NASHVILLE |DT: JANUARY 18, 2011
FM: MITCH SCHNEIDER/TODD BRODGINSKI/
ALEXANDRA GREENBERG/ANGELA VILLANUEVA
FOURTH ANNUAL
SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL
SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 18 – 20, 2011
FESTIVAL RETURNS TO THE SUNSET STRIP
FOR THREE DAYS OF MUSIC, A TRIBUTE EVENT AND
ALL-DAY STREET FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 20
SSMF 2010
Photo credit: Erik Voake
Organizers for the Sunset Strip Music Festival (SSMF) have announced that the fourth annual event will take place Thursday, August 18, Friday, August 19 and Saturday, August 20 on The Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, Calif.
The three-day SSMF 2011 kicks off August 18 with a tribute to a Sunset Strip icon. In 2010, SSMF honored legendary guitarist Slash for his contributions to The Sunset Strip. Other previous honorees have included rock icon Ozzy Osbourne (2009) and Lou Adler, Mario Maglieri and Elmer Valentine (2008) – all of whom helped create the vibrant music scene on The Sunset Strip. SSMF continues Friday and Saturday with dozens of musical artists of different genres performing at venues including The Roxy Theatre, Key Club, Viper Room, Whisky A Go-Go, Cat Club and House of Blues Sunset Strip.
SSMF 2011 will include an all-day street festival on Saturday, August 20 between San Vicente Boulevard and Doheny Drive. The street festival includes outdoor stages, live music in the venues, a beer garden, a VIP rooftop lounge, vendors and interactive experiences throughout the day and into the night.
“We are thrilled that the Sunset Strip Music Festival continues to grow and attract new fans each year. The festival embodies the true spirit of The Sunset Strip, with individuals, venues and businesses working together to create a signature event that celebrates not only the boulevard’s musical legacy but also its future,” noted SSMF Executive Director Todd Steadman. “We’re working to ensure that this year’s event continues to exceed fans’ expectations.”
SSMF plans to announce additional details, including the 2011 honoree, ticket sale information and performing artists, in the coming weeks.
“This year we are really looking to take advantage of the tremendous amount of exposure and space available on this legendary boulevard. We are building upon the interactive experiences for attendees, and exploring ways to give our sponsors increased exposure among this crowd of young, energetic and tech-savvy individuals,” stated Festival Managing Director Karmen Beck. “SSMF is also furthering its online presence and social media reach to allow fans to interact with, and influence, the festival throughout the year.”
The 2010 SSMF street festival attracted 13,000 attendees, an increase of 3,000 from the previous year. The outdoor stages hosted performances from The Smashing Pumpkins, Slash (featuring Fergie and Myles Kennedy), Common, Kid Cudi, Travie McCoy, Semi Precious Weapons, Neon Trees, Steel Panther, Saint Motel and Big B, while the venues featured more than 70 bands throughout the day, including Oh No Not Stereo, Nikki & Rich, Vanaprasta, Billy Boy On Poison and more.
See what was said about last year’s festival:
“Whether you're 20, 40 or 60 years old, grew up in Los Angeles or hopped right off the bus ala Axl Rose in ‘Welcome to the Jungle,’ if you're a music fan, the Sunset Strip's legacy and continuing eminence as a rock n' roll nucleus is and has been an undeniable draw…The 3rd annual Sunset Strip Music Fest, which took over the Strip this past weekend (with street closures and stages on Saturday), served to punctuate the ‘Strip is back’ message while honoring its past…With events like SSMF keeping The Strip vital and fresh, here's hoping the current clubs on the street never get a RIP tee.”
–Lina Lecaro, LA WEEKLY, 8/30/10
“…a user-friendly and really fun experience that provides a very satisfying bang for your concert dollar. Start marking your 2011 calendars now.”
