For Immediate Release

Orange, CA – antiMUSIC.com, one of the web's most popular independently ran music magazines, is please to announce “antiFEST ’02”; a 3 day music festival and showcase for some of Southern California’s most promising bands and solo artists. 

It’s that time of the year again. Leading radio stations from across North America are hosting music festivals that feature some of mainstream music’s most popular artists. For $50 to $100 music fans gather together at a large concert venue to watch abridged sets from artists who have sold gazillions of CD’s and get blanket coverage on radio, MTV and in mainstream music publications. 

But what about the exceptional local indie and unsigned artists that should be the ones selling gazillions of CD’s, if only the mainstream knew about them?  Sorry, you won’t see these bands at the leading radio festivals. That’s where the antiFEST comes in. 

As the name suggests, antiFEST is an independent answer to the overpriced corporate radio festivals that have become popular during the holiday season over the past few years. 

“One thing that made antiMUSIC popular is the fact that our writers truly care about quality in music and are big supporters of local music,” says antiMUSIC founder and editor Keavin Wiggins. “It's not uncommon to see an unsigned band featured next to a superstar on the pages of antiMUSIC.” 

“As I always tell people, our goal is to cover great music. It doesn’t matter if it comes from a multi-platinum recording artist or the band that’s paying their dues in a garage down the street,” says Keavin. “That was one of the reasons we put together this festival as a showcase for some of Southern California’s top indie and unsigned bands.” 

“Unlike other music conferences like the annual SxSW in Texas, antiFEST is for the fans, not the press and industry insiders.” continues Keavin. “On the other hand, the antiFEST would be a great one stop shopping ground for record labels. As long as they are looking for exceptional talent and artists that strive to leave their own unique mark on the music scene. I’m talking about artists that have the potential to be trendsetters, not the follow the leader types who latch on to whatever is popular at the moment with the hope of catching their big break.”  

“The major labels are looking for the next big thing to help drag the industry out of its current slump and the artists we will feature at antiFEST have it in them to be just that,” adds Keavin. 

“antiFEST was a natural idea for us. In the back of my mind I have always wanted to put together an event like this. The idea of putting together antiFEST actually came to me as I was driving up to Hollywood to catch a show from Wonderlove, one of the leading bands on the So Cal music scene right now,” says Keavin. “As luck would have it, I ran into Hollywood music promoter Happenin’ Harry at that show and pitched the idea to him and he loved it. (antiMUSIC sponsors Harry’s Sunday night shows at the Cat Club in Hollywood)”  

“If all goes well, we hope to make the antiFEST a semi-annual event,” adds Keavin. “There were a lot of bands that we wanted to include this time around that couldn’t make it for various reasons, but we did book most of the local rising stars we were hoping to.”  

Here are some of the Southern California Rising Stars that will perform at antiFEST. 

From Long Beach, Ca. 

Bird – Fans across North America got their first taste of Bird last year when his former band Bird3 touring the continent with The Cult and then Veruca Salt. Unfortunately, Bird3’s record label didn’t have the resources to promote the group’s debut album with enough muscle to make it the smash hit it should have been and the group dissolved earlier this year. Now Bird is back with his new solo project and has already created a new buzz, including a soldout show at The Cat Club in Hollywood in early November that left the audience mesmerized.  – Bird will perform at 10:00 PM on Sat. Night. 

Johnny Jones and The Suffering Halos – Johnny Jones: Long Beach singer/songwriter, artist and poet, leads this power trio into the Nirvana of overdriven guitar rock that has been missing from the music scene at large for years. For the past few years, Johnny Jones and The Suffering Halos have been blowing away audiences in southern California and blowing up amps and PA speakers with their guitar driven rock. If you like rock that really rocks, you’ll gonna love Johnny Jones and The Suffering Halos. – Johnny Jones and The Suffering Halos will perform at 9:15 on Sunday. 

Lowfive – Featuring former members of Queens of the Stone Age, Bird3 and The Flys, Lowfive had a buzz surrounding them even before they played their first gig. After people heard the music, the buzz only intensified. Their constantly evolving sound has captivated So. Cal. concert goers this year and this will be the band’s first performance since returning from recording their debut album with legendary producer Chris Goss. – Lowfive will perform at 12:00 AM on Sat. Night. 

twelvehourmary – This group is perhaps Long Beach, California’s best kept secret.. Not for long as antiMUSIC and other national music publications are catching on and spreading the word. Their brand of intricate yet melodically accessible rock with thought provoking lyrics has made them superstars on the So. Cal. music scene and the band is now ready to take it to the next level. Aided by steady rotation on Orange County’s “Cool Radio”, twelvehourmary is actively shopping for a national label that will give them the resources and support they need to take their music to the masses. This is definitely a band to keep an eye on for big things in the future. – Twelvehourmary will perform at 11:00 PM on Sat Night. 

