SHATTERJAPAN (www.shatterjapan.com) presents this special non-profit festival of music and performance spread over 2 days at KRAAK venue (www.kraak.co), right in the heart of Manchester’s über-trendy Northern Quarter. Artists from various parts of the UK and beyond are working together at no fee to bring you this special event to commemorate the 1-year anniversary of the sentencing of Pussy Riot and to celebrate the power of freedom of expression. Afterparties to be held on each night at COYOTES BAR (www.coyotesbar.co.uk) in the gay village. * Any profit will go direct to Pussy Riot through THE VOICE PROJECT ) (www.voiceproject.org/pussyriot) and donations are encouraged.

On 21 February 2012, members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot performed a “punk prayer” in a Moscow church for which three of them (Nadezhda “Nadya” Tolokonnikova, Maria “Masha” Alyokhina and Yekaterina “Katya” Samutsevich) were arrested, detained for over 5 months and eventually sentenced on 17 August 2012 to 2 years imprisonment. Although Katya was subsequently released on a technicality, Nadya and Masha were moved to separate and remote penal colonies with restricted access to their young children and legal team. Appeals to release the two women have failed, and concerns rise as to the health and fate of the women, Masha having recently undergone a hunger strike. Other Pussy Riot members are campaigning for the women’s release, with the support of local and international activists, politicians and artists.

EVENT LINKS & DATA

(1) Official online PRESS KIT including band descriptions & interactive playlist here http://www.shatterjapan.com/pussy-riot-commemoration-festival-in-manchester

(2) EPK (band photos, official designs, printable press release) here http://bit.ly/12nzUc5

(3) Official FACEBOOK event page here https://www.facebook.com/events/271647546314136

(4) Tickets for KRAAK can be purchased here http://www.wegottickets.com/f/6352
- 1-day Sunday advance ticket on sale online for £6 (ON-DOOR £7)
- 1-day Monday advance ticket on sale online for £8 (ON-DOOR £9)

(5) Entry for afteparties at COYOTES on the door
- £2 // special rate £1 for KRAAK festival-goers

(6) New YOUTUBE support video messages from artists: http://www.youtube.com/user/Shatterjapan
- PEACHES http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZiSX7Bx6p8
- PRINCESS CENTURY aka MAYA POSTEPSKI (from AUSTRA/TRUST) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70Sv-fTenug
- AMANDA PALMER http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo-NiSuixuA
- AMANDA PALMER introduces SHATTERJAPAN onstage in Manchester to launch the event http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Tvc4sD0wI
- MARGARET CHO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06DjSGk3ELA
- HEART http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LlIArGDuku8
- KERRY MCCARTHY MP http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puHxbg3SFsE

Contacts:
Web: www.shatterjapan.com
FB: www.facebook.com/SHATTERJAPAN
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ShatterjapanMag
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/shatterjapan