From Roland Gift to The Incredible Book Eating Boy, here's an eclectic rundown of ten of the best events at the Freedom Festival 2014, from Friday September 5 to Sunday September 7, in Hull city centre.![freedomlogo]()
1) Roland Gift sounding fineYellow Bus, Saturday, 7.30pm. Free event.![Gift]()
The former Fine Young Cannibals frontman will be returning to his home city for a Saturday night performance. The singer, whose album The Raw and the Cooked sold two million copies in the late 1980s, will be performing on the Yellow Bus stage. The Fine Young Cannibals had global hits with She Drives Me Crazy and Good Thing. Roland has recently toured the UK with Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, and was a key part of Hull's UK City of Culture 2017 bid.
2) Keb Darge, 'King of the 45s', spins retro tunesFestival Big Top, Saturday, 10pm. Tickets £3-£4![spinking]()
The DJ known as the "King of the 45s" performs at the Festival Big Top on the Saturday night. Keb Darge, who has travelled the world DJ-ing, has gained a large following for his passion for retro and uptempo dance music. Keb focuses on a mix of rockabilly, real rhythm and blues, garage, northern soul stompers and surf and exotica sounds.
3) The Digital FunfairFestival Big Top, Friday 7pm-11pm; Saturday, noon to 2am; Sunday 11am to 6pm. Free event.![funfair]()
The Digital Funfair, next to the Festival Big Top, will allow visitors to enjoy a digital game or two between acts. Touring since 2005, the electronic attraction includes a virtual coconut shy, a semi-automatic DJ table and a peep show.
4) C-12 Dance Theatre: TrolleysPrinces Quay, Saturday and Sunday, 2pm and 3.30pm. Free event.![trolleys]()
You'll never look at shopping in the same way again. C-12 Dance Theatre's Trolleys – a performance which mixes street dance, ballet and shopping trolleys – is being performed at Princes Quay. Set to an electro-acoustic score, the performance involves five trolleys in a tale of love and anarchy.
5) Kate Tempest on the Bridge StageBridge Stage, Saturday 10pm. Free event.![tempest]()
Kate Tempest – the playwright, novelist and poet – is now being tipped as one of the brightest new British music talents. The spoken word artist, who has written for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Channel 4 and the BBC, recently returned to her hip-hop roots with the release of her debut solo album, Everybody Down.
6) Sam Harland and Alfie MooreFestival Big Top, Friday, 9.30pm. Tickets £7.50-£8.50.![Alfie]()
A comedy bill featuring former "bad lad" Sam Harland, who spent time in rehab and various detention centres, and ex-copper Alfie Moore. Staged in the Festival Big Top, Sam's set will draw on his upbringing in Hull. Alfie, a former member of Humberside Police, took up comedy after 18 years on the beat.
7) King Kong, by Grand Theatre of LemmingsHumber Street, Saturday and Sunday, noon, 2pm and 4pm. Free event.![lemmings]()
Buddy up for your chance to experience arguably the smallest theatre in the world. Based in the sidecar of a motorbike, and with a seating capacity of two, the Grand Theatre of Lemmings perform a mini-version of King Kong.
8) The Incredible Book Eating BoyHumber Street, Saturday, 2pm and 4pm. Tickets £5.![bookeat]()
The Incredible Book Eating Boy, staged by Bootworks Theatre, follows the character of Henry, who finds nothing tastier than a good book. This puppet show takes place in a black box booth with room for one adult with a child on their knee.
9 Ballad Of The Burning StarFestival Big Top, Friday and Saturday, 7pm. Tickets £7-£8.![Ballad]()
Described as a "theatrical hand-grenade", The Ballad Of The Burning Star is a drag show take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The production, by Theatre Ad Infinitum, sees a cabaret troupe invite you on a journey into the core of a conflicted Jewish state.
10 NoFit State CircusQueen's Gardens, Saturday and Sunday, noon and 4pm.![circus]()
NoFit State Circus combine live music, dance and film with traditional circus skills. Their outdoor show, Open House, will be staged in Queens Gardens. Founded in 1986 by five friends, NoFit have visited 18 different countries in the past five years and played to a total of 350,000 people.
