Campfire Presents…

An expert in her field: Katrina Larkin, Co-Founder of the Big Chill

Co-founder of the Big Chill Festival, Katrina Larkin has been on an incredible journey, through amazing highs and intense lows, as part of the team creating the UK’s first ‘boutique’ festival; setting the direction for festivals into the 21st century.
Katrina combines a business mind with a highly attuned cultural antenna, plus an eye for the cream of new talent across culture. With such skills and passion, Katrina and her Big Chill partner Pete Lawrence helped transform a small ambient party in Islington’s Union Chapel in 1994, into a five day eclectic feast of a festival, enjoyed by over 40,000.
The Big Chill was always different. It was definitely more chilled, appealing to not only the twenty-something party crowd, but equally to the forty-and-fat ex-raver with kids in tow, plus those who normally ‘don’t do festivals’. The Big Chill wasn’t just an event, it was a destination. With headliners including Massive Attack, Basement Jaxx and Leonard Cohen, the Big Chill always covered the spectrum, with an amazing array of live acts, DJs, art, poetry, circus, cabaret, comedy, food and that all important kids zone. That takes some doing.

Hard work expanded the Big Chill brand into successful bars and a record label, with Katrina involved in several Big Chill festivals around the world.
Katrina’s Campfire will examine the successes and pitfalls of building a global brand, bringing together some of the world’s biggest bands and brands, while creating a new market.
She has also co-founded Beanstalk UK; a charity fund raising organisation, founded retail outlet Murray Gentleman Ltd. and is a consultant curator and producer on various projects.
Complementing Katrina’s talk, the ditto doors gallery will proudly display a wonderfully vibrant exhibition of Big Chill posters, created by some of the very best UK and international artists whose works have been.commissioned worldwide by the likes of Dazed and Confused, Vice magazine, The Guardian, New York Observer, Little White Lies magazine, Top Shop, Adidas and many more.

ditto will also proudlly launch the 5th Sunrise Online Film Festival – shining a light on young film making talent. Since 2009, Sunrise has been collaborating with Norwich University of the Arts, championing the work of its newest film and animation graduates, fostering new talent and giving emerging film-makers their all-important first break.
Join us on Thursday 20th June at 7pm at The Lighthouse, Canonbury Yard, 190 New North Road, N1 7BJ
RSVP: [email protected]