Block Party
Amber
Born in the Netherlands, partially raised in Germany by a mother who is a songwriter and piano teacher and by a father who is an opera singer, music was a naturally given gift, genetically passed on, a way to communicate mood and feelings. Amber was 16 years old when she started to entertain the thought of becoming a professional singer but always had a sense of strong responsibility and felt that she had to finish school first and have a job to always have a back-up plan to then support her passion.
Then in 1995, after years of demos and small local performances, she received an offer from a label in the U.S. with her debut single "This Is Your Night".Amber amassed an impassioned army of fans with a string of worldwide smash hits that include "Sexual (li da di)", "Above The Clouds", "The Need To Be Naked". Songs that are smarter, bolder, and more infectious than your average, paint-by-numbers pop tunes. With sterling gems like "Yes!", "If You Could Read My Mind" (from the Studio 54 soundtrack with Ultra Nate and Jocelyn Enriquez), and "One More Night", she has racked up an impressive seven consecutive No. 1 dance singles and an additional six Top 10 dance hits. Many of them made it into the official Top 40 Billboard Charts. Her songs have been featured on countless compilations and been covered by an array of artists -- she co-penned one track called "Bless You Child" for Bette Midler's album release in 2000 and most notably Cher, whose rendition of "Love One Another" earned Amber a Grammy nomination in 2004. "This Is Your Night" was featured in the motion picture hit "A Night At The Roxbury". Additionally, the Amber tunes "Taste The Tears", "Object Of Your Desire" and "Above The Clouds" have been prominently featured on the red-hot Sex & the City. With stellar remixes by Tracy Young, Hex Hector, Al B Rich, Pathos, DJ Lance Jordan and AM Corona we are assured to see more of her for many years to come.
Odd Girl Out
What happens when you mix pissed-off punk music to the sweet melodies of pop, and throw in a cup of rock? You can’t help but sing along. These girls’ music will definitely be stuck in your head the morning after. Odd Girl Out was born in the fall of 2004. Bethany Petr on drums, Eva Blackmer on bass guitar and vocals, Kristen Brzowsky on lead guitar, Selena Benally on rhythm guitar, and Tawni on lead vocals. A little less Scandnavian than Sahara Hotnights, a few more degrees of separation from Joan Jett than The Eyeliners, and a decade short of Letters to Cleo.
Brendan Velasquez
At Nineteen, Brendan Velasquez knows what he wants. He has set out to reach his goal: a career in the music business. With his driven determination, ambition, and talent there is not much that can stop this young man from reaching and moving people through music. Brendan’s songs range from pop/dance/electronic to R&B with a techno flavor there is something for everyone who loves great music. There's even a throwback to motown as one of his bonus tracks (Old School) for the debut Album "Livin' Out Loud" which was released July 1st, 2008."
A project that he is very proud of and took two years to complete, "Livin Out Loud" describes his life as a teenager going through heartbreaks, growing up, and just having a good time. The album is Brendan from front to back. Having such involvement as a writer and the creative control he was given on this first project, makes it a really special, authentic first album. With looks that equal Zac Efron and Ashton Kutcher, and a voice reminiscent of Justin Timberlake and George Michael, Brendan Velasquez is an artist you will be seeing a lot of for many years to come.
Cherry Bomb
Born and raised in the hot heat of the dirty South, Cherry Bomb has been performing since she was just a tiny pile of gunpowder. Conceived in the throes of a passionate one-night stand between bell hooks and RuPaul, art, activism, and a love of glitter is built into her sordid DNA. She cut her chops on the NYC burlesque scene, performing at venues like the famed Slipper Room and Mo Pitkins, as well as being an I *Heart* Brooklyn Girl 2008.
Lianna Carrera
Lianna Carrera was born to a Deaf mother and a hearing father on Christmas day in 1984. Her father was an ordained minister to the Deaf, which meant moving often to establish Deaf churches and missions along the east coast. As she grew older, Lianna began to understand that her experiences as a gay daughter of a southern baptist minister and as a CODA (child of a deaf adult) are unique but more importantly, uniquely hilarious.
She has been seen at The Laugh Factory, LA, The Improv, LA, The Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville and continues to travel to colleges, universities and festivals around the country.
The Degenerettes
The Degenerettes are Baltimore's all-grrrl underground garage rock trio. These gals have been stomping the East Coast with queered raw primitive rock & roll since 2005 and now they're coming for you! They have shared stages with: Pansy Division, The Avengers, Pariah Piranha, Lesbians On Ecstasy, The Shondes, Boyskout, Nicky Click, The TunaHelpers, Baby Aspirin, Odd Bones, Dirty Marmaduke Flute Squad, South Carey, Even So, The Headwounds, The Falsies, Odd Girl Out, Celia Kipp & the Last Ditch, The Jennifers, The Way Outs, Savory James, Mr. Moccasin, and Trixie Little & the Evil Hate Monkey.
Also performing at the Block Party:
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