As part of the event, show-goers will go hands-on with upcoming PlayStation products as the festival marks the first stop of the new "PlayStation Experience" -- a big-rig truck outfitted with a full line-up of playable games for PS2, PSP, and the PS3.
"The Voodoo Music Experience is the perfect match for our audience, and we're thrilled to once again return to New Orleans," says Sharon Shapiro, senior director of promotions and sports marketing, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "This year's show features the debut of our new 'PlayStation Experience' truck featuring PS3. Not only will this event be the first stop on its national tour, but it also marks the first chance for many consumers to see, touch, play, and enjoy PS3 before it launches on November 17th."
As a part of its participation at the event, Sony Computer Entertainment will be making a charitable donation to the Warren Easton Charter Foundation benefiting the Warren Easton High School in New Orleans, La. Since the August 2005 strike of Hurricane Katrina, only seven of the 27 New Orleans-area schools remain in operation. The donation ceremony will take place on Friday, October 27, as national-celebrity musical performer Troy Trombone "Shorty" Andrews, a graduate of Warren Easton and avid PlayStation fan, (www.tromboneshorty.com ) marks the occasion by leading a SingStarTM Rocks! video game competition with the students. SingStar Rocks! is a cool, innovative competitive singing game featuring real songs and music videos from A-list artists. Bundled with two custom, high-quality microphones, SingStar Rocks! delivers a world-class singing experience, where players perform alongside top artists with their friends.
Additionally on Friday, October 27, Alex Hackford, artist and repertoire manager for Sony Computer Entertainment America, will participate in Voodoo Economixx, an open music forum where more than 500 local students and aspiring artists affected by Hurricane Katrina will meet industry professionals at the New Orleans Museum. The forum will discuss the state of the industry, new technologies, business models and opportunities in the new music economy while creating a networking event for music industry professionals.
During the Voodoo Music Festival, video game fans anxious to enjoy the new "PlayStation Experience" will also have the chance to compete against performing bands including Mute Math on Saturday, October 28th at 2:30 pm, Blue October on Saturday, October 28th at 4:30 pm and Troy Trombone "Shorty" Andrews on Sunday, October 29, at 2pm. Sony Computer Entertainment America will also sponsor one of the Voodoo Music Festival stages, in conjunction with Billboard Magazine, that will host performances from top artist Blue October, Drive By Truckers, Wu Tang Clan, Kings of Leon and many more.