You say you want a revolution? The world’s largest Beatles tribute festival will return for the sixth year as the signature Memorial Day Weekend event in Louisville. WHAS-11 Abbey Road on the River, a five day music festival celebrating the greatest rock band of all time, will be held at the Belvedere Park and Galt House Hotel from May 27th – May 31st.

A 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee, Terry Sylvester of The Hollies will headline this year’s festival, along with over 75 other bands performing on eight stages. Growing up just a few houses away from Paul McCartney in Liverpool, Sylvester joined The Hollies in 1968 after Graham Nash left. The band scored three international number one hits with Sylvester lead singing, “He Ain’t Heavy,” “The Air That I Breathe,” and “Long Tall Woman.” The Hollies melodies and harmonies were second only to those of The Beatles. Sylvester is the fifth Liverpool musician to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, joining The Fabs themselves, John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

Other renowned Beatles tribute bands performing this year include Canada’s Hal Bruce and All You Need is Love; Chicago’s Britbeat; Moscow, Russia’s Alyona; Puerto Rico’s The Jukebox; Germany’s Beat Radicals; Athens, Georgia’s Abbey Road LIVE; Norway’s Norwegian Beatles; and Sweden’s The Repeatles.

For the first time in its nine year history, the festival will expand to include a show in Washington D.C. over Labor Day Weekend. Beatles’ fans will experience five days of peace, love and rock-n-roll at the Gaylord National Resort’s first-class facilities, located just steps from the shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and waterfront attractions at the new lifestyle community, National Harbor.

Festival tickets are currently on sale at www.abbeyroadontheriver.com, and families can save big by purchasing their tickets by April 30th. Advanced tickets include free admission for one 21 and under guest with each regular ticketholder.

WHAS-11 Abbey Road on the River is known throughout The Beatles community as the biggest and best festival dedicated to The Fab Four in the world.

You Say You Want A Revolution?

On the 46th anniversary of The Beatles conquering America, the world’s largest Beatles tribute festival, Abbey Road on the River, announced it would expand to National Harbor, Maryland, September 2-6, 2010. The new Labor Day Weekend music festival will bring more than 50 international bands and thousands of Beatles fans to the nation’s Capital.

The stunning Gaylord National Resort, the festival’s venue, will offer hotel rooms beginning at just $139 per night, 25% to 40% below standard rates. The four-star resort, the crown jewel of the new National Harbor, will be home base for Abbey Road on the River’s bands and attendees, hosting two indoor stages, four outdoor stages, seminars, and a Beatles merchandise market place.

Beatles fans will experience five days of peace, love and rock-n-roll at the Gaylord, steps from National Harbor’s shopping, restaurants, entertainment, and waterfront attractions. The Harbor is also a short ride from The White House, Mount Vernon, and other popular area attractions.

The 50 Beatles bands, from mop tops to Sgt. Peppers, represent a dozen different countries including Greece, Germany, Italy, England, Scotland, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Canada, and the USA. They will perform the entire discography of The Beatles from 1963′s “Please Please Me” through John, Paul, George and Ringo’s final history-making album together, 1970′s “Abbey Road.” And if you also love the music they made as solo artists, the event will feature special concerts dedicated to their careers after they were Fab. It all “comes together” on the banks of the Potomac River, giving their legions of fans the ultimate Fab Four Fan Weekend.

The Beatles, the best-selling band of the last ten years (as well as the past 46), is the one rock ‘n’ roll band that equally appeals to young and old. It was true in the 1960′s, and it’s more true now as longtime fans pass on their love for the Fab Four to their children and for many, now their grandchildren.

Room rates at the Gaylord National Resort normally ranging from $199-$379, are available for Abbey Road on the River attendees for just $139 per night. For guests staying three nights, this is a savings of over $200.

Families can take advantage of another Fab money saving incentive by purchasing their tickets by May 31st. Tickets purchased before May 31st include free admission for one 21 and under guest with each regular ticket holder. “One of the things we want to do is pass along the love of this music to others so that it can carry on,” festival organizer Gary Jacob said. “Everyone has an inner Beatle; combining The Beatles’ eternal music with this great venue is the perfect way for you to find it.”

Visit www.abbeyroadontheriver.com to see the lineup and schedule, purchase tickets, make reservations, and to get more information.

Source: GMJ Events

TOUR SPOTLIGHTS LAMB OF GOD, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, ATREYU, HATEBREED, MANY MORE THE MAYHEM BEGINS JULY 10 IN SAN BERNARDINO, CA

The ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL featuring KORN and ROB ZOMBIE will kick off Saturday, July 10 in San Bernardino, CA and will roll through 24 cities in the U.S. and Canada between early July and late August (a full itinerary will be announced in the coming weeks). Mayhem presale tickets go on sale April 2 and tickets go on sale to the general public on April 16th at LiveNation.com. Check www.mayhemfest.com for more info.

The ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL has become the summer’s hottest ticket by giving fans the opportunity to experience a thrilling mix of hard music’s most influential artists and exciting young voices. This summer’s lineup turns up the heat with a main stage lineup that sees KORN and ROB ZOMBIE joined by LAMB OF GOD and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH. The JAGERMEISTER stage will feature HATEBREED, CHIMAIRA, SHADOWS FALL, WINDS OF PLAGUE and the JAGERMEISTER Battle of The Bands Winner. The second stage will spotlight ATREYU, NORMA JEAN, IN THIS MOMENT and 3 INCHES OF BLOOD.

The World’s Greatest Freestyle Motocross team, METAL MULISHA, will return to rev up audiences with their unique style of death-defying motorcycle stunts. Also featured on this year’s tour will be the bombastic BEACHER’S MADHOUSE, a sexy costume party combined with outrageous variety acts, beautiful dancers, scantily-clad Beacher’s Babies, DJ’s and so much more. Comedian Jay Oakerson (seen on Comedy Central) will also be on hand to deliver an onslaught of unbridled awesomeness and raunchy rock n roll comedy.

The ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL will be the first major city tour for KORN in support of their 9th studio album, tentatively titled Korn III – Remember Who You Are. The new album marks the return of producer Ross Robinson, who worked with Korn on their first two releases, Korn and Life is Peachy. Lead vocalist Jonathan Davis has said that the new material matches the pure raw emotion of Korn’s early releases while the current touring band has never been tighter. “It’s the perfect mix,” says Davis, “and Mayhem is the perfect place to set it off. We can’t wait for the fans to hear it!”

ROB ZOMBIE is gearing up for the February 2nd release of his Roadrunner / Loud & Proud debut Hellbilly Deluxe 2. Over the course of the past 18 years, Zombie has sold more than 15 million records as a solo artist and with his former band, White Zombie. Says Zombie, “It’s been over a decade since my last tour with Korn, so this pairing is long overdue. Mayhem will be one amazingly destructive way to spend the summer. “

The ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL is produced by Rockstar Taste of Chaos organizer John Reese, Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman and Creative Artists Agency. The trio has made Mayhem a standout on the summer concert circuit by following the proven model of utilizing sponsorship to deliver a lower ticket price and an enhanced concert experience. This year sees them joining forces once again with ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK as the title sponsor.

“When we started this tour three years ago, one of our primary goals was to develop new artists,” say Lyman and Reese. “So we’re extremely proud of Five Finger Death Punch, who were a side stage band during year one and are now a main stage act. Mayhem has quickly become a powerful brand by assembling a monster-sized lineup of heavy hitting artists and unparalleled excitement at an affordable price. It’s a tour of not-to-be-missed moments. The fans recognize this and have responded.”

Live Nation is co-producer of the tour and will promote the festival nationally.

“The Mayhem team has done it again. The Mayhem Festival has become one of the premier traveling music festivals of the summer drawing more than 600,000 hard rock music fans to our amphitheaters in 2008 and 2009,” said Jason Garner, Chief Executive Officer of Global Music at Live Nation. “With Rob Zombie and Korn, Mayhem 2010 is sure to have another huge summer.”

LAMB OF GOD just received a Grammy nomination for “Best Metal Performance” for “Set To Fail” from their most recent release, Wrath, which entered Billboard’s Top 200 at No. 2.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH’s current album, War Is the Answer, debuted at # 7 on the Billboard charts. They were on the first-ever ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL in 2007 and have since established themselves as one of America’s most popular hard rock/ metal bands.

In addition to catching their favorite bands, Mayhem-goers can enjoy a plethora of festival activities, including playing the newest video games, perusing vendors, attending autograph signing sessions and a slew of other interactive activities that enhance the concert experience.

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK will be sampling their products and providing great surprises for attendees. Additional sponsors include Jagermeister, The DiNGSTORE.com (Device Personalization Company), Harley Davidson, Century Media and Metal Injection. Additional sponsor details will be announced shortly.

FUEL-TV and Revolver Magazine (who will produce the Official Tour Program) have signed on as official ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL media partners. Additional sponsors will be announced soon.

“In its third year the ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL has become our marquee music presentation,” says Mike Kelso, Marketing Director Rockstar Energy Drink. “Huge crowds and great bands make for an amazing summer road show and Rockstar is proud to bring it to music fans throughout the country.”

Specific dates, cities and additional information will be announced in the coming weeks. Fans can go to www.mayhemfest.com and www.LiveNation.com keep up with details as they are released.

Woodstock Ventures & Sony Music Entertainment Launch Woodstock.com, A New Social Network Website for Live Music Fans from All Generations

Woodstock Ventures and Sony Music Entertainment have joined forces to create Woodstock.com, a revolutionary destination website for live music fans from every generation. A new social networking website devoted to the live music community, Woodstock.com debuted to artists, fans, music lovers and websurfers everywhere on Monday, June 1, and continues to grow.

40 years after the original Woodstock Festival drew a half a million music fans to upstate New York for four days of peace, love and understanding, Woodstock.com, the official website for the Woodstock community, is keeping those ideals alive 24-7 in a vital new online social networking community.

Utilizing a clean and user-friendly aesthetic and interface, Woodstock.com is compatible with other online social networking sites and offers fans the opportunity to create their own Woodstock.com profile pages.

