August 28, 2009

Superglorious and NYAF announce Far East To East Showcase

Kokusyoku Sumire, Echostream, Swinging Popsicle, And Gelatine To Play Webster Hall

Norwalk, CT, August 20, 2009: Superglorious and the New York Anime Festival (NYAF) today announced the Far East To East Showcase (FETES) 2009, a night of innovative music that brings together four of the best musical artists from both the Far East and the East Coast. FETES takes place in The Studio at Webster Hall (125 East 11th Street, New York City) on Sunday, September 27. Doors open at 5:30 PM with FETES '09 scheduled to kick off at 6:30 PM. Launched earlier this year, Superglorious is a live event production firm responsible for orchestrating events with a very eclectic and exciting mix of artists. The New York Anime Festival, an anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture convention from the creators of New York Comic Con, will take place September 25-27, 2009 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Manhattan. NYAF Guests include Yoshiyuki Tomino -- the Director of Mobile Suit Gundam -- and Yui Makino -- the voice of Sakura in Tsubasa: Reservoir Chronicle. NYAF premieres include Gurren Lagann: The Movie - Childhood's End, Cencoroll, and 20th Century Boys.

The FETES musical lineup includes Kokusyoku Sumire, Echostream, Swinging Popsicle, and Gelatine. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 the day of the show and available now at www.ticketweb.com and www.websterhall.com. The show is open to audiences of all ages.

"FETES debuted last year with a huge bang," Superglorious organizer Hayden Brereton said. "This year, we're keeping up the excitement with a group of artists from both the US and Japan that are sure to amaze fans."

"We're honored to bring this year's FETES to the legendary Webster Hall," NYAF Show Manager Lance Fensterman said. "And, more than that, we're honored to have such a diverse roster of bands, all chosen not because of their involvement with anime but instead because of the caliber of their music."

Superglorious will hold a FETES Press Panel on Saturday, September 26 at the New York Anime Festival. Superglorious will also maintain a booth at NYAF all weekend long where various FETES artists will appear. For more information on NYAF or to purchase tickets, please visit the show's official site (www.nyanimefestival.com). For the latest announcements, please visit NYAF's official blog (www.mediumatlarge.net) or follow NYAF on Twitter (www.twitter.com/NY_Anime_Fest).

ABOUT KOKUSYOKU SUMIRE:
The dark sounds of baroque and cabaret unite for a unique two-piece band know as Kokusyoku Sumire. At the center of Kokusyoku Sumire (Black Violet) are Yuka, a genuine soprano songstress with the attraction of a little devil, and Sachi, an exceptional violinist and model who effortlessly strikes adorable poses. The girls express with extravagant freedom motifs based on internationally known fairy tales such as Little Red Riding Hood, The Little Match Girl, and Hansel and Gretel, while adopting elements from such music genres as chansons and classical music. Formed in 2004, this musical unit has acquired a unique position in the Japanese musical scene and the world. Kokusyoku Sumire toured France at the end of November 2007 and are ready to enchant New York City at NYAF.

ABOUT SWINGING POPSICLE:
Japanese indie music veterans Swinging Popsicle play pop/rock music in amazing fashion with incredible vocals, tasty guitar work, and catchy lyrics. After starting strong with multiple Sony-label releases, Swinging Popsicle continued to build their international fan base with their independent releases of "Change" and "Orange." Their album transit features the hits "I Just Wanna Kiss You" and "Girl Meets Boy." Performing to regular sold-out live shows, the band continued to develop new material for their full-length album, Go on, which features "rainbounds," "Clash," and "Chocolate Soul Music." Swinging Popsicle was nominated as Best Japanese Rock Band by Shojo Beat magazine.

ABOUT ECHOSTREAM:
Echostream is a band that succeeds in creating music that can draw the audience into its world of rich and vivid emotion. Deep grooves, driving guitars, and a dark and beautiful ambience provide a perfectly crafted world for emotion-injected vocals to thrive in. Live performances are more like theatrical experiences than concerts. Echostream's ability to connect emotionally with its audiences is the band's true strength. Their fans come back time and time again for a chance to relive this intense experience. For never having been on extended tour, Echostream has racked up a lot of credit around the Eastern half of the nation and opened up for international touring acts such as Blood, Anti-Feminism, and Phantasmagoria. For more information about this unique band, go to myspace.com/echostream.

ABOUT GELATINE:
In Japan, there was an all-girl punk band called 10 Yen Anakinoko, begun by singer Seiko when she was only 15-years-old. This band ended after playing in New York City in 1995, and they have since become a legend. Five years later, a 10 Yen Anakinoko reunion show with new guitarist Jun became the beginning of Gelatine; a band created to let the great songs of 10 Yen Anakinoko come to alive once again as well as to craft new, intense music. Gelatine's long-awaited first album, Gie Ji Gaii, was released in January 2009. It is an embodiment of what Gelatine has been aiming to capture for all these years. Experience the Japanese horror-comical freak punk metal that is Gelatine at FETES!

ABOUT SUPERGLORIOUS:
Superglorious is a specialized promoter of underground rock culture with a special emphasis on emerging artists from Japan. By providing positive platforms that allow top notch and cutting-edge performers to shine, Superglorious aims to generate value for artists and music lovers alike. To fulfill this mission, Superglorious utilizes numerous channels including the web, social networks, radio, print, street team, and live events. Superglorious gives a voice to talented underground and indie artists from around the world. For more, visit www.superglorious.com

ABOUT THE NEW YORK ANIME FESTIVAL:
The New York Anime Festival takes place September 25-27, 2009 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in Midtown Manhattan and is organized by Reed Exhibitions, the creators of New York Comic Con. The New York Anime Festival showcases the best of anime pop culture, including the latest anime, manga, Japanese cinema, music, and games, and anime-influenced comics, animation, and films from around the world. The festival features exclusive and extensive screenings, a gala cosplay masquerade, sessions with the some of the biggest names in anime from Japan, Asia, and America, and explores the Japanese cultural experience with displays of both traditional and cutting-edge Japanese life. Further information can be found at newyorkanimefestival.com.

ABOUT REED EXHIBITIONS POP CULTURE GROUP:
The Pop Culture Group at Reed Exhibitions owns and operates the New York Comic Con (NYCC), the Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2), and the New York Anime Festival (NYAF). New York Comic Con was launched in 2006 and quickly became a dominant presence in the pop culture world of public events. In 2009, 452 companies exhibited at NYCC for a total of 84,000 square feet of paid exhibit space, and it has been ranked by Crain's New York Business as the second-largest annual event in NYC. C2E2, which will debut April 16 – 18 at Chicago's McCormick Place Convention Center, is modeled after NYCC and will provide fans the opportunity to meet and greet their favorite writers, creators, and artists, as well as to see, hear and learn about the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. The Pop Culture Group also operates the recently-launched UFC Fan Expo in partnership with the UFC – the world's leading professional mixed martial arts organization – and it formed a strategic partnership with Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) in 2008 and will work closely with PAX on the launch of PAX East in Boston in 2010.

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