(Photo from ArtOfficial's Myspace page)
Amazing. Over 1000 bands nationally who competed in the Last Band Standing contest, judged by Perry Farrell, to play an opening slot at Lollapalooza. And among the five finalists is a band from Miami -- ArtOfficial! What's more, they're the only hip-hop group in the finals. They're headed to Chicago for a live showdown on July 30 at that city's Double Door club. If they win, among some other goodies, they'll play the big-deal festival, which takes place in Chi-town from August 1 through 3. Full press release follows. Good luck, guys! -- Arielle Castillo
MIAMI HIP-HOP/JAZZ BAND ARTOFFICIAL, ONE STEP CLOSER TO OPENING LOLLAPALOOZA 2008
Miami's Own ArtOfficial Beats Out 1000+ Bands In Lollapalooza's Last Band Standing Contest; Headed To Chicago As One Of The Five Finalists
Hip-Hop/Jazz hybrid ArtOfficial is headed to Chicago after three excruciating rounds of competition at Lollapalooza's Last Band Standing, a multi-round, two-month contest judged by founder Perry Ferrell, celebrity judges, and online voters. Out of the 1000+ bands competing, online users voted ArtOfficial into the Top 100 bands. Event organizers narrowed the competition to 20, out of which ArtOfficial has emerged as one of the five finalists who will compete face to face at Chicago's Double Door on July 30th.
Prizes for the Last Band Standing include an opening slot on the festivals main stage, a travel budget, a year's supply of Vitamin Water, and lots of bragging rights amongst other prizes.
"We're proud to have made it this far and now we're one step closer to sharing the stage with the likes of Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, and Kanye," says bassist Ralf Valencia. "We're going to be out there representing for Miami, and as one of the only Hip-Hop acts in the line up. We're going to prove that a live Hip-Hop band can rock with the best of 'em."
ArtOfficial consists of Danny Perez on Keys, Manny Patino on Drums, Ralf Valencia on Bass, and Keith Cooper on the Saxophone with vocals provided by emcees Newsense and Logics. ArtOfficial has shared the stage with the likes of Krs-One, The Sugarhill Gang, Pharaoh Monch, and Buckshot as well as Wu-Tang and Nas at last August's Rock the Bells festival. ArtOfficial's Stranger EP (independent) and Fist Fights and Foot Races album (Media Factory Japan) can be found on Itunes, Amazon, and all other major online retailers.
