Virgin

Virgin Mobile USA today announced that Virgin Mobile FreeFest tickets have been scooped up.  But music fans need not worry, because people across the East Coast will have the chance to volunteer through The Re*Generation Free I.P. program in order to receive a VIP ticket to the hottest free festival of the summer. The Virgin Mobile FreeFest will take place August 30th at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Md.  Artists include Weezer, Blink 182, and Public Enemy.

To respond to the sharp decrease in national social giving, Virgin Mobile FreeFest is giving music fans opportunities to devote time to community service at designated homeless youth shelters around the country for a VIP ticket to Virgin Mobile FreeFest.  Virgin Mobile USA is also encouraging people, regardless of wireless carrier, to text “FREEFEST” to 20222, making a $5 donation  which will go to select youth homeless centers through The RE*Generation program, Virgin Mobile USA’s initiative to help homeless youth.

“Over two million young people will experience homelessness in the U.S., many of them due to domestic violence, abuse or neglect,” said Ron Faris of Virgin Mobile USA. “With charitable giving at a low, we hope this program inspires music fans to volunteer locally and engage in this issue. There’s never been a better opportunity to reward fans with a free VIP ticket to this amazing, sold out festival.”

“Once again, the folks at Virgin have come up with an idea that is so simple and wonderful, it reminds us we need people from outside the concert industry to take a fresh look,” said I.M.P. Chairman and FreeFest producer Seth Hurwitz.  “The idea of offering people the opportunity to do charity work in exchange for concert tickets is truly inspiring, and I am going to look for ways to do that the rest of the year.  Why not use our power to give?”

Get Involved Locally
Sign-ups for volunteers in Maryland and Washington, D.C., are being coordinated at Virgin Mobile’s FreeFest website starting today at http://www.virginmobilefreefest.com/; select homeless youth organizations have been aggregated together to accommodate volunteers around the country.

People in the Maryland and Washington, D.C. area can sign up to volunteer 13 hours in exchange for one Free I.P. ticket. This offer is good while supplies last, as there are a limited number of tickets available. Volunteers can also participate in broader community service projects offered by Howard County for a general admission ticket.

“When we started the concept of Summer of Service in Howard County, we wanted youth to contribute,” said County Executive Ken Ulman. “We’re honored to partner with Virgin Mobile around this truly unique and inspired initiative.”

Volunteer Opportunities on the East Coast
Outside Maryland and Washington, D.C. Virgin Mobile USA is organizing volunteer projects in Philadelphia, New York and Boston. Two Free I.P. (VIP) tickets will be awarded to the volunteers who complete the most time above the minimum of 13 hours. Winning volunteers from Philadelphia, New York and Boston will receive free transportation to Virgin Mobile FreeFest courtesy of Megabus, the official bus partner.

Homeless youth organizations working with Virgin Mobile USA include Bridge Over Troubled Waters in Boston, Green Chimneys in New York, HELP USA in Philadelphia, Sasha Bruce in Washington, D.C., and StandUp For Kids in Baltimore.

Speculation and predictions that have filled blogs and discussion boards can be put to rest. The Virgin Mobile Festival is returning, but with a catch. Admission will be free.

Virgin Mobile USA announced today that it would host the 2009 Virgin Mobile FreeFest on Sunday, August 30, at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD., with admission free of charge. All tickets will be given away, and previous Virgin Mobile Festival ticket buyers and Virgin Mobile customers will have the first crack at securing the 35,000 tickets.

The move celebrates both a giveback to music fans in a bad economy as well as an effort to solicit donations to homeless youth agencies in need around the country via The RE*Generation, Virgin Mobile’s charitable arm. Most sponsors, including premier sponsor Kyocera Communications, will be building awareness for the cause in their marketing efforts around the festival.

“Instead of focusing on layoffs or the state of the economy, we want to focus on concrete ways to provide assistance to those in need,” said Dan Schulman, CEO, Virgin Mobile USA. “People need outlets to both lend a helping hand and to escape and relax, for free, even if just for one day. We want to throw some good news in the mix.”

