THIRD ANNUAL VENICE BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL ROCKS BOARDWALK

Location(s)

On the beach near the Venice skate park, at the west end of Windward Avenue Venice's creative musical spirit comes alive at the Venice Beach Music Festival on Sunday, August 10, with an afternoon of eclectic entertainment. Diverse local bands performing original music include The Aliens, Sugarbitch, The Virginia City Revival, Stobo, Ninja Academy, and Steve Watts Band, all making rare area appearances. All are welcome to this free event. The afternoon is sponsored by the Venice Neighborhood Council, Venice Beach Suites, Venice Chamber of Commerce, Sidewalk Café, School of Audio Engineering, Venice Beach Quiznos and Rock City News. For more information, visit www.myspace.com/venicebeachmusicfest --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3rd ANNUAL VENICE BEACH MUSIC FESTIVAL SUNDAY, AUGUST 10, 11 a. m. to 7 p.m. On Sunday, August 10, 2008, the 3rd Annual Venice Beach Music Festival will rock the beach from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. near the Venice skate park at the west end of Windward Avenue. A free event, the festival features a full afternoon of music from six eclectic and unusual up-and-coming bands as diverse in their sound as they are in their appearance. Venice's own Sugarbitch headlines. After six years playing on the boardwalk and at legendary Hollywood venues including the Viper Room, Roxy, and House of Blues, Sugarbitch's unique sound is a combination of soul and funk, spun with an operatic, psychedelic twist by entertaining lead singer Nia Mondy. Other local and California-based bands are scheduled to play throughout the afternoon. The Aliens, who have gifted Hollywood and the southland with their visits for ten years, land at 11 a.m. sharp. Donning costumes and masks and operating a self-crafted instrument, the "Out-of-control-atron," they experiment with new life forms of sound—surf-punk tinged with a heavy-metal guitar. They are sure to abduct new fans as they sing, "Take me to your leader." Stobo is an L.A. based quartet whose sound ranges from cleverly-penned ballads to justified, fist-pumping hard rock. Having played with Beck, Me'shell N'degeocello, and Stephen Perkins, the band features the original music of singer/songwriter Billy Stobo. The Virginia City Revival, a self-proclaimed "church," will be on hand for those who don't make it to services earlier that morning. The sisters and brothers of this ensemble preach their own gospel—an outrageous marriage of country, surferbilly, and hard rock—and their dress and lyrics are political comic relief as much as commentary. Ninja Academy is a "bass and drums instrumental fury" that has played stealthily but steadily throughout Los Angeles for five years. Their songs have been featured on the MTV series "The Real World." Steve Watts Band brings their classic rock, hard-driving jams, and even harder-driving lyrics down from northern California for a rare area appearance. SWB, well-known in the jam scene, has shared the stage with the psychedelic-era Sons of Champlin, and Legion of Mary members Merl Saunders and the late Martin Fierro. Sugarbitch closes out the festival that evening. Michael Jost, the festival's producer, says simply, "It's going to be ridiculous." The afternoon is sponsored by the Venice Neighborhood Council, Venice Beach Suites, Venice Chamber of Commerce, School of Audio Engineering, Sidewalk Café, Venice Beach Quiznos, and Rock City News. For more information and music videos, visit www.myspace.com/venicebeachmusicfest.