320 FESTIVAL ONLINE
CELEBRATES SUCCESSFUL WEEKEND OF CONVERSATIONS SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH AND SPECIAL MUSICAL PERFORMANCES
CREATED BY
TALINDA BENNINGTON AND KEVIN LYMAN
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KNEKT.TV
WATCH FULL FESTIVAL ONLINE HERE
MAY 12, 2020 – LOS ANGELES, CA – This past weekend marked the first ever 320 Festival, held entirely online. Audiences from all over the world tuned into dozens of panels and educational sessions covering a wide variety of topics involving mental health such as Mental Health in the Workplace, Social Media: The Age of Anxiety, and Entertainment Industry and Mental Health and more. In addition, viewers were treated to special performances from artists like Miguel, Lindsey Stirling, Kiiara, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Jimmie Allen, Art Alexakis of Everclear, Walker Hayes, Echosmith, Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October, Elohim, Frank Zummo of Sum 41 and more.
“Mental Health is a topic very close to my heart and I’m honored to have been apart of this Festival honoring Chester,” shared Lindsey Stirling after her festival performance this weekend. “I loved watching the other performers and seeing where everyone is social distancing around the world. I hope my performance could bring joy to people’s day and remind them that even though these times may feel uncomfortable we can come out stronger.”
Created by Kevin Lyman (Founder of the Vans Warped Tour, USC Professor and CEO of the Kevin Lyman Group and Unite the United) and Talinda Bennington (Co-Founder of 320 Changes Direction) 320 Festival aims to change the way we talk about mental health through educational sessions, musical performances, workshops and more.
“We need to change the culture of mental health so that those in need – and their family members – are able to speak openly about their struggles so that they can seek the care they deserve,” shares Bennington who created 320 Changes Direction in honor of her late husband, Chester Bennington of Linkin Park.
While the festival had to change to a fully online format given the current state of the world, it was more important than ever to adapt and be able to reach an even wider audience through live streaming with partner KNEKT.TV.
“In some ways it might have been a blessing to be forced to take the 320 Festival online,” shares Festival co-founder Lyman. “We saw posts from across the country and around the world on how helpful these discussions were for them at this time.”
During this weekend’s Festival, Talinda announced she would be this year’s Songs That Saved My Life grant spokesperson. The 2020 Sub City Songs That Saved My Life Grant, presented by Hopeless Records, will award $10,000 to a fan or band to help fund campaigns that benefit mental health awareness and/or suicide prevention.
On this weekend’s events, Talinda added “My deepest thanks to all of the people that worked so hard to make 320 Festival happen, and to all of those who participated. To see the dream of a mental health festival come to life has been the most gratifying experience. As spokesperson for the $10,000 Sub City Songs That Saved My Life Grant, we look forward to seeing grant applicants find new creative ways to spread awareness and continue the conversation surrounding mental health.”
Songs That Saved My Life is a brand centered around music that played a pivotal role in the lives of artists and fans that benefits mental health and suicide prevention charities. Everyone has music that helped them through a tough time. Songs That Saved My Life looks to engage current artists with cover versions of those songs and share those stories with the world. Currently, this project benefits Crisis Text Line, Hope For The Day, The Trevor Project, To Write Love On Her Arms, and 320 Changes Direction. For more information, please head to songsthatsavedmylife.com/grant.
The 320 Festival ONLINE featured over 40 non-profit partners providing resources, Mindfulness Daybreaks, and live performances from artists including Miguel, Lindsey Stirling, Kiiara, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Jimmie Allen, Art Alexakis of Everclear, Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October, Echosmith, Elohim, Walker Hayes, Social House, Frank Zummo of Sum 41, Gnash, Badflower, LTX with James Maslow, Andy Frasco & the U.N., Dylan Dunlap, Carly Rose, Moontower, Bruce Wiegner, Beebs, Rouxx, Aunty Social, Evaride, Maasho, Tatiana DeMaria, Brian Marquis, Play Date, Julien-K, Blue Midnight, Holy Wars, Vaines, Atarah Valentine, X.ARI, Lauren Dair, Izza and Halo Kitsch.
“The 320 Festival was an incredible reminder that we are not going through this alone,” Echosmith shared while reflecting on this past weekend. “This is the first time in our lives that we are sharing the exact same experience with the whole planet and knowing that people are fighting for each other and being there for each other means everything. Let’s keep hanging in there guys!”
Special guests like Brandon Novak, Brian Cuban, Cassadee Pope, Caleb Shomo of Beartooth, Dan Estrin of Hoobastank, Derek Sanders of Mayday Parade, Duff McKagan of Guns N Roses, Eric Mellgren of The Midle Branch, Frank Turner, James Quick, Jayden Panesso of Sylar, Joe Sib, Kesha, Keith Buckley, Mike Majlak, Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, Morgan St. Jean, Yungblud and more helped join the conversation surrounding mental health as well.
