Outline · [ Standard ] · Linear+ MG & JJ To Headline Country Throwdown, Whooo Hooo!!!!!

[shansen]

http://www.billboard.com/news/jamey-johnso...004032425.story

Jamey Johnson, Montgomery Gentry To Headline Country Throwdown Tour

by Ray Waddell, Nashville | November 02, 2009 12:35 EST


Warped Tour producers 4fini Productions will today announce a name and a lineup for their venture into country music waters. First tipped on Billboard.com, the debut run of the Country Throwdown tour will feature Montgomery Gentry, Jamey Johnson, Little Big Town and Jack Ingram.

The tour of amphitheaters will carry a concourse of lifestyle attractions and vendors (to be announced soon), an affordable ticket price, plus pre-show tailgaiting parties. A title sponsor will soon be announced; 4fini will partner with Live Nation's president of country music touring Brian O'Connell on the tour, which runs May 13-June 20.

Other artists confirmed for the first annual 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.

In addition to the 12 main artists performing on three stages (one main stage and two side stages), the Bluebird Café Tent will feature nine singer-songwriters. Fans will get to see these artists perform intimate "In the Round"-type sets in the Bluebird Café Tent throughout the day, as well as see them play nightly on a specially designed stage during the main stage set changes.

The Country Throwdown tour founder and co-producer Kevin Lyman told Billboard earlier this year that his team first visited Nashville in January and started meeting with labels, managers and agents on an exploratory trip, and interest was high. "Everyone was saying the time is right," he said in the earlier interview. 4fini execs Sarah Baer and Kate Truscott have relocated to Music City from Chicago, and former Clear Channel online music manager Allison Skiff has joined the Nashville team.

Country Throwdown will launch a Lyman ticketing concept he tells Billboard he's been toying with for a while. Ticket Takeover will gives fans a chance to get the best seats for one fair ticket price. 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 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. Pre-sale date announcement more information will be available at countrythrowdown.com.

In addition to Warped and Throwdown, Lyman has also launched the Rockstar Taste of Chaos and Rockstar Mayhem tours. He will received the Humanitarian Award on Nov. 5 at the Billboard Touring Awards in New York City for his environmental and philanthropic efforts.

[SusanM]

Thanks Susie! I hope they come to Scranton! Looks like the presales start in February.

[Kim Elliott]

Cool! Will be on the lookout for that!!!