PLUG INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS ANNOUNCE DETAILS FOR CHICAGO STOP OF THE CITY HIGHLIGHTS TOUR FEBRUARY 17 AT SCHUBA’S

The PLUG INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS are proud to present the next show of the PLUG City Highlights Tour (CHT), taking place at Schuba’s in Chicago on Sunday, February 17. The line-up of the now sold-out show features the lo-fi noise and casio-driven rock of 2008 PLUG Award nominees HOLY F**K, the furiously overdriven sound of A PLACE TO BURY STRANGERS, aggressive, shoegazer psych-rock from Chicago-locals AIRIEL and Stanley Ross, the newly announced winner of the local PLUG Chicago OurStage contest.

PLUG and OurStage.com have joined together for the PLUG City Highlights Tour. In preparation for each show, OurStage hosts a contest for local artists who can submit music and be voted onto the bill by their local fans. Its mission: to provide an outlet to the thousands of music fans whose voices aren't regularly heard but whose own local indie music scenes are vibrant and established. Bands around the country are eligible to compete for a spot to perform at the PLUG Independent Music Awards & Concert at Terminal 5 in New York City on March 6. Bands from the region surrounding each CHT show are invited to register at OurStage.com by uploading a song and image to http://www.ourstage.com/go/plug08 (submissions due by Feb. 19). From there, fans can log on to the site and vote for their favorite artist, and the winner will perform at the PLUG Awards.

In addition to the OurStage winner, the PLUG Awards will feature a special headlining set from this year’s PLUG Impact Award Honoree Nick Cave performing with the Bad Seeds as well as sets by nominees St. Vincent, Dizzee Rascal, José Gonzales, and more. The show, to be hosted by comedian Patton Oswalt, will be broadcast live from PLUG’s partner Dell Lounge @ www.delllounge.com/plugawards.

The Chicago CHT date follows the hugely successful CHT stop at Studio A in Miami this past December featuring Avenue D’s farewell show, performances from Otto Von Schirach, the Jacuzzi Boys and Jose El Rey, OurStage.com local winner Jaylyn Coffin and a DJ set from the legendary Arthur Baker.

More information on performing artists can be found at:
Holy F**K (note: the asterisks have been inserted by MSO)
www.holyf**kmusic.com; www.myspace.com/holyf**k

A Place To Bury Strangers:
www.aplacetoburystrangers.com; www.myspace.com/aplacetoburystrangers

Airiel:
www.airiel.com; www.myspace.com/airiel

For more information on the PLUG Independent Music Awards, contact:
MSO 818-380-0400
Alexandra Greenberg x223, agreenberg@msopr.com
Shazila Mohammed x238, shazila@msopr.com

For more information on OurStage:
Jessica Morris: Jessica@ourstage.com