Category Archives: News

MONSTER ENERGY AFTERSHOCK FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES SPECTACULAR MUSIC LINEUP AND NEW VENUE FOR FOURTH YEAR OF CALIFORNIA’S BIGGEST ROCK FESTIVAL

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SLIPKNOT, FAITH NO MORE, DEFTONES, SHINEDOWN,
JANE’S ADDICTION, MARILYN MANSON, COHEED & CAMBRIA, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS,
AND MANY MORE CONFIRMED FOR OCTOBER 24 & 25 FESTIVAL
AT GIBSON RANCH NEAR SACRAMENTO, CA

FEATURING LIVE IN-RING MATCHES WITH WWE’S® NXT® SUPERSTARS

“PRE-SHOCK” DISCOUNT TICKET PRE-SALE BEGINS MAY 27

The fourth annual Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK Festival will feature a spectacular music lineup of hard rock, alternative and metal artists, as well as an expanded festival site with onsite camping Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25 at its new home at Gibson Ranch just outside Sacramento, CA. In addition, the festival will feature live, in-ring matches with WWE’s NXT Superstars.

The band lineup for Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK 2015 includes Slipknot, Faith No More, Deftones, Shinedown, Jane’s Addiction, Marilyn Manson, Coheed & Cambria, Stone Temple Pilots, Breaking Benjamin, Seether, Bring Me The Horizon, All Time Low, Sleeping With Sirens, Eagles of Death Metal, Black Veil Brides, and many more performing on four stages. See below for the band lineup by day.

Corey Taylor of Slipknot says, “We are really looking forward to playing AFTERSHOCK in Sacramento! A lot of great bands—can’t wait to see everyone, from Manson to Clutch. Sacramento won’t know what hit it when me and my friends are through.”

Deftones‘ Chino Moreno says, “We’re looking forward to being one of the headliners at AFTERSHOCK this year and performing in our hometown. It’s always special to return to the city that made us.”

In addition to music performances, Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK will feature live, in-ring matches with WWE’s NXT Superstars. NXT is WWE’s developmental division based out of the state-of-the-art WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. Over the past two years, NXT has grown into one of the hottest sports entertainment brands in the world, featuring incredible athleticism and compelling storylines that can be seen every Wednesday night at 8 PM ET on the award-winning WWE Network.

A special “Pre-Shock” discounted Weekend Ticket pre-sale for Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK will begin on Wednesday, May 27 at 10:00 AM PT and run through Sunday, May 31 at 11:59pm PT (or when pre-sale tickets sell out) at www.AFTERSHOCKConcert.com/Tickets, with regularly priced tickets going on sale Monday, June 1. See below for more details.

The daily band lineup for Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK is as follows:

  • Saturday, October 24:
    Slipknot, Shinedown, Marilyn Manson, Breaking Benjamin, Seether, Bring Me The Horizon, Black Veil Brides, Clutch, Hollywood Undead, P.O.D., Sevendust, Pop Evil, All That Remains, Helmet, Snot, Beartooth, Turbowolf, Art of Dying, Temperance Movement, Kill It Kid, Devour The Day, September Mourning, Stars In Stereo, Raveneye
  • Sunday, October 25:
    Faith No More, Deftones, Jane’s Addiction, Stone Temple Pilots, Coheed and Cambria, All Time Low, Death From Above 1979, Eagles of Death Metal, Sleeping With Sirens, Yelawolf, Failure, Glassjaw, Suicidal Tendencies, Issues, The Sword, Highly Suspect, ’68, Red Fang, One OK Rock, Madchild, Neck Deep, Pink Slips

California’s biggest rock festival hosted over 37,000 fans in 2014 and is expanding the festival experience in 2015 to include onsite camping and the Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK Tequila World. Additional experiences include artist autograph signings at the Monster Energy Hospitality Rig, the Monster Energy viewing area with beverage sampling, Thunder Valley Casino Resort VIP Lounge, the Jack Daniel’s Experience, The Crazy Dave’s Music Experience, band autograph signings, various onsite sponsor activities, and a variety of food and beverage options, including local gourmet food trucks.

Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK 2015 flyer with band lineup and venue information

Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK producer Danny Wimmer of Danny Wimmer Presents explains, “I loved Discovery Park as a venue. But after two straight years of selling out, there was no room left to grow the festival. Like Discovery Park, Gibson Ranch is a beautiful space that will keep the natural feel of the festival grounds but also gives us room to add new experiences such as camping, Tequila World and the Jack Daniel’s mobile museum. And I am particularly excited about bringing WWE’s NXT brand to AFTERSHOCK. After attending WrestleMania® last year, I knew NXT was a perfect fit. WWE has been a part of mainstream entertainment and pop culture for years and has always been connected with the world of music. NXT‘s energy is a phenomenal match for AFTERSHOCK.”

The new Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK Tequila World will feature a wide range of tequilas, extreme margaritas, gourmet tacos, mixologists and more. Tequilas that will be offered in Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK Tequila World include: Patron, Don Julio, Cuervo, El Jimador, Cabo Wabo and Espolon. Admission to this area is free and open to those 21 and up.

The Jack Daniel’s Experience mobile museum will bring a “Taste of Tennessee” to Sacramento this year. Visitors will learn who Mr. Jack Daniel was and how he ended up with the best selling whiskey in the world. Guests will also see (and smell) whiskey dripping slowly through charcoal and the new oak barrels used in maturing Tennessee’s finest whiskey.

The Crazy Dave’s Music Experience is a free, interactive “rock star” exhibit where fans can get hands-on interaction with tons of musical equipment—much of which is used by their favorite artists performing on stage at the show—and attend artist signings with members of various AFTERSHOCK bands. Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK and The Crazy Dave’s Music Experience also host a group of local music students as part of The Student Experience, which includes a backstage educational tour and participation in various contests and activities at The Crazy Dave’s Music Experience tent.

Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK generates a substantial economic impact in the Sacramento metro area. Based on economic impact studies done at other Danny Wimmer Presents festivals, event producers estimate an economic impact of over $11 million in 2015.

“The Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK Festival has proven itself as a tidal wave of economic impact for Sacramento,” said Mike Testa, COO of the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau. “It drives thousands of hotel room nights to the city and county, directly spends close to a million dollars at local businesses, and provides millions of dollars in overall economic impact to the region.”

A special “Pre-Shock” discounted Weekend Ticket pre-sale for Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK will run from Wednesday, May 27 through Sunday, May 31 (while supplies last) at www.AFTERSHOCKConcert.com/Tickets. During the pre-sale, a limited number of discounted Weekend General Admission tickets will be available for purchase. The Pre-Shock ticket prices are as follows:

  • Pre-Sale #1: Wednesday, May 27 at 10:00 AM: $79.50 (Weekend GA)
  • Pre-Sale #2: $89.50 (Weekend GA), begins when Pre-Sale #1 tickets are sold out
  • Pre-Sale #3: $99.50 (Weekend GA), begins when Pre-Sale #2 tickets are sold out

Camping and hotel packages, as well as discounted VIP tickets and General Admission ticket 4-packs, will also be available for purchase during the Pre-Shock pre-sale. Visit www.AFTERSHOCKConcert.com for details and pricing.

Regularly priced weekend tickets go on sale Monday, June 1 at 10:00 AM PT at www.AFTERSHOCKConcert.com/Tickets and www.flavorus.com. Ticket prices will be as follows:

  • 2-Day General Admission: $114.50
  • Single Day General Admission: $64.50
  • Single Day VIP: $119.50

VIP tickets include: a VIP entrance to venue; access to the Thunder Valley Casino Resort VIP Lounge area featuring dedicated bar, beverage and food service; viewing of main stage (seated and standing areas); seated area with shade for dining and private restroom facilities; a VIP commemorative guest laminate, and more.

