Veteran alternative band echostream will make their West Coast debut and rising indie rock group Kazha will make a special appearance for Nan Desu Kan's first rock concert event on Friday, Sept. 10. Fan-favorite voice actors Chris Patton, Wendy Powell  and Cristina Vee will also return. The 14th annual premiere anime convention of the Rockies will be held Sept. 10-12 at the Marriott Denver Tech Center.

"We're excited to bring these two cultural bands to Colorado and introduce fans to something they don't get to experience very often," said Amanda Liebermann, NDK Executive Director. "Fans have been asking us for this. We've had outstanding musical guests in the past, but this is the first time we've featured a full concert for our attendees."

New Jersey-based echostream began in 1997, when Tony Grund and Japanese transplant Ryoko Otani met while attending the Royal Academy of Music in London. Other members Jen Rau, Clarence Jackson and veteran musician Tomo Asaha (Rina Acuity, NIL, Zoey, Shahidah Omar) joined later. The alternative group's first album, Identity, was released in 2005. The Duality of Courage followed in 2008.

On Friday, Kazha will make a special appearance during their current U.S. tour. The indie rock band has roots on both sides of the Pacific; lead singer Kazuha Oda began the group after releasing four albums in Japan. Now based in Japan and Los Angeles, Kazha also features Hideki Matsushige on guitar, Yota Sato on bass and Rui Aranai on drums. In 2009, they released their first Japanese EP, Breathe Through Your Dreams. Their debut album Overture was released worldwide in April 2010.

Voice actors Chris Patton (Greed, Fullmetal Alchemist and Kanon, Yuuichi), Wendy Powell (Envy, Fullmetal Alchemist and Ilena, Claymore) and Cristina Vee (Nanoha Takamachi, Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha and Kanaria, Rozen Maiden) will also appear throughout the weekend.

"More guest news is coming soon, but I wanted to announce them first. They are members of the NDK family and back by popular demand," said Liebermann. "The fans love them and the convention wouldn't be the same without them."

ABOUT NAN DESU KAN: Nan Desu Kan (NDK), the largest anime convention in the Rocky Mountain region, provides a diverse mix of numerous cultural panels, musical guests, games, dances, workshops, art showings and auctions, as well as screenings of new and classic anime. Nan Desu Kan is sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Anime Association. NDK 2010 is Sept. 10-12 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, 4900 S. Syracuse, Denver, CO 80237. Weekend passes are available online or at the door for $50. Beginning in 2011, Nan Desu Kan will institute an attendance cap. For the latest news and programming information, visit http://ndkdenver.org.

Press Release for May 4, 2010