Raisetheroof - Wonkaland

Fri

Sep

Written by admin

Leeds based arts collective, raisetheroof, returns to Leeds West Indian Centre with a ‘Wonkaland’ themed indoor festival on Friday the 9th of October, at Leeds West Indian Centre, as an after-party to the annual Leeds Light Night celebrations. The collective are set to inject the event, already critically acclaimed by the press, with fresh inspiration from the summer festival circuit. “The aim is to mobilise the community and push the boundaries of the live music experience”, commented organiser Roxanne. “Raisetheroof is just a big group of friends who enjoy being creative, but the end result is always something really special”.

The theme, inspired by Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, will convert the main room into a paradise for the sweet-toothed, with live bands and DJ’s entertaining visitors through the enormous 40k High Pressure Soundsystem. Ethereal stiltwalkers, burlesque dancers, trapeze acts and performance artists are all set to interpret the theme in diverse ways. You may even spot an oompa loompa if you’re lucky.

The ‘Experimenting Room’ hosted by Moonstomp will be providing the infectious sounds of ska and reggae whilst a host of quirky activities will feature, including the Happy Slap Makeup Boutique, a glitzy hair and makeup service, and the Pimp My Hat Stand offering guests embellishments for their chosen headpiece. Interactive games and art installations will also provide an extra layer of entertainment to an already well-decorated cake. In line with the Glastonbury tradition of supporting worthy causes, raisetheroof are for the first time linking up with the anti-fascist campaign Love Music Hate Racism. “It’s vital that groups like LMHR are visibly supported”, commented Roxanne, “particularly in this area where the BNP have advanced their interests. The Leeds West Indian Centre is testament to multiculturalism. The centre has supported the local music scene and enabled musical niches to flourish with events that are enjoyed by thousands of people. The BNP are opposed to this kind of mixing and co-operation”.
With wacky art, a mass of different music, fancy dress and a healthy dose of social activism it’s clear the festival season is far from over! Doors are at 9pm sharp, and guests are advised to arrive there early (to avoid being late).

Raisetheroof is once more set to provide an unrivalled mixture of top quality new talent. Leed’s own Bicuithead and the Biscuit Badgers will be setting the tone of the night with an appropriately wonky and theatrical performance of nostalgic comedy, after an opening performance from sixteen-piece percussion collective Honeydrum and their breakdancing troupe from the Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

After some high profile summer gigs supporting Orbital and The Bays, Black Diamond Bay will be returning to raisetheroof to offer up a tasty slice of their own brand of electro-folk. For lovers of upbeat and ska and funk music The Hats won’t fail to disappoint with a forty minute live set, after which Manchester’s own twelve piece brass band Riot Jazz will pump out dancefloor classics ranging from Michael Jackson’s Beat It to The Human League’s Don’t You Want Me.

Proceedings will take a serious turn with Paper Tiger, purveyors of scratched-out electro and hiphop and recent darlings of Steve Lamacq, with DJ’s Exodus, Synthia, DJM and DJ ORD mixing up dubstep, breakbeat, reggae and hyperactive gypsy-core late into the night.

Raisetheroof is more than just music. Discover MAGICAL MYSTIX PALMS AND TAROT**THE URBAN ANGELS CIRCUS**MASSAGE**PIMP MY HAT STAND**KRAFTY SLUTS DÉCOR**LIVE GRAFFITI**FREE SHOP**THE HAPPY SLAP MAKEUP BOUTIQUE**FILTHY SQUIRREL CLOTHING**DIRTYFITGRANNIES**VIRTUAL GRAFFITI**INTERACTIVE ART**THE TUCK SHOP**FANCY DRESS**PEACE, LOVE, TEA AND CAKE**LOVE MUSIC HATE RACISM INFO**and plenty more!

TICKETS ON SALE SEPTEMBER 1ST Performances 9pm-5am
info: www.myspace.com/raisetheroofevents
£8.50 Advance, available from Jumbo and Crash