Royal Flush Festival welcomes its filmmakers, musicians and artists from across the globe to kick off the festival at a free Opening Night Bash presented by GBH on Thursday, Oct. 15th at Hiro Ballroom, located in the Maritime Hotel.

In addition to premiering great independent films every year, the festival presents exclusive live performances at Knitting Factory such as British psychedelic punk legends The Raincoats and a rare NYC appearance by Melissa Auf der Maur (Hole/ Smashing Pumpkins), her first since her 2004 debut solo album. Royal Flush Festival will sneak peek Auf der Maur's self-produced new project Out Of Our Minds, a multi-media concept album featuring an album, comic and film directed and edited by Tony Stone.

"I can't think of a better way to share this multi-faceted creation than by playing Knitting Factory and screening at Anthology Film Archives as part of the hard rocking Royal Flush Festival," said Auf der Maur. "My wicked new live band and I are determined to make a lasting and loud impression on New York City and friends of Royal Flush."

Opening for Melissa Auf der Maur are Blacklist, Mike Edison and the Space Liberation Army featuring legendary guitarist Gary Lucas (from Captain Beefheart, Jeff Buckley) and Black Taxi. Edison's show is based on stories of sex and drugs from his new book, I Have Fun Everywhere I Go.

Royal Flush Festival's film component will open with Merle Becker's ode to American rock poster art, American Artifact, on Thursday, Oct. 15, that will include a Q&A with the director along with artist Tara McPhereson to be followed by a rock poster art show at Showroom NYC. The Centerpiece film will be Royal Flush Festival alumnus Daryl Wein with his narrative feature comedy, Breaking Upwards, on Saturday, Oct. 17. The festival will also feature "Evil City Horror Films" including Pig Hunt and God of Vampires. And the festival will conclude with Dean Bajramovic's Gangster Exchange on Sunday, Oct. 18.

"The screening of my very first short film, Unlocked, at the festival in 2006 was a huge success and a great experience," said Wein. "To be back with my first narrative feature couldn't be more exciting. This is the coolest festival in town and it's where I live. I'm proud to be a returning alumni of the Royal Flush Festival."

Unique art events will also take place each day at Royal Flush Festival including the American Artifact Underground Rock Poster Show at Showroom NYC on Thursday, Oct. 15th, the outdoor Automorphosis Art Car Show and the Antagonist Art Show at Mindy Wyatt Gallery, both on Saturday, Oct. 17th, as well as appearances by legendary New York City activist and street artist, Ron English, and many others.

Below is the lineup for Music at Royal Flush Festival 2009.

MUSIC:

The Raincoats
Friday, Oct. 16th at Knitting Factory.