VIRGIN AMERICA, V AUSTRALIA AND BLACK STAR BEER PRESENT THE SUNSET STRIP MUSIC FESTIVAL PARTY AT ANDAZ WEST HOLLYWOOD

San Francisco—August 26, 2010 — Virgin America, the award–winning California–based airline that is reinventing air travel, today announced it is teaming up with V Australia and Black Star Beer for the third annual Sunset Strip Music Festival (SSMF) party at Andaz West Hollywood. The SSMF is a three–day music festival running from August 26–August 28, 2010, that will showcase a number of the Strip’s most renowned clubs and legendary performers along with the hottest up and coming bands that will take over the street on August 28th with two outdoor stages. The honoree for SSMF 2010 is Slash and this year’s festival is headlined by Smashing Pumpkins. As the official domestic airline of the SSMF, Virgin America will bring together festival fans from across the country to help celebrate the Sunset Strip’s vibrant musical legacy by hosting a star–studded party on the rooftop of what was the legendary “Riot House” hotel, the Andaz West Hollywood.


"We're proud to celebrate the Sunset Strip’s legendary musical past and help support the up–and–coming artists of today,” said Porter Gale, Vice President of Marketing at Virgin America. “Virgin America offers music fans the largest content library in the skies right from their seatback – from on–demand music videos to a 3000 MP3 library that features everything from punk to zydeco to classical and back again. We even curate an onboard soundtrack that features customized tracks from new artists in our onboard lavatories. Music is just part of our DNA as a brand – and we’re pleased to support the next generation of artists through SSMF.”

Virgin America features the largest in–flight entertainment library in the domestic skies – via the touch screen Red™ platform at every seatback. In addition to a 30–film library, live TV, music videos and video games at every seat, Red offers a library of over 3,000 MP3s and allows guests the ability to create their own playlist in–flight. The airline is also known for featuring a diverse range of artists on its in–flight library, including, SSMF 2010 honoree, Slash, Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon, Band of Horses and Au Revior Simone.

Virgin Blue Group of Airlines Chief Executive John Borghetti said, “As a new Australian airline that is already proving a hit with musicians traveling trans–Pacific, we are all about providing rock–star treatment to all our guests on board our flights, so it’s very fitting we are teaming up with Virgin America once again to co–host the official party of the Sunset Strip Music Festival.”

The lineup for the third annual Sunset Strip Music Festival includes The Smashing Pumpkins, 2010 honoree Slash (featuring Myles Kennedy and an appearance by Fergie), Travie McCoy and Steel Panther performing on the west stage during the Saturday, Aug. 28 street fest, and Common, Kid Cudi, Semi Precious Weapons, Neon Trees, Saint Motel and Big B performing on the east stage. Performances in the venues during the three day festival include P.O.D., Kix, Unwritten Law, Nico Vega, Warner Drive plus many more.

“We are proud to welcome back Virgin America and V Australia and team up with Black Star Beer for the third annual SSMF 2010 party at Andaz West Hollywood,” said Karmen Beck, Managing Director of the music festival. “Virgin is a perfect fit with the electric energy that surrounds the Sunset Strip Music Festival and we’re delighted about the partnership.”

“What complements great music better than refreshing ice cold beer,” says Minott Wessinger, fifth generation brewer and creator of Black Star Beer. “Black Star Beer is proud to celebrate the Sunset Strip and its historic impact on the music industry. We are excited to be a sponsor of the official party for the Sunset Strip Music Festival alongside Virgin America and V Australia.”

Virgin America offers over 100 flights a day and flies to: San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., Seattle, Las Vegas, San Diego, Boston, Fort Lauderdale, Toronto and starting on October 6, 2010 – Orlando and on December 1, 2010 – Dallas.