CONVERGENCE preview party launching its 2011 programming season – Saturday July 17, 2010 – San Francisco

MEDIA CONTACT: ANN BLANKENSHIP – PRODUCER
E-mail: convergencefest@gmail.com
Web: www.convergencefest.com
Tel: 415-244-8250
Fax: 815-425-8910

San Francisco, California April 28, 2010 – This summer, in partnership with the 14th Annual Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival, CONVERGENCE is presenting a preview party to launch its 2011 programming season. Hosted by international urban trendsetter and tastemaker, Marcelo Baez of Nacotheque NYC, the party will feature the debut appearance of killer buzz band from Guadalajara, Mexico – Le Butcherettes, and a special guest appearance from progressive singer cum art-performer Juan Son. Also appearing will be local SF favorites, Los Murderachis – a mariachi punk band.

In addition to the fantastic live entertainment, the party will feature free tequila tastings from Corralejo Tequila distillery and authentic Guadalajaran cuisine provided by Tres Agaves Restaurant. The Mexican Bus, will provide shuttle services especially for this event.

The goal of this party will be to strengthen CONVERGENCE‘s branding by allying itself with those that share in this project’s vision to support young international progressive artists, musicians and filmmakers and to increase public awareness of and support for the arts.

CONVERGENCE MMXI (2011) PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT

CONVERGENCE MMXI will explore the nature of time in a variety of aspects – food, love, nostalgia and art. Festival goers will become time travelers bouncing from era to era in a series of time themed events…

With adequate funding and sponsorship, we can fulfill our goal of presenting the most fanciful, imaginative events and cutting edge artists. Our "wish list" for our 2011 programming is:

• FILM
  • A retrospective of the works of director Alejandro Jodorowsky, featuring the movies "Holy Mountain" and his latest work Abel-Cain.
  • A silent film produced in collaboration with independent filmmakers and musicians complete with original film score to be performed live during the screening.
  • FLIP VIDEO VIGNETTES — CONVERGENCE is pleased to partner with the FLIP Video Spotlight Program in presenting and archiving the work of its emerging artists. CONVERGENCE artists will be given the opportunity to create short quirky vignettes especially for the FLIP Video Spotlight program, which encapsulates their unique genius.
• MUSIC – Bands currently under consideration are:
  • Zoe – Immaculate and subtle indie rock from Mexico’s premiere alternative band. www.zoetheband.com
  • Jovenes y Sexys – Dreamy, folksy tropicalismo pop from Venezuelan sexy kids Cheky and Loocila. Their melodies are lyrical, sweet and subtle. JyS has received considerable critical praise for their EP "Bruno" tracks of which have been featured on movie soundtracks Rudi y Cursi and Voy a Explotar. www.myspace.com/jovenesysexys
  • Los Fancy Free – More fun than pop rocks! Los Fancy Free are a groovy, psychedelic indie band from Mexico City. The group is powered by Swedish-Mexicano front man Martin Thulin aka Menonita Rock. www.myspace.com/losfancyfree

CONVERGENCE MMX (2010) ARTISTS

LE BUTCHERETTES were voted "Best New Artist" and "Best Punk Record" at the 2009 Indie-O Awards and in 2010, they were invited by The Dead Weather and the Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs as support for their Mexican tours. This year, Le Butcherettes will be on tour to promote their first LP “Sin, Sin, Sin” produced by Omar Rodríguez-López creator of The Mars Volta.

First known as a girl band, Le Butcherettes was created by vocalist/guitarist Teri Gender Bender from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Quick acclaim was achieved in the Mexican underground scene for their live act which included the band dressed in 50′s women’s attire, referring to women as being slaves performing household chores, using brooms, feather dusters and bloody aprons. www.myspace.com/lebutcherettes

MARCELO C. BAEZ – DJ Marcelo is currently producing his own music, having done remixes for bands such as Kinky and Circo. He has a new music project, which will be announced in 2010. – www.nacotheque.com

JUAN SON – Latin Grammy nominated Juan Son has established himself as one of the more extraordinary performers to come out of Mexico to date. Juan Son studied music at the London Center of Contemporary Music where he had various musical projects with people from all over the world.

