Don't Panic Exhibition - Bench Concept Store Manchester

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

CONVERSE Launch Wall to Wall Art Project

Launch Wall to Wall Art Project




  
Birthplace of the rave scene and home to an increasingly exciting and internationally recognised design and graphics scene, Manchester has a long history of innovation. It was due to its creativity that Manchester was picked as the next stop for Wall to Wall, and as the canvas for UK artist Faunagraphic. Wall to Wall sees Converse bring together top street artists with walls in some of Europe's more culturally vibrant cities, all in the name of bringing art to the streets. So far, the project has rolled on through Antwerp, Ghent, Lyon, Barcelona and Naples, where a dockland building, a gallery front and a nightclub facade have played canvas to our artists and their creative expression.




  
The location of the wall is in the heart of Manchester's Northern Quarter, a buzzing and creative hub which is surrounded by independent bars, record stores and vintage shops. The wall itself provided Faunagraphic with ample space to create her natured inspired design.

Faunagraphic's beautiful and delicate paintings feature animals, nature and elements of fantasy. Fauna has been spray-painting for the last 5 years and in this short space of time her work has graced the walls of abandoned apartments and disused factories as well as stamping her unique mark on snowboards, canvas, clothing and exhibitions.

Ted Baker launching Ted's Sweet Shoppe pop-up in Selfridges next month

Ted Baker is introducing Ted’s Sweet Shoppe, a new pop-up store launching 1 November in Selfridges stores nationwide. Showcasing a range of accessories, Ted’s Sweet Shoppe will feature the shopper, tote, clutch and make-up bags, jotters, iPad and laptop cases, as well as Ted’s ‘Sweet Feet’ watermelon scented ballet pumps, all available in a range of shades. In addition, customers will be able to select items from a sweet cart filled with purses, key rings and jewellery in a variety of colours. The new pop-up will be located at Selfridges London Oxford Street, Manchester Trafford, Manchester Exchange Square and Birmingham Bullring.




http://www.tedbaker.com/