For Immediate release
May 2, 2006

HARP Magazine’s Third Annual “Red Hot & Cool” Issue on Newsstands May 23

"Summer Sirens" cover story brings numerous female artists together for a memorable feature and photoshoot including: Juliette Lewis, Joss Stone, Minnie Driver, Mandy Moore, Brody Dalle, Brandi Carlile and Jesse Sykes.

SILVER SPRING, MD - In the notoriously fickle magazine industry, HARP is an anomaly. Not only has the magazine's readership expanded exponentially, HARP has managed to almost double its ad pages annually while continuing to push the envelope editorially. Launched quietly by Editor-in-Chief and Art Director Scott Crawford in 2001, HARP has grown into one of the most revered music magazines in the world and is now published eight times a year.

For HARP's third annual "Red Hot and Cool" issue, which streets May 23, seven “Summer Sirens” were selected to grace its cover in an exclusive photoshoot: Juliette Lewis, Joss Stone, Minnie Driver, Mandy Moore, Brody Dalle, Brandi Carlile and Jesse Sykes.

"The artists on this cover each represent something very different musically and were chosen for that reason," notes Editor-in-Chief Scott Crawford. "All of them are multi-talented songwriters, each perhaps deserving of their own cover, but Minnie, Juliette and Mandy are also successful actresses who don't need to be doing this. They're driven by a compulsion to write and perform their own songs instead of taking the pre-fab, manufactured approach that so many of their contemporaries have tried. Alongside them are four other incredibly talented artists—Joss Stone, Brody Dalle (ex-Distillers), Brandi Carlile, and Jesse Sykes—who all fiercely guard their respective creative muses. This issue celebrates that kind of independence."

The special "Red Hot & Cool" section highlights dozens of femme popsters, soul divas and rock 'n' roll pioneers to filmmakers, media icons and a bonafide Native American princess. Artists such as Mary Weiss (Red Hot Rock Icon), The Pierces (Red Hot Sister Act), Amy Winehouse (Red Hot Train Wreck), Marnie Stern (Red Hot Shredder) Jena Malone (Red Hot Girl-Next-Door), The Pipettes (Red Hot Retro), Yellow Thunder Woman (Red Hot Princess), Betty Davis (Red Hot Reissue), Red Hot Saint (St.Vincent) and Mavis Staples (Red Hot Pipes) are honored in HARP’s trademark irreverent style.

Elsewhere in the June edition you'll find features on Stax Records, the venerable soul label recently revived; Wilco, wherein frontman Jeff Tweedy thumbs through his back pages; Henry Rollins, preparing for his second season hosting the Independent Film Channel's The Henry Rollins Show; Bill Callahan, discussing his solo career and life after Smog; and Leonard Cohen, in a rare, exclusive interview about his artistry. Rounding out the issue are HARP's usual departments: Words Of Wisdom (with the Fall's Mark E. Smith), Fresh Faces, Screentime, Reflections and over 100 CD, DVD and book reviews.

Reserve your copy of HARP at your newsagent now, or go to www.harpmagazine.com for details on how to subscribe.

For more info contact:

Scott Crawford, Editor-in-Chief
scrawford@harpmagazine.com
301-588-4114 x532

Fred Mills, Managing Editor
fmills@harpmagazine.com
828-298-9730