North Park Music Thing Is Coming

SAN DIEGO MUSIC FOUNDATION PRESENTS SECOND ANNUAL NORTH PARK MUSIC THING

Tickets for Three-Day Music and Media Conference Available Now, Call To Artists Underway

SAN DIEGO – May 20, 2009 – North Park Music Thing (NPMT), previously known as North By North Park (NXNP), is back for its second year to bring industry leaders and musicians together for a weekend of panel discussions, demo review sessions and live performances.

The annual three-day music and media conference will be held at the Lafayette Hotel, located at 2223 El Cajon Blvd. in San Diego, August 7-9, 2009. A 150-musical act showcase on more than 18 San Diego venue stages will follow the workshops on Saturday, August 8 and will highlight performances from bands and individual musicians from across the Southwestern United States. Event organizers are accepting entries for performers at Saturday's Music Fest through June 12. For more, click 'keep on reading' or for tickets, click the banner at the top of the page.


"We're excited to see North Park Music Thing build on the success of last year's event," said Kevin Hellman, President of the San Diego Music Foundation. "This year we're adding a Sunday Street Fest along El Cajon Blvd, which will feature three live music stages, international food court, live art shows and a variety of street vendors."

NPMT's featured speaker and performer is bassist and songwriter, Nathan East. A San Diego native, East has co-written and performed songs with George Harrison, Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton and B.B. King, and served as a long standing member of Clapton's studio and touring band. East played on Clapton's Grammy award-winning "Unplugged" album, and also lent his talent to Clapton's "Change The World," which was awarded Song of the Year at the 1997 Grammy Awards.

Workshop discussions on Saturday and Sunday will be led by panelists with experience in various areas of the music industry including engaging social media in promotions, breaking into the music business, hiring a manager, songwriting techniques, and more. Panelists include Robbie Lloyd of Silva Artist Management, Peter Jesperson of New West Records, Nanci Walker of Universal Music Publishing, Amy Stevens of KROQ-FM (106.7), Casey Robison of BMI, Tim Mays of The Casbah, Albert Ching of OC Weekly, Josh Briggs of ASCAP, Mike Locke of Rhino Records, and Josh Feingold of SESAC, among others.

All proceeds from North Park Music Thing will be donated to the San Diego Music Foundation, which seeks to enrich the San Diego music community by providing professional development opportunities and assistance to local musicians. The Foundation organizes the annual San Diego Music Awards show, recognizing the achievements of the local music community, and also encourages the next generation of musicians through its Taylor Guitars for Schools program, which has provided over 1000 guitars to 56 elementary schools in San Diego County, who include guitar in their music curriculum.

For more information on North Park Music Thing, including tickets, registration and information on how to apply to perform at Music Fest, please visit www.northparkmusicthing.com