We are very proud to announce the release of our BFI DVD set A LONDON TRILOGY: THE FILMS OF SAINT ETIENNE, which will be released on July 15th 2013. Here are all the films we’ve made with director Paul Kelly over the last decade, in a lavish box complete with booklet containing essays from the likes of Owen Hatherley and Tom Dyckhoff.

Finisterre has been out of print for several years, This Is Tomorrow – our Festival Hall biopic – was only ever screened three times, and there are a bunch of shorts, some of which have never been seen. Here’s what you get:

Finisterre (2003), directed by Paul Kelly and Kieran Evans, a homage to London – our London, that is. Scripted by Kevin Pearce, with contributions from Mark Perry, Julian Opie, Vic Godard, Vashti Bunyan, Nick Sanderson, Shena Mackay and Lawrence, this was our first attempt at something beyond a regular pop video.

What Have You Done Today Mervyn Day? (2005) follows paperboy Mervyn Day on his round, uncovering the hidden history of East London’s Lower Lea Valley. It is set the day after the Olympic decision was made. This was destined to become a lost landscape and we wanted to preserve what remained of it on film before it was redeveloped to become the Olympic Park. Voiceover courtesy of David Essex and Linda Robson.

This is Tomorrow (2007) was commissioned by the Southbank Centre where we spent a year as artists in residence. We wanted to record the history of the Festival Hall and interviewed surviving architects and designers including Leonard Manasseh and Robin Day. The film also documented the hall’s complete refurbishment from 2005-2007, which has once again made it London’s cultural centre.

The extras are Todays Special, three short films about London cafes made for Channel 4; Monty the Lamb, which follows the mascot of Hendon FC in their last season at the legendary Claremont Road ground; Seven Summers, a return to the Lower Lea Valley just ahead of the Olympic Games; The Other South Bank, the tale of a former industrial town on Teesside; and Banksy In London, made up of outtakes from Finisterre, back when the artist was a benevolent East London presence.

You also get an illustrated 32 page booklet with essays by Bob, Paul Kelly, Sukhdev Sandu (NYU), Owen Hatherley (New Ruins of Great Britain), Sonia Mullett (BFI) and Tom Dyckhoff (the Guardian).

Those who pre order the DVD – ahead of it’s July 15th release date – via either Rough Trade or the BFI shop will also receive an exclusive set of four post cards – miniature replicas of the original film posters designed by Paul Kelly.
Order from Rough Trade here
Order from the BFI here

We’re also holding a launch event at Rough Trade East on Friday 12th July from 6.30pm where we will be screening a selection of short films from the DVD. All three of us plus director Paul Kelly will be in conversation with Luke Turner from the Quietus. Admission is free and the DVD – with postcard set – will be on sale.

All the details are here.

WHEN: Saturday 15 June 2013, 11am-6pm
WHERE: Cantor Film Center, 35 East 8th Street (between Greene Street and University Place).

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

11:00: INTRODUCTION by Sukhdev Sandhu
11:15: THIS IS TOMORROW (2007), 54 min (NYC premiere)
12:15: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TODAY, MERVYN DAY? (2005), 45 min (NYC premiere)
1:30: FINISTERRE (2003), 60 min
2:45: TAKE THREE GIRLS (2008), 40 min (NYC premiere)
3:45-4:15: Discussion between Paul Kelly and Bilge Ebiri/ Q&A
4:30-6:00: LAWRENCE OF BELGRAVIA (2011), 86 min (NYC premiere)

Over the last decade, Paul Kelly – already well known as a musician (as a member of the much-revered East Village) and graphic designer – has forged a reputation as one of the most distinctive British documentarians of his generation. Refining an unusually lyrical brand of psychogeography informed by pop-modernist aesthetics, he moves between the city symphony, film essay and companionate portraiture to fashion beautifully composed and deeply atmospheric evocations of overlooked places and individuals. Whether working in collaboration with the band Saint Etienne on a lushly ambient trilogy about London, or in his witty and empathetic films about the much-beloved Dolly Mixture and Lawrence of Felt, Kelly’s films are immediately recognizable and immediately lovable.

Nothing’s Too Good For The Common People is the first retrospective of this key filmmaker’s work to have been held anywhere. Organised by the New York-based Colloquium for Unpopular Culture (Kiss Me Again: The Life and Legacy of Arthur Russell; Leaving The Factory: Wang Bing’s Tie Xi Qu; A Cathode Ray Séance: The Haunted Worlds of Nigel Kneale) in collaboration with Chickfactor magazine, it will feature the US premieres of many films, introductions by a constellation of artists and musicians, and Paul Kelly himself in discussion with the director and writer Bilge Ebiri.

To mark Nothing’s Too Good For The Common People, there will be available for sale copies of a very limited-edition book designed by Rob Carmichael (John Cale, LCD Soundsystem, Animal Collective’s ‘Crack Box’) and featuring contributions by a wide range of writers, musicians and architectural historians including Jon Dale, Travis Elborough, Alistair Fitchett, Dan Fox, Joe Kerr, Stephin Merritt, Jude Rogers, and Peter Terzian.

Queries/ RSVP: ss162@nyu.edu

Join us at the Hackney Picture House in London for a special 10th anniversary screening of Finisterre on April the 4th.

Tickets are available online now for Picturhouse members here. Non members will need to call to reserve tickets at 08717042068 quoting the password ‘Heavenly Films Night’.

