Starsailor tour the UK to promote Fairtrade

Indie rock band and long term Fairtrade supporters Starsailor are currently touring the UK this autumn over a series of dates to help raise awareness of Fairtrade and the need for a better deal for producers and workers in developing countries.

The band will perform gigs in nine towns that have gained or are working towards Fairtrade Town status* – Huddersfield, Edinburgh, Middlesbrough, Preston, Warrington, Chesterfield, Southampton, Northampton and Bath – between 30th September and 10th October. They will help promote Fairtrade by playing in front of a giant FAIRTRADE Mark and local Fairtrade groups will carry out leafleting as well as holding a selection of Fairtrade stalls at each venue. The performances will include an acoustic opening set, followed by a full electric show.

Starsailor have supported Fairtrade previously by taking part in a celebrity photo exhibition by Trevor Leighton for Fairtrade Fortnight 2006, which was displayed at the gallery@oxo in London and subsequently toured the country. They also performed similar successful shows, most recently in Leeds and London in 2006, when they displayed a giant banner of the FAIRTRADE Mark on stage.

Starsailor said: “Fairtrade is a very simple concept. There’s an obvious gulf between what people in the Developing World are paid to produce and the final amount we pay. Fairtrade guarantees a fair deal for the producer and helps reduce this gap. It eases your conscience and even better, it needs very little thought. Just look out for the FAIRTRADE Mark and buy that. If we all do it, then the world will be a better place. How easy is that?”

Meredith Cochrane, Campaigns Manager at the Fairtrade Foundation said: “We are delighted that Starsailor are touring the UK to help awareness of Fairtrade. Starsailor’s gigs will provide people around the K with a great opportunity to have a fantastic evening and at the same time find out how choosing products with the FAIRTRADE Mark means we can all make a real difference in the lives of farmers, workers and their families in developing countries. “

Starsailor have just finished a run of support dates with The Rolling Stones and are now working on the eagerly anticipated follow up album to 2005’s ‘On The Outside’. Tickets are currently on sale through Ticketmaster

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For further information, phone 020 7440 7686/7695 or mobile 07770 957 451 or email eileen.maybin@fairtrade.org.uk or martine.julseth@fairtrade.org.uk

Notes to editors

The tour dates are as follows:

• 30th September Huddersfield Town Hall
• 1st October Edinburgh Queen Hall
• 2nd October Middlesbrough Town Hall
• 3rd October Preston 53 Degrees
• 5th October Warrington Parr Hall
• 6th October Chesterfield Winding Wheel
• 8th October Southampton University
• 9th October Northampton Roadmenders
• 10th October Bath Pavilion

For more information visit www.starsailor.net

*A campaign run by the Fairtrade Foundation to award Fairtrade status to local communities that meet five goals of awareness. The five goals to achieve Fairtrade Town status are: the local council passes a resolution supporting Fairtrade, and serves Fairtrade coffee and tea at its meetings, in its offices and canteens; a range of Fairtrade products are readily available in the area’s shops; Fairtrade products are served in local cafés/catering establishments; Fairtrade products are used by a number of local work places and community organisations; a local Fairtrade steering group is convened to ensure commitment to Fairtrade Town status.