By Chyrisse Tabone, Rock At Night Tampa Correspondent
A Press and Media Experience Event, including announcement of the Vans Warped 2016 line-up was held at Full Sail University, Winter Park, Florida on March 22nd. Vans Warped Tour, presented by Journeys, is America’s longest running touring music festival which features an array of indie, punk, alternative, metal, ska—you name it—bands from around the globe that are well-known or just getting their feet wet. Attending the festival, which is usually very reasonably priced in comparison to many, is a great way to discover or re-discover bands that are in the forefront of the youth culture. Starting on June 24th in Dallas, the 41-date tour will sweep across the country and end on August 13th in Portland, Oregon.
One thing many may not realize is the history of the tour, which is deeply rooted in the alternative-punk rock and skate culture. According to founder Kevin Lyman, the Warped Tour started in Southern California as a kind of “back yard party” and evolved into the touring force we see today. He even noted they have been recycling the same stages for the last 21 years. So where does the word “Vans” come from? The main sponsor of the tour is Vans, a maker of the deck shoes the skateboarding culture embraced back in the late-80s and early-90s.
A large focus of the Vans Warped tour is stewardship and eco-initiatives. If one attends a concert, he/she will notice a lot of canopies offering voter registration, food drives, information on suicide prevention, vegan awareness, and more. There are dozens of non-profits involved and Lyman noted the tour’s purpose is to “help mentor band and teach how to be good stewards.” He praised the success of the blood drives and food banks and noted this year’s emphasis would be on one of his favorite initiatives “Voice for the Innocent”, which helps victims of rape and sexual abuse. For a band to come on Warped Tour, they need to “find a reason”, in other words, have a cause or philanthropic endeavor true to their heart. Lyman also praised that the tour management is “run by women” and he is a “strong believer in this.”
During the press conference, Lyman discussed this year’s focus will be on the music. He noted, “I didn’t have fun last time. The tour is about having fun.” He aimed to get back to the roots of the festival, which has “changed the way people tour.” He discussed how he is going to be 55 years old next week and he will “be at the front gate at each show.”
Part of the day’s events was the opportunity to meet and speak with a few bands, a couple from Florida, prior to their performance on the Full Sail stage later in the evening. Rock At Night had the opportunity to speak with Warped tour veterans Less Than Jake. You can listen to the podcast here.
Sharply at 6 p.m., the lineup was announced for each Warped stage via a series of short videos played between band performances. Each band was allowed three songs, and boy, if this is a sneak peek of “what is coming” the tour is going to be a lot of fun. Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte of 3OH!3 as well as Kevin Lyman introduced each band and video announcement. Florida natives and metalcore band Wage War played an animated, mean set and Dash Ten, a band comprised of active-duty army soldiers, was a pleasant surprise. Great sets, guys! Chicago alt-rock band Real Friends really revved up the crowd and ska-flavored Less Than Jake had the whole place moving.
A partial line-up list is presented here: SCROLL DOWN to see Photo Gallery
Sum 41
Good Charlotte
Less Than Jake
Real Friends
Pepper
Sleeping With Sirens
Mayday Parade
Issues
Tonight Alive
Emarosa
Knuckle Puck
The Heirs
Secrets
YoungGuns
Against theCurrent
Teenage Bottlerock
Too Close to Touch
Waterparks
Atreyu
Wage War
Dash Ten
Four Years Strong
Reel Big Fish
Set It Off
We The Kings
Yellowcard
3OH!3
The Maine
Masked Intruder
Roam
Chunk!No, Captain Chunk!
Bullet For My Valentine
Ice Nine Kills
Crown The Empire
Motionless In White
The Color Morale
The Word Alive
Volumes
Whitechapel
Chelsea Grin
Coldrain
Cruel Hand
From Ashes to New
Vanna
Veil of Maya
Avion Roe
Bad Seed Rising
Broadside
Cane hlil
Capsize
Mother Feather
Old Wounds
Palaye Royale
Reckless Serenade
Safe to Say
SAYWECANFLY
Silent Planet
The New Low
Wage War
With Confidence
Against the Current
Assuming We Survive
Ballyhoo!
I See Stars
Tonight Alive
Emarosa
PHOTO GALLERY
VIDEO
The images may not be reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without the written permission to Rock At Night and the photographer. Use of any image is a violation of the United States and International Copyright laws.
I grew up in a household full of rock music, studied journalism in college, and then became a scientist.Although my science career has served me well, music has always played a major role in my life. I grew up reading "Creem" magazine; I play several musical instruments as a "hobby";and it seems a camera has always been in my hand. Now, I am combining what I love the most--music and photography--serving as editor of Rock At Night. I travel between the US and UK seeking my dream! My motto: life is short...no regrets. Chyrisse
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