DONNA THE BUFFALO returns for another passionately requested encore, joined by multi-cultural ensemble PANJEA with Chris Berry & Michael Kang (String Cheese Incident), as well as the acoustic sounds of EMMITT-NERSHI BAND (with members of Leftover Salmon and String Cheese Incident) and PETE FRANCIS (of Dispatch) featuring BAREFOOT TRUTH (selected to perform at the Obama official pre-debate Rally on October 15th 2008).

Free MP3 tracks of Under-the-Radar series artists are now offered to ticket buyers through end of December, featuring Jesse Chong Band, Rooster Blues, No Strings Attached, Thousands of One, the Mantras, Electric Chameleon, Blount Harvey, and Galen Kipar Project.

The independent event production team, Across-the-Way Productions, just announced exciting additions to the already colorful initial lineup for their celebrated annual music and arts festival, FloydFest. Now in its 8th incarnation, the festival will take place July 23-26, 2009 in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia. Since its inception in 2002, FloydFest organizers have prided themselves in providing a safe and welcoming ground for a global community forum, and musical showcase steeped in Appalachian roots. This year's theme Revival echoes the festival's mission to serve as a holistic plateau for the restoration and rejuvenation of our individual values, and our living culture.

"It's easy to get bogged down, spun and otherwise deflated from the hustle and bustle of life," explains Kris Hodges, the festival co-founder. "To take time out and consider these demands and still maintain one's sanity, ideals and heart - may be what the art of living is all about".

Crowned 'the best under the radar music festival' by musictoday.com in 2003, FloydFest continues to showcase performers spanning multiple genres on the cutting edge of the music scene. The 2009 initial performer lineup also includes the afro-beat globe-trotters Toubab Krewe, the extravagant cabaret of San Francisco's Yard Dogs Road Show, NYC based Brazilian thump and cool Forro in the Dark, Canadian folk hipsters The Duhks, neo-funk-soul of Outta Sight Recording artists The Dynamites featuring Charles Walker, sacred steel masters The Lee Boys, Jamaica's sweet reggae grooves of Clinton Fearon of the Gladiators, the house-jumping sounds of Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas, the progressive old-time sound of The Horse Flies, New Orleans' street brass explosion Hot 8 Brass Band, disarming arrangements by Oklahoma's Samantha Crain & the Midnight Shivers, Toronto's Cosmic Rockers The Sadies, retro-pop and honky tonk of Mad Tea Party, soul shaking, conscious music of Laura Reed & Deep Pocket, quirky Americana Jazz of Boulder Acoustic Society, gypsy swing of The Belleville Outfit, the gospel of Ollabelle, and sure-to-get your head thinking and your feet moving sounds of Sol Driven Train, New Familiars, The Junk Yard Band, Luminescent Orchestrii, Barcelona Institute of Gospel, Stop, Drop & Roll, and Rising Appalachia - and that's just the beginning.

Also returning to the festival, and making their main stage debut in 2009, will be the 2008 Emerging Artist winner William Walter & Co., as well as this year's 'Under-the-Radar Music' series showcasing the most promising up-and-coming regional acts. FloydFest will be announcing new artists throughout the winter and spring months, culminating in a full lineup that will span 4 days and fill seven stages with top quality genre-crossing music and workshops.

The beautiful festival venue, Blue Cow Pavilion, is located at milepost 170.5 off the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway, the 80-acre mountain plateau offers camping, a progressive 'Global Village' area of workshops and demonstrations, over one hundred artisans and crafters, food offerings ranging from pulled-pork BBQ to fresh sushi to hand-churned ice cream, a comprehensive healing arts area, and a Children's Universe, featuring stage performances geared toward children, puppetry, workshops, playground equipment and babysitting services.

Early-bird tickets for the 2009 festival offer as much as a 40% discount and are on sale now. "If the first four weeks of sales are any indication, we are looking at another record year", reports festival VP of Communications, Svetlana Nikic. "Despite rising costs of production, we restrained from price increases, and decided instead to direct our creative energies on raising the standard of the festival experience".

