Corfe Castle at sunrise
Larmer Tree Festival have a hilarious comedy line-up joining Bill Bailey for their 25th anniversary festival in July. Headlining the late-night comedy club on the ARC stage this year are internationally acclaimed comedians Ed Byrne, Russell Kane, Sara Pascoe and Seann Walsh, ably supported by the eclectic talents of Kerry Godliman, James Acaster, David Trent, Alex Edelman, Gareth Richards, Rhys James, Carl Hutchinson, Stephen Bailey, Damian Clarke, Fin Taylor, Yve Blake and Mark Simmons.
The 2015 late-night comedy programme kicks off on Thursday 16th July with Irish comedian Ed Byrne. Having taken TV by storm with regular appearances on Mock the Week, Have I Got News For You and 8 out of 10 Cats, Ed comes to the festival following dates in New Zealand and ahead of a UK tour later this year. On Sunday, Larmer Tree welcome back multi-award winning comedian, presenter, actor and scriptwriter Russell Kane. A familiar face from Live at the Apollo, Live at the Electric and Unzipped, Kane is returning to the festival for the third time due to overwhelming audience demand.
Renowned for supporting emerging talent, on Friday Larmer Tree will headline returning star Sara Pascoe who has rocketed through the comedy ranks since her last visit in 2011. With a sell out UK debut show, Sara has also amassed numerous TV acting credits including W1A, Twenty Twelve and Campus. Joining her at the top of the bill is charismatic Saturday headliner Seann Walsh, known for his selfdeprecating silliness and hilarious observational comedy. Having appeared on Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Mock The Week, Seann is currently team captain on Virtually Famous and has been labelled the most frighteningly precocious talent to emerge from the UK comedy circuit in ages.
The 2015 comedy bill also includes London comedienne Kerry Godliman, returning to her stand-up roots after a major role in Ricky Gervais’ recent series Derek. Spearheading a new 21st century brand of comedy, tech-happy David Trent will wow the crowds with his multi-media show, and he’s been nominated for Foster’s Best Newcomer Award. Another comedian for the digital age is sparky Sydney-born Yve Blake who will perform her high-energy act with comic songs inspired by story submissions from Twitter, including a song specially written for Larmer Tree’s 25th year based on audience anecdotes.
An original and whimsical voice on the comedy circuit, James Acaster has gone on to great things since he performed at Larmer Tree as a newcomer. Winner of the Best International Show award at the 2014 New Zealand International Comedy Festival, Acaster has also won two Chortle Awards in 2015 and is a regular TV panellist.
Other highlights are Festival Director Julia Safe’s discoveries from the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe. These include winner of the festival’s 2014 Foster’s Best Newcomer Award Alex Edelman who recounts hilarious anecdotes with a sharp eye for the absurd, Rhys James who combines comedy and performance poetry to spellbinding effect, and rising star Fin Taylor, now fresh from supporting Russell Howard.
Part of the late-night revelry, these comedy stars will perform in the infamous ARC tent every evening from 10.45pm onwards. However these are not the only laughs to be had at Larmer Tree Festival this year, with Bill Bailey already announced to bring his legendary blend of music and comedy to the Main Stage on Sunday 19th July. Officially on the music bill but also a stand-up comic with a style all his own, Larmer Tree can think of no better way to round off the week than watching this master at work.
Completing the music line-up for 2015, Larmer Tree Festival are thrilled to announce the final acts on the programme. Adding to huge variety already on offer are the talents of dynamic violin and guitar duo Aaron Catlow & Kit Hawes, Irish alternative trio All The Luck In The World, talented cellist Beth Porter and The Availables and 6-piece ska group Boy Le Monti. Also appearing are Senegalese kora virtuoso Diabel Cissokho, 6-piece spectacle Django Spears, explosive Bristol-based phenomenon First World Pros and dark
swing band Gaslight Troubadours with Professor Elemental. Festival-goers will enjoy original storytelling songs from Noah’s House Band, high-energy banjo and fiddle from Pronghorn, melodious ‘math pop’ from 4-piece Signals and an exceptional performance from The Ben Waters Band whose eponymous pianist has worked with the likes of The Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry and PJ Harvey.
Whether refreshed from therapies in the Secret Garden, inspired by arts and craft workshops or eager for more music, festival-goers looking to stretch their dancing legs after the Main Stage finishes at 11pm can make their way to the brand new after-hours DJ venue tucked away in Lostwood. Set among the trees in a clearing in the woods, The Hide is the perfect place to dance the night away. Also open until 4am, The Social is home to acoustic music and chilled out chatting by day, and by night late-night live acts and resident DJs will have the audience dancing till dawn.
Ticket Information:
Due to high demand, an extra date with Tom Jones has recently been added, making the 25th Larmer Tree Festival (14th – 19th July 2015) a six-night extravaganza.
Tier four tickets and day tickets are currently on sale, with weekend tickets priced from £174 and discounts for children and teenagers. Under 5s go free! For full details visit www.larmertreefestival.co.uk/tickets