As in the past, ticket discounts will also be available for active military through Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK partner GovX. For full details about all tickets, military ticket discounts, hotel and VIP packages, visit www.AFTERSHOCKConcert.com. Gates for Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK Festival open at 11:00 AM each day.

Monster Energy AFTERSHOCK Festival is produced by Danny Wimmer Presents, a producer of some of the biggest rock festivals in America, including Rock On The Range, Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville, Monster Energy Fort Rock, Monster Energy Carolina Rebellion, LOUDER THAN LIFE, Northern Invasion, The Big Ticket, and more.

The festival is fueled by Monster Energy. Additional 2015 sponsors include: Coors Light, Jack Daniel’s, Thunder Valley Casino Resort, WWE, The Crazy Dave’s Music Experience, Dimple’s Records, Marshall Headphones, Yelp, Sacramento News & Review, Sacramento Bee and more to be announced.

SONS OF TEXAS DEBUT ALBUM BAPTIZED IN THE RIO GRANDE LANDS AT #5 ON THE BILLBOARD HEATSEEKERS CHART

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New York, NY) – Sons of Texas debut studio album, Baptized in The Rio Grande (Razor & Tie), has landed at #5 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart and #143 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart with 2273 units sold in its first week at retail.  The new album also debuts on a series of other Billboard charts including #10 on Hard Rock and #36 on Rock. Baptized in The Rio Grande is available now at iTunes HERE (http://geni.us/sonsoftexas) or Amazon HERE.
The band’s debut single, “Baptized in the Rio Grande,” is currently #32 and climbing at rock radio.  The video for the song can be watched here: http://youtu.be/6cEZAaTK9TU. 
Baptized In The Rio Grande was produced by Josh Wilbur (Lamb Of God, All That Remains, Gojira). The band will be hitting the road playing a few major festivals such as Welcome to Rockville, Rocklahoma and Carolina Rebellion with more tour dates to be announced soon (tour dates below).
Press Raves
“Drawing liberally from the power-metal grooves dug by fellow Texans Pantera — and making absolutely no apologies for it — the upcoming album of the same name is muscular in just about every aspect, from Mike Morales’ vocals to Jes de Hoyos’ guitar work and the fraternal rhythm section of Mike and Nick Villarreal.”
– Houston Press
“Sons of Texas set power-riff metal on fire.” – Crave Online
“Sons Of Texas combine filthy southern metal grooves with a modern rock flair that is dangerously infectious.”
– Pure Grain Audio
Sons Of Texas was spawned in McAllen, Texas, a valley town without the music legacy of Austin or Arlington. The scene vibes “music for music’s sake” with metalcore bands, blues-rock bands, and straight up rock n’ roll bands swapping members and sharing bills. Sons Of Texas solidified in 2013 around a lineup of local all-stars. The young quintet’s debut, Baptized In The Rio Grande is a Texas-sized portion of power metal grooves, dazzling guitar solos, strip joint/tailgate sing-along choruses, and soulfully charred vocal melodies. The group is Mark Morales, vocals, Mike Villarreal, drums, Nick Villarreal, bass, Jon Olivarez, rhythm guitar, and Jes De Hoyos, lead guitar.
Sons of Texas new album is the latest success for Razor & Tie, which finished 2014 as the #2 overall label at Rock Radio and the #1 indie label.
Sons of Texas Tour Dates
April 22 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
April 25 – Jacksonville, FL – Rockville Festival
May 2 – Concord, NC – Carolina Rebellion
May 23 – Pryor, OK – Rocklahoma
May 31 – Dallas, TX – KEGL Festival
LINKS

SHATTERED SUN Join “Dark Roots of Thrash II” Tour Alongside Testament and Exodus New Album Hope Within Hatred Available April 21

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Testament

File Photo Credit: Bryce Fraser Chuck Billy lead singer of Testament preforming at the Aftershock Fest in 2012.

