Billed as the ‘cool little boutique festival’ by the Sunday Times Style Magazine, TignesFest is a dynamic alpine music event held in one of the top rated (and highest!) ski resorts in the world - Tignes. For 5 days this April, TignesFest features everything from live bands to DJs and exclusive acoustic sets. It’s also a long weekend of skiing, snowboarding, socialising and sounds for the discerning and curious who like to experience something outside of the norm. Best and most important of all, the event is FREE!

Confirmed acts so far include Black Peter Group (US/UK), Danimal Kingdom (UK), Gravity Co (BG), Kym Brown (UK), Losers (UK) Melox Marvels (UK) Midimidis (FR/UK), Ou Est Le Swimming Pool (UK), Pablo Decoder (ES), RGBs (UK, Theoretical Girl (UK), The Last Republic (Wales), Ryan Lauder (SCO) Underground Railroad (FR), White Wedding (Wales).

As revenues from product sales decrease and more high profile (and not so high profile!) artists give away their catalogues for free, the music industry is seeking new ways of finding and promoting talent, repackaging music and marketing their artists - with the added hindrance of ever-shrinking budgets.

The internet - whilst beneficial for introducing new artists into the scene and giving them a break via portals such as Myspace - has contributed to the demise of music sales by the direct increase of rampant online piracy. The digital revolution has therefore also served to reduce the amount of support the industry can offer new acts. Along with this, the process of nurturing and developing new talent has changed, and so too has the face of the industry.

TignesFest aims to help find and support new talent and provide a platform for promotion whilst also giving the consumer FREE opportunities to discover new talent and thus gain their support of musicians.

Radio broadcasters meanwhile, are still very much at the forefront of finding new music; they receive hundreds of demos and promos each week and they help shape the music the public listen to.

As a result, TignesFest has the support of three key broadcasters in the UK who will help to curate the event. With many years radio and music experience under their belts, the curators have been instrumental in developing their respective music genres and finding new and exciting artists whilst supporting the industry’s key DJs and musicians.

Curating the show once again are radio broadcasters from the UK’s 3 top radio stations; Eddy Temple Morris (50% of Losers), Kissy Sell Out (last seen in these parts for Radio 1 in Paris) and The Loose Cannons (last seen not losing control with Cassette Jam) respectively, who have pulled in some artists/acts that are sure to excite and intrigue.

“It is an honour to be one of the Curators of TignesFest. We are all passionate about music and passionate about helping new and up and coming acts get the recognition they deserve, and TignesFest provides a very unique platform for showcasing incredible musicians in a breathtaking setting. I am excited to once again be able to highlight acts I think are fantastic, plus discover other new ones along the way” says Kissy Sell Out.

If that wasn’t enough, Base Camp, the Official Travel Partner for the TignesFest plans to create a Ski & Snowboard Test for small independent manufacturers and a series of snowsport competitions for season ticket holders from resorts within the Savoie, France during the festival. Base Camp Director, Fergie Miller explains, “We are inviting teams from Val d’Isere, Tignes, Ste Foy, Les Arcs, La Plagne, Courchevel, Meribel and Val Thorens to see who are the true Savoyard champions in disciplines such as moguls, slopestyle, skier cross, boarder cross and big air.”

So if it’s music or snow you’re after, Tignes looks like the place to be.

Links:
TignesFest 15th - 19th April 2009 - Showcasing the Freshest New Music for FREE!
www.tignesfest.com
www.myspace.com/tignesfest
About Tignes:
Tignes is regarded as one of the world’s highest and most snow-sure ski areas for skiers and snowboarders alike. It has pistes to suit all, with the Naturides (ungroomed pistes) and the Spot (Skiing the Powder Of Tignes) zone, a cross between off-piste and a freestyle jumps park, and not forgetting the off piste activities including snowmobiling, paragliding, ice diving, ice skating, horse riding, bowling and the Ice Museum. There are also many spas that offer sauna, Jacuzzi and of course the essential indulgent massage! Log on to www.tignes.net where you can find information on travel, lessons, lift passes, piste maps, unusual activities & more.

How to get there:
Easyjet, Snowjet, BMI and British Airways fly into Lyon, Geneva, Grenoble, and Chambery. From any of the airports you’ll need to organise transfers to Tignes.

Accommodation & Transfers:
Base Camp is the Official Travel Partner for the event and is offering long weekend packages (prices depend on day of travel and type of accommodation). They are also offering week long holiday packages from Sunday 12th - Sunday 19th April 2009 starting from £395 including 2* studio accommodation, UK coach transfers and lift pass. For more information on how you can travel to TignesFest with Base Camp please visit www.basecampgroup.com/tignesfest-2009.html