THE World-Class Hip-Hop Gathering to feature performances from the wu-tang clan, mos def, talib kweli, redman, de la soul and more- TICKETS GO ON SALE MAY 20-ROCK THE BELLS, one of the brightest hip-hop music festivals in the country, is set to return this summer on Saturday, August 5 at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino in Southern California. This year’s massive line-up features the return performance from the Wu-Tang Clan featuring a tribute to ODB, whose final performance with the Clan became legendary two years ago on the ROCK THE BELLS stage. The rest of the line-up is a dream billing with Mos Def, Taib Kweli, Redman, De La Soul, Aesop Rock, Living Legends, DEL The Funky Homosapien, Immortal Technique, MURS 3:16, Visionaries, Self Scientific and Planet Asia, plus more acts to be announced. An additional show in Northern California is also confirmed for Sunday, August 6 with details to follow at a later date. In addition to over 30 of the most respected and highly skilled emcees ever gathered for one stage, this year’s ROCK THE BELLS will also showcase a spectacular B-Boy stage, live art presentations, championship-caliber turntablist and emcee battles. A special 20-minute sneak preview of the ROCK THE BELLS feature documentary film of the 2004 show—unveiled at the most recent Tribeca Film Festival--will be shown before it hits theaters later this year.
Keeping true to tradition, ROCK THE BELLS will feature surprise live performances. If that wasn’t enough, Supernatural will be attempting to break The Guinness Book of World Records for Longest Freestyle Rap of 8 hours and 45 minutes currently held by Canadian rapper, D.O.
Spearheaded by festival founder and organizer Chang Weisberg of Guerilla Union, ROCK THE BELLS continues as an ambitious undertaking inspired by a lack of quality hip-hop events and tours in the concert industry today. “This year’s show will be the greatest gathering of lyricists I can imagine. We will deliver thirty of the most brilliant and gifted emcees ever assembled to celebrate hip-hop’s diverse and eclectic culture,” says Weisberg. “Rock The Bells has become the ultimate platform of integrity for conscious, hardcore, and independent music and we are excited for the fans who have made this their annual destination year after year. I can honestly say that our fans will witness something that will never happen again…this year’s surprise performances will be talked about for many years to come.”
ROCK THE BELLS will also hit the road after its California festival run and tour clubs all across North America this fall with plans for Europe and Japan in the winter.
ROCK THE BELLS in the press:
“In its third edition- California’s Rock The Bells Festival is on its way to becoming the hip-hop version of Coachella.”
– Pitchfork
“The RZA encouraged the crowd to throw up one last ‘W’ before heading to the parking lot after more than 12 hours of music. Despite the heat, the solid day of hip-hop left fans with, as Ghost would say ’happiness in globs.’"
– MTV News
”The state of hip-hop is often called into question, and not without good reason. However, Guerilla Union once again has successfully demonstrated that when MC’s and DJ’s are conscious of the past, they will be able to be innovative and provide hope for the future of hip-hop.”
– Jive Magazine
Also in the press, the ROCK THE BELLS film:
"... Rock the Bells is a sometimes nail-biting, often laugh-out-loud hysterical look at a concert promoter's struggle to reunite all ten members of the Wu-Tang Clan for one night only. I could not be described as a hip hop fan by any imagining, but Rock the Bells is just a good time -- in fact, it's for sure the most purely entertaining film I've seen all year."
--Karina Longworth, Cinematical
"That same year in San Bernardino, DIY concert promoter Chang Weisberg staked his family, mortgage and budding reputation on producing a once-in-a-lifetime event that seemed doomed to fail. Named for the festival itself, Casey Suchan and Dennis Henry Hennelly's outright exhilarating Rock the Bells isn't so much about the music, but Chang's unrelenting pursuit to reunite all nine members of hip hop supergroup The Wu-Tang Clan. Renowned for years as regular no-shows, each rapper's potential arrival becomes a rich well of suspense, leading up to a climax you just can't make up: with over 10,000 fans ready to rush the stage, can the now-deceased Ol' Dirty Bastard be shaken from his stupor to keep Chang true to his promise? The reunion melodrama alone is plenty fodder for one documentary, yet the multi-camera procedural neatly ties together worthwhile subplots and all the major players' roles with hilarious, real-time candor. Between a production manager going ballistic over an opening act's never-ending last song, special guest Redman refusing to talk on-camera until he gets some "herb," and a lightweight security team who can't control the overcrowded venue, Rock the Bells doesn't just delve behind the scenes; it makes a showstopping guest-MC out of each crazy new obstacle."
--Aaron Hills, Premiere Magazine
Tickets for ROCK THE BELLS go on-sale on Saturday, May 20 at noon PST and will be available through Ticketmaster or area local hip-hop shops. Tickets are $40/$45/$50. $100 limited VIP tickets are also available. This is an all-ages show rain or shine.
www.rockthebells.net
www.myspace.com/rockthebellsfestival
www.guerillaunion.com
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05-19-2006, 10:07 AM
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