 

Texas metal assailants SHATTERED SUN will be joining the “Dark Roots Of Thrash II Tour”, undoubtedly the most crushing heavy metal tour to hit North America this spring, as direct support to legendary thrash titans TESTAMENT and EXODUS.  SHATTERED SUN took the roots of their Southern backdrop, infusing state-of-the-art metal and created Hope Within Hatred, the debut album to be released April 21, 2015 via Victory Records.

 

“We are ecstatic to announce this tour with TESTAMENT and EXODUS,” offers SHATTERED SUN frontman Marcos Leal. “This will be our first national tour and we couldn’t be more ready to represent and show the world what we are all about!  We have been anticipating getting out there and playing our new album “Hope Within Hatred” to the fans, so the moment we have been fighting for has finally arrived!  Thank you to TESTAMENT for having us out, this is a huge honor for us and we look forward to wreaking havoc with our brothers in metal EXODUS.”

 

EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt adds, “EXODUS are very excited in the most violent of fashion to announce our part in the Dark Roots of Thrash II tour with our old friends and label mates TESTAMENT, as well as soon to be new friends SHATTERED SUN!”

 

TESTAMENT, EXODUS and SHATTERED SUN “Dark Roots of Thrash II” Dates:

4/01/15   Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA

4/02/15   House Of Blues – Hollywood, CA

4/03/15   Livewire – Scottsdale, AZ

4/04/15   Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM

4/06/15   Aztec Theater – San Antonio, TX

4/07/15   House Of Blues – Houston, TX

4/08/15   House Of Blues – Dallas, TX

4/10/15   Pop’s – Sauget, IL

4/11/15   Mojoes – Joliet, IL

4/12/15   Harpo’s – Detroit, MI

4/13/15   The Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI

4/15/15   Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto, ON – CANADA

4/16/15   Rapids Theatre – Niagara Falls, NY

4/17/15   Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ

4/18/15   The Palladium – Worcester, MA, New England Metal & Hardcore Festival

4/19/15   The Paramount – Huntington, NY

4/21/15   Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, KY

4/22/15   Cannery Ballroom – Nashville, TN

4/23/15   Masquerade – Atlanta, GA

 

 

PSN Still Down After Hacker Attacks

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On Christmas Eve the Playstation network was offline and gamers were unable to log in to their PSN account. For a few hours gamers found it possible to once again log in and play their favorite online tiles for a brief time, but then once again was an able to log in. A hacker group called Lizard Squad took the credit for the attacks.

All through Christmas people who received a Ps4 would find that they were not able to play any online support for their games. Games like Destiny that do not offer an offline  function could not be played at all during the attacks. Currently Xbox is online but PSN is still offline. The motivation for the attacks seem have been for Twitter folleres, Lizard Squad currently have 207k followers on Twitter.

MONSTER ENERGY’S AFTERSHOCK RETURNS TO SACRAMENTO’S DISCOVERY PARK SEPTEMBER 13 & 14

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WITH MASSIVE LINEUP INCLUDING
GODSMACK, WEEZER, THE OFFSPRING, ROB ZOMBIE,
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, LIMP BIZKIT, RISE AGAINST,
CHEVELLE, AWOLNATION, SEETHER, MASTODON,
PENNYWISE, BAD RELIGION AND MANY MORE

“PRE-SHOCK” DISCOUNT TICKET PRE-SALE STARTS JUNE 3

REGULARLY PRICED TICKETS ON SALE JUNE 6

The third annual Monster Energy’s AFTERSHOCK Festival returns to Discovery Park near downtown Sacramento September 13 & 14, 2014 bigger than ever with a massive lineup including Godsmack, Weezer, The Offspring, Rob Zombie, Five Finger Death Punch (back by popular demand), Limp Bizkit, Rise Against, Chevelle, AWOLNATION, Seether, Mastodon,Pennywise, Bad Religion and many more.

After the major success of last year’s festival (sold-out with 32,000 in attendance), California’s biggest rock festival is expanding to four stages in 2014, offering more bands than ever.

