squint Announces 3rd Annual Louisiana Rock Festival: Squintfest 2004
Last year's festival raised more than 3 grand, bringing the total to over 5 grand, for Parkinson disease research, donated in honor of squint guitarist's mother, who suffered from the disease.

Ruston, LA based rock band squint (www.squint.com), who recently released a new album, Tinsel Life, has announced that they are organizing a music festival, Squintfest 2004, to benefit The National Parkinson Foundation. This will be the 3rd annual charity concert. Proceeds donated from last year’s shows and area sponsors totaled over $3,000. The National Parkinson Foundation raises money for research in the pursuit of a cure for Parkinson’s disease and offers support to those afflicted by Parkinson’s disease.

The festival will be a two-concert event and is slated for May 6th and May 7th, and will feature many area bands including Maroon, The American Tragedy, Tyler Read, Miasmata, Seraphim 9, Awakened, Veiling Iris, Only a Few, Ill Persona, Built For Speed, Statues Cry Bleeding, Novembers End, and squint. The first concert will begin at 6pm on May 6th will be a show for ages 18 and up at Rabb’s Steakhouse in Ruston, and the May 7th concert will begin at 5pm and will be an all ages show at 516 Soundstage in Shreveport. Free Squintfest 2004 shirts will be given out to the first 200 through the door at both events; each event will have a $10 cover charge.

This year’s sponsors include: Lewis’, A&A Datalink, Townsend House, Grene with Envy, Red All Over Designs and others.

Matt Fredrickson, guitarist for squint, lost his mother several years ago after she battled Parkinson’s for two decades, she was only 34 when she was diagnosed with the disease. “The idea came up in the band to do something charitable, and we agreed that a benefit for Parkinson’s was something that we all could get behind,” says Fredrickson. “It’s a very cruel and unfortunately common disease, and research on it could lead to cures for a number of neurological disorders. Our area musicians and communities are making a difference in the fight against Parkinson’s disease.”

More than one million Americans are afflicted with Parkinson's disease, with roughly 50,000 new cases being reported every year. Parkinson’s is a nerve disorder which is both chronic and progressive. It causes uncontrolled trembling and shaking (tremors), a fixed staring expression, stooped posture, muscle rigidity, an abnormal gait, loss of balance, and those who suffer from the disease may also enter into a serious state of depression as a result of their symptoms. What actually brings about the onset of this horrible disease is unknown. There is currently no cure for the disease.

squint’s new record, Tinsel Life, was produced by Ed Stasium in Los Angeles. Ed is a legend; the man responsible for recording The Ramones, Soul Asylum, Mick Jagger, Smithereens, this list goes on and on. This album earned them a nomination for a 2003 American Music Award even before it was released.

At college radio, Tinsel Life was the #12 most added record according to CMJ’s Top 20 Adds Chart and entered the CMJ Top 200. Songs from the record have been featured on MTV’s Road Rules and their live performance has been featured on national television alongside Matchbox 20 and Tantric. The prior three years to this project saw squint performing almost 200 shows a year; gracing the stage with bands like The Goo Goo Dolls, Stroke 9, Drowning Pool, The Toadies, and more.

All involved are expecting that this year’s event will be even more successful than the last. “It took a lot to get the ball rolling the first two years,” said Dane Adrian, frontman for the band squint. “This time people are coming out of the woodwork asking how they can help.”

For more information visit www.squint.com or www.squintfest.com.