2012 COUNTRY THROWDOWN TOUR TO FEATURE
GARY ALLAN, RODNEY ATKINS, JUSTIN MOORE, JOSH THOMPSON, ERIC PASLAY, SUNNY SWEENEY AND MORE
Third-Annual, Multi-stage, Outdoor Country Extravaganza
Scheduled for 20 Cities, May 18 – July 8
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – February 9, 2012 – 4 FINI Inc. announced today the star-studded line-up for its highly popular Country Throwdown Tour. The third-annual, outdoor amphitheater trek will feature an impressive lineup that will deliver energy-packed, exhilarating performances to eager country fans in 20 cities.
Joining headliner Gary Allan, recording artists Josh Thompson, Eric Paslay, and Sunny Sweeney round out the high-profile lineup for the nationwide country music tour that will kick off in Gulfport, Mississippi on May 18 and run through July 8. Special guests on many tour stops, Rodney Atkins (June 1-30) and Justin Moore (May 18-27) will join the roster of superstars and newcomers for the ultimate country music experience.
Gary Allan, country’s modern day outlaw, has won over legions of fans with his signature blend of rugged vocals, rebellious lyrics and raucous live performances. With more than seven million chart-topping albums sold and nearly a dozen Top 10 hits to his credit, Allan sets the tone for what promises to be a dynamic concert event in each and every tour city.
“I’ve always been a fan of the Warped Tour, so I thought it was great when they came up with the concept of doing a country version of it with the Throwdown Tour. I’m excited to be a part of it this year, and I look forward to working with Kevin, Sarah and everyone involved with the tour,” says Allan. “My band and crew can’t wait to take this experience to our fans and we look forward to making new fans along the way. We’re hoping this is the best Throwdown Tour yet.”
“I had the privilege of playing shows with each of these incredible artists with the exception of Eric Paslay, but a few weeks ago he and I got to hang out in East Tennessee–talking and fishing,” Atkins said. “I can’t wait to be a part of this tour. Every artist brings something awesome and different to the show. It’s gonna be a blast!”
Tour co-founder and co-producer, Kevin Lyman says “This tour continues to put some of the finest established artists front and center with their loyal fans, and we are thrilled to be celebrating our third year. The lineup of up-and-coming talent brings an exciting dimension to the festivities, and we look forward to sharing more information about the Bluebird Cafe Stage in the coming weeks.”
The only tour of its kind in the world of country music, Country Throwdown Tour 2012 brings together top-selling artists with talented, emerging singer-songwriters in a festival environment where fans enjoy a constant stream of music on multiple stages all day long.
“As we roll into our third summer of Country Throwdown, the team has been working hard to put together a can’t-miss package for true country fans, and we’re excited to work with some of country music’s greatest acts,” said tour co-founder and co-producer, Sarah Baer. “We know the party that Gary, Justin and Rodney bring to the show, and the up-and-coming acts like Sunny Sweeney and Eric Paslay are sure to have fans coming early and staying late.”
In addition to the performances on two main stages, the Bluebird Cafe Stage will spotlight the talents of emerging singer-songwriters as they perform intimate “in the round” sets throughout the day along with nightly performances during main stage set changes. Artists for the much-anticipated Bluebird Cafe Stage will be announced in the coming weeks.
“We’re proud to continue our relationship with the Bluebird Cafe and some of Nashville’s most talented songwriters,” adds Baer. “Bringing the magic that used to only be captured at this small, iconic venue to all the Throwdown cities is a real treat, and we’re especially thankful for the many people in the music community who have been supportive of trying something new and have helped us give developing artists a home on the tour scene.”
In addition to top-notch music, Country Throwdown 2012 offers eager fans a full concourse of lifestyle attractions and vendors at an affordable ticket price. Doors to each venue open at 3 p.m., and the entertainment continues until 11 p.m.
Tickets are ON SALE NOW in select cities. For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.countrythrowdown.com.