Early ticket purchasers benefit from significant seasonal discounts and specialty Souvenir Packages, which include on-site parking. Now through December 31st tickets are $20/Thursday, $25/Friday, $35/Saturday, $30/Sunday, $80/3-day weekend, $90/4-day weekend. Souvenir passes are $155, and RV prices are $100 and $120; these tickets have a history of selling out early. VIP tickets are $415, which include all-access for the festival, on-stage seating, full hospitality, merchandise and massage coupon.

Not-for-profit Conscious Alliance - feeding America's hungry through music - ramps up this year's holiday giving with the announcement of their 5th annual "Holiday Meal Drive."  With the support of musicians and their fans, and this year in partnership with Whole Foods Market, the organization will deliver full holiday meals to impoverished Native American Reservations for the fifth year in a row.  The organization also hosts the Rebel Alliance Jam XIV - a holiday benefit show at Boulder, Colorado's Fox Theatre on November 29^th featuring Keith Moseley, Scott Law, Jeff Sipe, Gibb Droll, and special guest Kyle Hollingsworth.

Conscious Alliance launches their holiday campaign on the heels of October's hugely successful "Back to School Snack Tour." The project brought much needed healthy snacks and school supplies to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.  Hot Buttered Rum joined the organization for the trip, and offered very special musical performances at local schools on the reservation.

Conscious Alliance's 5th annual "Holiday Meal Drive," in partnership with Whole Foods Market, hopes to deliver 2,500 full holiday meals to four impoverished Native American Reservations: Pine Ridge, SD; Lame Deer, MT; Houma, LA; and Tohajiilee, NM. This requires that the drive collect $25,000 in donations; last year the organization collected $16,000. As in previous years, the organization is reaching out to their alliance of music industry artists and their fans for support.  Participating artists include The String Cheese Incident, STS9, Umphrey's McGee, the Disco Biscuits, Yonder Mountain String Band, and many others. Individuals who want to donate to the 5 ^th annual "Holiday Meal Drive" are encouraged to visit: consciousalliance.org/donate.htm to pledge.

In other Conscious Alliance holiday traditions, this year's holiday benefit show will take place on November 29^th at the Fox Theatre in Boulder, Colorado.  The Rebel Alliance Jam XIV features Keith Moseley, Scott Law, Jeff Sipe, Gibb Droll, and special guest Kyle Hollingsworth. Tickets are $18, Doors are at 8:30 PM / Show at 9:00 PM, Ages 21+.

Conscious Alliance's fall project, the "Back to School Snack Tour," recently delivered much needed healthy snacks and school supplies to Wolf Creek Reservation School on South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.  600 students in grades kindergarten through eighth received over 750 healthy snack bags and school supplies, including notebooks, pens, folders, backpacks, colored markers and paper. 

Not-so-traditional string band Hot Buttered Rum joined Conscious Alliance for the journey after performing a two-night fundraising concert series in Boulder, Colorado.  The band helped load and deliver the 24 foot box truck full of donated goods, and performed three special interactive shows for the students, as well as a free show for the larger Pine Ridge community.  The Pine Ridge community welcomed Hot Buttered Rum as family.  While the community knows well the generous support of bands and their fans, this was the first time any band had come with Conscious Alliance to the reservation.  While there, members of Hot Buttered Rum did an interview with KILI Radio, the voice of Lakota Nation, and were invited to partake in a traditional Lakota Sioux sweat lodge ceremony.  "It was very uplifting to be part of the Conscious Alliance experience on the reservation," says Nat Keefe of Hot Buttered Rum. "And it opened our eyes to a new way for the Hot Buttered Rum organization to be involved in service and activism." 

For 2009, Conscious Alliance continues to find ways for artists and their fans to participate in the organization's service projects, including offering students opportunities to start a Conscious Alliance Student Group at their college.

