Expanded Talent Announced for Download 2007, the Acclaimed Interactive Festival Taking Place Over Four Days in Four Different Markets Across the US

The Cure in San Francisco The Shins in Chicago Modest Mouse in Boston Modest Mouse & Incubus in Washington State Download Festival 2007 offers fans the unparalleled ability to truly ‘make contact’ with the bands they love including artist master class workshops, autograph and Q&A sessions, and more

LOS ANGELES, May 29, 2007 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX News Network/ — Live Nation, (NYSE: LYV) the world’s largest live music company, announced today an expanded talent line up to participate at Download 2007 Festival events. Featured talent to include:

  • August 18th – Boston @ The Tweeter Center of Performing Arts with: Modest Mouse, Wolf Parade, Band of Horses, Neko Case and more.
  • August 25th – Washington State @ The Gorge Amphitheatre with: Modest Mouse, Incubus, The Thermals, Arthur & Yu, The Heavenly States, Back Door Slam, Nada Surf and more.
  • September 2nd – Chicago @ Alpine Valley Music Theater with: The Shins, Band of Horses, Wolf Parade, Honey Cut and more.
  • October 6th – San Francisco @ Shoreline Amphitheatre with: The Cure, A.F.I. , Kings of Leon, 65 Days of Static, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and more.

Tickets range in price from $35-$65 and will be available at http://www.livenation.com and http://www.downloadfestival.com, and will go on sale June 9th in Washington State, June 16th in Boston, June 23rd in Chicago and July 22nd in San Francisco.

Download 2007 provides fans an unprecedented opportunity to get up close and personal with their favorite artists. Connectivity between the fans and Download Festival 2007 artists begins with unique moderated artist master class workshops where select Download talent share insight and knowledge about what it takes to become an accomplished artist in an intimate experiential setting that is focused on musical instruments and the song creation process. Bands also extend to the fans a rare look into their lives on the road during free form Q & A sessions. Fans also get a chance to leave with a special souvenir after autograph signings, where fans can select their favorite piece of memorabilia to be signed. The interaction continues with intimate meet and greets throughout the day where fans can take a picture with the bands and have a keepsake of the festival and where digital photos are taken with an event photographer and then posted to an online festival gallery. Text messaging and rich media communications, along with backstage mobile updates, keep fans connected with featured artists throughout the Download 2007 events.

Brandon Boyd, lead singer of Incubus, says they are excited to join the Festival line up this year. “Download is an opportunity to be a part of a sea change in the way fans interact with music,” comments Boyd. “The Festival is not just a performance, but the chance to engage with the fans firsthand on a level unlike any other.”

“We are really excited to be performing at the Download Festival in San Francisco — our only North American festival date of the summer. We particularly love the proposed ‘interactive’ elements of this event — they will undoubtedly add a whole new dimension to the show,” shared Robert Smith of The Cure.

Through a shared love of music and creative expression, Download Festival 2007 connects its audiences and featured artists in unique ways. Now in its fifth successful year, the acclaimed music festival produced by Live Nation returns to the U.S. to present the best in alternative and modern rock artists. Download has become a festival phenomenon with multiple-day concert and technology emersion events in the UK and North America, drawing an audience uniquely plugged into the latest of everything. The ultimate play day in each city features hours of continuous music emanating from multiple stages, interspersed with engaging technology enhanced interactive programming experiences providing a unifying platform for artists and fans to share in their genuine passion for music.

“The talent lineup for this year’s Download is extraordinary,” said Jason Garner, Live Nation President of North American Concerts. “The expansion of the festival to new markets and the breadth of talent that are participating will enable us to continue to connect artists and their fans in unique ways through out the summer.”

“The connectivity of Download is what makes it a stand out festival and allows fans to be more than members of the audience and instead to be dynamic participants in the festival experience. Through our collaboration with key brand partners and some of today’s most talented artists, Download cultivates an organic community that embraces the extraordinary and intrinsic capacity for people to connect through musical expression,” said Christopher Swope, Vice President of National Alliances at Live Nation.

Each of the exciting interactive programming experiences at Download 2007 are enhanced through the participation of select strategic partners including Volkswagen, W Hotels, BurnLounge, Now What, adidas and Champs Sports.

For additional information on Download 2007, please visit http://www.downloadfestival.com.

About Live Nation

Live Nation is the world’s largest live music company. Our mission is to inspire passion for live music around the world. We are the largest promoter of live concerts in the world, the second-largest entertainment venue management company and have a rapidly growing online presence. We create superior experiences for artists and fans, regularly producing tours for the biggest superstars in the business, including The Rolling Stones, Barbra Streisand, Madonna, U2 and Coldplay. Globally, we own, operate, have booking rights for and/or have an equity interest in more than 160 venues, including House of Blues(R) and Fillmore(R) music venues and prestigious locations such as Nikon at Jones Beach in New York and London’s Wembley Arena. Our websites collectively are the second most popular entertainment/event websites in the United States, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. In addition, we also produce, promote or host theatrical, specialized motor sports and other live entertainment events. In 2006, we connected nearly 60 million fans with their favorite performers at approximately 26,000 events in 18 countries around the world. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Live Nation is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, trading under the symbol “LYV.”

SOURCE Live Nation

John Vlautin of Live Nation, +1-310-867-7127, [email protected]; or Susan
Makarichev, [email protected], or Rhett Usry, [email protected], or
Alana Salzberg, [email protected], all of Dan Klores Communications,
+1-212-685-4300, for Live Nation

http://www.livenation.com