RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS TO RELEASE
EP OF CLASSIC COVERS ON MAY 1ST

Fresh from their drama free induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, multi-platinum rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers will release a very special digital-only EP, entitled We Salute You, on May 1st to commemorate the occasion. The covers EP will feature six songs from previous Hall of Fame inductees, all of whom have influenced the band musically: The Ramones, Iggy & The Stooges, Neil Young, David Bowie, The Beach Boys, and Dion and the Belmonts.

Five of the six tracks have never been available digitally. "A Teenager In Love" was released as an international maxi-single; "Havana Affair" was released as a 7"-single and featured on the compilation We're A Happy Family: A Tribute To The Ramones; "Search & Destroy" has only appeared on a now out-of-print maxi-CD, "I Get Around" was first played during Brian Wilson's 2005 MusiCares induction speech; and "Suffragette City" was previously only available as a B-side to the band's single "Aeroplane." "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" was recorded live during Red Hot Chili Peppers' current tour supporting their album I'm With You. It will also be available via their website.

The track-listing for We Salute You is as follows:
"A Teenager in Love" (Dion and the Belmonts)
"Havana Affair" (Ramones)
"Search & Destroy" (Iggy and the Stooges)
"Everybody Knows This is Nowhere" (Neil Young) [live]
"I Get Around" (The Beach Boys) [live]
"Suffragette City" (David Bowie) [live]

The Red Hot Chili Peppers will headline two sold out nights at Staples Center on August 11 and 12, in addition to playing Lollapalooza on August  4 in Chicago, and San Diego on September 23.

 

 

 

 

 

 

23RD ANNUAL SIMI VALLEY CAJUN & BLUES MUSIC FEST
TO BE HELD MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND

The 23rd annual Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Festival will rock over Memorial Day weekend, May 26-27, at Rancho Santa Susanna Community Park in Simi Valley. L.A.’s largest Cajun and Blues festival will feature two stages, a Mardi Gras parade, kids’ stages, crafts and dozens of food booths.

Musical headliners on the Blues Stage will include the Fabulous Thunderbirds featuring Kim Wilson; Candye Kane, flanked by guitarist Laura Chavez, in a rare Los Angeles area appearance; a Muddy Waters Tribute featuring blues legend James Cotton, Paul Oscher and other members of the Muddy Waters band, and Muddy’s son Mud Morganfield; Rod Piazza & the West Coast Sheiks; Big Pete; Terry Hanck; Shawn Pittman; and the Mannish Boys with special guests. Oscher will also perform his own set. Certain to steal the spotlight will be “next generation” Americana-influenced bluesman Nathan James & the Rhythm Scratchers, joined by James Harman. The festival’s blues lineup was curated by Randy Chortkoff, founder of the respected L.A. blues label Delta Groove Records.

Music will proceed non-stop each day from 12 noon until 8 p.m. Tickets cost $20 (adults 13+) and $15 (children) are available online or at the gate. The festival has its origins in Cajun and Zydeco music, and this year the Cajun and Zydeco Stage will feature Gator Beat, Bonne Musique Zydeco, Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble, Nathan & the Zydeco Cha-Chas, and Billy Lee & the Swamp Critters, among others. In a genre that defies standing still, the festival boasts the largest outdoor dance floor west of the Mississippi River. Dance instruction will be offered.

This family-friendly event will boast a huge kids’ area with bouncers, rock walls, specialty acts, crafts and talent shows. There will be dozens of food booths featuring a variety of fare: authentic Cajun creations and Southern BBQ as well as multi-cultural cuisine. More than 100 craft booths and retailers will be scattered throughout the festival grounds.

The Simi Valley Cajun & Blues Festival schedule is as follows:

SATURDAY, MAY 26
CAJUN-ZYDECO STAGE
12:00pm Billy Lee & The Swamp Critters
1:30pm Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas
3:05pm Rosie Ledet
4:20pm Mardi Gras Parade
4:50pm Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble
6:25pm Gator Beat
BLUES STAGE
11:30am Paul Oscher
12:45 pm R.J. Mischo
1:50 pm Shawn Pittman
2:55pm The Mannish Boys with Special Guests
Sugaray Rayford
Smokin’ Joe Kubek & Bnois King
Marco Pondolfi
Paul Size
Jason Ricci
5:00pm Muddy Waters Tribute
James Cotton
Mud Morganfield
Darrell Nulisch
Bob Margolin
Paul Oscher
Johnny Dyer
Bob Corritore
6:45pm Nathan James & The Rhythm Scratchers with Special Guest James Harman

SUNDAY, MAY 27
CAJUN-ZYDECO STAGE
12:00pm The Bayou Brothers
1:20pm Nathan and the Zydeco Cha Chas
2:50pm Gator Beat
4:00pm Mardi Gras Parade
4:30pm Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble
6:00pm Bonne Musique Zydeco
BLUES STAGE
11:30am The Mighty Mojo Prophets
12:15pm Mitch Kashmar with John Marx & Adrianna
1:25pm Terry Hanck
2:30pm Big Pete with special guest Paul Size
3:45pm Rod Piazza & The West Coast Sheiks featuring Junior Watson and special guests
5:15pm The Fabulous Thunderbirds
6:45pm Candye Kane

The Rancho Santa Susanna Community Park is located at 5005 Los Angeles Aveue in Simi Valley. Free parking available. Click here to purchase online tickets.