British Sea Power, Mark Haddon, Jake Chapman to headline Crunch Festival

British Sea Power, Mark Haddon, Jake Chapman to headline Crunch Festival

24 October, 2011
by: Spoonfed Arts Team

Crunch, the art festival at Hay, is back: bigger and better than ever.

Cycle-obsessed autumnal eco rockers British Sea Power have been announced as the headliners of this year's Crunch Festival, alongside novelist Mark Haddon and YBA enfant terrible Jake Chapman. The three head up an impressive list of speakers and performers at the annual art, philosophy and music festival that takes place in Hay-on-Wye each November.   

For 2011, Crunch has doubled in size, with a brand new art pavilion, more than 30 talks and debates, no less than 22 live bands, comedy, cabaret, and a host of parties. The theme for 2011 is a recession-busting “awake in the universe” – an exploration of the nature of creativity, and the way humanity interacts with the world around us through both science and the arts.

Highlights include art world supremo Hans-Ulrich Obrist discussing curation; poet/philosopher hero Raymond Tallis and critic Julian Spalding arguing about the limits of art; the founder of neuroaesthetics, Semir Zeki, taking us inside the mind's eye; and photographer Eleanor Lindsay Fynn critiquing the aesthetics of white cube galleries. Other prominent artists in Hay for the weekend include Susan Hiller, Matthew Stone and Bob and Roberta Smith.

As ever, Crunch is not just about learning – but about fun too. And the brilliant British Sea Power head up an enviable list of live acts. They're playing on the Friday night – so expect falling autumn leaves, taxidermy, vintage cycling paraphernalia, and some darkly soaring post-punk.


Crunch 2011 is from 18th to 20th November 2011 in Hay-on-Wye.

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Spoonfed Arts Team