–Scott Sterling, SHOCKHOUND.COM, 8/30/10
“For the third year in a row, the Sunset Strip Music Festival has celebrated the vibrant local music scene with an oversized nod to the city's decadent glory days…”
–Jose Martinez, BLURT-ONLINE.COM, 8/31/10
“…The festival itself has now become an important part of not only The Sunset Strip’s musical rebirth, but also for our city itself. It brought together thousands of unique and spirited souls, from those that were getting their first taste of the musical power that is found on The Strip to all those that regularly call this magical place home. As Slash’s epic guitar solos echoed out towards the night, there was no greater proof that rock and roll is once again alive and well on The Sunset Strip.”
–Ryan Simoneau, SINNINGINLA.COM, 8/31/10
“On Saturday, Slash performed new songs and hits from Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver. He unfurled GNR's ‘Sweet Child O' Mine,’ firing off the closing riffs with his signature Les Paul behind his head. Fergie joined him for a surprisingly heavy encore, falling to her knees and then doing actual cartwheels during Slash's solo on Heart's ‘Barracuda.’… On the opposite end of the street, Semi Precious Weapons uncorked spiky hard rock as singer Justin Tranter strutted through the crowd in glittery high heels before demanding fans join him onstage…Travie McCoy performed songs from his first solo album, Lazarus, with live beats from Gym Class Heroes drummer Matt McGinley. The result was a mash-up of styles that Roxy co-owner Nic Adler said ‘is really where the Strip is today — with someone who came from a hip-hop background, has very catchy hooks, but knows how to rock a bunch of people.’ Common likewise introduced warm, playful grooves with his three-piece band, rapping lover-man rhymes on ‘I Want You’ and a teasing ‘Punch Drunk Love.’”
–Steve Appleford, ROLLINGSTONE.COM, 8/31/10
“…Corgan alternated fresh tunes with old favorites during the 90-minute show, which Smashing Pumpkins performed on an outdoor stage near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Doheny Drive. (Sunset was closed to traffic Saturday between Doheny and San Vicente Boulevard.) ‘Ava Adore’ and ‘Cherub Rock’ were energetic and full of heavy-metal muscle, while ‘1979’ sounded dreamier than it has on past Pumpkins tours. ‘Hummer,’ from the group's 1993 breakthrough ‘Siamese Dream,’ emphasized the sumptuously lyrical quality of Corgan's guitar playing.”
–Mikael Wood, LOS ANGELES TIMES, 8/29/10
"…Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, who eloquently tied the festival’s eclectic lineup to the genre-spanning fellowship of influential artists throughout the decades who have made their presence felt within the venues of this historic Hollywood district. ‘The Doors … the Strawberry Alarm Clock, the Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, the Go-Go’s, the Bangles, Guns N’ Roses, X, Jane’s Addiction — one of the best bands ever — all started here. What an amazing legacy, and what an amazing place to be a part of,’ Corgan gushed before dedicating ‘Cherub Rock’ to the wildly cheering masses…”
–Dave Hall, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 8/29/10
“In the next election, Slash should run for mayor of Los Angeles. If the astounding turnout at Saturday's Sunset Strip Music Festival is any indication, he might even win…Slash may be emblematic of the Sunset Strip's raw rock 'n' roll spirit, but Billy Corgan perfectly represents its penchant for all things epic. A Smashing Pumpkins show is always an unforgettable juggernaut, and this one certainly was…This SSMF pairing Slash and The Smashing Pumpkins will go down as part of that revered history."
–Rick Florino, ARTISTDIRECT.COM, 8/30/10
www.sunsetstripmusicfestival.com
www.myspace.com/sunsetstripmusicfestival
www.facebook.com/sunsetstripmusicfestival
Twitter: @SunsetStripFest / @TheSunsetStrip
For more information on the SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL, contact:
MSO 818-380-0400
Alexandra Greenberg x223, agreenberg@msopr.com
Todd Brodginski x239, toddb@msopr.com
Angela Villanueva x232, avillanueva@msopr.com
Mitch Schneider, mschneider@msopr.com
For 2011 sponsorship information, contact:
Karmen Beck, 818-519-6566, beck@thesunsetstrip.com
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FOURTH ANNUAL SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL (SSMF) SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST 18-20