Finisterre is a beautifully shot and edited homage to London, soundtracked by songs from the band’s album of the same name. Directed by Paul Kelly and Kieran Evans in collaboration with Saint Etienne the film explores the attraction of the city through interviews with artists, musicians and kindred spirits that have inspired the band over the years. The one hour film premiered at the onedotzero film festival in 2003 and will be re-issued later this summer by the BFI as part of a Saint Etienne London trilogy film set.

The evening starts at 8pm, the film will be accompanied by the rarely screened trio of films about London’s disappearing cafes – Today’s Special, the premiere of a new short Banksy’s London and two Q&A sessions: one with Bob, Pete and Sarah, another with Paul Kelly & Kieran Evans. Afterwards from 10.30 to midnight Bob and Pete will be Djing in the bar. Should be a great night, tickets are limited so book soon to avoid missing out.

This event is the first of a monthly club from Heavenly films. We’ll be bringing you some of our own material alongside rarely screened and much loved gems, with guest speakers and DJs. More news on the club soon but to stay up to date join our mailing list here, like our Facebook page here, or follow us on Twitter @heavenly_films.

Our manager Martin was recently trudging through the Saint Etienne lock up – oh the glamour – and chanced upon a couple of boxes of old and rare Saint Etienne stock. Instead of putting it up on ebay he thought it would be an idea to offer it up for fans who might be interested.

Amongst the treasures he unearthed 140 copies of the long deleted Nice Price fan club only release from 2006 and 125 copies of the single disc version of Fox Base Beta.

These will be made available through the band’s online shop here priced just £12 each plus shipping from 5pm (GMT – UK time) this Thursday 21st Feb.

For those unfamiliar with Nice Price – here’s a track listing for the gems included:
1. Nothing Can Stop Us (alternative vocal)
2. 7 Ways 2 Love (Sarah vocal, original white label)
3. Who Do You Think You Are (original mix, Debsey vocal)
4. Hobart Paving (alternative single mix)
5. Like A Motorway (demo)
6. Former Lover (single mix)
7. Western Wind (demo)
8. Angel (original mix)
9. Burnt Out Car (original mix)
10. Sylvie (alternative single mix)
11. Madeleine (alternative mix)
12. Lose That Girl (demo)
13. Heart Failed (In The Back Of A Taxi) (demo)
14. How We Used To Live (Berlin rough mix)
15. Milk Bottle Symphony (alternative mix)
16. Goodnight (demo)

Words and Music by Saint Etienne has been nominated for Best Pop Album of 2012 at the South Bank Sky Arts Awards.

The Awards ceremony is on Sky Arts 1 on 14th March at 9.30pm.

We’re up against Plan B and Jessie Ware so be sure to tune in and cheer us on.

Ho ho ho!

It’s been a big year for us and we just wanted to say a big thank you to all of you for your support, dedication and encouragement. But instead of some ink stains dried upon some line, click here, watch our message and keep us gentle on your mind.

WORDS AND MUSIC BY SAINT ETIENNE – U.S. EDITION CD DOUBLE PACK

We can finally announce the CD release of WAMBSE in the USA which will ONLY be available at the upcoming U.S. shows

It’s a two disc set with the original album plus a Bonus disc of 10 tracks previously unreleased in the U.S. – 8 of which haven’t been released anywhere at all before. It’s bleeding good if you ask us.

The release is strictly limited to 2700 copies and we will have 300 for sale at each show on the upcoming tour at $20 each

CDs will be sold one per person prior to the band going on stage – after the shows any remaining stocks (from the 300) will be sold to anyone who wants them (including multiple copies per person)

Here’s the track listing and some artwork:

Disc One – Words and Music
1. Over The Border
2. I’ve Got Your Music
3. Heading For The Fair
4. Last Days Of Disco
5. Tonight
6. Answer Song
7. Record Doctor
8. Popular
9. Twenty Five Years
10. DJ
11. When I Was Seventeen
12. I Threw It All Away
13. Haunted Jukebox

Disc Two – More Words and Music
1. Solid Gold
2. Your Valentine
3. Jan Leeming
4. Racing Car
5. Landscape
6. Manhattan
7. You’re Not Alone
8. Just Friends
9. Fairground Rock and Roll
10. Lullaby

Well, kids at heart anyway. We are just about ready to board our private easy jet and head to North America. We’re very excited, we’ve got a rollicking set of songs for you and are really looking forward to the guest acts and DJs – as some great lyricist wrote one day: “We’re gonna have a party”

Here’s the schedule and our special guests for each night:

October
Wed 24 Toronto ON – The Opera House plus Snowblink
On sale now here.

Thur 25 Washington DC – U Street Music Hall plus Volta Burreau
On sale now here.

Fri 26 New York NY – Webster Hall plus Golden Filter plus DJ Paul Fernandez
On sale now here.

Sat 27 Boston MA – Paradise plus Freezepop
On sale now here.

Mon 29 Chicago IL – Lincoln Hall plus Houtakker
On sale now here.

Wed 31 Portland OR – Wonder Ballroom plus Kim Baxter
On sale now here.

November
Thurs 1 Seattle WA – The Showbox plus Rose Melberg + Beat Connection DJ set
On sale now here.

Fri 2 San Francisco CA – The Fillmore plus Sea Of Bees
On sale now here.

Sat 3 Los Angeles CA – Fonda Theatre plus Maria Del Pilar + Kisses DJ set
On sale now here.

The limited edition US version of Words And Music By Saint Etienne will be on sale at each gig, and we’re going to bring a few back with us for distribution to die hard fans around the world (not sure how many yet but we’ll keep you posted).

If you’ve not heard it yet, here’s our remix of El Perro del Mar’s Walk On By which you can download for nuffin right here.