2008 Rock The Bells International
Festivel Series Powered By SanDisk
ROCK THE BELLS has established itself as a
world-class hip-hop platform by hosting legendary performances. The 2007
festival series included performances by a reunited Rage Against the
Machine, the Wu Tang Clan, Public Enemy celebrating their 20th anniversary
as a band and many more. The tradition of top names and memorable
performances continues in 2008 as the line-up and routing for this year’s
ROCK THE BELL 2008 INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL SERIES POWERED BY SANDISK--kicking
off July 19 in Chicago--was announced today during a press conference in
Claremont, CA by Chang Weisberg of Guerilla Union and hip-hop all-stars A
Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Raekwon, Murs, and Supernatural who are
all confirmed on this summer’s bill.
Featuring performances by A Tribe Called Quest, Nas, Mos Def, De La Soul,
Rakim, Method Man & Redman, Raekwon & Ghostface (Cuban Linx), Immortal
Technique, Dead Prez, Murs and Kidz In The Hall, the ROCK THE BELLS 2008
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL SERIES POWERED BY SANDISK once again is marked by
the leading hip-hop line-up seen on one bill this year. This year will be
highlighted with an unexpected reunion of The Pharcyde. But it does not
stop there, as fans will also see performances by the brightest names in
the emerging electro-hip hop scene including Spank Rock, Santogold, Kid
Sister, Wale, Flosstradamus, Jay Electronica and The Cool Kids with hosts
B-Real of Cypress Hill and the world renowned Supernatural.
After its July 19 launch, ROCK THE BELLS 2008 INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL
SERIES POWERED BY SANDISK will hit nine more North American cities on
seven consecutive weekends, wrapping up in Vancouver at the end of August.
2008 also marks the first year that ROCK THE BELLS will go global with
four stops in Europe and one in Japan. Highlights of the series include
first time dates in Toronto, Vancouver and Philadelphia, plus a return to
the Glen Helen Pavilion in San Bernardino, CA where last year’s show sold
out with a capacity crowd of 45,000 people. Pre-sale tickets will be
available May 14th - 16th via www.guerillaunion.com, and then to the
general public on May 17th. Exclusive LA pre-sale starts on May 7th-9th
with on-sale to follow May 10th.
Most of this year’s headliners will be performing with new music as well;
performers with albums coming out this year include Q-tip from A Tribe
Called Quest with The Renaissance, Nas with Nigg*r, Mos Def with The
Ecstactic, and Murs with his major-label debut Murs For President. Method
Man & Redman return with Blackout 2, the follow-up disc to their 1999
platinum selling album Blackout!, and Ghostface Killah will join Wu Tang
Clan bandmate Raekwon to perform songs from Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II,
Raekwon’s highly anticipated follow up to the critically acclaimed 1995
release Only Built 4 Cuban Linx.
Event organizer Chang Weisberg of Guerilla Union is thrilled with the
direction on this year’s festival series stating: “This year’s line-up
represents, respects and recognizes the diversity and inspirational
possibilities often promised, but rarely delivered in a live hip-hop
experience. We really feel that this year’s group of artists define our
platform and further galvanize the legacy that Rock The Bells has earned
through the years. Guerilla Union constantly strives to curate shows that
house those once-in-a-lifetime performance experiences that our fans have
come to expect. I am thrilled that the majority of performers on this
year’s bill have new music to showcase, and we have still managed to
deliver all the qualities of Rock The Bells that our fans demand year
after year. There’s always something fresh and familiar about our
line-ups. Fortunately, we have a knack for making Hip Hop dreams come
true. And this year is going to be no different.”
“We are very enthusiastic about partnering with Myspace.com (a place for
Hip Hop) to announce this year’s line-up to an audience of 70,000,000
people,” adds Weisberg. “Traditionally, we have launched our shows via
print and radio, but this year we will tap into the muscle of Myspace.com
to help expose our platform to an unprecedented global audience. Our shows
provide a visceral and aural backdrop to the legions of dedicated fans.
Fortunately, the live experience can never be duplicated or downloaded,
but the memories and experiences continue to live digitally on our
cameras, mobile phones and Myspace pages. Viral outlets have become our
fans’ method of choice when spreading the word on the Hip Hop lifestyle
and community. What better way to launch our event than by capturing that
audience globally via MySpace.”
In addition, Guerilla Union has announced that SanDisk has renewed its
partnership with Rock The Bells to introduce mobile flash memory to their
community and SanDisk as a title sponsor to our festival series. “Micro SD
technology can help change the music industry,” says Weisberg. “We are
proud to work with SanDisk and develop better ways to empower artists and
the fans who enjoy their music. Rock The Bells will host SanDisk’s “Wake
Up Your Phone” campaign. We are constantly amazed at how flash memory
improves the functionality of everyone’s cell phone. Our fans are on top
of their “tech game” and we believe that this partnership will improve the
live experience in general by incorporating these new technologies into
the fan experience. Our festivals are uniquely powered by SanDisk and we
thank them for all of their support.”
Guerilla Union’s ROCK THE BELLS 2008 INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL SERIES POWERED
BY SANDISK, has established itself as a world-class hip-hop platform by
hosting legendary performances by Rage Against the Machine, NAS, A Tribe
Called Quest, Public Enemy, Lauryn Hill, Blackstar (Talib Kweli and Mos
Def), Hieroglyphics, Living Legends, De La Soul, Busta Rhymes, Cypress
Hill and Jurassic 5 as well as reuniting Wu-Tang for their last
performance with ODB in 2004. In 2007 it was the top-grossing hip-hop
event in the country.
2008 Rock The Bells International
Festivel Series Powered By SanDisk Dates
Sat 7/19 - Chicago, IL
Sun 7/20 - Toronto, ON
Sat 7/26 - Boston, MA
Sun 7/27 - Washington, DC
Sat 8/2 - Miami, FL
Sun 8/3 - New York, NY
Sat 8/9 - Los Angeles, CA
Sat 8/16 - San Francisco, CA
Sat 8/23 - Denver, CO
Sat 8/30 - Vancouver, BC |