The Exora Music Festival comes to Toyota Center in Kennewick on Aug. 31, and the creator of the event, Chase (Thompson) Manhattan, said it will be a different musical experience.
"Exora was created to give people in the Tri-Cities and surrounding areas the chance to experience a high-energy music festival at a professional level for a fraction of the price," said Manhattan, a Pasco High grad.
The show runs from 6 to 10 p.m. Doors open at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for general seating, $25 for special seating and $50 for VIP seats, which also include a meet-and-greet with the performers.
Featured musical guests at the festival will be Manhattan and his band Goodnight Argent, along with Sunderland, The New Electric Sound, Run for Cover, Ghost Animals, Tommy Cassidy and Janet Krupin.
Krupin, a Kennewick High grad who is taking a break from her Broadway debut with Bring it On, the Musical, told the Herald she's looking forward to performing in her hometown.
"I'm very excited to debut as a solo performer at home," Krupin said.
But Krupin won't be performing any Broadway tunes at the festival. Her segment of the show includes a selection of tunes she describes as electronic dance music with a rock/folk edge.
Sunderland is a pop/rock band from Hood River, Ore.
"They're a nationally touring band," Manhattan said. "They won Charter's Center Stage Nationwide Band Competition, and have opened for Weezer, The Plain White T's and Panic at The Disco."
Manhattan describes New Electric Sound as having a '50s rock tone, which is fed by the band's influences, such as Buddy Holly, The Safaries and The Beach Boys.
Run for Cover is a Tri-City-based rock band whose debut LP, Burning Bridges, won multiple songwriting awards, Manhattan said.
"Frontman Zac Mason has a skilled ability to convey a lot of emotion through carefully crafted lyrics," he said.
Ghost Animals is another Tri-City-based rock band known for its high-energy stage shows. Tommy Cassidy is a Northwest hip-hop artist who uses horns and other instruments in his shows.
Pasco resident Roland Thompson, Manhattan's dad, is helping his son promote the festival as an all-ages event through his Tri-City-based business SoulFound Entertainment LLC.
"There is no real meaning behind the title of the festival," Thompson said. "Exora is just a cool name the artists involved came up with that sets it apart."
Manhattan said Exora is meant to describe the feeling of hope and elation a person feels when making a deep connection with someone through music.
"This festival is meant to provide the youth and young at heart a safe and affordable entertainment experience that will engage and inspire them," Manhattan said.
He hopes the festival will be an annual event in the Tri-Cities and provide an outlet for talented musicians to be heard.
"Whenever I go to a concert put on by artists who give their all on stage, I feel inspired afterwards," Manhattan said. "This show isn't being put on by a third party promoter or corporation. It's being put on by us, the performers and all the people who believe in the music."
He credits local businesses like Plato's Closet, Power 99 radio, B&B Printing and SoulFound Entertainment for supporting the event financially.
"There has really been no venue where the younger crowd could enjoy this type of music and stay in the area, and not be a bar scene," Thompson said. "Young people in the area will never get to see a music festival of this type with up-and-coming major artists without spending a ton of money. The sponsorships keep the festival adorable."
Tickets to the Exora Music Festival are available at the Toyota Center box office or at ticketmaster.com or exorafest.com. Tickets purchased at the box office avoid service charges.
-- Dori O'Neal: 582-1514; doneal@tricityherald.com; Twitter: @dorioneal
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