessions is the brainchild of local promoter and Creative Producer, Peter Conway. Set in a beautiful and intimate open-air atmosphere, the GSS is set to become one of the most established live events in London’s music and cultural calendar.

Staged in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College on the River Thames, in the centre of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, this six-night run of concerts, is a high quality event that is now highlight of the borough’s cultural programme as part of The Greenwich Festivals.

“Greenwich is a borough steeped in history and culture. The Greenwich Festivals brings both of these attractions together for a season of spectacular events in some of the most historic settings in the country. Greenwich Summer Sessions got off to a great start last year and this year’s line up looks to be just as popular. Where better to spend a summer’s evening than in the grounds of the Old Royal Naval College listening to a line up of top musical acts? The whole programme for The Greenwich Festivals has something for everyone – from free international street performances to cool jazz. It’s the place to be this summer”, commented Cllr John Fahy, Greenwich Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture and Sport.

As well as dedicated fans of all the acts appearing this summer, a third of the expected audience for this year’s concerts are expected to come from Greenwich borough itself, with a broad audience range from 16 to 70+.

Greenwich is one of the host boroughs for the 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games and will provide a backdrop for 13 sporting events.

Known as the ‘home of time’, Maritime Greenwich (including the Old Royal Naval College Buildings designed by Sir Christopher Wren) is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Together with the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich is one of London’s top tourist destinations. Other tourist attractions in the area include: Royal Observatory inc.; the world’s Prime Meridian / Greenwich Mean Time; the Thames River; Greenwich Park; Queens House; and the Fan Museum

“I have lived in Greenwich since 1976 with my wife and two children and count the borough as our home,” explains GSS founder Peter Conway. “To me Greenwich is one of the best boroughs in London to live and work.”

Having worked in the music business for over 30 years, Conway was also Director of Blackheath Halls for seven years. In 1993 he promoted four festival concerts in a circus tent on Blackheath including Jools Holland’s first ever 21-piece orchestra performance.

“I conceived Greenwich Summer Sessions (GSS) to build on that original Blackheath festival in 1993,” says Conway. “GSS is an outdoor concert series, not a festival, and the chance to stage the concerts in the stunning grounds of the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich was an opportunity not to be missed.”

Conway continues: “The first year of GSS was a major success. Over 8000 people attended the four concerts. But 2011 will be even bigger and better than last year without losing its ‘small is beautiful’ aim. We are a boutique, high-quality event and we are always open to suggestions for improvements – we want the concert series to grow in line with the expectations of ticket buyers. So enjoy!”

More acts to be announced shortly:

LINE-UP

26 July – The Divine Comedy /José González
27 July – Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. + support
28 July – Status Quo + Nine Below Zero
29 July  – Squeeze + support
30 July – The Pogues + support
31 July – to be announced shortly

“Playing the Greenwich Summer Sessions was the highlight of our summer last year.  The setting at the Old Royal Naval College is stunning and the atmosphere was fantastic. Hope we get the chance to play there again sometime.”

ATHLETE (HEADLINERS AT GSS IN 2010)

www.greenwichsummersessions.co.uk

Tickets go on sale at 10:00am on Thursday 10 March and are priced as follows:

Tuesday July 26^th / The Divine Comedy /José González / Standing from £27.50 / Seated from £42.50 / VIP tickets available + booking fee

Wednesday July 27^th / Mark Ronson & The Business Intl. + support / Standing from £27.50 / Seated from £42.50 / VIP tickets available + booking fee

Thursday July 28^th / Status Quo + Nine Below Zero / Standing from £35.00 / Seated from £50.00 / VIP tickets available + booking fee

Friday July 29^th / Squeeze + support/ Standing from £32.50 / Seated from £47.50 / VIP tickets available + booking fee

Saturday July 30^th / The Pogues + support / Standing from £35.00 / Seated from £50.00 / VIP tickets available + booking fee