ROGERS SPRING MUSIC FESTIVAL // 2008

April 11th. Media Launch Overview PDF

Schedule: Festival At A Glance

Social Code

From Edmonton, Alberta, their first album "A Year at the Movies" sold 20,000 copies. They've since crossed the country and supported some of the biggest names in music and are ready to come back to Hamilton. With their recent self-titled CD on Universal Music, Social Code are now a headlining act taking on the Westside Concert Theatre on Saturday May 10. Tickets are $15.00 in advance. (TicketBreak.com)

Grady

Former Big Sugar front man Gordie Johnson brings his Austin, Texas band Grady to rock The Corktown Pub for an up-close performance. L.A. magazine Access says “Grady has enough low end buzz and slide guitar to shake down the walls of the Alamo.” Gordie himself describes the band as “trying to find the common ground between punk, metal and gospel.

Rogers Emerging Artist Stage

Each year the Rogers Spring Music Festival host a stage showcasing some of the hottest bands that are about to break the Canadian music scene. Some of the bands are brand new, while others have been slugging it out in the clubs for years. Click here to view this year's line up.

Drowning Girl, Drowning Girl, signed to PuckEye Records with Distribution by EMI Music Canada, is the winner of the 2007 National Radio Star Contest at Canadian Music Week www.drowninggirl.com

Vesta Varro from Ireland recorded their most recent record 'Exit Here' was produced by award winning producer Richard Rainey (U2's), and had two singles reached the Irish Top 40. They took the top spot in the Toronto Indie Week Award just a few months ago And now they’re back! www.myspace.com/vestavarro

Low Level Flight, Ryan Malcolm was everyone's favourite 'Idol and his debut reached platinum sales. Now songs from his current record are getting massive airplay from coast to coast. www.lowlevelflight.com

From Toronto, Crush Luther's first video "City Girl" hit number one on the MuchMoreMusic countdown. Signed to High 4 Records, this band has a growing following. myspace.com/crushluther

The Redpipe.ca / Y108 Breakout Band Challenge

Go to www.Y108.ca and follow the links to discover 10 new bands who are vying for the title of the RedPipe/Y108 Breakout band. Ten songs from 10 indie bands have been posted on Y108’s web site so log on and vote for your favourite band.

Each band will be featured on Y108’s Get Hammered From April 14th to April 25th. The 5 bands with the most votes will perform in front a panel of industry judges on Thursday May 8th at the Legendary Red Rooster. The winner will receive $10,000 in prizes, including:

- Shure PGX Wireless Handheld Systems
- 6 Songs recorded, mixed and mastered c/o Mastermind Studio
- Professional CD artwork c/o BLR Entertainment
- $500 discount off CD manufacturing c/o BLR Entertainment
- A featured spot on indiesolo.com
- Spot on indiesolo.com
- Feature on Y108's Indie Show "Get Hammered"
- $3000 in promotional services c/o DB Promotions and Publicity Inc.
- Up to 5 Samsung A736 phones

- A Diamond Package from House of Bands

- A featured spot on indiesolo.com
- Spot on indiesolo.com

Congratulations to the 5 breakout band finalists! Who will be crowned the next Y108/Redpipe Breakout Band? Thursday May 8th we kick off the festival with the Breakout Band finals at the Legendary Red Rooster.

HARM, P.S. BECAUSE, CODE REVIVAL, LITTLE SUNDAY, METALLAMA

Cable 14 and Y108 present the Songwriter's Showcase

Friday May 9th at the Casbah featuring…

Jay Semko As the driving force behind The Northern Pikes, Jay Semko created a string of top ten hits through the 80s and 90s.

As a solo artist with his own blend of folk / country / Canadiana / Americana, Jay is releasing his first live album "Live At The Royal Saskatchewan Museum". Jay Semko is one of Canada's finest songwriters, and this is the newest chapter in his ongoing journal of musical adventures. www.jaysemko.com

The Apollo Effect, won the Great Canadian Band Challenge. Their current video and single "The Bomb" is in heavy rotation at rock radio across Canada and are in talks with a variety of record labels. From Burlington, The Apollo Effect have a reputation for consistently bring out large crowds and making their shows feel like a party. www.theapolloeffect.com

Best Of The Fest

On the first night of voting, festival organizers have tabulated more than 250 votes. Who will be crowned the Best of the Fest? Who will walk away with more than $10,000 in recording and prizes? Simply text 4727 + the bands name to vote. Only one vote per cell phone counts.

Attention all Rogers and Fido customers! Now is your chance to choose the best band in the festival. From Thursday May 8th to Sunday May 11th you will get to vote for the Best Band in the festival. All that you have to do is text 4727+the band name - (Click here for "Short Codes")

and the votes will be tabulated with the winner being announced on Y108 Monday May 12 during the 3:00 PM hour with Andre! Prizes include:

- Shure PGX Wireless Handheld Systems
- YSL Powered YSM2 Active 46 watt Studio Monitors c/o Long and McQuade
- 6 Songs recorded, mixed and mastered c/o Mastermind Studio
- Professional CD artwork c/o BLR Entertainment
- $500 discount off CD manufacturing c/o BLR Entertainment
- A featured spot on indiesolo.com
- Spot on indiesolo.com
- Feature on Y108's Indie Show "Get Hammered"
- Up to 5 Samsung A736 phones
- A Diamond Merchandise Package from House of Bands

URBAN HAMILTON / www.urbanhamilton.com

From R&B to hip hop, the streets of Hamilton have never seen music this vibrant or exciting. BLR Entertainment has launches a brand new web site today, featuring everything Urban in Hamilton. www.UrbanHamilton.com. A concert featuring some of the best up and coming urban artists helps to kick off a website that offers featuring: Kae Sun, Chris Jackson, Christopher Charles, Jamila B, Rashdon, DaeShawn and Retali8 . It all starts May 9 at The Westside Concert Theatre.

Rogers/Samsung Best Seats In The House

Calling all Rogers and Fido customers! Be sure to bring your cell phones with you to the Rogers Spring Music Festival for your chance to text in and win a whole slew of prizes including:

- Win up to 6 Samsung phones loaded with your favourite festival artists for you & 5 friends

- Your chance to meet and greet the festival performers!

Drowning Girl

Crush Luther

Vesta Varro

Ticket Information

Tickets available at:

Rogers Wireless

Burlington
Maple View Shopping Centre
900 Maple View Avenue, Unit AA17A
Burlington,
905.632.9050 (P)

Hamilton
1400 Upper James Street
Unit # 20
Hamilton
905.383.2264 (P)

Lime Ridge Mall
999 Upper Wentworth Street,
Hamilton
905.318.7223 (P)

Mississauga
Square One Mall - Upper Level
100 City Center Drive,
Mississauga,
905.272.9899 (P)

Square One Mall - Lower Level
100 City Center Drive, Unit 54
Mississauga,
905.279.1909 (P)

Crash Landing
189 Ottawa St. N.
905-548-0039

Dr.Disc
20 Wilson Street
Hamilton 905-523-1010

Or at the show venues:

Westside Concert Theatre
434 King Street West
905.777.9777

Casbah Lounge
306 King Street West (at Queen)
Office Hrs Mon-Wed, Noon-5pm

The Corktown Pub
175 Young Street
905.572.9242