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Contact: Tyler Morgenstern, Co-coordinator, Media Democracy Day 2011 mddcoordinator@gmail.com 778.782.7353 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Local Musicians Take to the Stage in Support of Media Democracy Once again, the Media Democracy Day (MDD) crew teams up with The Railway Club, Vancouver is Awesome, and local indie musicians to raise funds for MDD 2011. VANCOUVER, B.C- August 5, 2011- Following the announcement of the official dates of Media Democracy Day 2011 (November 11-13), organizers are excited to announce that for the third year running, MDD will be hosting a fundraising concert on October 20th, 2011 at the legendary Railway Club, an event co-hosted by VancouverisAwesome.com. Featuring local artists Sidney York, The Belle Game, and The Ruffled Feathers, this years fundraiserAmplify!will be even more exciting than last years tremendously successful concert. With lots of door prizes, raffle items, and giveaways generously provided by a raft of local media, arts, and cultural organizations, Amplify! isnt to be missed. The fundraiser is such a fantastic way to kick off the MDD season, said event organizer Tyler Morgenstern. Its great fun and features music from some of the most talented up-and-coming artists in Vancouver. But more importantly, its a rare chance for independent musicians, music fans, artists, journalists, activists, students, and academics to come together in one place and have some fun for a great cause. This years bill features three exciting local acts. Revered for her abilities as an enigmatic vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, ukulele and French horn player as well as an unyielding do ityourself mentality, in three brief years Sidney York has leveled the world of music with a stunning independence exemplified on her eponymous 2009 debut. A rousing bastion of haunting melodies, insightful lyrics and innate creativity, York epitomizes the union of inspired creativity, dexterous ability and arresting longevity. It should come as little surprise that CHARTAttack raves,Yorks sound blends Metrics indie guitar pop and the sexy playfulness of Hawksley Workman. Also contributing are The Belle Game, a seven-piece band from Vancouver, B.C., whose layered instrumentation, shared female/male vocals, and dynamic orchestration have sparked comparisons to fellow Canadian artists such as Feist, The New Pornographers and Arcade Fire. Throughout 2010 and 2011 the band shared stages with up-and-coming indie stars, Aidan Knight, We Are The City, The Balconies, and Olenka and the Autumn Lovers, as well as festival

performances alongside international legends, Weezer, Metric and Black Mountain. Currently, the band is recording and producing its first full-length record, Sleep To Grow in Vancouver alongside indie dream team JC/DC (New Pornographers, Destroyer, Tegan and Sara) and John Raham (Frazey Ford). Completing the bill are chamber pop combo, The Ruffled Feathers. Imagine a time when there are no more people, just songs echoing from an old fashioned radio in the decaying streets. Raised banners and crumbling columns disappear in the drifting smoke. Amongst the rubble, triumphant trumpets and melancholy mandolins ring out over the waving flags of the unforeseen future. This is the music of The Ruffled Feathers. The Province says, With elements of Regina Spektor and Feist, locals The Ruffled Feathers are a band to watch. Amplify! takes place October 20th at The Railway Club (579 Dunsmuir Street). Tickets are $10 at the door, with all proceeds going to support Media Democracy Day 2011. Doors open at 8 PM, music begins at 9 PM. Media Democracy Day would like to thank both the Railway Club and VancouverisAwesome.com in advance for their continued hosting and promotional support. ### About Media Democracy Day: Launched simultaneously in Vancouver and Toronto in 2001, MDD responded to a growing global media democratization movement. This movement seeks to create a more participatory media system by supporting independent and public service media production, celebrating innovation, and creating dialogue around the politics and biases linked to our increasingly corporate and concentrated media. To learn more, visit http://www.mediademocracyday.org, follow us on Twitter (@MediaDemocDay) or like us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MDDVancouver). . About Vancouver is Awesome: V.I.A. promotes everything that makes our city awesome, from old to new, and everything in between. We are a federally incorporated, community-based non-profit organization dedicated to the study, promotion, and preservation of Vancouver arts and culture, with a positive spin. Contact: Tyler Morgenstern, Co-coordinator, Media Democracy Day 2011 mddcoordinator@gmail.com 778.782.7353