Converse - MC Battles this Wednesday and Block Party

CONVERSE UK AND JD SPORTS PRESENT CONVERSE BLOCK PARTY IN CELEBRATION OF THE SP12 STAR PLAYER COLLECTION

London Event Spotlights Urban Culture through Music Battles, Live Graffiti and Skate Showcases and Invites Emerging MC Talent to Take Part in the Action

LONDON, UK (March 13, 2012) – Today Converse UK announces Converse Block Party, a unique urban culture event that will take place at London’s legendary Old Vic Tunnels on Sunday April 29, 2012. Commemorating the launch of Converse’s Spring 2012 Star Player footwear range, the event champions the urban spirit of the Star Player through live performances by some of the best emerging and established acts in UK street culture.

Built on heritage and crafted for performance, the Converse Star Player was worn by the likes of Dr. J on the basketball courts in the 1970s and has since made its way to the street. Fusing the urban spirit of basketball with a contemporary street edge, the Spring 2012 Star Player collection will be available nationwide at JD Sports stores from March 19, 2012 and will retail for £42 - £53.

“Converse believes in unleashing the creative spirit; through Block Party we’re celebrating the dynamic UK street culture and giving emerging artists a chance to showcase their talent,” said Cheryl Calegari, Senior Marketing Director, Converse UK. “Since the basketball courts of the 1970s, the Star Player has been a part of global street and sport culture and Block Party is the perfect platform to commemorate the launch of our new collection.”

Dedicated to celebrating local street culture, Converse Block Party is a global event series that launched in 2011 and has since travelled across Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America, now hitting the UK for the first time. In partnership with JD Sports, the London Converse Block Party will feature MC battles with leading underground music artists Wiley, Skepta and P Money; live graffiti demonstrations by Neas and Vibes, two of the most well respected spray can artists in the UK; as well as skate performances by Jerome Campbell, Rory Milanes and Harry Lintell from the Converse UK Skateboarding team.

The Converse Block Party takes place at the Old Vic Tunnels, Station Approach, London, SE1 8SW from 2 pm to 9 pm on Sunday April 29, 2012. Tickets are free of charge and available online on a first come, first served basis through http://www.facebook.com/JDSportsOfficial/ConverseBlockParty

Leading up to the big event, JD Sports will also host a series of MC Clashes, inviting local MCs to battle it out for a chance to perform alongside their music heroes at the Converse Block Party. The in-store competitions will take place throughout March 2012 in Glasgow, Manchester and London, generating three finalists who will be invited to compete in London on April 29 to establish the ultimate winner of the Converse Block Party.

Alongside winning the opportunity to perform beside their music legends, the MC Clash winner will gain access to recording an exclusive track with No Hats No Hoods, one of the UK’s most iconic underground music labels. Budding MCs can enter the competition now by uploading their video on the JD Sports Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/JDSportsOfficial/ConverseBlockParty

The Converse Block Party JD Sports MC Clashes

Wednesday, March 21
Glasgow
The MC Clash takes place at JD, 229-249 Buchanan Street on Wednesday, March 21, 7.00 pm – 9.00 pm. Hosting and performing a live PA is Lady Leshurr

Thursday, March 22
Manchester
The MC Clash takes place at JD, 16-18 Barbarolli Mall Arndale Centre, on Thursday, March 22, 9.00 pm – 11.00 pm. Fresh Scrufizzer will perform, hosting alongside the Murkage Cartel

Thursday, March 29
London
The MC Clash takes place at JD, 268-269 Oxford Street on Thursday, March 29, 9.00 pm - 11.00 pm. Mic.Rightous is hosting the London clash alongside underground promoters, Urban Nerds

Kennett watches launch 2 new styles.

Tom Kennett is one of the newest and most exciting young designers to burst into the men’s fashion scene in recent years, creating a stylish and growing collection of watches and accessories

Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1985, Tom Kennett never received formal training in fashion design, relying instead on his natural talent alone. Tom is the youngest designer in the world in the men’s accessory business, reflecting his prodigious talent and energy, and he takes great satisfaction from his achievement of breaking into the fashion scene at such an early stage in his career

Tom has been designing cufflinks and watches for the past few years, focusing primarily on the quality end of the market, and utilizing only the best materials and manufacturing methods. His collection combines quality design and good value for money thanks to his fastidious attention to detail and no compromise approach to choosing materials and suppliers

Thanks to the UK Distributor Since 1853 Ltd and a growing network of stockiest, KENNETT watches and accessories are gaining fans around the world and the range will continue to expand during 2011, with many new stylish products on the way.

Altitude watches RRP £180

Challenger watches RRP £240

http://www.kennettstore.co.uk/