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Penguin Cafe present a specially created evening of music at the ±«Óãtv Proms on 8 September, featuring a unique mixture of well-known works alongside pieces created exclusively for their debut. Their performance, filled with their distinctive blend of memorable music and well-known unpredictability, draws on over two decades of music from the original Penguin Cafe Orchestra.

The concert features star guest Northumbrian Small-piper Kathryn Tickell, well-known for her appearances with Simon Jeffes and his original Penguin Cafe, as well as for her high-profile collaborations with artists including Andy Sheppard, Sting and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies.

Arthur Jeffes, son of Simon, explains: "With Kathryn we're performing a track that she played with my father and which I've always wanted to play but didn't quite feel it worked without her – so this is amazing for me!"

Kathryn also joins the orchestra in further numbers, all uniquely orchestrated for the group's Proms performance.

Penguin Cafe are the reincarnation of the original Penguin Cafe Orchestra – founded by guitarist and composer Simon Jeffes in 1972.

Following his death in 1997, Simon's son Arthur revived the group after a one-off anniversary performance at the Union Chapel revealed an active and loyal fan-base. Retaining the ethos established by his father, Arthur has kept the Penguin Cafe following alive, adding new compositions to their existing repertoire and introducing musicians as the group continues to evolve.

The group will also be performing a new work, composed specially for the Proms and tied into the specific context of the Royal Albert Hall concert. The work is based on an old idea of Simon's and its creation truly emphasises the ongoing influence of his legacy as Arthur continues to add to the Penguin Cafe's rich musical heritage.

Their sound is not easy to categorise, as Arthur says: "I think our recordings have been put in the classical, folk, pop, rock, avant-garde, chill-out, world and dance sections of record shops.

"One description I like at the moment is that it's a kind of modern chamber folk – I like that – it could apply to the music or the musicians."

At their Late Night Prom Penguin Cafe reflect their earlier incarnation through eclectic line-ups; featuring instruments including violin, cello, piano, ukulele, dulcitone and guitars.

The Penguin Cafe provide a fitting close to the diverse Late Night Proms series, an eclectic band of musicians who have retained their following for across two generations.

On 8 September their aim is plain – to offer "a place where one can opt out of the dehumanising pressures of modern life and simply be... a place where music can simply exist."

Notes to Editors

The ±«Óãtv Proms is the world's largest classical music festival, with more than 90 concerts – featuring many of the world's greatest artists and orchestras – as well as a host of extra events including talks, workshops, free performances and family events.

The Proms runs from Friday 16 July to Saturday 11 September 2010, and full information on the season is available at bbc.co.uk/proms.

The ±«Óãtv Proms presents a wide range of music and artists and is renowned for its low ticket prices.

Highlights this year include a huge opening weekend with Mahler's Symphony Of A Thousand, Wagner's The Mastersingers Of Nuremberg with Bryn Terfel and Verdi's Simon Boccanegra with Plácido Domingo. There are two starry Broadway Proms dedicated to the music of Stephen Sondheim and Rodgers & Hammerstein, and the hugely successful Doctor Who Prom returns.

Featured artists include Paul Lewis – who plays all of Beethoven's piano concertos – John Eliot Gardiner, Valery Gergiev, Sir Charles Mackerras and Sir Simon Rattle. Maria João Pires returns to the Proms after more than 10 years for an all-Chopin concert, while virtuoso violinist Nicola Benedetti, and jazz star Jamie Cullum make their Proms debuts.

The season culminates with the famous Last Night of the Proms, with ±«Óãtv Proms in the Park and Big Screen events across the UK. The ±«Óãtv Proms are broadcast on ±«Óãtv Radio 3, and many are broadcast on ±«Óãtv television (±«Óãtv Two and Four primarily, but also ±«Óãtv Three and ±«Óãtv HD), and all broadcasts are available via the ±«Óãtv iPlayer for 7 days.

Full details are now on the Proms website: bbc.co.uk/proms. Booking is now open: online at bbc.co.uk/proms – by telephone 0845 401 5040 – in person at the Royal Albert Hall.

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