Presenters Twiin Productions - in association with Jacalyn Kane Productions of the second annual WEST BEACH MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL set for September 12, Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14 - have announced George Clinton and Parliament/Funkadelic with special guest Lili Haydn. They join the event's all-star music line-up that already includes Ziggy Marley, Jason Mraz, Natasha Bedingfield and Big Head Todd & The Monsters. Also, the festival, along with media sponsor the Santa Barbara Independent, has launched the "Road To West Beach" band contest in which local bands, songwriters, musicians and DJs can compete for a performance slot at the event.
Submissions for the "Road To West Beach" contest are being accepted now through Monday, August 4 via www.independent.com/roadtowestbeach where online voting will take place for five days starting August 7. Four winners plus a wildcard of each geographical region in its tri-county area will have the chance to compete at a regional showcase: August 21 in San Luis Obispo, August 23 in Santa Barbara/Carpinteria and August 24 in Isla Vista. From there fans will have the opportunity to vote for the winners who will go on to compete at the final showcase August 31 at Alameda Park in Santa Barbara. The winner of this final round will receive a slot on the main stage at WEST BEACH as well as studio time and feature coverage in the Santa Barbara Independent's annual music issue.
George Clinton who will appear on Sunday, September 14 - is one of the greatest innovators of urban-based soul, rock and funk over the last forty years. As a teenager in the late 1950s, Clinton formed the Parliaments, a doo-wop style vocal group which had a big R&B hit whit "I Wanna Testify" in 1967 on indy label Revilot. When Revilot folded a year later, they retained the rights to the group The Parliament. In a stroke of genius, Clinton recognized that he still record shifting the focus from the vocals to the band and, in 1968, George formed Funkadelic, a visionary band that combined acid rock with primal funk. Funkadelic carried the torch for George's creative output until 1972 when The Parliament's Revilot contract expired. George renamed the group Parliament and signed them to Casablanca Records, while Funkadelic signed with Warner Brothers in 1976. These two powerhouse bands consisted of the same members and with the growth of funk as a vibrant musical force, George was churning out landmark hits with both acts: Parliament with dance floor jams like "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker (Give Up the Funk)," "Aqua Boogie," "Flashlight" and "Bop Gun" and Funkdelic with anthemic funk jams like "(Not Just) Knee Deep" and "One Nation Under A Groove." George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic will be joined by their frequent collaborator Lili Haydn the acclaimed singer-songwriter-violinist extraordinaire and recording artist. Clinton has called her "the Jimi Hendrix of violin."
The WEST BEACH MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL - sponsored by The Santa Barbara Independent, KRUZ@97.5, DEEP Magazine, KjEE, KTYD, KFYV, KLITE, and many more - is one of the only U.S. festivals that takes place right on the beach. Located seaside just west of Stearn's Wharf, the all-ages festival each day will feature four stages of non-stop rock, reggae and jam bands, arts and crafts vendors and activities oriented toward children (further details on children's activities will be announced at a later date). Three-day passes are now available for $115. Single day tickets are also available for $35 to $55. Tickets available at www.westbeachfestival.com.
