DT: JUNE 13, 2012

FR: ALEXANDRA GREENBERG/MITCH SCHNEIDER JOHN OCHOA/MSO

HARD SUMMER PRESENTS: TOP TEN GUIDE TO DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

SKRILLEX, 12TH PLANET, GASLAMP KILLER, DESTRUCTO, DILLON FRANCIS AND MORE SHARE THEIR FAVORITE DOWNTOWN SPOTS

HARD SUMMER SET FOR AUGUST 3 AND 4 AT LOS ANGELES STATE HISTORIC PARK

SKRILLEX, BLOC PARTY, MIIKE SNOW (LIVE), BOYS NOIZE, BLOODY BEETROOTS (DJ SET), NERO (LIVE), SQUAREPUSHER, A-TRAK, CHROMEO (DJ SET), MAGNETIC MAN, JAMES MURPHY (DJ SET), LITTLE DRAGON, DATSIK AND MANY MORE ACTS CONFIRMED

HARD SUMMER is the creation of Gary Richards, founder of HARD Events, which—along with HARD SUMMER—produces the annual electronic music cruise HOLY SHIP!!, HARD Haunted Mansion in Los Angeles and countless other events and tours across North America.

This year marks the 5th installment of HARD SUMMER, and to celebrate the major music festival is expanding to a two-day event for the first time ever, returning to Los Angeles State Historic Park August 3-4, 2012, with performances from Skrillex, Bloc Party, Miike Snow (Live), Boys Noize, Bloody Beetroots (DJ set), NERO (Live), Magnetic Man, Squarepusher, James Murphy, Little Dragon and many more.

To help fans maximize their festival experience, HARD SUMMER has asked some of this year’s performers to share some of their favorite downtown Los Angeles spots, including Little Tokyo with Skrillex, the Association with 12th Planet, Low End Theory with Gaslamp Killer, the Standard with Destructo, Chinatown with Dillon Francis and more. Check out the full list, featuring more suggestions from Sirah, KCRW’s Jason Bentley and OLIVER, below and here: http://hardfe.st/LA10Things.

Check out the HARD SUMMER 2012 official teaser video—directed by Jared Leto—here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0of4wmY6v3Y.

Tickets for HARD SUMMER are available at www.hardfest.com.

10 Things to do in Downtown LA Presented by HARD SUMMER:

Skrillex Recommends... I love Little Tokyo and all the different shops. The Kyoto Grand Hotel is right there, too... that's where I recorded Sirah's vocals for the song. And Hama is a real good sushi restaurant, it's on E 2nd St.

Popkiller Kyoto Grand Hotel and Hama Sushi 343 E 2nd St, Los Gardens 347 E 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 120 S Los Angeles St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Angeles, CA 90012

12th Planet Recommends... When I’m not on the road, I’m at the compound in the historic core of DTLA. I love to eat at Mai's Mexican food and of course, LA Cafe because it’s open 24 hours and very close to the studio. Some of my fave moments have been hanging at the Association with my friends enjoying good whisky.

The Association LA Cafe Mai Mexican Kitchen 110 E 6th St, Los Angeles, 639 S Spring St, Los 633 S Spring St, Los CA 90014 Angeles, CA 90014 Angeles, CA 90014

Gaslamp Killer Recommends... Low End Theory at The Airliner right outside of Chinatown is the place to be every Wednesday night for the last five years. Residents DaddyKev, DJ Nobody, D-styles, Nocando, & myself playing our favorite music for kids 18 and up. It’s $10 and always rad. Urth Cafe is the bizness. It’s on the east side of downtown LA right by the I-5 freeway -- always fresh and always bangin’.

The Airliner Low End Theory Urth Caffe 2419 N Broadway, Los Facebook Page 451 S Hewitt St, Los Angeles, CA 90031 Angeles, CA 90013

Destructo Recommends... Yang Chow in Chinatown. This is the go-to spot for me near the LA State Historic Park. Get the Slippery Shrimp. In 2002 I helped launch the Standard with my Sunday Service parties at the rooftop pool; I always love the great view and cocktails. For the perfect way to close out your HARD Summer weekend get Dim Sum Sunday morning at the Empress Pavilion.

Yang Chow The Standard, Downtown 819 N Broadway, Los LA Empress Pavilion Angeles, CA 90012 550 South Flower Street, 988 N Hill St, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90071 CA 90012

Sirah Recommends... Little Tokyo is my jump off. I go to a grocery store that's tucked into the corner of a shopping center and make myself a concrete picnic.