The 2009 Virgin Mobile “FreeFest” will be hosted on the beautiful, 40 wooded acres of Merriweather Post Pavilion. The grounds and facilities of Merriweather will be expanded to accommodate the multiple stage and dance tent set-up from prior Virgin Mobile Festivals. Those scheduled to appear at this year’s FreeFest include Weezer, Blink-182, Franz Ferdinand, Public Enemy, Jet, The National, Girl Talk, The Bravery, The Hold Steady, St. Vincent, Wale, and Taking Back Sunday, as well as dance tent favorites that include HOLY F*CK, Pete Tong, Danny Howells and Lee Burridge. The lineup of bands is now available at www.virginmobilefreefest.com.

“In a time of economic challenges and daily sacrifices, we wanted to throw a fantastic party so people could let loose and have a great time — on us,” said Sir Richard Branson, Founder and President, Virgin Group. “Virgin Mobile FreeFest offers music fans a brilliant day of fun and music and a chance for them to give back to those even less fortunate.”

To respond to the sharp decrease in national social giving, Virgin Mobile FreeFest will also host a special VIP seating area for those who donate their time to community service at designated homeless youth shelters around the country. Virgin Mobile is also encouraging people, regardless of wireless carrier, to text “FREEFEST” to 20222, with a $5 donation which will go to select youth homeless centers around the country.

Tickets to the 2009 Virgin Mobile FreeFest will be available to the public at www.ticketmaster.com at 10 am EDT on Saturday, June 27th. Virgin Mobile customers and previous Virgin Mobile Festival ticket buyers will be invited via email to a private “free-sale” (much like a pre-sale, except free) to be held Thursday, June 25th and Friday, June 26th.

“Taking care of our loyal customers comes first,” said Seth Hurwitz, chairman of I.M.P., promoter and producer of the Virgin Mobile Festival. “And when we say free, we mean it. The tickets are free. The parking is free. Ticketmaster really stepped up on this. Everybody just wants to make this the party of the summer. It’s gonna be nuts.”

Ticketmaster is waiving the convenience charge when fans pick up their FreeFest tickets at Merriweather or the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. Customers also have the option to pay Ticketmaster to deliver their tickets. For more details on the ticketing, including options for donating money to youth homelessness and buying limited edition FreeFest T-shirts, check out virginmobilefreefest.com.

Repeating the unique, eye-catching experiences that attracted more than 180,000 fans over the past three years, the 2009 Virgin Mobile FreeFest will take the word “free” to new levels. Inspired by the downturn economy, Virgin Mobile USA, along with returning premiere sponsor Kyocera Communications Inc., will host several attractions, including a Lucky Layoff Lounge, a special area open to the public that offers surprising treats to those who present proof of unemployment. The concept extends Virgin Mobile USA’s Pink Slip Protection, a plan that offers three months of free wireless service to eligible customers who lose their jobs.

“When Virgin Mobile first suggested to me that we throw this year’s festival for free, I was like, ‘Um…Ok.’” said Hurwitz. “I thought they were crazy. But then again, Virgin Mobile’s always done things a little differently. It’s that truly alternative attitude that makes them so great, and so much fun to work with.” Last year’s Festival garnered a coveted nomination for Best Festival of the Year by Pollstar Magazine.

I have bad news for you. Sorry. I’ve tried to be positive in almost all my posts thus far. But truth is, I didn’t even have the guts really to inform you that NYC’s CMJ Music Festival was lacklustre which means, if history serves as a guide, this year of indie music may be lacklustre.

The problem lies in the fact that CMJ typically forecasts the year in music. Last year MIA, Spoon, Deerhunter, Dan Deacon, Vampire Weekend, MGMT, Justice, Santogold beasted onstage, each night packed to the brim with the up-and-coming. We notebook-totting reporters were seething with excitement.

This year? We lingered at the bars, shrugged our shoulders though half the sets and went home each night largely disappointed. 1200 bands and only a handful of goodies?

Sure the cute Swedish rocker Lykke Li caused a blog ruckus, with slick style, several catchy pop songs and the occasional kick-ass cover. But we’ve known about Lykke Li for more than 6 months now. (If you don’t know of her, get on your computer and DOWNLOAD NOW).