The Educational Sessions featured discussions surrounding topics like Cultural Perspectives on Mental Health, Social Media: The Age of Anxiety, Coping and Thriving After Trauma, The Psyche of Sports: Lessons Learned On and Off the Court, Prevention Resources: Learn the 5 Signs and How to Help, Criminalizing Mental Illness: America’s Shame, Hope for the Day’s Things We Don’t Say Workshop, Music’s Effects on Mental Health and Addiction, Being an Activist and a Creative: How to Channel Both of Your Passions to Impact Your Community, Mental Health + The Education System, Living with Addiction, Mental Health In The Workplace and more.
Panelists and speakers included Mike Diamond (Interventionalist, Author, Motivational Speaker), Brandon Mills, Kevin Hines (Suicide Prevention, Mental Health Champion, Award-Winning Filmmaker), Patrick J. Kennedy (Former U.S. Representative), Diana Cusumano (Director of the JED Foundation), Greg Attonito + Shanti Wintergate (Bouncing Souls + Play Date), Crystal Woodman Miller (Survivor Columbine), Abigail Hurst (Deputy Director of Survivor Advocacy, Everytown), Pastor Brenda Mitchell (Everytown For Gun Safety Network, Senior Fellow), Jason Flom (CEO of Lava Records and criminal justice advocate), Justin Brooks (Director of the California Innocence Project), Tara Conner (Miss USA 2006), Erin Raftery Ryan (Executive Director, NAMI, Westside LA), Tiffany Jenkins (Juggling with the Jenkins), DJ Nash (Executive Producer of “a million little things”), Bob Fitzgerald (Television Play-by-Play Broadcaster of the Golden State Warriors), Torri Shack (Executive Director / Founder of Tangible Movements), Justin Furstenfeld (Lead Singer of Blue October), Wesley Geer (Founder of Rock To Recovery, Founding Member of Hed PE, Touring Member of Korn), Greg Williams (Filmmaker, “The Anonymous People” and “Generation Found”), Brian Mackenzie (Breathing Coach, Founder & Creative Director at Power Speed Endurance, Co-Founder & Creative Director for MyState, LLC, President & Co-Founder of Health and Human Performance Foundation), Nazanin Mandi (Actress, Model & Singer), Jennifer Gimenez (Model, Actress, TV Personality, Addiction Specialist & Speaker), Gabe Escobar (Tik Tok Influencer & Mental Health Advocate), Paul Zak, PhD, Jamie Tworkowski (Founder of TWLOHA), Jonny Boucher (Founder + CEO of Hope for the Day and Sip of Hope), Richard “Wolfie” Wolf (Author of “Tune In: Music as the Bridge to Mindfulness”, Emmy Award-winning Composer, Multi-Platinum Selling Producer, CEO of Producers Lab, Inc., USC Adjunct Professor), Joel Rivas (CEO and Founder of Saint City Culinary Foundation), LJ Malberg (Founder & President Compassionate Muse), Christmas Bacos (Sr. Director of Workplace Mental Health, HFTD), James Kinney (VP, People of Advertising Agency & Co-Founder of Disrupt HR LA) and more.
A special thanks to all sponsors including Chipotle, Everfi, Clean Cause, Club Tattoo, Topeka Live, Fender Play, Ernie Ball, Gibson Gives, Self Care Station, KNEKT.TV, idobi Radio, Songs That Saved My Life, Femme Fatale Productions and more.
For more information on 320 Festival Online, please head to www.320Festival.com.
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320 Conversations and Festival Press Contacts:
Katy Cooper | Big Picture Media
195 Broadway, Suite 341. Brooklyn NY 11211
Office: 212-675-3103 x 8 | Katy
Kirsten Horner | Big Picture Media
195 Broadway, Suite 341. Brooklyn NY 11211
Office: 212-675-3103 | Kirsten
320 FESTIVAL NONPROFIT PARTNERS
#HalfTheStory Active Minds AIM Youth Mental Health ASPCA Astra Labs Attitudes In Reverse Backline Bring Change to Mind Buddy Project Clean Cause Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services Dignity Health Drumming For Your Life Fountain House Generation S.O.S Give an Hour Headcount Heart & Armor Heartsupport Hilinski’s Hope Hope for the Day The Jed Foundation Los Angeles Regional Food Bank Mental Health America Mental Health For US Musack MusiCares My Friend’s Place NAMI No Stigmas Onsite Foundation Punk Rock Food Drive Rise Above the Disorder Rock To Recovery Saint City Culinary Foundation Safe Place for Youth Sidewalk Project Songs That Saved My Life Tangible Movement The People Concern Tour Support To Write Love On Her Arms Watering Seeds Organization