Nijiya Market Marukai Market 124 Japanese Village Plz Mall, Los 123 S Onizuka St. Los Angeles, CA 90012 Angeles, CA 90012

Jason Bentley Recommends... Little Tokyo and MoCA. Take a stroll through Little Tokyo's gift shops, stop in for sushi or shabu shabu, and take in some art at the Geffen Contemporary at MoCA before heading over to HARD festival grounds, just a short distance north on Alameda.

Japanese Village Plaza Museum of Contemporary The Geffen Contemporary 335 E 2nd St #223 Los Art at MOCA Angeles, CA 90012 250 S Grand Ave, Los 152 N Central Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012 Angeles, CA 90013

Oligee & U-Tern of Oliver Recommend... La Cita. It's a little bar/Mexican restaurant near 4th & Hill in downtown with a great party called Dance Right on the Thursday night.

La Cita Dance Right 336 S Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90013 Website

Dillon Francis Recommends... I like to buy fireworks and tiny turtles in Chinatown and feed homeless kittens.

About HARD SUMMER 2012:

Over 50 bands and DJ artists are set to perform on four stages encompassing an eclectic round-up of bass, electro, house, techno, disco/funk and hip-hop music, right in the middle of downtown Los Angeles. The complete line up for HARD SUMMER is:

FRIDAY, AUGUST 3: BLOC PARTY, BOYS NOIZE, MIIKE SNOW (Live), CHROMEO (DJ Set), LITTLE DRAGON, MAGNETIC MAN, EROL ALKAN, BOOTSY COLLINS & THE FUNK UNITY BAND, FAKE BLOOD, GESAFFELSTEIN (Live), BREAKBOT, BURAKA SOM SISTEMA, ARAABMUZIK, JOEY BELTRAM, CRAZE, ALEX METRIC, SURKIN, JOHN TALABOT (DJ Set), DANNY BROWN, ACTION BRONSON, RITON, OLIVER, JOKERS OF THE SCENE, LIGHT YEAR, NICK CATCHDUBS, JIM-E STACK, MR. MUTHAFUCKIN’ EXQUIRE, LUNICE, BAIO, SOUND PELLEGRINO THERMAL TEAM

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4: SKRILLEX, NERO (Live), BLOODY BEETROOTS (DJ Set), SQUAREPUSHER, A-TRAK, JAMES MURPHY (DJ Set), DATSIK, 12TH PLANET, ZEDD, DILLON FRANCIS, BRODINSKI, CLAUDE VONSTROKE, BIRDY NAM NAM, JUSTIN MARTIN, GASLAMP KILLER, TROLLEY SNATCHA, DESTRUCTO, ALVIN RISK, ZOMBIE DISCO SQUAD, DJ ANTENTION, CODES, HUORATRON, KILL FRENZY, SMIMS & BELLE, JASON BENTLEY, BRENMAR, NICK THAYER, AMTRAC, THE STARSHIP CONNECTION

In 2011, HARD SUMMER—the largest ticketed music festival in the city of Los Angeles—took on a larger-than-life identity that culminated with 30,000 fans descending upon the Los Angeles State Historic Park to experience performances from an elite group of progressive electronic music artists, including Ratatat, Duck Sauce, Digitalism, Odd Future and more. “This is the best welcome home party I've ever had,” said Skrillex in a piece at LAWeekly.com.

HARD maintains a strong bond with its audience: “For our loyal L.A. fans, I think most of them already know why the success has grown with us,” says Gary Richards, founder of HARD, who is also performing at HARD SUMMER under his alias DESTRUCTO. “HARD's total ticket price is less than a fraction of other festival tickets, but you're getting to see 50 amazing artists that I've hand-picked for you. You can get to and from the park quickly and safely on the MTA for free for all ticket holders. The park itself is beautiful, and I'm glad we've been able to bring it so much attention (and I can't wait to surprise you all with some of the improvements we're making).”

Adds Richards: “It's important to me that we as a city and as a company look at this as a destination festival and welcome the people who are going to travel here to our hometown to be a part of this experience. I'll be happiest to see the boost to the local economy because this isn't a car-camping festival; this is right in the middle of gorgeous downtown LA. You've got Chinatown, Little Tokyo and all these wonderful places to visit here.”

Tickets on sale now at: www.hardfest.com

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FOR PRESS INQUIRIES, PLEASE CONTACT: MSO: 818-380-0400 Alexandra Greenberg x223, [email protected] Mitch Schneider x235, [email protected] John Ochoa x231, [email protected]