Virgin America, V Australia and Black Star Beer Present the Sunset Strip Music Festival Party at Andaz West Hollywood

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Virgin America, the award-winning California-based airline that is reinventing air travel, today announced it is teaming up with V Australia and Black Star Beer for the third annual Sunset Strip Music Festival (SSMF) party at Andaz West Hollywood. The SSMF is a three-day music festival running from August 26-August 28, 2010, that will showcase a number of the Strip's most renowned clubs and legendary performers along with the hottest up-and-coming bands that will take over the street on August 28th with two outdoor stages.  The honoree for SSMF 2010 is Slash and this year's festival is headlined by The Smashing Pumpkins.  As the official domestic airline of the SSMF, Virgin America will bring together festival fans from across the country to help celebrate the Sunset Strip's vibrant musical legacy by hosting a star-studded party on the rooftop of what was the legendary "Riot House" hotel, the Andaz West Hollywood.  

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"We're proud to celebrate the Sunset Strip's legendary musical past and help support the up-and-coming artists of today," said Porter Gale, Vice President of Marketing at Virgin America.  "Virgin America offers music fans the largest content library in the skies right from their seatback – from on-demand music videos to a 3000 MP3 library that features everything from punk to zydeco to classical and back again.  We even curate an onboard soundtrack that features customized tracks from new artists in our onboard lavatories.  Music is just part of our DNA as a brand – and we're pleased to support the next generation of artists through SSMF."

Virgin America features the largest in-flight entertainment library in the domestic skies – via the touch screen Red™ platform at every seatback.  In addition to a 30-film library, live TV, music videos and video games at every seat, Red offers a library of over 3,000 MP3s and allows guests the ability to create their own playlist in-flight.  The airline is also known for featuring a diverse range of artists on its in-flight library, including, SSMF 2010 honoree, Slash, Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon, Band of Horses and Au Revoir Simone.  

Virgin Blue Group of Airlines Chief Executive John Borghetti said, "As a new Australian airline that is already proving a hit with musicians traveling trans-Pacific, we are all about providing rock-star treatment to all our guests on board our flights, so it's very fitting we are teaming up with Virgin America once again to co-host the official party of the Sunset Strip Music Festival."

The lineup for the third annual Sunset Strip Music Festival includes The Smashing Pumpkins, 2010 honoree Slash (featuring Myles Kennedy and an appearance by Fergie), Travie McCoy and Steel Panther performing on the west stage during the Saturday, Aug. 28 street fest, and Common, Kid Cudi, Semi Precious Weapons, Neon Trees, Saint Motel and Big B performing on the east stage.  Performances in the venues during the three day festival include P.O.D., Kix, Unwritten Law, Nico Vega, Warner Drive plus many more. 

"We are proud to welcome back Virgin America and V Australia and team up with Black Star Beer for the third annual SSMF 2010 party at Andaz West Hollywood," said Karmen Beck, Managing Director of the music festival.  "Virgin is a perfect fit with the electric energy that surrounds the Sunset Strip Music Festival and we're delighted about the partnership."

"What complements great music better than refreshing ice cold beer," says Minott Wessinger, fifth generation brewer and creator of Black Star Beer.  "Black Star Beer is proud to celebrate the Sunset Strip and its historic impact on the music industry.  We are excited to be a sponsor of the official party for the Sunset Strip Music Festival alongside Virgin America and V Australia."

Virgin America offers over 100 flights a day and flies to: San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Toronto and starting on October 6, 2010 – Orlando and on December 1, 2010 – Dallas.

