November 11, 2008

Purdue Research Park-based company produces Chicago music festival

The festival will be from noon until 11 p.m. Nov. 22 at Chicago's Congress Theater, 2135 N. Milwaukee Ave. Early bird general admission tickets to the festival are $31. Tickets are $35 the day of the festival. Tickets can be purchased at the Congress Theater box office or online at http://www.congresschicago.com  or from Ticketmaster.com. Customers who use the online promotion code "FANFOUND" will receive a discount on the ticket price. A portion of the box office revenue will be donated to the Saving Tiny Hearts Foundation, a non-profit organization that raises money for research of congenital heart defects.

FanFound was developed by officials at Chordcraft Music Company, based at Purdue Research Park's Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana.

"It is unbelievable how much has been accomplished due to the valiant efforts of organizations like the Saving Tiny Hearts Society, but there are still families hurting and much more work to be done," said Chris Bauman, CEO of Chordcraft Music Company and FanFound. "I hope the Chicago community will rally around the Chicago Bluegrass and Blues Festival to aid this life-saving organization as well as have a great time in the process. My hope is that fewer families will have to go through the pain of losing a loved one due to congenital heart defects as a result of this effort."

The artist lineup for the festival includes headliners The David Grisman Quintet and The Avett Brothers. Other performers include Ha Ha Tonka, Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials, Majors Junction, Dollar Store, Blue Mother Tupelo, Billy Childers, How Far to Austin, Blackdog, Mike Mangione, Cobalt & The Hired Guns, Lindsey O'Brien & Friends, Blue Room Hero, Jessica Lee and Donnie Biggins.

About FanFound

Since its conception in 2006, FanFound has promoted online social networking, ad-supported content distribution and fan-designed live music events. Acting upon their motto "Saving Music, One Fan at a Time," officials at FanFound aim to help fans, artists and venues collaborate to shape their respective musical communities. Located in downtown Chicago, FanFound continues to develop a suite of services that will pave the way to an integrated "Music 2.0" industry.

About Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana

Modeled after West Lafayette's Purdue Research Park flagship incubator that is owned and operated by Purdue Research Foundation, the Purdue Technology Center of Northwest Indiana occupies 386 acres west of I-65 in Merrillville. This laboratory and office facility serves as the anchor for the state-certified technology park - AmeriPlex at the Crossroads - under development by Purdue Research Foundation and Holladay Properties. The 48,000-square-foot center is slated in 2009 to expand to 60,000 square feet. It opened as Purdue's first satellite technology center in January 2005 and currently serves 14 technology-based tenants, five additional tenants and nine technology-based affiliate companies. Employment within the center currently numbers approximately 100, including researchers with advanced degrees, recent college graduates and interns.

To the Purdue Research Park, http://www.purdueresearchpark.com

Contact at Purdue Research Park: Steve Martin, (765) 494-6872, sgmartin@prf.org

Source: Chris Bauman, (866) 687-4279, chris@fanfound.com