From Orange County, Ca. 

Bronco tatonka – These young rockers are captivating fans in Orange County with their unique mix of alternative and punk rock. Relatively new on the scene they have already captured a large loyal fanbase.  - Bronco tatonka will perform at 7:00 PM on Friday. 

Devil’s Junction – The last name Ness is almost equal to royalty in Orange County Music circles. Devil’s Junction features Troy Ness, the younger brother of punk legend Mike Ness (Social Distortion). Musical talent obviously runs in the family as Devil’s Junction has become one of the hottest groups in Orange County. – Devil’s Junction will perform at 7:00 PM on Sat. Night. 

Motorsoule – Former antiMUSIC artist of the month, Motorsoule is one of Orange County’s most sought after live bands. Their high-energy concerts have made them local heroes and the group is primed to take things to the next level. Motorsoule understands that people pay good money to go to concerts to be entertained and aside from high quality hard rockin’ music they put every ounce of energy they can muster into their performances.- Motorsoule will perform at 8:00 PM on Sat. Night. 

WAXAPPLES – This group features Brian Coakley of Cadillac Tramps and Rule 62 and  Marcus Irvin of Liquid Courage and The Green Room. WAXAPPLES is described as a super sleek rock power quartet, blending blues based rock-n-roll (think  The Rolling Stones meet old  ZZ Top) with modern day electronica via loops and samples ALA Beck & Cake.  But don't let the electronica mislead you, these guys (and girl) can rock with the best of em'.  – Wax Apples will perform at 10:00 PM on Friday Night. 

From Los Angeles:

Fain: Fain is a new power-trio that features Arista Recording Artist CHLORINE vocalist Mark Fain and bassist Jared Mueller plus drummer Troy Patrick Farrell.  Chlorine’s debut album was meet with critical praise and earned the band a loyal fan base but Arista’s inability to properly market a rock group lead to their early demise. Not to worry, Fain is here and takes up where Chlorine left off.  This will be the very first performance from the group and already the buzz is building in Los Angeles about Fain’s potential! -  Fain will perform at 12:00 AM on Friday Night. 

Kaya Jones: Watch out Avril, Kaya is coming to show the world how it really should be done!  Kaya Jones is already making a big splash in Hollywood music circles. Her band debuted a few short weeks ago with a soldout show at The Cat Club. Her band that features The Cult’s Mike Dimkish on guitar provides the hardrockin’ backdrop that Kaya needs to deliver her powerful vocals. Kaya is ready to take on the world and give them some kick ass rock n’ roll and is primed to kick Avril out of the spotlight with her harder rockin’ and far more mature music! The teenyboppers can keep Avril and her “sk8ter boi,” Kaya is here to rock the rest of us! – Kaya will perform at 11:00 PM on Friday Night.  

Solarcade – Although together a short time (they formed in 2001) Solarcade has already received international attention by providing music for various television programs and films. Their addictive melodic rock has gained them a loyal audience and rave reviews from Los Angeles area press. One reporter joked, “I don’t think I ever saw a local band being asked for autographs before.” That sentiment sums this band up perfectly, their exceptional music and the dedication of the band members has already given them the aura of superstars. It’s only a matter of time before Solarcade become real superstars with the fame and success that goes with it. – Solarcade will perform at 9:00 PM on Sat. Night. 

Also Performing at antiFEST ‘02

Slim Jim Phantom’s Starf*ckers - The drummer of THE STRAY CATS brings his World Famous Cat Club Thursday night  "ALL-STAR" celebrity lineup to antiFEST!!  - Slim Jim will perform at 10:15 on Sunday Night. 

Donnie Vie - Frontman of Enuff Z'nuff who have been hailed as the Beatles of this generation by critics will be debuting his new solo band - Donnie is the closing act on Sat Night. 

Event information: 

Dates: Friday, November 29th – Saturday, November 30th – Sunday, December 1st. 

All three nights at 21 and over.  Doors open at 6 PM and music begins at 7PM 

Friday and Saturday Night shows will be held at Johnny Foxx’s in West L.A. – A brand new music venue in Los Angeles.  On Sunday, the antiFEST will move over to Hollywood and be held at The Cat Club on Sunset Strip. 
 

You can get the full lineup, venue, ticket and band information at http://www.antifest.com