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Top Bands To Check Out At The Sunset Strip Music Festival

610 header SSMF Sunset Strip Music Festival
(credit: Jim Donnelly)

Bidding adieu to summer can be tough, but we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate it than going to the 7th Annual Sunset Strip Music Festival (SSMF). Sun kisses on your face, Sunset Blvd. under your feet, booze in your hand, and three outdoor stages serving up a trinity of aural pleasure, what's not to love? Complete your end of season to-do list while head bobbing to a diverse lineup of heavy hitting headliners and your soon-to-be new favorites.

SSMF takes to the streets of West Hollywood on September 20th from 2 – 11 p.m. and September 21st between 2 – 10 p.m. Check out the full line up and additional festival information on the SSMF website. Tickets are available to purchase online at the Eventbrite event page. We've rounded up a list of some of the acts performing at SSMF to get excited about.

iration
(credit: Iration)

Iration
www.irationmusic.com

With a strong reggae influence blended with sounds of rock and pop, Hawaii bred alternative/reggae group Iration have been spreading their aloha spirit on the mainland. Performing at Lollapalooza, McDowell Mountain Music Festival, Wakarusa, Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, and the California Roots Festival, the group has also headlined several successful national club/theater tours with multiple sold-out shows throughout the country from the Wiltern Theater to Jannus Live. "Automatic" is the group's third full-length album, fusing reggae with bright pop and rock influences that debuted on Billboard's Top 200 chart.

tove lo
(credit: Tove Lo)

Tove Lo
www.tove-lo.com

Swedish singer and songwriter Tove Lo made a meteoric rise to the top with her 2013 single "Habits" with her electronic pop sound that invigorates audiences. With a global audience, Tove Lo gained further notice with the remix of the track by hip hop producers Hippie Sabotage titled "Stay High". Throughout her career, she's written songs for a number of artists, including Icona Pop, Girls Aloud, and more. Tove Lo's debut album "Queen of the Clouds" is scheduled to release on September 30th.

destructo
(credit: DESTRUCTO)

DESTRUCTO
www.facebook.com/destructohard

As a DJ, producer and founder of the world-renowned HARD Events, DESTRUCTO has been included on the "50 Most Important People in EDM" list by Rolling Stone twice, Billboard's "EDM Power Player" list, In The Mix's "50 Most Powerful People in EDM" list and Do Androids Dance's "20 Most Influential People in EDM" list for good reason. His newest track, "Party Up" offers a new sound merging deep house grooves with smooth rap flows.

murs
(credit: Murs)

Murs
www.mursworld.com

A longstanding LA rap veteran, Murs is also an entrepreneur, owner of the Paid Dues hip hop festival, and former member of underground groups such as Living Legends. With collaborations with underground icons like Atmosphere, 9th Wonder, as well as mainstream names like Kendrick Lamar, Will.i.am, and Snoop Dogg, his sound is true old school rap. His most recent collaboration "MURSDAY" with Strange Music label mates ¡MAYDAY! debuted at number four on the independent rap charts. Murs is currently recording his much-anticipated solo project "Love & Rockets 2" set to drop in the spring of 2015. SSMF couldn't have picked a more relevant MC to curate MURS 3:16, the festivals inaugural hip hop stage. A hand selected roster of artists that include DJ Quik, Zion I, and N.O.R.E. to name a few will be showcased here.

big data
(credit: Big Data)

Big Data
www.bigdata.fm

Playing day 2 of the SSMF, Big Data is an electronic music project that laments the topics of technology, fading online privacy, and Internet voyeurism. They are best known for their Billboard Alternative chart topping single "Dangerous" featuring Joywave.

mayer hawthorne
(credit: Mayer Hawthorne)

Mayer Hawthorne
www.mayerhawthorne.com

Based right here in Los Angeles, Grammy-nominated Mayer Hawthorne brings a smooth soul sound to his music. Hawthorne, who has produced music and played multiple musical instruments since childhood, claims musical influences from such soul & R&B legends such as Curtis Mayfield, Smokey Robinson and Barry White which clearly come out in his soulful approach to his music. He has released three full-length albums, licensed songs for film and TV, and toured the globe with the likes of Foster The People, Bruno Mars, Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, and more. His latest project, "Where Does This Door Go," features production collaborations with Pharrell Williams, Greg Wells, Jack Splash, John Hill, and Oak (of Oak & Pop), who contributes the powerful single "Her Favorite Song."

Joy Bitonio has the phrase "Joie de Vivre" tattooed on her shoulder, a reminder to enjoy life every single day. She has a voracious appetite for fun, adventure, food, good cocktails and works out like a madwoman to keep it all together. Check out what else she recommends around Los Angeles in the links below.

Follow Joy on Twitter | Instagram | CBS LA | m0th2flame

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