The daily band lineup for Monster Energy’s AFTERSHOCK Festival is as follows, with more bands to be announced on July 1:

  • Saturday, September 13

    Weezer, The Offspring, Limp Bizkit, AWOLNATION, Chevelle, Bad Religion, Pepper, Black Label Society, Hellyeah, Memphis May Fire, Fuel, Dead Sara, Nothing More, The Last Internationale, Butcher Babies, Emmure, Sleepwave, Anti-Mortem, Eyes Set To Kill, Viza, Dig The Kid

  • Sunday, September 14

    Rob Zombie, Godsmack, Five Finger Death Punch, Rise Against, Seether, Mastodon, Pennywise, Theory of a Deadman, Buckcherry, Of Mice & Men, We Came As Romans, Black Stone Cherry, KYNG, Otherwise, Lacuna Coil, Redlight King, We Are Harlot, Burn Halo, Crossfaith, New Medicine, Cilver

The Offspring‘s Dexter Holland says, “We’re thrilled to cap off our summer tour at AFTERSHOCK 2014 and play our Smashalbum in its entirety for NorCal music fans. It’s going to be an epic weekend.”

A special “Pre-Shock” discounted Weekend Ticket pre-sale for Monster Energy’s AFTERSHOCK Festival will take place from June 3-5 at www.AFTERSHOCKConcert.com/Tickets. During the pre-sale—which begins at 10:00 AM PT on Tuesday, June 3—a limited number of discounted Weekend General Admission tickets will be available for purchase. In addition, Weekend VIP tickets will be available at a reduced price during all three days of the Pre-Shock. The Pre-Shock ticket prices are as follows:

  • Tuesday, June 3-Thursday, June 5: $199.50 (Pre-Shock Weekend VIP)
  • Tuesday, June 3: $69.50 (Weekend GA)
  • Wednesday, June 4: $79.50 (Weekend GA)
  • Thursday, June 5: $89.50 (Weekend GA)

Hotel packages will also be available for purchase during the Pre-Shock pre-sale.

Regularly priced weekend and single day tickets go on sale Friday, June 6 at 10:00 AM PT atwww.AFTERSHOCKConcert.com/Tickets, www.Ticketmaster.com and at all Ticketmaster outlets. Ticket prices will be as follows until June 9, when prices will increase:

  • 2-Day General Admission: $99.50
  • 2-Day VIP: $209.50
  • GA Ticket 4-Pack: $360.00
  • Single Day General Admission: $59.50
  • Single Day VIP: $109.50

Monster Energy's AFTERSHOCK Festival 2014 flyer with daily band lineup

VIP tickets include: a VIP entrance to venue; access to VIP lounge area featuring dedicated bar, beverage and food service; viewing of main stage (seated and standing areas); seated area with shade for dining and private restroom facilities; a VIP commemorative guest laminate, and more.

As in the past, ticket discounts will also be available for active military through AFTERSHOCK partner GovX.

For full details about all tickets, military ticket discounts, hotel and VIP packages, visit www.AFTERSHOCKConcert.com.

“After a sold out 2013, I’m excited to bring a more diverse lineup toAFTERSHOCK with many of the top artists of the last two decades in rock, alternative, punk and metal,” says festival creator/producer Danny Wimmerof Danny Wimmer Presents. “The addition of a third main stage this year and the expanded rock genres will only add to the excitement of what makesMonster Energy’s AFTERSHOCK a one of a kind experience.”

Discovery Park is a 160-acre park conveniently located near downtown Sacramento, where the American and Sacramento Rivers meet. Gates forMonster Energy’s AFTERSHOCK Festival open at 11:00 AM each day.

The third annual Monster Energy’s AFTERSHOCK Festival is produced byDanny Wimmer Presents, a producer of some of the biggest rock festivals in America, including Rock On The Range, Monster Energy’s Welcome To Rockville, Monster Energy’s Fort Rock Festival, Monster Energy’s Carolina Rebellion, Epicenter—Southern California’s Rock Festival, Rockwave, The Big Ticket, Chill On The Hill, and Monster Energy’s Rock Allegiance Tour.