About Virgin America: Headquartered in California and launched in 2007, Virgin America is one of the fastest growing new U.S. airlines of all time and currently employs over 1600 people. Virgin America offers guests attractive fares and a host of innovative features aimed at reinventing air travel. The airline's base of operations is San Francisco International Airport's modern International Terminal. The airline's new aircraft offer interactive in–flight entertainment systems and power outlets near every seat for electronic gear.  Virgin America was the first airline to offer in–flight internet service on every flight and hosts the largest in–flight entertainment library in the North American skies via its touch–screen Red™ seatback platform. In addition to a 30–film library including Oscar winners, foreign language films and Hollywood blockbusters, Red features live TV, videogames, seat–to–seat chat, 3,000 MP3s, music videos, interactive Google maps and more.  In just three years flying, Virgin America was named "Best Domestic Airline" in the Conde Nast Traveler 2008 and 2009 Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Domestic Airline" in Travel + Leisure's 2008, 2009 and 2010 World's Best Awards. For more:  www.virginamerica.com

EDITORS NOTE: Virgin America is a U.S.-controlled and operated airline and an entirely separate company from Virgin Atlantic.  Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group is a minority share investor in Virgin America.  

About V Australia and Virgin Blue: V Australia www.vaustralia.com.au is a three class boutique style airline offering the acclaimed service for which the Virgin Blue Group is renowned and a unique Australian style. On board the airline's brand new 361–seat 777–300ER aircraft, configuration includes Business Class cabin with 33 fully lie–flat beds, Premium Economy with 40 International Club seats and 288 International Economy seats. All cabins offer the Red, state-of-the-art personal seat back entertainment, seat to seat 'chat' or competition connectivity. The airline also has two in–flight bars, mood lighting including twilight and sunset, bathrooms with piped music including a "ladies only" bathroom and other touches of Australiana from salt and pepper shakers to hidden wallpaper murals.  V Australia is a part of the Virgin Blue Group of Airlines.  The Australian–based airline group also includes Virgin Blue, second largest carrier in Australia www.virginblue.com.au and short haul international airlines Pacific Blue www.flypacificblue.com Polynesian Blue. Together they operate a fleet comprising of 80 modern Boeing 737–NG's, Boeing 777 and Embraer E–Jet aircraft flying to 28 Australian and 13 international destinations in the South Pacific and Southeast Asia.

About Black Star Beer: Black Star Double Hopped Golden Lager was first brewed in Whitefish, Montana at the Great Northern Brewing Company in 1995.  The beer was created by Minott Wessinger, a fifth generation brewer and great-great grandson of West Coast brewing pioneer Henry Weinhard.  Black Star is a remarkably crisp and refreshing double-hopped (dry-hopped) lager with a distinctive, hoppy aroma and a rich, full-bodied flavor.  In February 2010, Minott Wessinger and the Great Northern Brewing Company celebrated the 15th Anniversary of its first brewing.  For more information, please visit blackstarbeer.com or facebook.com/blackstarbeer

About Sunset Strip Music Festival:  The Sunset Strip Music Festival (SSMF) was created in 2008 to promote, preserve and perpetuate the legendary Sunset Strip music experience. The Sunset Strip Business Association is the managing member of the limited liability company, which owns the Sunset Strip Music Festival. SSMF 2010 is scheduled for Aug. 26-28 and includes a tribute event honoring legendary guitarist Slash, performances in the venues Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights as well as an all day street festival on Saturday, Aug. 28 featuring The Smashing Pumpkins, Slash with special guests Fergie and Myles Kennedy, Common, Kid Cudi, Travie McCoy, Semi Precious Weapons, Neon Trees, Steel Panther, Big B and more than 50 additional bands throughout the day. For more information, please visit www.sunsetstripmusicfestival.com.

About Andaz

Global in scale while local in perspective, Andaz delivers an innovative hospitality experience blending personal preferences with attentive and uncomplicated service. This unique collection of hotels reflects the personality of each locale, and is dedicated to creating natural and vibrant living spaces where travelers can indulge in their own personal sense of comfort and style. The first property, Andaz Liverpool Street in London launched November 2007, followed by Andaz West Hollywood in January 2009 and Andaz Wall Street and Andaz San Diego in early 2010. Planned openings include Andaz 5th Avenue, Andaz Austin, Andaz Amsterdam, and Andaz Papagayo in Costa Rica. For more information, please visit www.andaz.com.

SOURCE Virgin America