On Saturday, September 8, 2012, the VENICE BEACH MUSIC FEST  is back for its biggest year yet, adding a foam dance party with Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap in addition to the stellar lineups in music, art, and dance for which the festival has been known for the past seven years.  This free-to-the-public, full day of entertainment will be in Windward Plaza Park from 11am - 7:00pm. (Windward Plaza Park is at 1 Windward Avenue, between the boardwalk and the bike trail in Venice, CA 90291.) VBMF7 is the sister festival to the Venice Spring Fling, both of which work to ensure that the historical creative spirit of Venice is kept vibrant. So, if you welcomed summer at the Spring Fling, come close it out with Venice Beach Music Fest 7!

This year’s musical lineup features the broadest range of styles the Ocean Stage has ever seen.  Music begins at 11:00 AM and kicks off with local hip-hop fusion band CHAMPA 51, combining dance music with soulful rhythms and thought-provoking lyrics.  At noon, Southern California’s premier Grateful Dead cover band, CUBENSIS, takes the stage, striving not to recreate a bygone experience but to create a wholly new, interactive experience that won’t leave anyone standing still.  Rounding out the full afternoon of music are a mix of local and international acts that include the genre-bending swamp funk show band DANCE HALL PIMPS; Bay Area favorites DYLAN CHAMBERS & THE MIDNIGHT TRANSIT, son of legendary Lester Chambers; local sextet of electronic wizardry INSECTS VS ROBOTS; multitalented guitar virtuoso Michael Jost and multiplatinum drummer and producer Andy Kravitz in SPIDERS AND WITCHES; violinist and composer LILI HAYDN (who George Clinton has dubbed the “Jimi Hendrix of the violin”); and PLANET OF THE ABTS, featuring Matt Abts and Jorgen Carlsson, rhythm section of the Grammy-nominated band Gov’t Mule.

Dance performances will be interspersed between musical sets, and include a drum and dance parade led by L.A.’s most active Samba school, SAMBA DA MUDANÇA – SAMBA FOR CHANGE, and the joyful return of festival veteran ensembles ATS BELLYDANCE AND DRUMS and YA HARISSA BELLYDANCE THEATER.  At press time, festival producers were waiting to confirm a FLIGHTLINE aerial performance by Alicia Marie of Isis Vision.

As always, the art show will feature paintings, sculpture, and photography from local and international artists that include Ra Ra SuperStar, Joel Harris, art by sky, Jean-Paul, Brian Mylius, Audrey McNamara-Garcia, Alex Avila, Sonji Mariposa, and many others.  There are still spaces available for free participation in the art show; for information and to register please visit VeniceBeachMusicfest.com.

Perhaps the largest and most fun addition to this year’s festival is the DR. BRONNER’S ALL-ONE ARK INTERBLASTIVE FOAM SHOWER AND SPA EXPERIENCE.  Bring your friends and come take a group shower at the beach while blasting each other with foam – all in the name of ecological and sustainability education.  (The All-One Ark also will be in Venice on July 19 and 26, August 2 and 10, and September 7 and 14.)  Food trucks that will be on site include SCHMUCK WITH A TRUCK New York Delicatessen on Wheels, and ORGANIC OASIS, the World’s First Solar Powered Smoothie Truck. THIRD EYE TIE-DYE and ECLECTIC HOOPS will round out the vendors for the event.

This year’s message for VBMF7 is social change. Says Milton Rosenberg, festival producer: “All of the festival performers and sponsors of VBMF are already giving something back by participating in this free community event.  Additionally, we’re proud to be featuring some artists and sponsors who actively support humanitarian causes.”  Here are just a few of the wonderful works some of our participants are doing:

- With their tag line, “Pimp Music Not People,” DANCE HALL PIMPS wish to raise awareness about Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, and the band donates a portion of its profits to organizations that provide services to victims of DMST.

- LILI HAYDN performs regularly for various human rights organization fundraisers, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the Global Security Institute.

Dance troupe SAMBA DA MUDANÇA – SAMBA FOR CHANGE donates performances for socially and environmentally conscious events.

- DR BRONNER’S MAGIC SOAPS, whose products are certified under the USDA National Organic Program and are also certified Fair Trade, works with the Organic Consumers Association's Coming Clean Campaign for honesty and integrity in cosmetics industry product labeling.

“Venice has always been a stopping point for great musicians and artists,” says Rosenberg. “This year’s Venice Beach Music Fest showcases the best of music, art, and dance.”  Marc Blackbird of CHAMPA 51, who have performed on Venice Beach for over a decade, says, “The VBMF has continued the great Venice tradition of bringing divergent scenes together though music and art, and it will truly be a pleasure to go back to our roots on the beach in Venice and be part of the next great gathering.”

The official aftershow of VBMF7 will begin at 7PM at Danny’s at 23 Windward Avenue.

The musical lineup for the evening featuring some very special guests will be announced shortly on VeniceBeachMusicFest.com and Facebook.com/venicebeachmusicfest.

This free community event is made possible through the generous sponsorship of local businesses and volunteers: Earrigation mobile recording studios, Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap, Venice Beach Suites and Hotel, The Sidewalk Cafe, Venice Boardwalk Association, Danny's, Fresh Brothers Pizza, Zulu Tattoo, Flightline, Galactic Drifter Internet Solutions, Big Daddy and Sons, Zelda's Corner, Jody Maroni's Sausage Kingdom, and Animal House. The Venice Chamber of Commerce also endorses this event.

Additional information, full band bios, and photos are available at VeniceBeachMusicFest.com.  Join the vibrant social community and preview music and art by festival participants at facebook.com/VeniceBeachMusicFest.  Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available, and visual artists are encouraged to apply to show their work for FREE in the community art show.  Contact event organizers at VeniceBeachMusicFest@gmail.com.