But asides from an occasional sweet thing, if CMJ is any indication, this year in music is looking light. Either thank me or hit me for being honest; I was heart-broken too. (Rest assured, there’s still the possibility that a couple of new ingénues will jump through the MySpace woodwork) That said, here’s a quick (read: short) list of indie musicians to keep an eye on:

Death Vessel: www.myspace.com/deathvessel

Sounds like demonic death metal - but it’s really a pleasant Americana folk unit lead by Joel Thibodea who looks like a Native American with long hair and dark skin, but sings like a 14 year old angel. Like nothing you’ve ever heard before.

School of Seven Bells: www.myspace.com/schoolofsevenbells

You knew the guy Benjamin Curtis of Secret Machines wouldn’t leave a good band for nothing. Instead he left his old band for two hot Guatemalan twins with voices of sweet nymphs. Together Alejandra and Claudia Deheza and Mr Curtis craft atmospheric shoegaze pop, reminiscent of Blonde Redhead and My Bloody Valentine. The twins’ ethereal voices float delicately over each airy synth, like nymphs tempting you to daydream longer.

Wale: www.myspace.com/wale

The DC ingénue brought into the spot light by music producer mastermind Mark Ronson, revs up crowds with an infectious brand of drum heavy go-go rap.

Passion Pit: www.myspace.com/passionpitjams

Honestly, these were one of the most hyped bands of CMJ. They packed in crowds. Why? Not because their music is fantastically original, but mostly just because it’s fun and feverish pop, the type that makes you forget the fact you’re broke BEFORE we’ve sunk into recession.

Violens: www.myspace.com/violensmusic

Violens (read: Vy-lenz) essentially popped out of nowhere in October but have been almost ubiquitous in the NY indie scene these days. Best comparison I’ve heard thus far is they are a mix of blissed out 60s music like The Zombies with modern saavy like Of Montreal, The Shins and Neutral Milk Hotel. Plus we love their names: Iddo Arad (synths, vocals), Ben Brantley (bass), Jorge Elbrecht (lead vocals, guitar), Kris King (drums).

Rapper Wale from Washington DC has just signed with Interscope. He is the next best thing in hip-hop with a debut album to be released Spring 2009. His mix-tapes are wonderful and I often listen to his music when I need that signal of hope. Jay-Z, Mark Ronson and Lily Allen have already worked with him and with production on his debut album by Kanye West we are sure to be in for a treat.

People - just watch the video and remember this artist!

(interview by Hip-Hop Official)

Mark Ronson, can the man do any wrong? He may not even know a thing about CMJ, the infamous NY indie rock festival that hosts more than 1600 bands, but it didn’t matter. On Tuesday, Oct 21st, he got together a roomful of friends, as part of his Allido Record Label showcase, and it topped 90 % of the other showcases that week.

To kick off the party, Rhymefest pulled onstage Rahzel from The Roots for some shared rapping… and some serious Obama endorsing. Needless to say, the crowd got hyped on his energy. Then Ronson’s new rock acquisition The Rumble Strips showed off their slap-happy Brit rock rock. Daniel Merriweather performed with Sharon Jones’ usual accomplices, The Dap Kings… and mid-way through the set, Ronson ditched the DJ booth and played a soulful song or two.

Lastly, Wale brought DC go-go to NYC to finish off the night. If you don’t know much about DC go-go, it’s a funk-based movement that’s infectiously dance friendly- heavy on bass, snare and congo drums. And by dance-friendly, I mean grind friendly. Give the crowd drinks and go-go, and it’s bound to be merry, sloppy, and lascivious. Hence, as the new rap ingénue representing go-go with a stage full of drums, U.B.C. band members and miscellaneous rapper friends wearing heavy shades, Wale was at an advantage- beasting through tracks like “Nike Boots”, “Back In The Go-Go,” and “The Mixtape About Nothing.” To finish it off, Daniel Merriweather got back onstage and acted like old buddies with Wale and kicked off a spontaneous version of “Stop Me” (in fact, Wale almost had to grab the mic back from him). Encouraging a full-on dance-a-thon sing-along, they brought the house down.