EXCLUSIVE: Pembroke May Ball Headliner Announced

It’s a big year from Pembroke

Dane Baptiste Isle of Arran Kae Kurd kyla la grange Loyle Carner May Week mayball Pembroke ronald coyne

Taking the main stage will be Pembroke Alumna and Watford born songstress Kyla La Grange followed by South London MC Loyle Carner. Meanwhile, leading the evening’s comedy will be ‘Live at the Apollo’ and ‘Mock the Week’ comedian, Dane Baptiste.

A rising star in UK hip hop

Loyle Carner has been making waves in the UK hip-hop scene for the past few years, with tracks such as ‘Ain’t Nothing Changed’ and ‘NO CD’ generating a lot of buzz in the music community and earning him plenty of dedicated fans.  Aged 22 he will be younger than many attendees of the Ball, who will be able to hear his intimate and soulful style of hip-hop in Pembroke next month.

Having only played his first gig in 2012, supporting MF DOOM, the release of his highly acclaimed debut album ‘Yesterday’s Gone’ earlier this year has taken him on his first UK tour and seen him perform internationally at gigs as far afield as Europe, the United States and even Australia. He’s set to have a very busy summer, which aside from his visit to Pembroke includes performances at major festivals such as Glastonbury, Latitude, Reading and Bestival.

With his lead single ‘The Isle of Arran’ cited as one of Annie Mac’s ‘Hottest Records in The World’ on BBC Radio 1 last year, Loyle Carner certainly has an amazing career in front of him, and is sure to put on a great performance for those lucky enough to have a ticket.

Also headlining is former Pembroke student Kyla La Grange. In 2011 she was signed to indie label ‘Chess Club’ – famous for propelling U.K. indie talents Sundara Kamra, MØ and Billie Marten to the world stage. There she was quick to release her first album ‘Ashes’ which boasted a unique folk-pop style that led to her first European tour.

In 2014, she reinvented her style and ventured into the electronic scene. Her biggest hit, ‘Cut Your Teeth’, which Kygo later remixed to world acclaim, introduced synths and more mainstream pop elements into her repertoire.

Her diversity in tone seen in her mystifying hit ‘The Knife’, the mesmerizing track ‘I Don’t Hate You’ and her exuberant music videos means she’ll be bound to please any May Ball goer.

Finally, after a long Easter term, laughter will be the antidote.

Dane Baptiste will be headlining the comedian side of the Ball

Comedian Dane Baptiste was nominated for ‘Best Newcomer’ at the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2014 and since then has appeared on ‘Live at the Apollo’ and multiple BBC panel shows.

In 2016, the BBC aired his own comedy series ‘Sunny D’, and he is now a regular on the UK comedy circuits. He’s performed all across the globe and always amuses audiences with his original, provocative and often darn right silly style.

Supporting Dane will be British-Kurdish stand up, Kae Kurd. As Chortle’s Best Newcomer nominee and presenter of ‘know your rights’ on Channel 4 Education the rising star will bring his hilarious viewpoint on politics to Cambridge for one night only. Expect risky and raucous laughter.

Kae Kurd distinctive brand of comedy will also feature

The committee promise to offer creativity, history and extravagance at their Venetian art festival themed Ball, and with Pembroke’s track record for having some of the university’s best food, they aim to match this with their entertainments too.

Tickets can still be purchased online. Gates to the Pembroke May Ball will open 9pm on the 21st of June.