L.A. Twestival Utilizes Social Media for Social Good (Plus, a Damn Good Party and Surprise Performance by Metric)

View more photos in the "L.A. Twestival @ The Roxy feat. Metric" slideshow.

Erin Broadley

Twitter + festival = Twestival charity event

The Twitterati of Los Angeles came together Thursday night at this year's L.A. Twestival to raise money and awareness for Concern Worldwide, "an international humanitarian organization transforming the lives of the world's poorest, most marginalized children through access to education." For those who still haven't jumped on the social media bandwagon, Twestival is a charity event (Twitter + festival = Twestival!) put together annually in 175 cities worldwide, using social media to bring about social good. Hosted by Shira Lazar and Oprah Radio's Derrick Ashong, the night was broadcast live on UStream.TV.

Erin Broadley

Hosts Shira Lazar and Oprah Radio's Derrick Ashong

This year's Twestival was held at the famous Roxy Theater on Sunset Blvd., the perfect location to bring together social media, music, and philanthropy. Proprietor Nic Adler has been going hard with social media initiatives to bring a new vibe to the local scene. He's even gone so far as to credit the use of social media initiatives for "saving the Sunset Strip" in regard to overcoming some of the challenges local businesses have faced dealing with the typically fickle club hoppers that make the L.A. nightlife what it is.

"There wasn't really a concerted effort of everybody working together to bring people to the area and not so much one place or another.... The Viper and I, we didn't talk, we were competitors. We were going for the same bands. Then with social media, there was a different conversation."

Erin Broadley

Stacey Soleil, Rynda Laurel, Shira Lazar and Paula Gould

Erin Broadley

Erin Broadley

KW Low and Karina Grotz

The night was jam packed with exciting performances: 16-year-old DJ prodigy Jake Simon kicked the night off proper, and video turntablist Mike Relm killed it with sick remixes and video montages that got everyone out of their seats. Attendees got their vanity insanity on in a photobooth provided by Polite in Public and enjoyed complimentary cocktails provided by VeeV. The highlight of the evening was a surprise performance by the band Metric, in town to perform the following night at the Palladium.