The 2012 Kollaboration San Francisco, the largest Asian American Pacific Islander entertainment event in the Bay Area, returns on Saturday, September 8, 2012. Hosted by founder and former executive director of Kollaboration, Paul “PK” Kim, the talent showcase will take place at the Zellerbach Auditorium in UC Berkeley.

This year’s diverse guest performer lineup includes both homegrown Bay Area favorites and rising YouTube artists. Among the most anticipated are Seattle based band, New Heights, and acoustic singer-songwriter, Joseph Vincent. They will be joined by comedian KT Tatara, hip-hop dance group VIP San Jose, and the winner of last year’s Kollaboration San Francisco 2 competition, ANAK. Popular spoken word artist, Michelle “Mush” Lee, will also debut a special opening performance for the showcase.

The eight competitors of Kollaboration San Francisco 3 include live bands — Soulfull, Outer Sunset and Monsters Calling Home — and vocalists — Jayne Rio, Dustin Ako and Peter Chung. Team Loopkicks and Crywolffs! Violin will challenge the status quo with their unconventional and innovative talents. These aspiring artists are set to compete for a $1000 Grand Prize, a $500 Audience Choice Award sponsored by Verizon, and the chance to open for Clara C and David Choi at their San Francisco show in the Fall. The winner may also earn a spot at Kollaboration Los Angeles’ November show featuring other winners from across the country.

Judging the talent competition is NBC Bay Area’s anchorwoman Janelle Wang, singer/songwriter Passion, California assemblywoman Fiona Ma, and hip-hop dancer and choreographer Ellen Kim. The evening includes Kollaboration San Francisco’s highly anticipated Freestyle Dance and Vocal Contest, where audience members will be invited to share their talents on stage.

You can get tickets here.

2012 Kollaboration San Francisco Promo ( I’m Glad You’re Close to Saving the World mashup)