Los Angeles, California This October, sailing out of Los Angeles, California, the 11th KISS Kruise will take to the high seas with over 3,000 KISS fans aboard and ready to rock! Each year, various fan organized pre kruise parties are held in the city of departure. This year, kruisers Joe and Patrice D’Angelo, with a team of fellow KISS Navy members will present “Kruise Fest” a two day bon voyage party and concert at the Hilton Downtown San Pedro and the Yost Theater. Kruise Fest is “by the fans for the fans!” All events are open to the public and have much to offer for music fans.
The event takes place on Thursday, October 27 and Friday, October 28 with a line up of national acts and Los Angeles area talent. Kruise Fest begins with a Bon Voyage Party on October 27 at the Hilton Downtown San Pedro, hosted by Miami DJ and KISS Kruise veteran, Andrew “DJ Noiz” Rodriguez. Headlining the evening will be the “Punchlines and Backlines: Music and Comedy Unite” Kruise Fest Komedy show, hosted by Creator and Producer (and KISS Kruise alum) Courtney Cronin Dold and featuring headliners Hal Sparks (E!’s Talk Soup and Queer as Folk) and Craig Gass (King of Queens, Family Guy, American Dad, Sex and The City).
Friday’s concert will be held at the Yost Theater, one of Orange County’s oldest and largest venues for live entertainment. The show kicks off with sets by local favorites Fair Warning: the Van Halen Experience, and LOVEDRIVE: the Leading Tribute to the Scorpions, followed by Dressed to Kill, a popular L.A. KISS tribute band featuring all the make up, costumes and stage show you’d expect! Next on stage are the wildly popular Iron Maidens, the world’s only female tribute to Iron Maiden, followed by a reunion of members of Frehley’s Comet, Ace Frehley’s successful solo project: Tod Howarth and Anton Fig, joined by Brad Lang (of Y&T, The BulletBoys) and Las Vegas guitarist, Keith Robert for a set of Comet and KISS classics. Headlining is the multiplatinum selling, American Music Award winning band, Slaughter. The entire night’s festivities will be emceed by Craig Gass, and between set tunes will be spun by DJ Noiz.
Several benefit raffles will be held, with profits donated to the National Down Syndrome Society (October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month) including a cabin on the upcoming Beach Boys Cruise to Belize and Mexico, contributed by Sixthman, the company that produces The KISS Kruise. Gene Simmons Moneybag Sodas has contributed an autographed Moneybag guitar, and former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick has contributed an autographed guitar. Tickets for these raffles and more, along with limited edition Kruise Fest merchandise, can be found at www.kruisefest.com.
This year’s Kruise Fest is sponsored by Drink It Up by KISS (KISS Rums and KISS Cold Gin), Gene Simmons Moneybag Sodas, Photographer Bobby Dreher, Rockefellas, and Yamaha. Fans will be able to pre–order their bottles of KISS Rum and KISS Cold Gin –– including a BRAND NEW EXCLUSIVE “KISS NAVY Strength” bottle only available at Kruise Fest — and pick them up from the Drink It Up table at the event.
For the October 28 concert, local residents can purchase tickets directly from The Yost Theater (www.theyosttheater.com). General Admission and VIP ticket packages (includes a meet and greet, photo, autograph, and more) for the entire two–day event and single day passes for the comedy show are also available. For those ticket packages, Drink it Up orders and other event details go to www.kruisefest.com.