More Freedom Festival highlights
1) Roland Gift sounding fineYellow Bus, Saturday, 7.30pm. Free event.
The former Fine Young Cannibals frontman will be returning to his home city for a Saturday night performance. The singer, whose album The Raw and the Cooked sold two million copies in the late 1980s, will be performing on the Yellow Bus stage. The Fine Young Cannibals had global hits with She Drives Me Crazy and Good Thing. Roland has recently toured the UK with Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, and was a key part of Hull's UK City of Culture 2017 bid. 2) Keb Darge, 'King of the 45s', spins retro tunesFestival Big Top, Saturday, 10pm. Tickets £3-£4
The DJ known as the "King of the 45s" performs at the Festival Big Top on the Saturday night. Keb Darge, who has travelled the world DJ-ing, has gained a large following for his passion for retro and uptempo dance music. Keb focuses on a mix of rockabilly, real rhythm and blues, garage, northern soul stompers and surf and exotica sounds.3) The Digital FunfairFestival Big Top, Friday 7pm-11pm; Saturday, noon to 2am; Sunday 11am to 6pm. Free event.
The Digital Funfair, next to the Festival Big Top, will allow visitors to enjoy a digital game or two between acts. Touring since 2005, the electronic attraction includes a virtual coconut shy, a semi-automatic DJ table and a peep show.4) C-12 Dance Theatre: TrolleysPrinces Quay, Saturday and Sunday, 2pm and 3.30pm. Free event.
You'll never look at shopping in the same way again. C-12 Dance Theatre's Trolleys – a performance which mixes street dance, ballet and shopping trolleys – is being performed at Princes Quay. Set to an electro-acoustic score, the performance involves five trolleys in a tale of love and anarchy. 5) Kate Tempest on the Bridge StageBridge Stage, Saturday 10pm. Free event.
Kate Tempest – the playwright, novelist and poet – is now being tipped as one of the brightest new British music talents. The spoken word artist, who has written for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Channel 4 and the BBC, recently returned to her hip-hop roots with the release of her debut solo album, Everybody Down. 6) Sam Harland and Alfie MooreFestival Big Top, Friday, 9.30pm. Tickets £7.50-£8.50.
A comedy bill featuring former "bad lad" Sam Harland, who spent time in rehab and various detention centres, and ex-copper Alfie Moore. Staged in the Festival Big Top, Sam's set will draw on his upbringing in Hull. Alfie, a former member of Humberside Police, took up comedy after 18 years on the beat.7) King Kong, by Grand Theatre of LemmingsHumber Street, Saturday and Sunday, noon, 2pm and 4pm. Free event.
Buddy up for your chance to experience arguably the smallest theatre in the world. Based in the sidecar of a motorbike, and with a seating capacity of two, the Grand Theatre of Lemmings perform a mini-version of King Kong.8) The Incredible Book Eating BoyHumber Street, Saturday, 2pm and 4pm. Tickets £5.
The Incredible Book Eating Boy, staged by Bootworks Theatre, follows the character of Henry, who finds nothing tastier than a good book. This puppet show takes place in a black box booth with room for one adult with a child on their knee.9 Ballad Of The Burning StarFestival Big Top, Friday and Saturday, 7pm. Tickets £7-£8.
Described as a "theatrical hand-grenade", The Ballad Of The Burning Star is a drag show take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The production, by Theatre Ad Infinitum, sees a cabaret troupe invite you on a journey into the core of a conflicted Jewish state.10 NoFit State CircusQueen's Gardens, Saturday and Sunday, noon and 4pm.
NoFit State Circus combine live music, dance and film with traditional circus skills. Their outdoor show, Open House, will be staged in Queens Gardens. Founded in 1986 by five friends, NoFit have visited 18 different countries in the past five years and played to a total of 350,000 people.More Freedom Festival highlights
• Ghostly glowing drummers SPARK! to set a beat for Freedom Festival 2014 in Hull
• ACROJOU roll in with a house in a wheel
• Stunning SPELLBOUND is Saturday night highlight
