Dave Matthews Band to Play Pepsi Music Festival, Buenos Aires Argentina

July 13th, 2008 

Since 2005, the start of spring in Argentina brings with it much more than a change of seasons. As the sun warms and bids goodbye to the South American winter, music begins to fill the air. This year will be no exception. This September will celebrate the fourth annual Pepsi Music Festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina.This music marathon is Argentina’s largest and longest music festival. In the past, this festival has lasted up to 11 days with more than 200,000 in attendance. Past performers have included many bands from around the world including Marilyn Manson, Black Eyed Peas, The Wailers, and many more.

This year, the Pepsi Music Festival scheduled for October 3rd, 2008, and has over 160 bands participating. At this time, the festival plans are to have a grand opening night and 4 “thematic” nights.  Confirmed for opening night Saturday, September 13th are The Hives in the Pepsi Music Stadium and presumably Dave Matthews Band. International Night currently includes KISS.  Calamaro Night will feature Argentinean musician, composer and icon, Andrés Calamaro.  Other nights include National Night and Reggae Night.

Among those confirmed for the 2008 festival are Dave Matthews Band, Kymani Marley (son of Bob Marley), Andres Calamaro, and KISS, It is rumored that some of the international artists who will also be present are The Offspring, Black Eyed Peas and Simple Plan.

This year for the first time, music lovers can participate in the formation of this mega event.  Through different interactive modules and voting games, users can influence the order the artists perform on different nights. Prizes will be given for those whose proposal approaches the final line up.  Independent, unsigned bands are also given the opportunity to compete to perform during the festival. Fans and band upload music and videos for fans to vote on.  There is also a contest to submit lyrics to a song.  Winning lyrics will be set to music and recorded by the Argentinean band, Los Tipitos.  Users may also upload a karaoke video that others vote on. The singer with the most votes wins a free trip and free tickets to the festival.

Indications are that Pepsico plans to webcast this event.