OK Go

Science come to life at Live from Jodrell Bank

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Taking to the stage itself will be Dr Tim O’Brien. A Reader in Astrophysics at the University of Manchester’s Jodrell Bank, O’Brien is an expert on both the workings of the iconic Lovell Telescope and the fascinating findings it has uncovered from deep space. Proving science can be as captivating as any rock ‘n’ roll, O’Brien will introduce the workings of the giant telescope and, weather permitting, steer it around the sky live with the help of Jodrell Bank’s Telescope Controller.

The audience will benefit from free entry to the Space Pavilion, Jodrell Bank’s newly built visitors centre, until 5pm. Gig-goers will be able to take away printouts of live signals received by the Lovell Telescope, discover how hot or cold they are with the use of the centre’s infra-red camera, see the astronomy picture of their birthday and listen to the sound of the Big Bang. There will be rolling Q&A sessions in the events space including some amazing “sounds from space”. Let loose around the site will be real live astronomers and students from the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics. They’ll be on hand in the exhibition space and around the site, demonstrating physics tricks and discussing their science. If the weather cooperates, special telescopes will look to the Sun and will later in the evening survey some of the wonders of the night sky.

Aiding the event’s sell out crowd, the festival site is accessible via a number of specially laid on coaches from key locations including Manchester, Sheffield and Liverpool. Coach tickets priced at £14.50 return, plus booking fee, can be purchased from the Live From Jodrell Bank or Ticketline websites.

Before the first note has yet been played, Live From Jodrell Bank: Transmission 001 has truly caught the attention of music and festival fans in the UK. It took a mere three weeks for all tickets to sell out. Listed as one of the “12 reasons this festival season will be the best” by The Guardian and one of “the new hot festivals” by Grazia, Live From Jodrell Bank will reveal more much-anticipated line-ups in the near future.

The Flaming Lips, British Sea Power to perform at the first ever Live from Jodrell Bank.

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Set 20 miles south of Manchester in the Cheshire landscape, Live from Jodrell Bank is arguably the UK’s most diverse and imaginative setting for a live music event. Throughout the day visitors will take part in experiments and workshops delving into the undiscovered and the obscure; exploring space research and examining the stars; whilst having free access to the newly, redeveloped and magnificent visitor centre. As night falls, the site will be transformed into a musical fervour with this mind-blowing and totally unique show.

 
Saturday’s Transmission 001 features The Flaming Lips who will bring their space-influenced alternative and ground-breaking rock music to the site. Hailing from Oklahoma City and founded by the eclectic Wayne Coyne, the band have been named as one of the 50 Bands to See Before You Die (Q Magazine). Famed for their elaborate live shows featuring costumes, balloons, puppets, video projections, complex stage light configurations, giant hands and frontman Wayne Coynes’ signature man-sized bubble, The Flaming Lips are the perfect partner to the backdrop of the third largest steerable radio telescope in the world.

Adding to the eccentricity, British Sea Power bring to the table a promise of intensity and the spectacular with a live performance of their epic rock music. No stranger to astronomy with their Lights Out track created in support of the Dark Skies campaign, the performance is set to ricochet across the entire telescope site. BSP are no strangers to performing in weird and wonderful venues. Whether in a tiny pub in Sussex, the Jersey Opera House, the National History Museum or a church up in the Arctic Circle, Jodrell Bank will certainly add to their impressive catalogue of locations. They even recently embarked on a boat on the River Thames to perform and support the British Wave Power campaign.

Chicago based OK Go are renowned for their infectious songs, inventive videos, surprising live shows and forward-thinking back-end, making them arguably the world’s most bleeding edge independent outfit. Expect the unexpected given the show stopping performances the band are fast becoming famous for.

With diverse influences from Janis Joplin to Alicia Keys, Alice Gold makes the kind of blues tinged indie pop that is infectiously foot tapping. Working with producer Dan Carey, a man whose produce credits include La Roux, Franz Ferdinand, Lily Allen and Kylie, Gold’s debut album, Seven Rainbows is destined to a smash.

The giant Lovell Telescope, playing host to Live from Jodrell Bank, has been quietly probing the depths of space since 1957 being the largest and most powerful radio telescope in the world when it was built. This combined with the fervour of The Flaming Lips, the charm of British Sea Power and the unlimited possibilities from OK Go, Transmission 001 is set to place Jodrell Bank firmly on the map as arguably the most unique and spectacular live show in the UK in 2011.

Kendal Calling co-promoter Andy Smith comments, “We’re a big fan of the unusual and the unique and by combining the incredible venue of Jodrell Bank and an amazing live performance by The Flaming Lips, this is going to undoubtedly be one of their most memorable shows. British Sea Power and OKGO are the perfect accompaniment ­atmospheric and thrilling performances in equal measure. Roll on July!”