With information on more than 130,000 events and more than 20,000 pieces of content on-hand at launch, Woodstock.com is the web’s most comprehensive live music community site, offering fans the inside story on local and national concerts, access to ticketing, artist’s forums, and the unique ability to connect with other fans, compare and review their concert experiences, rate bands and concerts, post their own photos from live events they’ve attended and much more.

Woodstock.com offers a platform where fans can share their experiences from all of the Woodstock Festivals (’69,’94 & ’99) in addition to other live concert events. Woodstock.com is also premiering WikiStock, an interactive wiki-style encyclopedia of all things Woodstock, which will accept and incorporate contributions about the individual experiences visitors have had at Woodstock festivals over the years.

Woodstock.com will present forums to discuss environmental initiatives, social issues, and other current topics relevant to the Woodstock community. Visitors to the site can meet on a virtual village green, a platform for developing initiatives about global warming, carbon emissions, and responsible energy use. A special interactive portion of the site will make clear to the world which issues are of the greatest importance to the Woodstock community.

The site will be the ultimate source for all things Woodstock — exclusive interviews, guest editors, previously unreleased artifacts, audio-visual content, rare photographs and other memorabilia with an online store offering a wide variety of goods including fine art prints of never-before-seen photography, music, film, collectables, apparel and books.

“Three pillars of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, live music, community involvement and social awareness, will define the Woodstock Nation on a new frontier as the promoters of that pivotal event in Aug. 1969 set out to bring their vision of the world to cyberspace,” wrote John W. Barry in his article on the site appearing in the Poughkeepsie Journal/Associated Press.

Woodstock.com has been created under the auspices of Michael Lang and Joel Rosenman, two of the founders of the Woodstock Festival. The launch of Woodstock.com is planned to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, the historic weekend that showed the world how the youth of America could unite in peace and music. That spirit lives on at Woodstock.com, the ultimate Woodstock destination for the 21st century.

Legacy Recordings has also released five double-CD packages celebrating the legends of Woodstock. Each eco-friendly, all-paper package will feature the remastered original album in an LP replica sleeve, alongside a second CD which features the artist’s complete Woodstock performance, all with previously unreleased tracks! Each title will be an individually-numbered collectors edition, featuring a 16 x 24″ poster of the artist captured in performance at Woodstock in 1969.

JEFFERSON AIRPLANE – Volunteers: Woodstock Experience 2CD (RCA/Legacy)

JANIS JOPLIN – I Got Dem ‘Ol Kozmic Blues Again Mama!: Woodstock Experience 2CD (Columbia/Legacy)

SANTANA – Santana: Woodstock Experience 2CD (Columbia/Legacy)

SLY & THE FAMILY STONE – Stand!: Woodstock Experience 2CD (Epic/Legacy)

JOHNNY WINTER – Johnny Winter: Woodstock Experience 2CD (Epic/Legacy)

http://www.woodstock.com/

Source: Legacy Recordings

.. and favored Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Over Hendrix

From Proclaiming “Far Out” as their Favorite Slang Term to Electing an African American President as Their Biggest Surprise, Boomers Reflect on Then and Now

Eons.com, the online community for Baby Boomers, today announced the results of its Woodstock 40th Anniversary Survey. The survey sampled the opinions of nearly 2,000 respondents age 45 and over, forming a portrait of a generation that started out breaking the rules, and four decades later continues to shape the world. The survey and online group are available at www.eons.com/woodstock40th.

“Our members have been anticipating Woodstock’s landmark anniversary for more than a year. This weekend, eons.com welcomes all who experienced the 1960s to celebrate and share their Woodstock stories and connect with peers around this life-changing event,” says Jeff Taylor, Eons(TM) CEO.

Boomers’ Real Views on Woodstock, Music and the Hippie Life

– Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young was the survey’s surprise winner for favorite live performer at Woodstock (77%). Jimi Hendrix, the iconic Woodstock artist, came in 2nd with 53%. The #2 favorite? Creedence Clearwater Revival (72%).

– Nearly half of all respondents (47%) said the music was the most memorable part about Woodstock. Yet, Woodstock attendees said the sense of peace and togetherness (47%) was more memorable than the music (19%).

– Only 16% of all respondents considered themselves to be hippies in the ’60s, but 60% “wanted to be” or said they were “maybe a little bit.” Of those who attended Woodstock, 47% called themselves hippies versus 14% of non-attendees. Today, only 8% of Boomers consider themselves to be, with another 38% proclaiming “sort of.”

– Bell bottoms were a must-have for both genders (80%). While women raved about their very long hair (59%), men sported sideburns (47%) and their own long hair (38%).

– Boomers declared “Far Out” as their most-loved saying (66%). The distant second? “Groovy” (48%).

They Have Become “The Man” and Loved Their Careers

– Two-thirds of Boomers said they have achieved their career aspirations. In 1969, women’s top goal (32%) was to have a job that could help make a difference, while men (36%) sought a company with good benefits, pensions and security. The beginning of a sea change for women and work was evident as only 22% of women wanted to be a stay-at-home parent. Career disappointment centered on not making enough money, despite liking their jobs. Over 40% said they have or had a really fun and enjoyable career.

