Chelmsford, MA – June 7, 2010 – Emerging indie acts will soon be making their voices heard loud and clear to scores of fans, as HANSON and OurStage are proud to announce the “Shout It Out with HANSON” opening act competition. Thirty-five coveted slots are up for grabs, as the multi-platinum band of brothers turn to the public to source the opening acts for the first two legs of their upcoming North American tour. The Shout It Out Tour provides a platform for HANSON to continue their passion and support for independent music, while supporting the band’s highly anticipated fifth record of the same name.
The first leg of the Shout It Out Tour begins July 21 with support from Rooney, and covers the East Coast, South and Midwest. Entries for the first leg’s opening act competition, which covers shows through August 15, are be accepted at http://www.ourstage.com/go/hanson now through June 21 at 11:59 pm. Winning bands for the first leg of the tour will be announced approximately July 5.
The second leg, featuring support act A Rocket To The Moon, covers the Southwest and West Coast and begins September 14. Entries for the first leg’s opening act competition, which covers shows through October 1, will be accepted beginning July 1 at 12:01 am and continuing through July 22 at 11:59 pm. Winning bands for the second leg of the tour will be announced approximately August 15.
Ben Campbell, CEO of OurStage, said “HANSON has been a leader in the music industry for a long time-both as musicians and by running their own label, which is paving the way for other emerging artists seeking to make a name for themselves. Their ethos is close to the heart of what OurStage stands for, and we are honored that they entrusted us to find which emerging artists will perform as opening acts on their tour.”
Fans will want to keep close watch on the contestants and vote for their favorites, beginning on the artist entry dates, as that will make fans eligible to win tickets to the concerts in the process. Fan voting will be at the core of the “Shout It Out with HANSON” opening act competition, as the fate of these indie bands’ dreams will be in the public’s hands. Competing artists will be whittled down to a list of Top-20 semi-finalists in each market. From the fan-ranked list of semi-finalists in each city, a blue ribbon panel from the members of HANSON, 3CG Records and OurStage will pick the ultimate winners for the following concerts:
Shout It Out Tour First Leg
July
21 Buffalo, NY Club Infinity
23 Hyannis, MACape Cod Melody Tent *
24 Cohasset, MASouth Shore Music Circus *
25 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of the Living Arts
27 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
28 Richmond, VA Hat Factory
30 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
31 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre
August
2 Louisville, KY Headliners
3 Nashville, TN Wild Horse Saloon
4 Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall
5 St. Louis, MOPageant
7 Kansas City, MOThe Beaumont
8 Omaha, NE Slowdown (Rooney is not on this date)
10 Minneapolis, MN Music @ Zoo Outdoor Amphitheatre *
12 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theatre
13 & 14 Chicago, IL House of Blues
16 Grand Rapids, MI Intersection
17 Royal Oak, MIRoyal Oak Music Theatre
19 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
20 Pittsburgh, PA Carnegie Music Hall
21 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
23 Cincinnati, OH Moonlight Gardens
24 Indianapolis, IN Egyptian Room
25 Tulsa, OK Cain’s Ballroom
Shout It Out Tour Second Leg
September
14 Mesa, AZPiper Theater
16 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
17 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues
18 San Diego, CA House of Blues
20 & 21 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
22 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
23 Seattle, WAThe Moore
25 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
27 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory
28 Boise, IDKnitting Factory
30 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot
October
1 Boulder, CO Fox Theatre
* Not a “Shout It Out with HANSON” date.
Shout It Out, to be released on HANSON’s own 3CG Records on June 8, was written and produced by HANSON, and augmented with special guests: Funk Brothers bassist Bob Babbitt, who played on some of Motown’s greatest hits, as well as horn arranger Jerry Hey, who worked with Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Earth, Wind and Fire and many more. The three-time Grammy-nominated band has been enjoying a massive resurgence in recent weeks, as the response to the album’s first single and video, “Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’,” now available at all major digital outlets, has been rapturous, receiving rave reviews everywhere.
About OurStage:
OurStage is an online music destination unlike any other. It’s a meeting space for music lovers, and the place where tomorrow’s stars get discovered. Artists, fans and the entire industry come together here to celebrate and influence new music. Undiscovered artists submit their tracks to monthly music channels, fans rank their material, and industry professionals keep tabs on who’s rising through the charts, rewarding the best of the best with priceless opportunities. Fans and artists are eligible for monthly prizes and life-altering prospects for success, made possible through OurStage’s partnerships with media giants such as MTV; key radio conglomerates like Citadel Media and Radio-One; leading Web outlets like AOL Music; and major music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Bumbershoot, Noise Pop and CMJ. Founded in 2007, OurStage delivers music and editorial coverage to over 4 million monthly visitors from more than 170 countries, as well as development tools to more than 120,000 artists. For more information on the world’s most authentic online music community, visit www.ourstage.com.
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