Perennial musical powerhouse U-Melt, together with Phanphest Entertainment, have officially announced their New Year's Eve 2008 Celebration, taking place this year at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Joining a long list of epic U-Melt New Year's Eve performances, this year's party will feature two long sets from the NYC based quartet and over seven hours of live music. With special guests BuzzUniverse, Lemon Juice and Keith Kenny, the music will be cranking starting at 8:00PM. Following U-Melt's extended double set will be Long Island favorites, The Point, closing the night out with a late night set.

Tickets for the all ages New Year's Eve show are $20 in advance and $25 the day of the show, if tickets remain. As an added bonus for the first 200 fans that pre-order tickets, U-Melt is offering a special commemorative poster for the show. Available through InTicketing.com, the environmentally friendly online ticketing company plants a tree for every ticket purchased through them. Phanphest Entertainment has also arranged for a special $99 hotel room rate for the night at the Berkely Carteret. Conveniently located in walking distance from The Stone Pony, the four people rooms are currently available under the "Stone Pony/Phanphest NYE Rate."

In addition to the New Year's Eve celebration, U-Melt has also announced their second annual Halloween Extravaganza. Capitalizing off of last year's widely successful, yet slightly risque "Gangsters and Gag Balls" theme when the band played a Pulp Fiction themed show peppered with songs from the soundtrack and video clips from the movie, U-Melt encourages fans this year to dress as their favorite 1970's rock star (or groupie). Taking place at the brand new Wescott Theater in Syracuse, New York, the high octane show promises to be full of surprises living up to the U-Melt moniker. Tickets for the 18 and over show are $10 in advance and $14 the day of the show. Doors open at 8:00PM with Jeff Bujak kicking off the party at 9:00PM.

U-Melt hopes you can join the group as they wind down their 2008 run and get ready for gigantic steps in 2009!

SHOW DATES:

U-Melt's 2nd Annual Halloween Extravaganza (with special guest Jeff Bujak):
Friday, 10/31/08
The Westcott Theater
524 Westcott St.
Syracuse, NY
(315)299-8886
Ages: 18+
Tickets: $10/$14
Doors: 8:00pm
Show Time: 9:00pm
To purchase advanced tickets, click here

New Year's Eve 2008 Celebration
Wednesday, 12/31/08
The Stone Pony
913 Ocean Ave.
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
(732) 502-0600
Ages: All Ages!
Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 day of show
Doors: 8:00pm
Show Time: 8:00pm
U-Melt headlines and plays 2 long sets.
Support: BuzzUniverse, Lemon Juice and a late night set from The Point
*First 200 advanced ticket purchasers will receive a free poster commemorating the night*
To purchase advanced tickets through InTicketing, please click here.

This fall, STS9 hits premier indoor theatres coast to coast from Los Angeles to Washington D.C., and points in between.  The 22 night tour wraps up a huge year for the electronic buzz band, who released their acclaimed studio release, Peaceblaster, in July of this year.  Also just announced, the band will officially bid farewell to 2008 at their annual four-night New Year's Eve run at The Tabernacle in Atlanta.

Peaceblaster, released on the band's self-owned record label 1320 Records, proved STS9's rise has only just begun; the album reached #10 on Billboard's Electronic Chart, #27 on Billboard's Heatseeker Chart, #2 on iTUNES Electronic Chart, and #63 on CMJ's Top 200.  Remix Magazine reviewed "STS9's new CD, Peaceblaster might take fans by surprise...the music is a lot darker, punchier, beefier and more cinematic."

STS9's fall tour and New Years celebration dates include:

