OurStage

Looks like they managed to squeeze a few more artists into the line-up with the addition of the winners OurStage - who've all earned slots at the Sonic Stage. Here's the info....

OurStage, the only 100% democratic online competition for emerging music and film talent, is pleased to announce the three OurStage winners who will perform at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, taking place June 14th – 17th in Manchester, TN.

Ashleigh Flynn, American Babies and Nico Stai will take the OurStage-sponsored Sonic Stage during the four-day festival, which will feature more than 100 bands and 20 comedians on 13 stages. OurStage will also have its own tent area next to the Sonic Stage at Bonnaroo - where artists and bands gather for smaller, intimate sessions during the festival. With an expected attendance of over 100,000 music fans, Bonnaroo is one of the largest festivals of its kind in the U.S.

“We’re excited to be working with OurStage and truly believe in their potential to bring the best up and coming artists of today to music lovers everywhere ,” says Rich Goodstone, of Bonnaroo. “OurStage may be how each of us and the media discover music before any other source.”

Nico Stai

A former frontman for LA-based bands Tinpaco and The Bonnie Stai, Nico first started performing solo in between band projects. Appearing in local LA clubs, his intensely raw and emotionally charged performances quickly sparked the rise of a growing following in the Los Angeles area. Nico Stai performed at this years Noise Pop festival and SXSW music convention. His music, often described as haunting and stirring, has been likened to everything from early Springsteen and Leonard Cohen, to Radiohead and Bright Eyes.

Nico is currently in his third month of competitions on OurStage. His track, “Song of Shine and Shame,” placed at #2 in the Acoustic Channel in May and is currently ranked at #2 again for the June competition. Through his participation in OurStage competitions, Nico has also won a spotlight on the Paste Magazine “Culture Club” podcast. Of OurStage, Nico says, “Ourstage has presented this amazing opportunity that we weren't expecting. It's an honor to have this many people that had never heard my music before vote for it.”

Set Time: 6/15, Sonic Stage, 3:15 PM - 3:45 PM

American Babies

Tom Hamilton is only in his mid-'20s, but the singer commands his nursery of American Babies with all the seasoned know-how of someone twice his age. Hamilton's band is positively huge, a co-ed family comprised of two guitarists, a bassist, an xylophone virtuoso (!!), Mr. Hamilton himself, and a solid drummer. Such a lineup could easily create a large, boisterous sound, but the American Babies apply a "less is more" mentality to these rootsy, country-infused tunes.

American Babies have been competing on OurStage since the website launched in March 2007. Their track, “Invite Your Friends,” has placed twice in the top ten for the Country/Americana Channel.

Set Time: 6/16, Sonic Stage, 12 PM - 12:30 PM

Ashleigh Flynn

Ashleigh Flynn hails from Kentucky where she grew up foot stomping along the Ohio River as the steamboats and barges made their way to the muddy Mississippi. Currently based in Portland, OR Flynn is releasing, “Sneakin' Out with Ashleigh Flynn,” a documentation of a night spent playing with Sneakin’ Out – one of Portland’s best alternative bluegrass bands at one of Portland’s most renowned listening rooms, The Mississippi Studios. The sold out performance featured National songstress Tracy Grammer.

Ashleigh has been competing on OurStage since the website launched in March 2007. A two-time Country/Americana channel winner, she has also placed in the top ten for the Acoustic Channel and is currently ranked in the top ten for the June competition in the Electronic Channel.

Set Time: 6/17, Sonic Stage, 1:30 PM - 2 PM

About OurStage, Inc: OurStage is the only purely democratic online competition where the fans decide who’s the best in emerging music, film and video. The OurStage mission is to help talented artists achieve critical exposure by solving the greatest challenge on the Internet today: sorting quality content from the sea of mediocrity online. OurStage provides a neutral, trusted, game-free platform, in which the true judgment of the fans drives the best content to the top. Through its wealth of partner programs, including Bonnaroo, Paste, CMJ, PLUG Awards, Slamdance, Relix, Gen Art, Noise Pop, Videomaker, IFFBoston, and many others, OurStage offers winning artists real opportunities to actually launch their careers.