– While less than half of this generation (42%) gave much thought in the 1960′s to the corporate world, those that did (22%) thought it was a necessary evil. Today, almost all Boomers think about the corporate world (93%) and despite career success, many still feel it is a necessary evil (36%).

Hell No, We Won’t Go

– Only 35% of respondents participated in an anti-war protest in the ’60s, but Woodstock attendees were twice as likely (66%) to have protested. Interestingly, twice as many men (25%) as women said they supported the government’s position. Although 73% said Woodstock did not influence their attitude toward anti-war protesters, 19% said it made them more tolerant.

– While 42% said they are “much less active today” in anti-war protests, as a generation Boomers are more involved in activism and community support. One-third (33%) are “much more active today” in volunteerism and nearly 40% are “somewhat more active” in grassroots activism, social organizing and political activism.

The ’60s Shaped Their Generation

– Over 45% said, “I am who I am because of the ’60s,” with 75% claiming that growing up in the ’60s made them more open-minded. Over 50% enjoyed those times and would choose to live them over again, but 9% would happily skip that time.

– In 1969, they “never would have imagined” that in 40 years we’d have an African American President (60%). Other surprises? They still enjoy music as much as they did (36%); they enjoy being grandparents (32%); and they as strongly espouse the values of peace, love and community (32%) as they did 40 years ago.

– Overall, 62% said their generation as a whole has not achieved its ideals yet. One commented, “We made more change happen faster than anyone dreamed possible before us. There is still a distance to go, but our impact on the process has been undeniable.”

The Newseum announced plans to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair with “Woodstock at 40: The Rise of Music Journalism.” The exhibition, open Aug. 1 through Oct. 31, features rarely seen images from a trio of photojournalists — including a 17-year-old Connecticut high schooler — who covered the event, as well as other examples of media coverage, Woodstock memorabilia and artifacts.

In addition to a camera, press passes and notes from the featured photographers, the artifacts include a working list of the artists who performed and how much each act was paid and other items from Woodstock concert promoter Michael Lang.

Rolling Stone called the Woodstock Music and Art Fair “the most famous event in rock history.” The Newseum’s “Woodstock at 40″ exhibit invites visitors to consider how the event changed the way that news media — and the rest of the nation — looked at rock music and popular culture.

At the time, reports focused on traffic jams, rainstorms, food shortages, drug use and crowd size. New York’s Sunday News headlined its story “Hippies Mired in Sea of Mud.”

But according to USA Today rock critic Edna Gundersen, “The media and the music industry were awakened by Woodstock and started to recognize music as not just a frivolous and entertaining diversion but as a growing cultural magnet and a commercial force with enormous potential.”

Newseum Executive Director Joe Urschel says that, “prior to Woodstock, there were few reporters in the mainstream media who covered rock music seriously. That changed very quickly after the festival. Many of the reporters who did attend completely missed the story, focusing instead on those things that seem insignificant now — the traffic, the crowds, the weather. It was the equivalent of going to cover the Super Bowl and neglecting to mention the football game.”

“Woodstock at 40″ focuses on the efforts of three photographers to document the event.

Concert promoter Lang paid Henry Diltz $500 to be the official photographer of Woodstock. Diltz arrived in Bethel, N.Y., two weeks before the concert to capture the preparations and remained through Jimi Hendrix’s festival-ending performance. He then headed for the offices of Life magazine and submitted hundreds of freshly developed slides. “Woodstock at 40″ features the three Diltz images as they appeared — with full-page treatment — in the 1969 “Woodstock Special Edition” of Life, as well as other images of the performers and crowd.

Mark Goff covered Woodstock as a 22-year-old reporter for Kaleidoscope, a Milwaukee-based alternative newspaper that was published in the late 1960s. Armed with a press pass, Goff had access to the entire venue. His rarely seen photos feature extraordinary snapshots of both the performers — Joan Baez, Ravi Shankar, Sly Stone — and the crowds taken from the press pit located just below the stage. Goff’s images appear alongside his mud-splattered press kit, press pass, concert pin and tickets.

The exhibition also features rarely seen images taken by reporter Dan Garson who, as a 17-year-old journalist for his high school newspaper in Connecticut, wrote the festival organizers for a press pass. To his astonishment, he got one. Garson captured more than 300 photographs, only four of which were ever published. The rest were forgotten in his parents’ basement. “Woodstock at 40″ features the first public museum display of Garson’s photos as well as the 35mm camera he used, his notes and the letter Garson received from Woodstock granting him a press pass.

The Newseum has produced an original, five-minute feature presentation for the 90-foot-long screen in the museum’s Robert H. and Clarice Smith Big Screen Theater. The production mixes news photographs and rarely seen network footage of the concert with images taken by the exhibit’s featured photographers. Interviews with Barnard Collier, who covered the concert for The New York Times; Jan Hodenfield, who covered for Rolling Stone; and USA Today rock critic Edna Gundersen are mixed with music from the concert. The production will run daily while “Woodstock at 40″ is on display.

“Woodstock at 40″ was made possible through the generous cooperation of Rona Elliot and Genesis Publications, publisher of “Woodstock Experience,” along with Brad LeMee and the family of Dan Garson, Woodstock executive producer Michael Lang, and photographers Henry Diltz and Mark Goff.

