Monday, November 2, 2009 – The organizers of the Vans Warped Tour, 4 FINI, announced today the first-ever County Throwdown Tour with Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, Little Big Town and Jack Ingram as the headlining acts on the tour, which starts in May 2010.
The tour, which was previously announce, but with no acts named, will run May 13 through June 20. Other artists confirmed for the multi-stage country tour include Eric Church, the Eli Young Band, Jonathan Singleton & The Grove, Lost Trailers, Ryan Bingham and Emily West, with more artists to be announced.
The outdoor amphitheater trek will feature music plus a full concourse of lifestyle attractions and vendors.
In addition to the 12 main artists performing on three stages (one main stage and two side stages), the Bluebird Cafe Tent will feature nine singer-songwriters. Fans will get to see these artists perform intimate "In the Round"-type throughout the day, as well as see them play nightly on a specially designed stage during the main stage set changes.
Tour founder and co-producer Kevin Lyman said, "Very much like other projects we have been involved with, this project is about bringing together a great group of artists and attractions at a fair ticket price for music fans."
"We feel country music will welcome this type of touring festival," said Sarah Baer, co-producer for the tour and Head of Marketing for 4FINI, Inc. "Fans of any music genre are looking for a place where they can experience a full day of quality music from new faces, along side well known acts, and at a value price. The music we've had the pleasure of booking on this tour is going to surprise and excite a lot of people come May. It's a group of truly talented musicians and singer-songwriters that have never toured in this capacity. I'm expecting great things."
Brian O'Connell, President of Country Music Touring for Live Nation, said, "I'm looking forward to bringing the Country Throwdown Tour to country music fans across the U.S. next summer. Kevin and I have known each other for a long time, and he and his team have obviously been very successful with their other projects, most notably the Vans Warped Tour, and I am proud that he and his team and Live Nation are in business with this exciting project. The opportunity that we have to collectively bring an unprecedented number of artists on tour at once and to expose their music to fans at an affordable price is what really brought me on board. The fans are the real winners here with all of the great artists we have the honor to work with on this tour. Breaking new acts is the lifeblood of this business, and I look forward to this new and innovative Tour....you never know what magic can happen with this much talent gathered in any given market....not the Tour you want to miss in 2010!"
Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry said, "When Eddie and I were approached about doing the Country Throwdown Tour, we immediately said yes. We loved the idea of it being like a big festival, a big party. I mean, that's what Montgomery Gentry is all about. We're keeping the ticket prices low because we know it's hard out there. Fans are going to get a lot of entertainment for their money. This tour is going to be a great experience for us, the other artists and especially the fans."
Mike Eli of the Eli Young Band said, "Being part of this tour is a very exciting prospect for us. It brings together a group of similar-minded artists. And the organizers have done some impressive things with other tours in the past, and from what we've seen...we're excited about what they're going to do with country music."
Instead of the traditional front-to-back tiered ticketing - where fans who pay more get closer - Throwdown will split the seats down the middle. For a limited time during the pre-sale which begins in February 2010, anyone who buys early can get the Ticket Takeover priced ticket and be as close as the front row. Regular tiered ticketing will still be available for purchase for half of the amphitheater seating.
