The Culture Show - 2008/2009 - Episode 3

With the summer solstice on June 21st, Lauren Laverne and Mark Kermode preside over an edition of The Culture Show, with a special summer, seaside feel. The first ever Folkestone Triennial launched on June 14th, previewing new works by artists like Tracy Emin and Mark Wallinger. For The Culture Show, local Kent resident and contemporary art fan Vic Reeves goes to find out whether this inaugural Triennial can breathe new life into Folkestone. Tom Dyckhoff is in Morecambe for the re-opening of the newly restored modernist gem, The Midland Hotel. Bought by developers Urban Splash in 2003, it's taken five years and 11 million pounds to restore the hotel to its former glory. To celebrate in style, The Culture Show host an evening of music at the hotel with the BBC's Big Band accompanied by 26-year-old blues singer Beth Rowley. John Maybury's film The Edge of Love about Dylan Thomas opens on June 20th. In a special tribute to the poet, residents of Laugharne and Swansea re-create some of Thomas's most iconic poems. The star of the film Matthew Rhys pops into The Culture Show's bar to talk to Mark and Lauren about portraying Dylan Thomas. Plus Mark Kermode previews the upcoming Edinburgh International Film Festival, which runs from 18th to 29th June. Music this week comes from Neon Neon, the electro pop collaboration between Gruff Rhys and Boom Bip, which resulted in the surprise hit album of the year, Stainless Steel.