October 22 The Catalyst Santa Cruz, CA w/ Alex Botwin of Pnuma Trio (DJ Set)
October 23 House of Blues Anaheim CA w/ Pnuma Trio
October 24 Marquee Theatre Tempe AZ w/ Pnuma Trio
October 25 The Joint @ Hard Rock Las Vegas NV w/ Pnuma Trio
October 26 Orpheum Theatre Flagstaff AZ w/ Pnuma Trio
October 29 Cain's Ballroom Tulsa OK w/ Pnuma Trio
October 30 Warehouse Live Houston TX w/ Pnuma Trio
October 31 Stubb's Austin TX w/ Pnuma Trio
November 1 House of Blues Dallas TX w/ Count Bass D
November 2 House of Blues New Orleans LA w/ Count Bass D
November 5 Lyric Theatre Oxford MS w/ Count Bass D
November 6 War Memorial Nashville TN w/ Count Bass D
November 7 Alabama Theatre Birmingham AL w/ Count Bass D
November 8 Tennessee Theatre Knoxville TN w/ Count Bass D
November 9 Headliner's Music Hall Louisville KY w/ Count Bass D
November 12 Charleston Music Hall Charleston SC w/ Count Bass D
November 13 Amos' Southend Charlotte NC w/ Count Bass D
November 14 The NorVa Norfolk VA w/ Eliot Lipp
November 15 9:30 Club Washington DC w/ Eliot Lipp
November 16 9:30 Club Washington DC w/ Eliot Lipp
November 19 Mr. Smalls Theatre Millvale PA w/ Eliot Lipp
November 20 House of Blues Cleveland OH w/ Eliot Lipp
November 21 The Rave Milwaukee WI w/ Eliot Lipp
November 22 First Avenue Minneapolis MN w/ Eliot Lipp
December 28 The Tabernacle Atlanta GA
December 29 The Tabernacle Atlanta GA
December 30 The Tabernacle Atlanta GA
December 31 The Tabernacle Atlanta GA

The MONOLITH Festival and title-sponsor Esurance recently released details of the 2nd Annual Monolith Festival Urban Reforestation Project. This year the project will focus on youth with a special tree-planting event in partnership with Denver non-profit organizations The Park People and Cerebral Palsy (CP) of Colorado.

On September 11 at 11:30 a.m., more than 570 children associated with CP of Colorado will gather at the CP of Colorado's new Vanguard Classical School campus in Denver to learn about urban reforestation through tree plantings and the benefits their actions have on the environment.

"It is extremely important for us to organize and participate in thought-provoking action events like this," says Monolith founder and director Josh Baker.  "Since the inception of the festival in 2007, we have focused on producing an interesting and unique music festival that not only exceeds standards for an event's environmental impact but also gives back to the community around us. I couldn't be happier that this year our goals for environmental stewardship will be accomplished through one of Denver's largest youth oriented tree-planting events."

"We are thrilled to provide trees and support for this project that highlights the need to enhance Denver's urban forest and empowers youth to become stewards of the environment," says Paige Heydon-McCrary, Executive Director of The Park People.  "This exciting event will provide kids from CP of Colorado an opportunity to learn about trees and how to plant them, and several students will have the chance to assist volunteers with the planting.  The partnership is mutually beneficial for all of us and our community."

"The CP of Colorado recently created a campus on the decommissioned Lowry Air Force Base that will serve as a statewide hub from which services for individuals affected by disability, mental health, patient safety, integrated education from birth-8th grade and parent advocacy work radiates," says Judy Ham, President and CEO of CP of Colorado.  Now that the physical infrastructure of the school is complete, we truly welcome the addition of some greenery to our growing campus."

This project is just one component of the MONOLITH Festival's ongoing efforts to green Colorado's urban landscape.  The Park People also works with MONOLITH staff, Esurance, and Friends of Red Rocks to replenish native Rocky Mountain Juniper trees in the Red Rocks area.

Kristin Brewe, Esurance Director of Brand & Public Relations, stated, "Because Esurance is committed to safeguarding our environment, it is important to us that our sponsorship dollars not only help create an innovative music event like MONOLITH Festival, but also create a more sustainable event. Music is one of the most powerful ways people come together, and the experience is that much more powerful when we come together to bring positive change to our community and to the natural world."

The Ice Cream Man will supply refreshments while teams plant 12 Northern Catalpas to increase tree coverage in Denver. The popular eco-indie music sensation Cloud Cult will provide entertainment.

Event details are as follows:

Thursday, September 11

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

CP of Colorado - Vanguard Classical School campus

801 Yosemite Street

Denver, CO 80230

Please visit www.monolithfestival.com/greening for more information