Confirmed Dates:
5/18-Gulfport, MS @ Jones Park
5/26-Gilford, NH @ Meadowbrook U.S. Cellular Pavilion
5/27-Bangor, ME @ Waterfront Park
6/1-Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
6/2-Kettering, OH @ Fraze Pavilion
6/3-Anderson, IN @ Hoosier Park Casino
6/13-Glen Allen, VA @ Innsbrook Pavilion
6/14-N. Lawrence, OH @ Clay’s Park Amphitheatre
6/15-Danville, VA @ Carrington Pavilion
6/16-Washington, PA @ CONSOL Energy Park
6/17-Syracuse, NY @ Empire Court
6/22-Sioux Falls, SD @ W.H. Lyons Fairgrounds
6/23-Rockford, IL @ Davis Park / Metro Center
6/28-TBD
6/29-Marion, IL @ Rent One Park
6/30-Bridgeview, IL @ Toyota Park
7/1-Norfolk, NE @ DeVent Center
7/6-TBD
7/7-TBD
7/8-TBD
About 4 FINI, Inc. and Kevin Lyman:
Kevin Lyman is the producer and creator of the successful Vans Warped Tour, the longest running traveling music and extreme sports festival in the world today. With the Vans Warped Tour, Lyman pioneered the successful integration of corporate sponsors with the extreme lifestyle, creating a blueprint for sponsorship integration widely duplicated in the marketplace today. In 2005, Kevin teamed up with John Reese to form Taste of Chaos, LLC (TOC, LLC) and produced the Rockstar Taste of Chaos Tour. In 2007, TOC, LLC presented the first annual Rockstar Mayhem Festival, a summer metal festival featuring 15 metal bands including headliners Slipknot and Disturbed.
A success by all standards, Rockstar Mayhem Festival perhaps most notably integrated the camaraderie Lyman had created on the Vans Warped Tour into a metal festival. Kevin and his company 4 Fini, Inc. have produced numerous other successful tour productions. Kevin is a music industry authority on multiple corporate branding projects, helping companies maintain the valuable street level credibility that endears their products to the youth market.
Sponsors include: KINGSFORD CHARCOAL, AIR NATIONAL GUARD, BLUEBIRD CAFE, CMT, COUNTRY WEEKLY, KINGSFORD CHARCOAL, LIVING THE DREAM, THE BOOT CAMPAIGN and UNITE THE UNITED (Additional sponsors to be announced soon)
CMT:
CMT, a unit of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), is the leading television and digital authority on country music and entertainment, reaching more than 93 million homes in the U.S. CMT and its website, CMT.com, offer an unparalleled mix of music, news, live concerts and series and is the top resource for country music on demand. The network’s digital platforms include the 24-hour music channel, CMT Pure Country, CMT Mobile and CMT VOD.
LIVING THE DREAM:
Living The Dream Foundation makes dreams come true for children with life-threatening afflictions while enriching their lives with the positive message and family of Living The Dream. We are excited to be working alongside 4Fini as we grant wishes for our: LTDF kids and give them an ultimate VIP experience on Country Throwdown Tour. 4Fini has been amazing in welcoming our foundation’s children with open arms and we couldn’t be happier to be involved with them again this summer.
THE BOOT CAMPAIGN:
The Boot Campaign is a grassroots military appreciation and veteran awareness campaign started by five women from Texas, known as the Boot Girls. The Boot Girls launched the Boot Campaign in August 2010 to spread awareness of the needs of military personnel returning home from combat and express gratitude to current military. Through the sale of military combat boots and other signature apparel, The Boot Campaign donates proceeds to a group of partner veteran’s charities that work with soldiers healing from a variety of physical and emotional combat wounds, embodying the campaign motto that “When They Come Back, We Give Back”. www.BootCampaign.com
The awareness for the campaign has primarily been driven by a photo ad campaign with numerous Celebrities, Musicians, Public Figures, CEO’s, and Sports Icons wearing military boots to spread one message, “get YOUR boots on”. The Boot Campaign has raised over 1,000,000 dollars and has granted monies raised to its partnering veteran charities– The Lone Survivor Foundation, The Call of Duty Endowment, Armed Forces Foundation, Wounded Wear, USO, United Warrior Survivor Foundation, Not Alone and Military Warriors Support Foundation.
UNITE THE UNITED:
The Unite the United Foundation is a public 501 (c) (3) non-profit, fundraising organization founded by the producers of the Vans Warped Tour, Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival and Country Throwdown Tour. It is our mission to encourage fans, artists and industry leaders from the music, touring and action sports worlds to work toward a positive change in our national community by supporting grassroots charities and participating in community volunteerism events across the United States.
For more information, to purchase tickets, or to see a complete list of 2012 sponsors visit: www.countrythrowdown.com.
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