The fifth annual New Noise Santa Barbara Music Conference and Festival is coming to venues up and down historic State Street and blocks of the Funk Zone from October 17 to 19, 2013. It’s a slightly earlier schedule than in year’s past, but better timed to take advantage of the longer fall nights. As has been done since its founding in 2009, New Noise will feature nightly concerts at a variety of downtown venues, a full-day conference on the music and technology industry’s most important, thought-provoking, and argument-inducing topics, and, as was much heralded last year, an all day Block Party in the Funk Zone, where nationally touring as well as locally based bands will play to a laid-back environment in the heart of downtown Santa Barbara. This year New Noise has announced that buzz band artist HAIM will be headlining the event on Saturday, October 19th.

“Building on the past four years, we will again be hosting more than 50 music-, tech-, and entrepreneur-minded speakers at our conference along with more than 50 up-and-coming bands throughout downtown Santa Barbara,” said New Noise Festival Director Jeff Theimer. “We’re currently booking what I think are some really interesting and diverse artists and are keeping our focus on how to grow and continue to improve the conference, where we will once again deliver stimulating discussions about the future of sound and host internationally renowned experts on the music and technology industries. Our goal, as always, is to have fun, stimulate discussion about the music and tech fields, and to connect entrepreneurs, artists and industry professionals to help make ideas become reality.”

In prior years, New Noise has hosted marquee concerts with such notable acts as Jack Johnson, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, Fitz & the Tantrums, Massive Attack, Thievery Corporation, Michael Franti & Spearhead and many others. “When we founded this event five years ago, our plan was to deliver a diverse selection of music, from punk rock to hip-hop to reggae to folk to everything in between,” said Theimer. “I’m proud of what we have built, and think we will once again be bringing some great new music to Santa Barbara for 2013. It’s crazy to think multi platinum artists Imagine Dragons were an opening act at one of our 300 person venues just three years ago. It’s always fun to see hardworking bands get that kind of success. Hopefully we will be hosting the next Imagine Dragons at this year’s Festival. You never know, and that is part of the fun.”

Already booked are rocker and party enthusiast, Andrew W.K (Thursday, October 17, Velvet Jones), the indie/folksters He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister (Friday, October 18, SOhO), and NYC electro poppers Holy Ghost! (Friday, October 18, Velvet Jones) and the Block Party headliners HAIM (On sale Friday, August 9 at 10am via NewNoiseSB.Org). More lineup and speaker announcements will be made in the coming weeks.

The conference has also been informed and inspired by the wisdom of such visionaries as Chuck D of Public Enemy, Tim Westergren (founder/CEO of Pandora Radio), Kevin Lyman (founder of the Warped Tour), and Ian Rogers (CEO, Daisy). “The music business is still rapidly changing,” said Theimer, “and we get speakers who can cut through the noise and tell you exactly what’s happening, why, and what you should be doing to postion yourself best you can for that change. That goes for both musicians as well as anyone who wants to build a career surrounded by music, whether as a manager, promoter, booking agent, music attorney or entrepreneur.”

Last year’s New Noise Block Party featured more than 1,200 people grooving to five bands, including Santa Barbara’s own Gardens & Villa, frequenting the booths of artisans, enjoying the beer and wine garden, and exploring the rest of the Funk Zone as well. “We took a gamble with the Block Party last year, but fans and the community showed up in force, so we will be growing on that idea for 2013,” said Theimer, who hopes that this years version of the Block Party will again grow on the overall vibe of the conference and festival.

Last but certainly not least, New Noise also kicks off the annual Pianos on State extravaganza, whereby numerous pianos are distributed all around downtown Santa Barbara each day for the public to play. “It’s a great way to put music in the heart of our community and connect the festival attendees and local residents, which is what New Noise is all about,” said Theimer. “ It’s pretty amazing to see some of our festival artists take advantage of these pianos too. I love seeing spontaneous concerts in the middle of State Street for passersby.”

And all of this comes to you for a very affordable price, thanks to the New Noise Music Foundation’s sponsorship of the event. In year’s past, you could see all of these concerts and attend the conference for a mere $50. “We plan to keep New Noise as affordable as ever, with various packages depending on what your interests are,” said Theimer.

More announcements are expected in the weeks to come. Early bird pricing for VIP badges are on sale now for only $40.

For those seeking to get involved, find more information, or buy tickets and badges, see NewNoiseSB.org.

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