SHREDnews

Article By: Nicole Bradley

The Vans Warped Tour is making its rounds all over the country for its fifteenth run this summer. The Warped Tour hosted by Vans, a shoe firm for skateboarders, BMX riders and the typical trendy punk kid, will host some of the biggest names in punk, alternative, and hard core bands.

Kevin Lyman, owner and founder of the Vans Warped Tour has released that instead of previous years’ two main stages with thirty minute sets that this year, there will be one main stage with 40 minute sets (1). Some of these main stage acts include Anti-Flag, Less Than Jake, NOFX, and Underoath.

The Hurley Stage, hosted by Hurley clothing company, will be congregating bands such as A Day to Remember, Saosin and Sing it Loud. Hurley clothing is endorsed greatly through the Vans Warped Tour but is quite famous for its sports team sponsoring surfing, BMX, Motocross, Snowboarding and Skateboarding. Hurley.com, the website for Hurley’s team and its’ clothing line will also have its own stage with a bill including P.O.S. and Scary Kids Scaring Kids.

The Smartpunk.com stage will have a very impressive bill with acts including Forever the Sickest Kids, Valencia, Hit the Lights and the “Queen of the Beautifuls” himself, Jeffree Star. His vulgarity and individuality have got him almost one million friends on the internet community myspace.com and a known name in the alternative world.

The Ernie Ball Stage, will house big names such as Aiden, Madina Lake and Versa Emerge. Ernie Ball is known in the music industry for its development in guitar related products such as guitar strings known as “Slinkys.” Ernie Ball hosts Battle of the Bands annually and chooses a winner that will be playing on their stage for two weeks at the Warped Tour. This year’s winner is a band called Settings.

The Skullcandy Stage, hosted by Skullcandy audio enabled products, will be hosting bands such as The A.K.A.’s, Innerpartysystem and Thefore I Am.

The Kevin Says Stage will be having the biggest bill of bands thus far. Sets include Ice Nine Kills, He is Legend, You Me At Six, and Ivoryline.

Music Saves Lives, an organization for blood donation associated with the love of music will be holding its annual blood drive for the Vans Warped Tour. Their goal is to reach 75,000 blood donations this summer (2), and its incentive for VIP tickets to the Vans Warped Tour is a reason why most fans are getting involved. Music Saves Lives will be represented at every Warped Tour date this summer.

Other sponsors on the tour this summer include, AT&T, Alternative Press magazine, Glamour Kills, Peta and Fuse.

Credits.

(1) http://www.warpedtour.com/warpedtour/news.asp?xid=16522&id=1469622

(2) http://www.musicsaveslives.org/