Public programs

On Saturday, Aug. 1, a local band assembled specifically to mark the exhibit opening, “Woodstock Re-Covered,” will perform music from the historic concert in the Newseum’s New York Times — Ochs-Sulzberger Family Great Hall of News beginning at 2 p.m.

On Sunday, Aug. 9, Woodstock Music and Art Fair organizer Michael Lang will offer a revealing look at how one concert brought a half-million people to an upstate farm in Bethel, N.Y., and captured the social and political spirit of the decade. After the program, Lang will sign copies of his book, “The Road to Woodstock.”

On Saturday, Aug. 15, former New York Times reporter Barnard L. Collier will sort out fact from fiction about the historic concert. Collier wrote about Woodstock as promoters searched for a location and was on the scene when the final act took the stage.

The Newseum — a 250,000-square-foot museum of news — offers visitors an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits. Within its seven levels of galleries and theaters, the Newseum offers a unique environment that takes museum-goers behind the scenes to experience how and why news is made.

Source: Newseum

Premiering on Friday, August 14 at 9pm on VH1 and VH1 Classic and Monday, August 17 at 8pm on History

Documentary Directed By Academy Award Winning Filmmaker Barbara Kopple and Executive Produced By Original Festival Organizer Michael Lang

In the summer of 1969, on a farm about 90 miles north of New York City, more than 500,000 people gathered for a three day music festival that in an instant, defined a generation and changed popular culture forever…Woodstock.

Now, 40 years after that historic moment, History(TM) and VH1 Rock Docs have joined forces for the first time, for a unique television collaboration, one that celebrates and explores the deep history and fascination of Woodstock, as well as the incredible music experience that defined a generation. The definitive two-hour documentary, “Woodstock: Now & Then”, will premiere on Friday, August 14 at 9pm on VH1 and VH1 Classic and on Monday, August 17 at 8pm on History.

Directed and Produced by two-time Academy Award winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple and Executive Produced by Michael Lang, the original festival organizer, the film examines Woodstock from the perspectives of not only the musicians who graced the stage, but the fans who gathered in mass, the concert promoters who risked everything and countless others whose unique experiences help paint a tapestry of Woodstock that hasn’t been seen in recent years.

“Woodstock: Now & Then” explores the frenzied days leading up to and throughout the festival, from how the planners scrambled to find a concert site and the traffic jams that shut down the New York State thruway to the infamously bad “brown acid,” the thunderous rain and mud and, of course, the music. Weaving together first-hand accounts with rare archival images and an iconic soundtrack, the documentary allows those who were there a chance to relive the experience and gives an entirely new generation an opportunity to feel the magic of that time.

The film will also take an important look at Woodstock’s legacy through the eyes of today’s musicians and activists examining why Woodstock and all it symbolizes is still relevant in today’s culture.

For more information please log onto www.history.com/woodstock and for more information on VH1 Rock Docs go to www.vh1.com.

“Woodstock: Now & Then” is part of History’s celebration of the historic events that took place during the summer of 1969. History will premiere new specials that also include “Moonshot” (premiering Monday, July 20, 8pm) and “Sex in 69: The Sexual Revolution in America” (premiering Monday, August 3, 8pm).

“Woodstock: Now & Then” is the newest film in the Emmy Award-winning VH1 Rock Doc franchise. VH1 Rock Docs are feature-length documentaries that tell unique stories of artists and music from a wide range of genres, styles, and musical perspectives.

“Woodstock: Now & Then” is a co-production of History(TM) and VH1, in association with Cabin Creek Films and Woodstock Ventures, Inc. Brad Abramson, Stephen Mintz, Shelly Tatro and Jeff Olde serve as executive producers for VH1 and Julian P. Hobbs is the executive producer for History. For Cabin Creek Films, Barbara Kopple serves as director and producer and Michael Lang as executive producer.

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 95 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.

Source: VH1

‘They’re Gonna Make a Big Star Out of Me’ $10,000 Singing Competition

Winner will Perform on the Stage that Made The Beatles Famous in Liverpool

The Courier-Journal.com Abbey Road on the River is launching the world’s biggest Beatles song singing competition, sponsored by the Hard Days Night Hotel (Liverpool), named after Ringo Starr’s Act Naturally lyric “They’re Gonna Make a Big Star Out of Me.” With shows like American Idol and Britain’s Got Talent capturing the world’s attention, it’s time Abbey Road on the River proves that Louisville’s got talent too. The grand prize winner will perform on the world famous stage where the Beatles launched their career, The Cavern Club in Liverpool.

The competition is limited to 250 contestants, and is open to any Abbey Road on the River ticket holder, with a $20 fee to enter. For complete competition rules and entry details, visit http://www.abbeyroadontheriver.com/singingcontest.php.

Contestants will be separated into two age categories, and the grand prize winner of the 16+ category will receive a trip for two to Liverpool which includes roundtrip airfare, a 4-night stay at the Hard Days Night Hotel, a VIP tour of Beatles homes and sites in Liverpool, and an opportunity to perform on the very stage where the Beatles launched their career at the world-famous Cavern Club. They will also receive a $300 Beatles merchandise shopping spree and a $1,000 contract to perform at Abbey Road on the River 2010.

