Panoramic Festival woos national audience

With the event now just seven days away, national papers, radio and billboards will spotlight the three-day Rother event at the De La Warr Pavilion.

Famous performers, including British jazz musician Courtney Pine, have helped raise the profile of the sound, architecture and light event.

The De La Warr marketing team is confident word of mouth and recent publicity have given a firm basis for further publicity this week. The festival is rumoured to have attracted ticket buyers from around Britain with its high profile performers and unique content of light, sound and architecture.

National and local advertising has insured fifty per cent of ticket buyers so far are coming from outside Rother, bringing trade to local businesses.

A final surge of publicity has been promised this week to sell the remaining tickets for the event which has a 2,500 capacity each night.

Marketing manager Sally Lycett said: "We are delighted to report that over 50percent of ticket buyers for Panoramic have come from the Rother area. Most of them have booked in response to our handbills and word of mouth as well as reading about the event in the Bexhill Observer.

"We have estimated that 1.5 million people have been reached through our advertising and direct marketing alone - over 77,000 residents of Rother. This does not even take into account the inestimable number who have seen posters, been handed flyers, heard mentions on radio or seen information at the De La Warr Pavilion itself.

"Extensive national and local advertising and marketing campaigns have been implemented including the printing of 60,000 flyers and 800 posters.

"Professional agencies are implementing the marketing and press campaigns in print and on the internet, including leafleting of high profile festivals such as the Hastings Beer Festival, Tindersticks in London and Fat Boy Slim in Brighton."

Organisers have stringent security plans and are spotting the pavilion grounds and promenade with round the clock litter-pickers.

Police sector inspector Max Mosley said:"We are planning a police operation for the planned numbers. Hopefully it will make for a fantastic family weekend and valuable lessons will be learnt for next year's event."

Pioneering British jazz musician Courtney Pine will take to the outdoor stage on Friday night, as well as the James Taylor Quartet and Alex Wilson R&B Latino.

Saturday night brings the contemporary sounds of Nitin Sawhney and Ozomatli. These acts are supported by saxophonist Steve Williamson, who thoroughly impressed Rother councillors at a presentation earlier this year, and Dennis Rollin's Badbone and Co.

Sunday night sees the event sign off with Tindersticks and support acts Orka, James Yorkston and DJ Nick Brown.

The Yeast collective bring the light contingent to the festival. They have worked on festivals throughout the world including Sydney and Barcelona and have made documentaries for BBC2 and Channel 4.

For an event with such a high quality of performers, tickets are modestly priced at 16 per event, 30 for two events or 39 for all three.

Tickets for more famous festivals are not so pocket-friendly.

Cambridge All Day festival tickets are priced at 27.50 and the high-profile Reading festival is priced 90 for a three day ticket.

Tickets are still available from hotlines on 787947/787927 and with an additional booking fee on 0871 2200260.

Internet booking is available through Wayahead at www.wayahead.com where a booking fee is also charged.