NAMM to Support Vans Warped Tour ‘11, Country Throwdown Tour 2011 and the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival

The National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) today announced its support of three upcoming popular music festivals to demonstrate to music enthusiasts of various ages and demographics the fun and benefits of playing music.

Through its support of the Vans Warped Tour ‘11, Country Throwdown Tour 2011 and the 2011 Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, NAMM will be highlighting its core message on festival websites and in various communications that making music is fun for people of all ages and has many proven social, wellness and academic benefits for everyone.

For the first time, the combined support of all three events provides the association and its membership the ability to reach out to music enthusiasts of various ages and backgrounds and encourage them to pick up an instrument and play.

NAMM is inviting its Retail Members to participate in this program this summer by hanging festival posters in their stores and utilizing allotted festival tickets as in-store promotions to reach out to potential customers and music makers.

“NAMM’s support of these music festivals is part of its continuing effort to tap into a market where people have demonstrated a strong affinity for listening to music and attending live events, but haven’t yet tried playing music themselves,” said Joe Lamond, NAMM president and CEO.

The Vans Warped Tour ’11 will feature pop punk, hardcore, rock and metalcore bands such as Paramore, A Day to Remember and Asking Alexandria. The tour kicks off June 24 and runs until Aug. 14, with stops in major cities across the United States.

2011 VANS WARPED TOUR
The VANS WARPED TOUR® is well-established as America’s premiere music and lifestyle festival of the summer, breaking up-and-coming indie talent as well as both creating and showcasing major established artists since 1995.  The nationally-renowned festival is the most eclectic traveling tour and features a diverse array of artists--with hotly tipped acts in punk, indie, metal and hardcore, to rock, hip-hop, rap, electronic, reggae and pop; as well as a variety of lifestyle attractions for its traditionally low ticket price. The 2011 tour will feature: Paramore, 3OH!3, A Day To Remember, Against Me!, Gym Class Heroes, Lucero, Jack's Mannequin, Less Than Jake, Lucero, Yelawolf, We Came As Romans and Big Chocolate to name a few, for a full list, visit: www.vanswarpedtour.com/bands. The VANS WARPED TOUR has cemented its place in history by bringing punk rock/skate/action sports culture from the underground to the forefront of global youth culture. Now in its 17th year, the 44-date tour kicks-off June 24 in Dallas, TX and finishes August 14 in Portland, OR, go to: www.vanswarpedtour.com.

2011 WILLIE NELSON’S COUNTRY THROWDOWN
The second-annual Willie Nelson's Country Throwdown tour will feature two stages and eight headliners, including Willie Nelson, Jamey Johnson, Randy Houser, Lee Brice, Brantley Gilbert, Craig Campbell, Lukas Nelson & the Promise of the Real, and Drake White along with many special guests along the way.  In addition, six emerging singer-songwriters will perform on the Bluebird Café Stage where fans will have the opportunity to enjoy the unique and intimate “in the round”-style sets made famous at Nashville's Bluebird Café.  The tour begins May 27 in Philadelphia, Penn., and will wrap up July 3 after touring 24 cities. For more information about Willie Nelson's Country Throwdown Tour, please contact Angie Gore at angie@kaleidoscope-media.com

2011 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL
The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival will feature hard rock bands Disturbed, Godsmack, Megadeth, Machine Head and many others. The tour begins on July 9 in San Bernardino, Calif. and will tour 26 cities before ending the tour on Aug. 14 in West Palm Beach, Fla. For press inquiries and additional information, please contact Adrenaline PR and Maria Ferrero at 732-462-4262 or maria@adrenalinepr.com.

NAMM Members are encouraged to check each festival’s site for tour dates, cities and artists. To participate in NAMM’s in-store promotion of these events, please contact NAMM at info@namm.org or call 800-767-6266.