Abbey Road on the River, the world’s largest Beatles tribute festival which features over 50 bands and draws 25,000 fans from across the globe, will be held in Louisville May 21 – 25, 2009, at the Belvedere Festival Park and Galt House Hotel & Suites. The music festival is 5 days of peace, love, and rock and roll, showcasing the world’s most accomplished Beatles and 60′s era bands performing thousands of hit songs each day. To preview the 2009 festival, visit http://www.abbeyroadontheriver.com/video.php.

General admission one-day tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. One guest 21 and under can enter free when accompanied by any regular ticket holder. Tickets can be purchased online at www.abbeyroadontheriver.com.

Abbey Road on the River 2009 is supported by: Courier-Journal.com, Republic Bank, Coors Light, the Greater Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau, and 107.7 WSFR.

Source: GMJ Events, LLC

Ambulance Delivers Motley Crue To Press Conference At The Fuse TV Studio In Dr. Feelgood Style

Crue Fest 2 Starring: Motley Crue with Godsmack, Theory of a Deadman, Drowning Pool And Introducing Charm City Devils.

Motley Crue announced the line up today for their second annual Summer Festival tour, Crue Fest 2 at the Fuse TV studio in New York City. The follow-up to the most successful Rock Festival of last summer stars Motley Crue with Godsmack, Theory of a Deadman, Drowning Pool and introduces Charm City Devils.

In addition to announcing the line up, the Crue debuted a new music video featuring members of all five Crue Fest 2 bands performing the single “White Trash Circus.” During the announcement Motley Crue was joined on stage by Sully Erna of Godsmack, Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman, Ryan McCombs of Drowning Pool and John Allen of Charm City Devils. The single of this track featuring Motley Crue with these vocalists is available to radio today.

Crue Fest 2, produced by Live Nation and kicking off on July 19th in Camden, NJ tours across North America and concludes on September 5th in Darien Lake, NY. Select dates go on sale to the public on March 20th, the remainder go on sale the 21st, check www.CrueFest2.com and www.Motley.com for exact on-sale information and for tickets. Tickets are also available at http://www.livenation.com/. Additional details can be found by calling 818.748.9075. Citi(R) cardmembers have access to presale tickets beginning March 17 at 10am local time through Citi’s Private Pass(R) Program. For complete presale details visit: http://www.citiprivatepass.com/. Motley Crue’s Nikki Sixx says, “This is what we imagined when we came up with the idea of Crue Fest last summer – putting together the most kick ass bands on one bill for a day of rock. All of the bands on this tour complement the others — musically, theatrically and passionately.”

Theory of A Deadman’s Tyler Connolly states, “This Saints of Los Angeles tour with Motley Crue has been, so far, the greatest rock experience for Theory of a Deadman, and I can happily say that they have been nothing but amazing to us. We so look forward to Crue Fest 2 this summer and are honoured to be a part of the best f#@%in’ tour this summer. Period!”

Ryan McCombs from Drowning Pool notes, “Drowning Pool has been touring straight through for the past two years and we are psyched to bring a kick ass show to these crowds on the ultimate rock festival.”

Charm City Devils’ John Allen says, “We are so lucky that Nikki Sixx has taken Charm City Devils under his wicked yet brilliant wing and is allowing us to share the same stage with this incredible bill just as our record, Let’s Rock -n- Roll is hitting on Eleven Seven Music.”

To kick off the press conference, Motley Crue stopped lunch hour traffic in New York City arriving at Fuse in a Dr. Feelgood era ambulance accompanied by scantily clad nurses. As previously announced, the band is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their first #1 album by playing Dr. Feelgood from beginning to end every night of Crue Fest 2. In addition, fans can expect Motley Crue to bring out hits from their entire catalog through their latest hit, Saints of Los Angeles.

Fans nationwide were invited to celebrate the line-up announcement with launch parties at local venues airing the press conference and in-theater special screenings of Crue Fest 1. Crue Fest 1 will also be available on DVD starting March 24th which will include bonus material and artist commentary. More on the screenings can be found at www.cruefestthemovie.com.

Fuse is gearing up for a full-hour of programming dedicated to Crue Fest 2 starting Monday, March 16 at 9:00pm ET/PT with a special edition of “Loaded: Crue Fest,” featuring exclusive press conference coverage and a block of videos from the Festival’s artists as well as “Loaded: Motley Crue,” filled with a selection of videos that have made the Crue rock legends. Also, don’t miss an inside look at the brand new DVD of “Crue Fest 1″ featuring performances from Motley Crue, Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx:A.M. And Trapt. “Crue Fest 1″ premieres Thursday, March 19 at 10pm ET/PT on Fuse TV.

Fans can see a special live, network premiere performance of the Crue and the Crue Fest 2 lead vocalists performing “White Trash Circus” on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Friday, March 20th on ABC TV at 12:05 am/11:05c.

imeem will be the online partner for Crue Fest 2, starting on March 17th with heavy promotion on imeem.com, and constant information updated on http://www.imeem.com/cruefest2. Once a week, brand new content from the tour will debut on imeem.com, including playlist, video, and audio content, and will be cross promoted across imeem and band-branded assets.

