“We’re very happy to come back to Standon as we had such a great time there in 2009 and 2010,” remembers vocalist Ketil Kinden Endresen. “The weather was so nice and we also got to see and meet our hero Femi Kuti.”

Armed with a new album released at the tail-end of last year, which the band say “is unlike anything Casiokids have released thus far,” they’re currently working on even fresher music they promise to showcase at Standon.

“We’re in our studio at Bergen Kjøtt (Bergen Meat) these days, making some new tunes for the summer,” explains Ketil.

To see Casiokids at Standon Calling this summer, click here.

“I was Pan the God of the animals. I don’t know how I came up with the idea, it was in chats with my students,” explains teacher Alan. “The year before I came second. I was the body bag with bullet wounds and an axe in my chest. My best tip for winning would be don’t be afraid to go a little over the top.”

The year prior to that when Standon Calling went Intergalatic he and four friends dressed up as the Clangers. Although he didn’t make the podium in that contest, everyone who was there remembers the Clangers and their pictures seemed to do the social media rounds, as well as appearing in a number of post-event press reviews.

So, what’s our judges’ advice for winning?

“I’m looking for unique entries, not the person who spent the most money on their outfit, but the person or groups who are amazingly creative and inspirational in the way they made their look original and brilliant,” says Gabby Young, who’s also appearing with Gabby Young & Other Animals over the weekend. “I want to be blown away and taken to all ends of the earth!!”

Meanwhile Standon Calling founder Alex Trenchard says:

“I agree with Gabby, but above all else I’m looking for something with a real sense of  fun and an original take on the ‘Journey to the Ends of the Earth’ theme. I also think it’s time we recognised groups of people getting together to create something special, like last year’s many-legged Loch Ness Monster.”“

To be in with a chance of winning this year’s competition click here.

We think it’s a perfect way to start the Bank Holiday Weekend. Alex’ll be there and he’s up for listening to all your festival suggestions. So here’s your chance to put in your request direct for your favourite DJ, artist, acrobat, dancing lizard or whatever to appear at Standon this summer.

To sample the Standon festival experience early click here

STANDON CALLING AT THE STORTFEST CRAWL
Standon Calling is putting on a special show as part of Hertfordshire’s answer to the Camden Crawl. The Stortfest Crawl will take place in more than a dozen venues across Bishop’s Stortford during the first week of May with Standon Calling providing its own Stortfest night on May 4th at the United Reformed Church featuring artists who will perform at Standon this summer. Revere, Golden Fable and Josh Whitehouse are all set to play on the night, with Standon DJs including Kid Fiesta keeping the party going when the bands get off stage.

Standon Calling Stortfest Night
May 4th
United Reformed Church Hall
Water Lane
Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2JZ
Entry: £5
Doors: 7.30pm to midnight

To buy tickets for Standon’s Stortfest night click here

“Standon Calling is my favourite festival of the year,” says the acoustic artist. “So get yourself a ticket and come join me and friends living it up for the weekend.”

For a taste of what he’ll be bringing to the festival, click on the music player below.

The heat this weekend on the 28th April is being hosted by powerful three-piece Black Manila and will see Folie Ordinaire thrash it out with Caught Leaves and Wired Desire:

http://blackmanila.bandcamp.com/
http://www.myspace.com/folieordinaire
http://www.facebook.com/caughtleaves
http://www.wireddesire.co.uk/

To enter our Road To Standon Battle of the Bands Competition email rts@standon-calling.com with ‘Road To Standon’ in the subject line.

The black-and-white portraits are taken using special ultra-large format analogue cameras that create huge negatives with very precise detail reproduction. Perfect to pick out those fine nuances in your fancy dress.

To find more out about ULF photography at Standon Calling or you want to book a separate portrait session in their dark room space in Clapton, East London click here.

About Standon Calling
Standon Calling is a three-day party featuring musical icons, breakthrough acts, a swimming pool, themed fancy dress, an on-site nightclub, bars that never seem to close, sprawling arts installations, roaming interactive theatre and much more besides. It is one of the UK’s most interactive and creative festivals and it’s just 40 minutes away from London.

To be part of the party click here.

With a new album set to come out, as frontman Nic Offers says they’ve recently been playing some small gigs in the states with “a bunch of news songs that we’re trying out”. That’s not the only thing they’re trying out. Nic has worked with a choreographer on some new dance moves although he admits:
“I don’t know what the fuck i’m doing up there”.

Interesting/Non-interesting fact: If you Google !!! nothing comes up.

“We are stoked to play alongside such respected and awesome artists at this year’s Standon Calling!,” say the band. “Pictures of the site look beautiful, the line up is wicked and we know it’s gonna be MASSIVE vibes! Roll on August!”

The Skints describe their sounds as mixing “Jamaican styles with pop hooks, grimey raps, filthy basslines and a punk rock work ethic”.

Fresh from supporting You Me At Six on their UK tour, The Skints released their second album, Part & Parcel, earlier this month. They say it’s “a sun-drenched carnival of a record featuring a collection of tracks that will undoubtedly make you want to dance”. To find out more click here.

To see The Skints at Standon Calling this summer click here.

“It’ll be a real cryptic adventure for festival-goers this year,” explains the HAC’s Tim Wilson. “We’re not saying too much about the specifics of the story yet, but travellers to the four corners of the festival might just find a fifth corner.”

The NME describes the HAC as “brilliantly bizarre”, calling their contribution to 2010’s ‘Murder on the Standon Express’, “an artfully executed game of whodunit”, in a “Sherlock meets The League of Gentlemen special”.

Their new collaborator Amy Lord mixes installation, performance and craft. Amongst other things she is known for London’s most exciting and streetwise treasure-hunting game, ‘The Hunt’, and ‘Sing Your Heart Out’, an indescribable combination of clowns, karaoke and booze.

Currently, Amy and the HAC are triangulating coordinates, whipping cartographers and translating strange incantations in preparation for probably the most bizarre, interactive treasure hunt you’ve ever encountered.

“We want to pull you into a little world, just for a few moments, and make you feel like a kid again, with all the freedom and power that entails,” explains the HAC’s Mat Burt. “To take a few seconds not worrying about what anyone thinks and then to find yourself having simple, unexpected, fun.”

To be part of the fun click here.

For more information see www.heritagearts.co.uk, www.thevaultfestival.com and www.amy-lord.com

“We’re really excited to be part of the Stortfest Crawl. Ever since we started Standon Calling has championed local talent and events and in 2012 we’ll be running a series of shows in the local area. The Stortfest show is when it all kicks off,” says Standon founder Alex Trenchard. “The night should be a good one. Great bands, great DJs  and a nice warm-up for Standon Calling.”

Held for the past 14 years in the grounds of a local school, the Stortfest festival is taking a sabbatical this year, instead replacing the event with the crawl. Other acts appearing across the week-long musical include Toyah Willcox and Mary Epworth and the Jubilee Band. The Stortfest Crawl will also feature poetry recitals, art events, book readings and an open mic night hosted by Bishop Stortford’s Ukulele Society.

To buy tickets for Standon’s Stortfest night click here

Standon Calling Stortfest Night
May 4th
United Reformed Church Hall
Water Lane
Bishop’s Stortford CM23 2JZ
Entry: £5
Doors: 7.30pm to midnight