This year's Summer Solstice will not only greet Alaska with plenty of sunshine, but also with the birth of a music festival. On the eve of Friday, June 20th, hundreds will celebrate the First Annual Midnight Sunrise Solstice Celebration at UAA's Wendy Williamson Auditorium. This year's celebration features the art of electronic music and dance. National Touring artists J.Wail and Rob Noble headline the event with an array of DJs from Alaska.
Catch a glimpse of the shimmying gyrations of local belly dancers and enjoy a dazzling display by AK Fire Circus. In an effort to bring music to Alaska, Midnight Sunrise Founder Jonah Lipsky aka J. Wail says, "For the years to come on Solstice, I plan on bringing an array of acts from Alaska and around the world in for Midnight Sunrise. Somewhere in my heart is a strong desire to bring Alaskans more music."
J.Wail came to Alaska last year for the first time and infused audiences with something completely fresh and new. Playing live instruments, vocals, and live electronics, his "one man band of the future" antics have been setting off crowds from Hawaii to Alaska to San Francisco into blissful frenzies. Having played over 400 shows in less than 3 years he is on a mission to share his unique styles with the world. His current "Tour De Bliss" reaches off to dates from Kodiak Island to San Diego to Maine. On recent tours he's shared the stage with members of the String Cheese Incident, the Grateful Dead, Bassnectar, Perpetual Groove and Ekoostik Hookah. You can get sneak peak of these funky sounds at www.myspace.com/jwail
Rob Noble has been a key figure in the Seattle drum and bass and electronic music since 2000. After releasing 2 CDs and 1 album, he has performed throughout North America, including some of the biggest music festivals in the country such as Emerg-N-See, Burning Man, One Family Gathering, Photosynthesis and others. Rob has a diversified sound and incorporates breaks, dubstep and drum 'n' bass. This is a triumphant return to the last frontier and he will be sure to bring the beats.
Midnight Sunrise will also feature a core group of significant Alaskan DJs who over the years have ignited the rapidly growing electronic scene. Artists include Dig Sista, Pranxter, Sol, Uzoma and DJ Lytw8.
Midnight Sunrise, an all ages event, starts at 6 pm on Friday, June 20th.
**The tickets are only $10 before 8 p.m. and $15 after 8 p.m., and can be bought at the Wendy Williamson Auditorium after 5 p.m. on the day of the event. The event will end at 1 a.m.
For more info please about visit www.myspace.com/midnightsunriseak
Doors open at 6 p.m.
All Ages
$10 before 8p.m., $15 after
Wendy Williamson Auditorium
UAA Campus
3211 Providence Drive
