Two Sunset Blvd. Music Festivals This Summer

Photo by Joey Maloney at last year's Sunset Junction | View all of his photos here

Everyone loves (great music) or loves to hate (parking for local residents, admission) the annual Sunset Junction Street Festival, which hits Silver Lake come this August 23 and 24. And this year's schedule so far is shaping up to be quite excellent: Cold War Kids, Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, Issac Hayes, Kinky, Broken Social Scene and The Black Keyes (there's still a whole lot of TBAs).

Sunset Junction is in its 28th year, but another festival over five miles down the boulevard is making its debut this summer for three days at the end of June. The Sunset Strip Music Festival looks to commemorate the music history of the famous West Hollywood artery by bringing together the famous venues for a weekend of bigger name acts such as L.A. Guns (featuring Jani Lane of Warrant), Hot Hot Heat, Juliette & The Licks, Everclear, Soul Asylum, Louis XIV and The 88, to name a few.

Unlike Sunset Junction, SSMF will not be the type of festival that will shut down city streets for a mass gathering of people. Rather, at least for this first year, the festival is a series of events going on at the same time. Organizers say this is only the first year and the festival may take shape over future years, which could mean a mix of venue concerts and outdoor festivities. For now, it's still looking like a great start, especially with an interesting panel discussion with CNN's Larry King, who will be "interviewing the Godfathers of the Sunset Strip among an audience of music legends and industry experts."