In February of 2009, he released his debut album titled Mermaid Sashimi, which has received critical praise. Mermaid Sashimi is composed of songs that were written before and during his time with his former band Porter. Unlike the music that catapulted Porter’s performances before massive audiences at Coachella and Mexico’s Vive Latino, Mermaid Sashimi is a more organic approach at expression that strays from traditional guitar-and-drum-driven beats. In this album, music samples created by ambient effects and sounds are enhanced by Juan Son’s trademark ethereal vocals. – www.myspace.com/juansonmusic

ABOUT THE PRODUCER AND CONVERGENCE

For over a decade, Ann Blankenship has been highly active in supporting her local arts community. In 2001 she was asked to join the Carnaval San Francisco Advisory Board where she assisted with event production and sponsorship development. Participation in Carnaval San Francisco exposed her to the many musical traditions of the Americas and fed up with the rather homogenous sounds of mainstream American pop she began venturing beyond musical borders to discover what else was happening musically throughout the Americas.

In 2007, Ms. Blankenship created The Brown Note Latin Rock Project to promote independent Latin alternative rock groups. That year she produced and presented her first concert – "Music for Smart People". This concert featured the groups Volumen Cero, Luminous Family Trust and Los Abandoned.

Ms. Blankenship currently partners with the Mission Creek Music & Arts Festival in developing their Latin and international music programming. In 2008 she produced for Mission Creek, the first CONVERGENCE concert series, which featured 13 bands including The May Fire, Monte Negro and Sergio Iglesias and The Latin Love Machine. In 2009, CONVERGENCE expanded its programming with its first international headliner Juan Son from Guadalajara Mexico, a premier of the documentary "Rhythmic Uprising” and a Latin alternative band showcase called "AlterLatino".

CONVERGENCE strives to support emerging Bay Area and international talent, to firmly establish continuous “indie-national" programming in the San Francisco Bay Area and to encourage collaborations and foster community between alternative and independent artists locally, nationally and internationally.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS & EVENT PARTNERS

INTERSECTION FOR THE ARTS is San Francisco’s oldest alternative art space (est. 1965) and has a long history of presenting new and experimental work in the fields of literature, theater, music, dance, and the visual arts. Intersection’s mission is also to nurture and support the San Francisco-Bay Area’s cultural community through service, technical support, and mentorship programs. Intersection provides a place where provocative ideas, diverse art forms, artists, and audiences can intersect one another. – www.theintersection.org

MISSION CREEK MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL is an annual collaborative effort presented by a consortium of local independent concert promoters, musicians, artists, filmmakers, dancers and multi-media performance artists. Through this forum, Mission Creek strives to foster community among local Bay Area artists showcase emerging artists and musicians and bring innovative and diverse programming to a wider audience. Bay Area artist and musician, Jeff Ray, is the Founder and Executive Producer. www.mcmf.org

TRES AGAVES is a celebration of the spirit of Jalisco, Mexico. Through a commitment to quality food and drink, we share our passion for the traditions of this unforgettable region. After all, Jalisco is more than just an idyllic landscape of rolling blue agave fields. It’s the birthplace of Mariachi and sombreros. And perhaps most importantly, it’s the home of the vibrant culture that gave us the world’s most distinctive and wonderful spirit: Tequila. – www.tresagaves.com

TEQUILA CORRALEJO – Hacienda Corralejo was founded in 1755 and was the first commercial producer of tequila in Mexico. Today, over 200 years later, production continues at Corralejo much as it did in the past. Corralejo Tequila takes pride in its heritage as the top quality, handcrafted producer of Mexico’s first and finest tequila. Blind tasted in Mexico City against the country’s 21 top tequilas, Corralejo Reposado Tequila won the Grand Award in 1997. www.tequilacorralejo.com

FLIP VIDEO CONVERGENCE is excited to partner with the FLIP Spotlight program. Flip Video Spotlight provides steeply discounted access to selected Flip Video products to qualifying charitable organizations. For each Flip Video Ultra camcorder purchased through the storefront, Flip Video Spotlight donates a free unit. – www.theflip.com

CALL FOR SPONSORSHIPS

CONVERGENCE is eager to partner with companies that share its vision in supporting cutting edge artists from throughout the Americas and Beyond. To inquire about sponsorship opportunites for your company, please contact CONVERGENCE producer Ann Blankenship at convergencefest@gmail.com.

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