Heavy Rotation Records (HRR) presents its 11^th annual Epic Event on Wednesday, February 9, at the Berklee Performance Center. The concert showcases artists on Under the Influence, the upcoming compilation by HRR, Berklee's student-run label. The compilation will feature Berklee students and alumni paying tribute to some of rock’s biggest names, including REM, Green Day, U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead, and Smashing Pumpkins, coupled with covers of the seminal bands that influenced their sounds – Mission of Burma, Husker Du, Joy Division, Gang of Four, the Pixies, and My Bloody Valentine. The artists will hit the studio in March to record with Paul Kolderie, co-founder of famed Fort Apache Studios, who produced or engineered some of the original artists.

The Heavy Rotation Records Epic Event is $10, all ages, and begins at 8:15 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, MA. Call 617-747-2261 or visit berkleebpc.com for more information. The concert is sponsored by the Hyland family and RightsFlow.  RightsFlow is collaborating with HRR to provide marketing and licensing support for the recording project. 

Under the Influence gives each HRR artist the opportunity to reinterpret songs by a pair of these classic bands and use their creativity to make something new.  The concert and recording features Julia Easterlin (Radiohead, Pixies), David Pramik featuring Johnny Duke (U2, Joy Division), The Berklee String Metal Ensemble (Smashing Pumpkins, My Bloody Valentine), Pinn Panelle (REM, Mission of Burma), The Boston Boys featuring Emily Elbert (Green Day, Husker Du), and Da’Rayia (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Gang of Four).

While the HRR artists are performing covers specifically for this project, they are not cover bands – with the exception of the Berklee String Metal Ensemble. Each artist writes and performs original music in varied genres that will influence their versions of these songs. For instance, The Boston Boys will perform Green Day in their own roots/folk style, Da’Rayia brings hip-hop, soul, and reggae to Gang of Four, and Pinn Panelle gives REM the dubstep/electronica treatment.