PLAY:stl Festival 2009 (extended)

PLAY:stl Music Festival & Conference will feature upwards of 75 acts on 5+ stages over three days. Over 4,000 people will attend and 20 Sonicbids artists will be selected. The conference portion will provide musicians with education and networking opportunities - selected artists receive wristband/n/nThe second annual PLAY:stl Music Festival & Conference will take place September 17-19, 2009, and be centered on St. Louis' Delmar Loop. As in the past two years, the '09 fest will feature upwards of 75 acts and 5+ live music stages over three days. Participating venues include Blueberry Hill (both the Duck and Elvis Rooms), multiple stages at Cicero's, Vintage Vinyl and others.

Saturday's conference portion is geared toward providing musicians with education and networking opportunities. Panels will feature industry professionals discussing such topics as booking & touring, press & publicity, recording & replication, and the local scene. Admission to the conference is free with PLAY:stl wristband, which all selected artists will receive.

The objectives of the PLAY:stl Music Festival & Conference are twofold: (1) Increase awareness of the St. Louis area as a musical hub, rich with talented musicians and music-loving fans, and (2) Provide festival performers and attendees with a broader audience as well as educational and networking opportunities to increase their career success.

The response to the first two PLAY:stl festivals has been overwhelmingly positive, as music fans, musicians and businesses showed their support and enjoyment of the festival's early years. Over 4,000 people attended each year. This year, at least 20 Sonicbids artists will be selected for this event. 10 of these slots are reserved for artists that submit before April 24.

Behind the PLAY:stl Music Festival & Conference is PLAYBACK:stl, the St. Louis-based music and entertainment magazine founded in 2002, in print four and a half years before switching to web-only. More than just a collection of words, PLAYBACK:stl has long been involved in booking shows and hosting events, drawing attention to the local music community and independent artists for many years. Also driving PLAY:stl is Bigfatcat, a St. Louis management, public relations and graphic design firm focused on promoting and advancing artists' careers.

Please note: There is no pay offered for festival appearances; rather, performers profit through increased exposure, networking and merch sales.