Chosen from over 77 entries through Sonicbids.com, this year’s New Artist Showcase winners are: Recuse Is Possible (Port Washington, NY), Hyland (Minneapolis, MN), The Pledge (York, PA) and Receiving the Ghost (Ephrata, PA). The artists will kick off Purple Door Festival, performing on the HM Stage Friday evening just before Essential Recording artist, Pillar.

Another great opportunity for young talent to be able to play Purple Door is through the Battle Of The Bands contest, held in conjunction with Festival sponsor, Warehouse 54. Through a series of preliminary rounds held throughout the spring, two bands are chosen to perform as the opening acts on the HM Stage and Main Stage on Saturday morning. The 2009 winners are Oceans in Love and Ace Augustine.

“Purple Door has always been committed to cultivating new talent and we are pleased to partner with Warehouse 54 and make use of the Sonicbids service this year to cast a wider net in our contests,” says Festival Producer, Chris Strayer. “We’re very excited to open our stages to the cream of the crop and look forward to watching their performances!”

Additionally, Caliber Recordings artist High Flight Society has been added to Saturday’s main stage line up.

In it’s 14th year, Purple Door, playing host to three stages of music, speakers an art gallery, skate park and much more, is taking a bold approach to its 2009 Festival by offering more bands for a lower overall event ticket price. The HM Stage will host performances on Friday night as well as all day Saturday and most bands on all stages will play longer sets.

Artists slated to perform include Anberlin, Family Force 5, Mewithoutyou, Disciple, Project 86, Fireflight, The Showdown, Shawn McDonald, Spoken Seabird, Children 18:3, Capital Lights, Esterlyn and B.Reith to name a few. The weekend will also feature a special reunion of Lancaster’s own, Rainchildren.

Main Stage speakers for the weekend will include Eric Timm of No One Under Ground and Renee Yohe, who inspired the organization To Write Love on Her Arms.

Tickets for the Purple Door Festival are available now and can be purchased online at iTickets.com. Ticket prices are as follows:
• Through August 7: Advance Individual: $36.00 / Advance Group $35.00
• At the gate: All tickets $39.50

For more information about Purple Door Arts and Music Festival, including photos and videos from last year’s event, please visit www.purpledoor.com and www.myspace.com/purpledoorfestival.