News & Media

MEDIA ADVISORY: The Phoenix Zoo Presents Rock the Zoo 2010 (formerly ZooBrew) - Friday, April 23, 20

Contact: Trish Bump, Director of Marketing and Corporate Relations, Phoenix Zoo 602.914.4309 or mobile 480.603.6088

Date: March 9, 2010

MEDIA ADVISORY:

THE PHOENIX ZOO PRESENTS ROCK THE ZOO 2010 (FORMERLY ZOOBREW)

Vertical Horizon and Marcy Playground to perform...tickets on sale now!

WHAT: The event formerly known as ZooBrew is back for 2010 and wilder than ever. Now called Rock the Zoo, this annual 21 and over party fundraiser promises plenty of music and merriment while raising money for the Phoenix Zoo. Nationally-recorded alternative rock band Vertical Horizon will energize the crowd with live performances throughout the night, while Marcy Playground will also make a guest appearance. Guests can sample beverages from more than 30 vendors ranging from national and small craft breweries to large scale and independent wineries. A silent auction and a host of other fun activities will round out the evening.

To "get your wild on" at this unique event, call 602.914.4333 or purchase tickets online at www.phoenixzoo.org/RocktheZoo2010. Guests must be 21 years and older; ID's will be checked at the door.

General admission is $65 for members, $75 for non-members. VIP admission, which includes a catered meal, private bar and restrooms, is $125 for members and $135 for non-members (subject to availability).

WHO: More than 3, 000 guests will party to the music of headlining band Vertical Horizon. Founded in 1991 by lead vocalists and songwriters Matt Scannell and Keith Kane, the alt-rock group released three independent albums before signing with RCA in 1999. Their first major album release, Everything You Want, went double platinum. The album's title song was the most played single of 2000, hitting #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 and Adult Top 40 charts. Other hit singles include "You're a God" (which reached #4 on Billboard's Adult Top 40 chart) and "Best I Ever Had" (which also became a Top 20 country hit for Gary Allen in 2005). The band will undoubtedly keep the Zoo rocking with these tunes plus new material from their latest album, Burning the Days.

Guests will also enjoy the sounds of Marcy Playground, a highly original and melodic modern rock band, which exploded onto the scene back in 1997 with the insanely irresistible hit single "Sex And Candy, " a song that notched 15 consecutive weeks at number one on Billboard's U.S. Modern Rock tracks chart. Subsequent albums Shapeshifter (1999) and Marcy Playground 3 ("MP3") (2004), while commercially obscure by comparison, showcased two periods of tremendous creative evolution for the group, and have gone on to enjoy something of "cult classic" status among the band's many loyal fans.

The 21-and-older crowd will also enjoy offerings from an assortment of beverage purveyors, including Samuel Adams, Jerome Winery, Odell Brewing Company, Espresso Italia and many more.

WHERE: Phoenix Zoo (455 N. Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, AZ 85008)

WHEN: Friday, April 23, 2010 from 7-11:00 p.m.

WHY: With more than 125 acres of land and 2.5 miles of walking trails, the Phoenix Zoo is one of the largest non-profit zoos in the United States. Approximately 1.5 million guests pass through the gates each year, making the Phoenix Zoo one of the most visited attractions in Arizona (second only to the Grand Canyon). While memberships, admissions and concessions cover some of the expense to operate and maintain the grounds of this beloved institution, the Zoo must also rely on fundraising events to provide proper care for more than 1, 300 animals in the collection, including the new Komodo dragons.

Previously named ZooBrew, Rock the Zoo is one of the Phoenix Zoo's most popular annual events, drawing more than 3, 000 local residents each year. All proceeds from this fundraiser directly support the Phoenix Zoo's mission and operations.