Universal CityWalk kicked off its free music concert series, “Spring Break Live” featuring various emerging artists from Southern California, last Friday.
The series will take place on CityWalk’s outdoor stage every weekend until May 7.
On Fridays, the “Spring Break Live” lineup will consist of artists competing in KIIS FM’s “Wango Tango Breakout Star” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Winners of the Friday competitions will get the chance to perform alongside established musicians at the 2011 Wango Tango concert slated for May 14.
Following breakout star performances will be the “Universal Music Showcase” which will take place from 9 to 10 p.m. and spotlight musicians recently signed to Universal Music Group.
Contestants for the Wango Tango Breakout Star will be judged by musical industry professionals. Bands that don’t get past judges may maintain their running in the competition if they garner enough online votes from the public.
Hip-hop rock group ILL FX won the competition that evening.
Other performers on Friday included R&B group Crystal Rogue, who started off the night with much needed energy, pop group Project Dirty, pop singer Rosie, and rock band 4th and Dock.
The first night of the series concluded with a set by reggae/rock group Rey Fresco.
The group has been signed with Universal Music Group for about a year and a half and enjoyed sharing music at CityWalk.
“In many ways because it’s an international destination . it’s really cool to be able to come to a place like Universal CityWalk . and have the option of sitting at one of the restaurants and watching [the artists] . or walking up to the stage and being [so] close [to them],” said Xocoyotzin Moraza, who plays the harp, guitar, and requinto jarocho for the band.
Other artist scheduled to perform during the series include Latina-pop artist Jaqueline Grace, pop group My Hero, UCLA student a cappella groups The Scattertones and Awaken, rock groups A Living Daylight and Avenue 52, urban artists the Inheritance and Darius Lux, USC student a cappella groups The USC Sirens and The Trojan Men, and rock ensembles Stereofix and Method Echo.