Motley Crue

Motley Crue recently returned to the top of the charts with Saints of Los Angeles, their first new studio album with the original line-up — Nikki Sixx, Mick Mars, Tommy Lee and Vince Neil — in a decade and the ninth studio album in their career. Based on the band’s New York Times bestseller The Dirt, the disc debuted at #1 on the Independent Album chart and was the top debut of the week on the Billboard Top 200 albums at #4. “Saints of Los Angeles,” which was nominated for Best Hard Rock Performance at this year’s Grammy Awards, was also noted as the #1 Rock Song of the Year in 2008 by iTunes critics. Crue Fest, last summer’s most successful touring rock festival and the number ten tour overall (according to Rolling Stone), played for nearly half a million rock fans throughout North America. Crue Fest 1 featured Motley Crue along with Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Sixx:A.M. and Trapt. A special 20th Anniversary version of Dr. Feelgood is set for release later this spring.

Fuse

Fuse brings viewers closer to their favorite artists and bands by featuring original series and specials, exclusive interviews, live concerts and video blocks – all rooted in the music experience. Celebrating the hit makers of today, familiar favorites and edgy newcomers, Fuse accommodates the wide ranging tastes and attitudes of its 12-34 year-old audience with compelling music programming on-air, on-line, on-demand and via mobile technologies. Fuse is a part of MSG Media, which includes television networks MSG and MSG Plus and MSG Interactive, which oversees all company wireless and online initiatives. MSG Media is a division of Madison Square Garden, L.P., which is owned by Cablevision Systems Corporation, and includes the New York Knicks (NBA); the New York Rangers (NHL); the New York Liberty (WNBA); the Hartford Wolf Pack (American Hockey League); MSG Entertainment, which includes concerts and events at Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden, the Beacon Theatre, as well as the legendary Chicago Theatre, and which manages wholly-owned live entertainment properties including the Radio City Rockettes and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Additional information about Fuse can be found at http://press.fuse.tv/

Godsmack

Rock icons Godsmack celebrated the ten-year anniversary of their debut album in 2008 with the release of their XX greatest hits album, Good Times Bad Times… Ten Years of Godsmack. Since storming onto the music scene in 1998 with their self-titled debut, the Boston based band has gone on to sell more than 12 million albums and score a remarkable 16 hit singles, 13 of them Top 10 hits at Active Rock, with the help of such groundbreaking songs as “Awake,” “I Stand Alone” and “Whatever.” In addition to sold-out headlining concerts worldwide, Godsmack has also joined the bill for several Ozzfests, appeared at Woodstock ’99 and toured with rock legends Metallica.

Theory of A Deadman

Vancouver rockers Theory of a Deadman recently released “Not Meant to Be,” the third single from their latest release Scars & Souvenirs. The single, with a video featuring American Idol judge Kara DioGuardi, is currently Top 15 at Hot A/C. Scars & Souvenirs, Theory’s third album, has brought unprecedented success for the trio with lead singles “Bad Girlfriend” and “So Happy” both reaching #1 on the Active Rock charts and Top 10 at Modern Rock. The album is also the group’s best-selling album to date, closing in on Gold status.

Drowning Pool

Three albums — 2001′s Sinners, certified platinum within six weeks of its release, 2004′s Desensitized, and 2007′s Full Circle — all charted on the Billboard Top 200 and brought Drowning Pool their share of hits, including “Bodies,” their calling card anthem and tribute to the mosh pit. Eight years later, the song remains a crowd favorite and a reminder of all of their highs and lows. On the heels of 300 shows over the course of the last two years, Drowning Pool recently decided to capture that sound permanently with the release of their long-awaited live album, Loudest Common Denominator. Included among the 13 tracks are Top 20 Mainstream classics “Bodies,” “Step Up,” “Enemy,” “Soldiers,” and a bonus acoustic demo version of their current Top 10 Active Rock track, “37 Stitches.”

Charm City Devils

Charm City Devils, the band that were hand selected as Nikki Sixx’s first signing to his label, Eleven Seven Music (named the Rock Label of the Year by FMQB), have been dubbed the #1 Rock Band in Maryland for 2008 by SenBaltimore.com. The band’s debut single “Let’s Rock-N-Roll,” has been burning up Baltimore’s local radio and is quickly garnering a national buzz. The album of the same name is expected to be releasing in May of 2009.

For more information on Crue Fest 2, please visit: www.cruefest2.com. For more information on Motley Crue, please visit: www.motley.com.

For live footage from Motley Crue’s performance at Crue Fest 1, please visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnlL5ExbJ0Q.

