Free extreme sports & music fest to make national tour stop, starring Ryan Sheckler
Some of nation’s hottest new music artists will mix it up with some of the country’s best alternative sports athletes as the Journeys Backyard Barbeque makes a national tour stop in the greater Cleveland area on Saturday, May 22 in the Southwest parking lot outside Southpark Mall (500 Southpark Center, Strongsville, OH 44136) from noon-7:00 pm.
Serving up a heaping helping of today’s top action sports with a side dish of cutting-edge music,
this free nationwide sports and music festival will be grillin’ with the area’s hottest up-and-coming
bands competing on the tour’s 32 foot-long mobile music stage. Alongside, the action will also be
sizzlin’ as top pro skateboard, BMX and motocross athletes streak through the sky in action-packed live
demo shows in the tour’s 60,000 square foot “alternative sports playground” of jumps and ramps.
Freestyle Motocross pros will fly and flip nearly three stories high, over a distance of almost 100 feet, as they run their custom-modified motocross motorcycles through an amazing arsenal of tricks -- including can cans, back flips, and the “kiss of death.” International superstars appearing from team “Metal Mulisha” include veteran riders Derek Garland, Ryan Hagy and Wes Agee (12:45. 2:45, 5:30).
Not to be outdone, some of the world’s best skateboard and BMX pros will perform the sickest tricks in the sport -- staged on a 48 foot wide Super Mini Ramp (1:15 & 4:00). Team etnies will bring their team of internationally-ranked pro athletes to town for a rare, close-up experience with fans, including athlete autograph sessions after each performance. Athletes slated to appear at this tour stop include several of the world’s top skateboard pros, including world-famous young skateboarding legend & former MTV star Ryan Sheckler.
The etnies BMX team will also ”take to the air” alongside their skate teammates, sailing their customized bikes off the tour’s ramp with hair-raising jumps and stunts. World-class riders slated to appear include international and X Games BMX superstar Jamie Bestwick and teammates Aaron Ross, Morgan Wade, and Brian Kachinsky.
Alongside the blazin’ sports action, the music scene will also be roastin’ as an American Idol-style contest takes place on the tour’s mobile stage, the “Converse All-Star Battle of the Bands.” Local indie rock, alt, emo, and punk bands compete throughout the day with the winner judged by the audience via text message voting. Many of the breakthrough bands featured on this tour go on to hot careers and new recording contracts. Local bands competing at the event include: “Hot Mess Electric” (12:00); “Exit Cleveland” (2:00); and “Call Us Kings” (3:15).
The winning band will receive more than $500 in cash and prizes (including a year’s supply of Chuck Taylor high-tops for each band member) Fans can come away winners as well! After voting, winning fans will be text-messaged or emailed to let them know they’ve won a prize, including Journeys gift cards and Converse products.
A sweet musical treat will be served up after the battle of the bands ends, as opening act “Callahan” takes to the main stage at 4:40 pm. Finishing things off, headliner band, “The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus” presented by MacBeth, hits the stage in a rare, free showcase concert from 6:00-6:45 pm.
Local radio partner Radio 92.3 will also crank up the heat throughout the afternoon, with live, on-site broadcasts. Before the event, fans can tune in for their chance to win Journeys Backyard BBQ Prize Packs -- featuring tour merchandise and tickets to the Journeys VIP area.
Between catching scorching athlete demos and searing new artists, fans can chill with cool entertainment and free giveaways in the tour's interactive fun zone -- featuring more than 15 booths with free fun and games. At the Converse “Punk Your Chucks” tent, fans can use Sharpie pens to create their own original artistic design on a pair of classic Converse Chuck Taylor high-tops. The winning shoe from each tour stop will be entered into a contest, with the overall winning design having the chance to ultimately become a production shoe for Converse, to be sold at retailers worldwide. All non-winning shoes (usually several hundred) will be donated to charity “Soles 4 Souls,” to be distributed to needy individuals around the world.
Kids ages 14 and under can shred it up at Disney XD’s "Zeke and Luther’s Shred Academy," a learn-to-skate event, where pro skaters each basic skateboard moves on a kid-sized street course. Kids can bring their own skateboards, helmets and pads, or use those provided. "Zeke and Luther" is a hit comedy series on Disney XD about two best friends who set their sights on becoming world famous skateboarders.
At the Invisalign Bandana Bar, fans can create their own bandana designs with custom heat transfers, then pose in their creations, smiling for the camera in an interactive photo booth that simultaneously prints out an instant photo, while also emailing it to post on their social networks.
In the “Ladies Lounge” area, presented by Seventeen Magazine, gals can get free henna tattoos and merchandise giveaways from Seventeen Magazine. Limited-edition tour memorabilia will be available at the Journeys merchandise tent, where fans can win free gear at Journeys’ carnival themed Shoe Toss game by tossing balls into a tiered shoe display. Jamming fans can also have a chance to win a pair of free headphones at the Skullcandy booth.
This free, all-ages tour will leave a smokin’ hot trail across the country this spring – from Sacramento to Dallas, Cleveland to Boston, and wrapping up in Nashville.
For updated information, call 440-846-5110 or visit www.JOURNEYSBBQ.com
This year’s tour is made possible by Presenting Sponsor, Journeys. Additional tour sponsors include: Rockstar Energy Drink; Disney XD; Invisalign; Verizon; Samsung; Seventeen Magazine; Skullcandy; Macbeth; Converse; DC Shoes; Osiris Shoes; Vans; Adio; DVS Shoes; etnies; Ipath; Circa; Globe.
About Journeys: Journeys is a leader in the teen retail scene, with more than 840 stores in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Journeys uses fashion savvy and merchandising science to keep in step with the fast-paced footwear and accessories market for the 13 to 22-year old guy and girl.
Cleveland News
http://clevelandpress.com/geeklog/public_html/article.php?story=20100427164230913