The festival is fueled by Monster Energy. Additional 2014 sponsors include: Coors Light, The Crazy Dave’s Music Experience, F*ck Cancer, U.S. Army, and more to be announced.

THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH ANNOUNCES NEW ALBUM, OXYGEN:INHALE, RELEASING AUG. 26 NO. 1 SELLING BILLBOARD HARD ROCK INDIE BAND LAUNCHES PLEDGEMUSIC CAMPAIGN, EXCLUSIVES FOR FANS

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Modern rock favorite THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH announces its first new studio album in over two years, OXYGEN:INHALE, which is set to release independently worldwide Aug. 26 on TFK Music and with marketing, sales and distribution through Fuel Music. With the album being produced now by TFK frontman Trevor McNevan and longtime collaborator Aaron Sprinkle (One Republic, Anberlin, Pedro the Lion, The Almost), TFK is once again engaging the “TFK Army,” fans of the band that they prefer to call their “friends and family,” for a goal-driven PledgeMusic campaign.

 

Sparking the second-biggest campaign ever for Kickstarter at the time for its 2012 independently released, SiriusXM Satellite Radio Octane-nominated “Epic Album of the Year” and Billboard No. 1 selling Hard Rock album, The End Is Where We Begin, TFK’s ethos is to always include its fans in the equation.  For the release of OXYGEN:INHALE, the band is asking its fans to help them through PledgeMusic to take its radio, retail, tour, video and media promotions for the album to the next level internationally.  The PledgeMusic campaign will also be a place for fans to pre-order the album and receive exclusives from the band that are not available anywhere else, including audio and video downloads, special incentives for all PledgeMusic backers after reaching target levels, and much more.  Pledges for support are now being accepted at http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/tfk.

 

Asking for only one dollar to fully support the PledgeMusic campaign, TFK received the first dollar from hardDrive’s Lou Brutus and Roxy Myzal during an interview while at the recent Rock on the Range festival in Columbus, OH. 

 

“Why one dollar? Because we are going to do this anyway…for you guys,” says McNevan to the band’s fans.  “The difference is that we need your help to take the marketing and promotion to a whole new level.  We believe we have our best record brewing from the studio and we need your help to get it out there.

 

“Oxygen is our lifeline,” continues McNevan, reflecting on the impetus behind the new record.  “It’s what keeps us alive and breathing. Most of us spend our entire lives taking half breaths when we were created to take full breaths. To live life to its fullest, to treat every day like it might be our last, and treat other people the same way.  We can’t see it, but we need it.  It exists. It fuels everything we are.”

 

With upcoming featured performances and headlining positions on the summer festival circuit, the Ontario, Canada-bred TFK has been a continuously escalating highlight reel since their formation in 1997.  Receiving over 2,000, 5-star average customer reviews on iTunes® alone for The End Is Where We Begin, the album went on to become the band’s biggest ever selling mainstream album and spark four Active Rock radio hits (“Let The Sparks Fly,” “War of Change,” “Light Up The Sky,” “Courtesy Call”).  With best-selling albums, additional Active Rock radio hits “Fire It Up,” “Move” and “Phenomenon,” plus a slew of soundtrack slots, the group has literally infiltrated every facet of pop culture.  They continue to receive ongoing ESPN appearances, as well as various NASCAR, MLB, NHL, WWE, NCAA and NFL airings (including the 2010 Super Bowl), along with the “GI Joe” movie trailer, WGN-TV’s “Smallville” and EA Sports’ NHL 2010 and 2013 video games.

 

All the latest tour dates and additional band information can be found at www.thousandfootkrutch.com, http://twitter.com/officialtfk and www.facebook.com/thousandfootkrutch, where the band has over 995,000 fans.

Twinkies Are Back!