Crue Fest 2 Tour Dates

JULY
19 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center
21 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
22 Tinley Park, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
24 Minot, ND North Dakota State Fair (Motley Crue only)
27 Auburn, WA White River Amphitheatre
28 Portland, OR The Amphitheater at Clark County
30 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
31 San Bernardino, CA San Manuel Amphitheater

AUGUST
1 Las Vegas, NV The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
3 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
4 Englewood, CO Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre
5 Albuquerque, NM Journal Pavilion
7 Spring, TX Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
8 Dallas, TX Superpages.com Center
9 Kansas City, MO Sprint Center
11 Maryland Heights, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheater – St. Louis
12 Indianapolis, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center – Indianapolis
14 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
15 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
16 Pittsburgh, PA Post Gazette Pavilion
19 Mansfield, MA Comcast Center
21 Virginia Beach, VA Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater
22 Bristow, VA Nissan Pavilion
23 Raleigh, NC Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion
27 W. Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
28 Tampa, FL Ford Amphitheatre
29 Atlanta, GA Lakewood Amphitheatre
30 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre

SEPTEMBER
1 Saratoga Springs, NY Saratoga Performing Arts Center
3 Syracuse, NY New York State Fair (Motley Crue only)
4 Scranton, PA Toyota Pavilion
5 Darien Lake, NY Darien Lake Performing Arts Center

Source: Rogers & Cowan

‘Woodstock: 40 Years Later’ (working title) Premiering on VH1 and History in August

Directed By Academy Award Winning Filmmaker Barbara Kopple and Executive Produced By Original Festival Organizer Michael Lang, Film Will Also Be Simulcast On VH1 Classic

In the summer of 1969, on a farm about 90 miles north of New York City, more than 500,000 people gathered for a three day music festival that in an instant, defined a generation and changed popular culture forever … Woodstock.

Now, 40 years after that historic moment, VH1 Rock Docs and History have joined forces for a unique television collaboration: the definitive two-hour documentary, “Woodstock: 40 Years Later” (working title), which will premiere this August on VH1, History and VH1 Classic. Directed by two-time Academy Award winning filmmaker Barbara Kopple and Executive Produced by Michael Lang, the original festival organizer, the film examines Woodstock from the perspectives of not only the musicians who graced the stage, but the fans who gathered in mass, the concert promoters who risked everything and countless others whose unique experiences help paint a tapestry of Woodstock that hasn’t been seen in recent years.

“Woodstock: 40 Years Later” explores the frenzied days leading up to and throughout the festival, from how the planners scrambled to find a concert site and the traffic jams that shut down the New York State thruway to the infamously bad “brown acid,” the thunderous rain and mud and, of course, the music. Weaving together first-hand accounts with rare archival images and an iconic soundtrack, the documentary allows those who were there a chance to relive the experience and gives an entirely new generation an opportunity to feel the magic of that time.

The film will also take an important look at Woodstock’s legacy through the eyes of today’s musicians and activists examining why Woodstock and all it symbolizes is still relevant in today’s culture.

For more information please log onto www.vh1.com

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, VH1 has partnered with Warner Home Video on several cross-marketing initiatives in support of each other’s Woodstock-related projects. Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace & Music — the four-hour director’s cut of the 1970 Oscar(R)-winning documentary about the landmark music event that featured some of the greatest rock ‘n’ roll performers in history — will be released this summer in a spectacular new Blu-ray and DVD Ultimate Collector’s Edition (UCE). With two extra hours of rare performance footage — some of it newly-discovered, some only seen in part and some never seen at all — the UCE is destined to make its own history.

“Woodstock: 40 Years Later” is the newest film in the Emmy Award-winning VH1 Rock Doc franchise. VH1 Rock Docs are feature-length documentaries that tell unique stories of artists and music from a wide range of genres, styles, and musical perspectives.

“Woodstock: 40 Years Later” is part of History’s celebration of the historic events that took place during the summer of 1969. History will premiere a series of new specials that also include “Moonshot” and The “Sexual Revolution.”

“Woodstock: 40 Years Later” is a co-production of VH1 and History(TM), in association with Cabin Creek Films and Woodstock Ventures, Inc. Brad Abramson, Stephen Mintz, Shelly Tatro and Jeff Olde serve as executive producers for VH1 and Julian P. Hobbs is the executive producer for History. For Cabin Creek Films, Barbara Kopple serves as director and Michael Lang as executive producer.

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 95 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.

History(TM) and History HD(TM) are the leading destinations for revealing, award-winning, original non-fiction series and event-driven specials that connects history with viewers in an informative, immersive and entertaining manner across multiple platforms. Programming covers a diverse variety of historical genres ranging from military history to contemporary history, technology to natural history, as well as science, archaeology and pop culture. Among the networks’ program offerings are hit series such as Ax Men, Battle 360, The Universe, Cities of The Underworld and Ice Road Truckers, as well as acclaimed specials including King, Life After People, 1968 With Tom Brokaw, Lost Book of Nostradamus, Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed and Sherman’s March. History has earned four Peabody Awards, four Primetime Emmy(R) Awards, 12 News & Documentary Emmy(R) Awards and received the prestigious Governor’s Award from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for the network’s Save Our History(R) campaign dedicated to historic preservation and history education. Take A Veteran to School Day is the network’s latest initiative connecting America’s schools and communities with veterans from all wars. History’s website, located at www.History.com, is the definitive historical online source that delivers entertaining and informative content featuring broadband video, interactive timelines, maps, games podcasts and more.