Interest

Stephanie Yanez to Perform at Both Anime Expo, AM2

Southern California anime conventions Anime Expo and AM2 have announced American singer Stephanie Yanez as the only advertised performer participating at both conventions. Anime Expo and AM2 are being held simultaneously during the first weekend of July.

Yanez, a Los Angeles local and 2004's AX Idol winner, is scheduled to perform for Anime Expo at downtown LA's Club Nokia Saturday night, July 2. She will then make the 30-mile (about 50-kilometer) trip to Anaheim for her AM2 performance the following morning.

"I think it will be wonderful for all of us fans to be able to attend both conventions on the same weekend, but for me personally, it will be an amazing experience as an indie artist to be invited to perform at both conventions," said Yanez.

First to announce Yanez as a guest, AM2 is a new convention located at the Anaheim Convention Center - the former venue of Anime Expo from 2003 until 2006. Yanez will be performing Sunday, July 3, as part of the free Summer Festival event. She will be joined by other American bands such as Icarus Kid, Kazha, Ajuku Girls, akai Sky, Dream Rush, REOG, the Slants, Nocturra, Midnight Shinigami, and Heat.

Anime Expo announced on Wednesday that Yanez will join LA-based DJ group Tune in Tokyo and local hard rock band Dig Jelly in hosting an all-night music event at Club Nokia beginning Saturday, July 2. The event is scheduled to run until 2 a.m. the following morning.

"It's a great honor to be invited to perform at Anime Expo 2011 because that is where I had the opportunity to participate in AX Idol, which opened up a lot of doors for me within the indie anime J-pop music scene. I am very excited to also perform at AM2 because I believe this new convention has a very promising future," Yanez said.