MONOLITH ROCKS

MONOLITH Music Festival presented by Esurance marked the first-ever multi-day, multi-stage musical festival at Red Rocks, Colorado’s renowned outdoor amphitheatre. The indie-music event this past weekend left bloggers buzzing and industry praising MONOLITH as a welcomed, and in fact much-needed addition to the summer festival season. As Billboard reviewed, “The outrageously beautiful Red Rocks has been screaming out for an underground/indie-style music festival for many years. I could have told you that, but thanks to the tireless work of an elite group of Colorado scenesters, the dream is now a reality…2007's Monolith Festival is unlikely to be the last.”

Over ten thousand were in attendance from near and far for the inaugural two day event, where over 60 bands performed on five stages. MONOLITH promoters hand-picked an outstanding line-up of the underground music scene’s very best and on the verge. The indoor “WOXY Stage” hosted sweaty, overflowing audiences for bands like Ra Ra Riot and White Rabbits, while the “New Belgium Stage” at the top of the venue featured such stellar acts as Cloud Cult, Earl Greyhound, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Das EFX, and Matt & Kim, among others. Throughout the stages, MONOLITH represented its Rocky Mountain musical roots, showcasing many of the region’s up-and-comers including the Hot IQ’s, Au Revoir Simone, Gregory Alan Isakov and Bela Karoli. Esurance Main Stage performers included The Flaming Lips, CAKE, Spoon, Art Brut, The Decemberists, Kings of Leon, and more. For the complete festival line-up visit www.monolithfestival.com or to see behind the scenes video footage go to http://www.maniatv.com/tv/DailyIndieTV.

One of the most unique things about the first MONOLITH Music Festival is that it offered a large number of some of the underground’s best bands to play at one of the most amazing venues on the planet. It’s an opportunity that may not otherwise present itself, as artists and music fans who typically frequent smokey, late night bars and clubs to get their fix, collected instead in the fresh open air of Red Rocks, and felt right at home. As Spoon’s Britt Daniel exclaimed from the main stage, “I'm not even an outdoor person, but this is amazing." Matt & Kim concurred, “Our friends told us this was the best venue in the country…but [this is] heaven. Thank you all so much, we will never, ever forget this.”

As part of MONOLITH Festival’s Greening efforts, festival promoters worked with title sponsors Esurance, and with Friends of Red Rocks & Denver Digs Trees, to plant seven native Rocky Mountain Juniper Trees throughout the site to preserve and add to the natural elements of Red Rocks. MONOLITH also presented Friends of Red Rocks with a $1000 check to replenish and aid upkeep on Red Rocks’ Native Gardens area. MONOLITH also partnered with Native Energy to offset much of the carbon used to put on the festival. “It’s definitely a goal of MONOLITH to make this a 100% Green Festival,” says MONOLITH co-founder/co-promoter Josh Baker, “We think this was a great start.”

Watch extensive MONOLITH coverage from a fan and artist perspective on ManiaTV’s daily alternative rock show,The Daily Indie , beginning Tuesday, September 25. The show, hosted by Indie Queen, CJ Christy, will feature exclusive MONOLITH video interviews with The Flaming Lips, Spoon, Art Brut, The Decemberists, Earl Greyhound, Editors, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Matt & Kim, Little Ones, No More Kings and Mason Proper. Three one hour episodes will also include stories on the Red Rocks venue, MONOLITH attendees and their fashion sense, and scenes from backstage at MONOLITH. For more, go to http://www.maniatv.com/tv/DailyIndieTV.

This event was co-produced by MONOLITH and AEG Live Rocky Mountains.

High Resolution photos available for download at www.monolithfestival.com