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Courtesy of Hostess Facebook page

Bryce Fraser, writer
Shiftsync Media

Hostess the creator of the creme-filled cakes called Twinkies and so many other delicious snacks  that went bankrupt last year has recently announced that they are coming back on July 15th.  The company is retuning due to the support and poularity they gained after going bankrupt. Hostess still is on Facebook page, and  has a link to the the Hostess website that will be up and running  this July.

Home

https://www.facebook.com/Hostess

ESPORTS ENTERTAINMENT AND GAMEPLAY ANALYSIS EVOLVES WITH FIRST EVER RED BULL TRAINING GROUNDS

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image001-1Competitive Training Weekend Offers $8K Prize Purse and In-Depth Expert Analysis

for Top eSports Athletes Ahead of MLG Anaheim

 

Santa Monica – June 14, 2013 – eSports fans: watch and learn. The first ever Red Bull Training Grounds will give eight invited eSports athletes – and fans tuning in to the live digital broadcast from around the world – the opportunity to elevate their play in a weekend of intense match-ups and expert analysis. This first-of-the-season event, taking place June 21st – 23rd at Red Bull North America Headquarters in Santa Monica, will spotlight Blizzard Entertainment’s award winning real-time strategy game, StarCraft® II, with $8K in prize money on the line to keep the competition more than friendly. Beloved eSports personality and legend Sean “Day[9]” Plott and fan favorites Mike “Husky” Lamond and Ben “MrBitter” Nichol will serve as commentators and inquisitors, calling the action as it happens, as well as interviewing each player to analyze their performance and up their game.

The eight participating players, invited from the cream of the eSports crop of European and North American pros, will scrimmage in a series of round-robin matches over the course of the first two days, giving each athlete the opportunity to experience one another’s signature tactics and evasive rebuttals. At the completion of each scrimmage, players head to the analysis booth to discuss and critique their performance, giving the audience at home a bleacher seat to the training regimes and techniques of top players, gaining strategic insight right alongside the pros.

Day three of Red Bull Training Grounds culminates in a tournament with the four players still standing. Reconvening for a final day of competitive play, the winner will walk away with the top prize purse – and an invitation to a future high stakes tournament.

The following weekend, Red Bull Training Grounds alumni head to MLG Anaheim, to put their training weekend to the test on the global competitive tournament circuit, facing the best players from around the world. eSports aficionados and amateurs can get a sneak peek into tournament day preparation, watching these pro players refine and hone strategies, witnessing in action the strengths that could put them on top – and their work to triumph over their weaknesses.  Tune in daily throughout the weekend, from 2PMPST / 5PMEST/ 10PM GMT to 9PM PST / 12AM EST / 5AM GMT to catch all the action and every word of analysis.

Redbull.com/eSports will be the home for all news and information for Red Bull Training Grounds,  and source for the live digital broadcast June 21st – 23rd. Spotlighting the personalities of eSports, interviews with athletes, coverage of events, breaking news and video features, Redbull.com/eSports is the newly launched source of information and interaction for the eSports community.

Visit Redbull.com/eSports next week for news of who the lucky eight initiates will be in this first Red Bull Training Grounds. Follow @redbullESPORTS on Twitter, #traininggrounds.

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Women Comprise Nearly Half of Gamer Population

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SOURCE Entertainment Software Association

LOS ANGELES, June 11, 2013 — Adult women represent a significantly greater portion of the video game-playing population than boys age 17 or younger, and nearly half of all video game players are women, according to new research released today by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA). The report, 2013 Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry, found that women comprise 31 percent of the video game-playing population, while boys 17 and under represent only 19 percent of game players. Women are 45 percent of the entire game playing population and 46 percent of the time are the most frequent game purchasers.

“This new data underscores the remarkable upward trajectory for video games. It is an entertainment form enjoyed by hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide,” said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of ESA, the trade association that represents the U.S. video game industry. “A diverse and energized consumer base, remarkable new hardware, and outstanding software all combine to foster growth for our
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