About
The Sunset Jam was created in January 2016 by guitarist Erik Himel to fill a void in the LA music scene. The concept of the night was to provide not only an over the top show for a non-musician crowd but to also create an environment where musicians could network, connect and be showcased. The Sunset Jam is unique in the sense that on a night to night basis musicians could be performing in front of record labels, A&R scouts, producers, songwriters, musical directors and bands seeking musicians. We accept new musicians to perform through an online submission process which allows players without major credits, but with the musicianship an opportunity to share the stage at a legacy venue alongside top touring/session players.
Since our inception in January 2016, we've featured over 1000 unique musicians including A-List touring/session musicians for acts including Beyoncé, Hilary Duff, Alicia Keys, Don Henley, The Who, The Doors, Sebastian Bach, Whitesnake, Imagine Dragons, Cee Lo Green, Rod Stewart, Jake Owen, Mumiy Troll, JES, Sabrina Carpenter, Selena Gomez, Bea Miller, Alice Cooper, Who Is Fancy, Christina Aguilera, Lifehouse, Dorothy, Alan Parsons Project, Linda Perry, Kings X, Gallant, Cher Lloyd, Edgar Winger Group, Crazytown, Puddle Of Mudd, Peter Murphy, Foreigner, Bonham, Powerman 5000, Chris Cornell, Shania Twain, Seal, Billy Idol, Filter, Smashmouth, Montrose, Matt Sorum, Slash, Rooney, Scott Weiland Band, Air Supply, The Doobie Brothers, The Voice UK/Australia/Greece, Thriller Live, Grease Live, The Allman Brothers, Sweet, Mr. Big, Quiet Riot, Daughtry, Live, Candlebox, Harry Styles, Melissa Ethridge, Cheap Trick, Skid Row, AC/DC, Leon, Rachel Platten, Bow Wow Wow, Michael Jackson, The Jacksons, The Dirty Knobs, Beth Hart, Macy Gray, Fishone, Beautiful Creatures, Nick Jonas, Black Eyed Peas, The Smithereens, Joe Perry, Shakira, Aly & AJ, Teagan & Sara, Motley Crue, Duran Duran, The Smashing Pumpkins, Jimmy Kimmell Show, Cyndi Lauper, Kelly Clarkson, Hinder, Keith Urban, Trapt, Avril Lavigne, Berlin, Modern English, Kesha, Demi Lovato and INXS.
The Sunset Jam House Band
Press ReleaseS
THE VIPER ROOM & ERIK HIMEL PRESENT THE SUNSET JAM EVERY MONDAY
The Viper Room, in collaboration with acclaimed session and touring guitarist Erik Himel, presents The Sunset Jam, a free weekly live music series showcasing up-and-coming talent, touring and session professionals offering an opportunity for artists of all backgrounds to showcase their talents on the Viper Room stage alongside a professional house band.
Created to both produce an over-the-top show and allow musicians a place to network and connect, The Sunset Jam is a collaborative, accessible and free event that aims to eliminate common obstacles encountered when booking shows in areas of high demand. Since its launch in January, The Sunset Jam at Viper Room has featured more than 800 unique musicians including A-list touring and session musicians for acts such as Beyoncé, Imagine Dragons, Cee Lo Green, Rod Stewart, Mumiy Troll, JES, Sabrina Carpenter, Selena Gomez, Alice Cooper, Christina Aguilera, Lifehouse, Alan Parsons, Scott Weiland, Linda Perry, Kings X, Cher Lloyd, Gallant, Edgar Winter Band, Crazytown, Puddle Of Mudd, Matt Sorum, Bonham, Aerosmith, Foreigner, Billy Idol, Chris Cornell, Shania Twain, Seal, Filter, Smashmouth, Montrose, Slash, Rooney, Air Supply, James Blunt, P!NK, Sheryl Crow and Alicia Keys.
The Sunset Jam performs Mondays with doors opening at 8:30 p.m. Opening act starts at 9 p.m. and The Sunset Jam begins at 10 p.m. Admission is free and those interested in performing can visit TheSunsetJam.net for more information and online submissions. After review, guest performers are selected and receive show set lists in advance and are allowed to choose the songs, primarily pop and rock covers, on which they play. All instruments are welcome and the more unique, the better. Artists may also submit to perform opening sets of original music prior to the Jam.
A legendary fixture of the iconic Sunset Strip, the lounge and music venue underwent a bit of a “revenomization” by longtime owner Darin Feinstein in 2015, emerging with a revved up look that brings the iconic venue a new face accented with deep red vinyl booths and entryway art by native L.A. artist Louis Carreon. Since its stellar opening in 1993, the world-famous Viper Room (also known as Johnny Depp’s joint) has hosted the likes of Johnny Cash, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Stone Temple Pilots, Bruce Springsteen, Oasis, Queens of the Stone Age, Courtney Love, Natalie Cole, Elvis Costello, Pete Yorn, Lenny Kravitz, Pearl Jam, the Strokes, Weezer, Maroon 5, John Mayer, Iggy Pop and Sheryl Crow, as well as an array of other internationally established artists and the cult favorites of America's underground. This intimate nightclub, situated in the heart of the world famous Sunset Strip, is styled in the fashion of Harlem's great jazz clubs of the 1920's and even recently launched a new clothing line sold at shopviperroom.com.
For more information and to submit to play, visit TheSunsetJam.net.
Press Contact:
Erik Himel
[email protected]
thesunsetjam.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2016
The Sunset Jam Opens Stage to Musicians Worldwide, Reveals Inaugural Show Details
New Monday Night Concert Series Redefines Live Music on the Sunset Strip
(LOS ANGELES) – Establishing a new concert series on West Hollywood’s iconic Sunset Strip, acclaimed session and touring guitarist Erik Himel announced plans this morning for The Sunset Jam: a weekly musical extravaganza hosted Monday nights – inviting artists of all backgrounds to showcase their talents alongside Himel’s professional house band.
Interested performers are encouraged to submit videos that highlight their playing via an application form on The Sunset Jam's website; Himel and his group will carefully review all submissions. Selected guest performers will receive show setlists in advance and are allowed to choose the songs – primarily pop and rock covers – on which they play. Per The Sunset Jam’s website, all instruments are welcome – and the more unique, the better. Artists may also apply for opening sets to perform their original music prior to the Jam.
Collaborative, accessible and free – The Sunset Jam eliminates common obstacles encountered when booking shows in areas of high demand. Himel, who recently completed tours with Russian stadium rockers Mumiy Troll and “Queen of Rocktronica” JES (Ultra Records), says The Sunset Jam strives to foster an open, encouraging community.
“A lack of a ‘name credit’ or label affiliation should not interfere with your ability to further your career and grow as an artist,” said Himel. “We’re all about musicianship at The Sunset Jam. If you have the chops, we have your gig.”
The inaugural Sunset Jam will take place Monday, January 11 at 9:00 p.m. Guest performers will be announced shortly before the show. Mark Mackay, a country-influenced artist ranked among Music Connection Magazine’s Top 100 National Live Acts in 2014, will perform as an opening act. Indie pop songwriter Sarah D is also booked as an opening act for the evening.
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Keys/Vocals
Dani Ivory is a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She toured as a keyboardist in Beyoncé's backing band, performing throughout the Mrs. Carter Show World Tour – in addition to the SuperBowl XLVII halftime show. Dani has also worked with Cee Lo Green, Imagine Dragons and 2NE1. Currently you can catch her on tour with Gallant.