Vans Warped Tour 2013
Vans are a US company famed for their celebrated line of trainers, which have been a part of youth culture in peaks and troughs for nearly half a century. Fads are usually transient, but Vans have outlasted many of their competitors since the Van Doren brothers opened their first shop in Anaheim, California. Over the course of time they have become the apparel of choice for skateboarders and BMXers all over the world, and Vans embrace this image. But one thing they are not perhaps known for is their involvement in music and USA festivals, specifically through the Warped Tour 2013.
This is a travelling circus of Indie rock and alternative music, which each year embarks on a massive tour of North America. As you would expect for a global brand with its feet firmly under the table of alternative youth movements, they have a fantastic mix of bands on the line-up. There is something for everyone, with sounds that will both challenge and excite the masses. The noise they all bring together epitomises the gritty visceral sound of the skate park but also bring good vibes and positive energy.
This is the 19th iteration of the Warped Tour which takes to the road every summer for some serious partying in the USA. But Vans like to get this tour off on the right foot and on the 28th of March they held the big Kick Off party to send out a signal of intent. It was held in downtown LA and featured the likes of Chiodos, Beware of Darkness, Brian Marquis (acoustic), New Beat Fund, Charlotte Sometimes, MC Lars, Juliet Simms, Big Chocolate and Craig Owens. But this is only a prelude to the big one!
The tour is even bigger and better than usual and is scheduled to visit over 40 different cities, pulling up in Auburnon July 15th and winding it up in Houston on the 4th of August. Then it is a plane ride over the Atlantic for the European leg, including two dates in the famous Alexandra Palace in London. Here is just taster of the bands you can expect to see stepping off the tour bus: August Burns Red, Bring Me The Horizon, Mac Lethal, and The Black Dahlia Murder, Reel Big Fish, Bowling For Soup, The Used and Motion City Soundtrack.
For ticket info see:
http://www.vanswarpedtour.com/