Newsy Bits & Bulletins: NPFoA, The Void, Sleep Train Amphitheatre, Che Cafe and more.

There was a time when I'd sit at my desk in my office and just pounce on new news related to San Diego or music or festivals. Perhaps I just figure everyone has the same information at their fingertips or perhaps I've lost my edge or maybe I've just been finger-wagged too many times for posting things prematurely that I just don't feel that urgency to be first or break stories. Maybe I'd rather just link you to other sources so I don't get the backlash of incorrect information. Or maybe I have been having too much fun freelancing and not being confined to a desk or laptop all day that I just figure I'll get to all of it some other time. Whatever it is, there have been some things mulling around my brain that I've been meaning to share, so I'll get to it in one long post. If you don't take the time to read, you can blame yourself for not knowing later. North Park Festival of Arts open for band submissions, Cricket becomes Sleep Train Amphitheatre, Eleven becomes The Void, Che Cafe Cracks down on bigotry, Givit sends you to SXSW, CityBeat Demo Review...read about all of it after the jump.

CityBeat Great Demo Review: Time To Submit

It's already that time of year...hopefully the bruising of your ego has subsided and you've picked your pride off the floor and shaken it out a bit after last year's demo review. The CityBeat Demo Review of 2012 is just around the corner and submissions are now being accepted. Get your demos or albums together. Submissions MUST BE PHYSICAL, even if it's just a burned CD. (You should know the drill- label the disc with project name, tracklist, web link and contact info). For full details, click here. Submissions must be received by February 6 for the Demo Review issue that will hit streets on March 7.

CityBeat Demo Review
3047 University Ave., Suite 202
San Diego, CA. 92104

Time To Submit Demos For CityBeat's Great Demo Review

Peter Holslin at CityBeat asked me to mention the 2011 Great Demo Review. Instead of rewording, here's the info:

Attention musicians: CityBeat’s Great Demo Review, our annual critique of local music, is set to hit the streets on March 2, 2011—that’s right around the corner. Got a demo you’ve been passing around? A new album you’ve been hyping? A bedroom project nobody knows about?

Send us a recording and we’ll review it. We accept CDs, DVDs and LPs. Please include your project’s name, an e-mail address or phone number and your website, Bandcamp or MySpace page. You can mail submissions to CityBeat Demo Review, 3047 University Ave., Suite 202, San Diego, CA, 92104. The submission deadline is Jan. 31, 2010. Good luck!

Note, there are no digital submissions, so burn some CDs (best to provide three copies of whatever you send), and make sure to label everything with your band/project name, your website/facebook/myspace/bandcamp url, and a contact email and phone number directly on the disc as well as the packaging. This is standard for any submission to any site, but this should be especially prominent here. Band bios and press kits can also be included, and keep in mind these submissions might also be helpful when it comes time for SDMA nominations. Also keep in mind, while it's called the "Demo Review", full pressed vinyl, CDs and DVDs are welcome.