OurStage opening act winners announced!

21 Winners for first leg of Opening Act Competition announced in partenership with OurStage.com
Emerging Pop & Rock Artists to open dates on HANSON’s North American Tour, get interviewed in nightly Livestream with the band.

TOUR BEGINS JULY 21 IN BUFFALO, NY

New York, NY – July 19, 2010 – HANSON embarks on the summer Shout It Out tour in support of the album Shout It Out, which has been garnering critical praise and fan fervor across the country since it’s release on the bands own independent label on June 8th lead by the infectious first single Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’”.

Consistent with the bands history as a leading independent band, HANSON and OurStage.com are proud to announce the first set of winning acts for the “Shout It Out with HANSON” opening act competition, which allows local independent artists the opportunity perform in front of thousands of fans each night. In addition the winning bands are invited to a nightly livestreamed interview and acoustic performance, featuring HANSON and the winning acts in each of the 21 cities on the first tour leg (Hanson.net/alive).

In June, the multi-platinum band of brothers turned to the public to source the opening acts for the first two legs of their upcoming North American tour, with a total of thirty-four coveted slots up for grabs. Now, the lucky 21 winning acts of the tour’s first leg have been revealed (see full list below).

“OurStage’ has been a great partner to bring together the contest and reach out to so many talented developing independent artists” said Taylor Hanson. “Shout it Out in part is about celebrating the connection each of us get from great music and expression, we love creating a platform to expose great artists doing just that. Fans should make sure they get to the shows plenty early to check these bands out.”

Fan-determined voting is at the core of the “Shout It Out with HANSON” opening act competition, as the fate of these 21 indie bands’ dreams has been placed firmly in the public’s hands. The competing artists were whittled down, with the winners being chosen by public vote.

“Not surprisingly, there was an overwhelming response to the ‘Shout It Out’ competition,” said Ben Campbell, CEO of OurStage. “It shows how strong HANSON’s commitment is to giving back to the music community and their fans. OurStage is proud to partner with them to give these emerging acts a leg up.”

The second tour leg, featuring support act A Rocket To The Moon, covers the Southwest and West Coast from September 14th through October 1st. Entries for the second leg’s opening act competition will be accepted through July 22 at 11:59 pm, with winning bands announced in September.

Shout It Out was written and produced by HANSON, and augmented with special guests: Funk Brothers bassist Bob Babbitt, who played on some of Motown’s greatest hits, as well as horn arranger Jerry Hey, who worked with Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Earth, Wind and Fire and many more. The three-time Grammy-nominated band has been enjoying a massive resurgence in recent weeks, as the response to the album’s first single and video, “Thinking ‘Bout Somethin’,” now available at all major digital outlets, has been rapturous, receiving rave reviews everywhere.

Shout It Out Tour First Leg

July
21 Buffalo, NY Club Infinity
WINNER: Chris Merritt – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/XYKPSYRGTGJH-sugar
23 Hyannis, MA Cape Cod Melody Tent *
24 Cohasset, MA South Shore Music Circus*
25 Philadelphia, PA Theatre of the Living Arts
WINNER: The Right Coast – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/VIIRANCTHVYF-our-name-in-lights
27 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom
WINNER: Brightside Drive – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/AAJDJQBUFMBA-what-if
28 Richmond, VA Hat Factory
WINNER: Brittany Jean – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/YEUJDIUOYPSX-jamie-bell
30 Asheville, NC Orange Peel
WINNER: Delta Rae – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/LIXHWHWWCFIL-morning-comes
31 Raleigh, NC Lincoln Theatre
WINNER: Jonas Sees in Color – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/RDBXXXHSAJGZ-loose-threads

August
2 Louisville, KY Headliners
WINNER: Matthew Martin – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/SESLHBSCJBGK-desperate
3 Nashville, TN Wild Horse Saloon
WINNER: Jeffrey James – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/MJCBLQYALWGX-always-the-same
4 Memphis, TN Minglewood Hall
WINNER: ColorFire – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/CRMWCHILPSZQ-with-you
5 St. Louis, MO Pageant
WINNER: Derren Reser – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/LOCVWDKRXCHF-warn-the-world-album-version
7 Kansas City, MO The Beaumont
WINNER: Everfield – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/NNGUAHEWSZFF-unsure
8 Omaha, NE Slowdown **
WINNER: Adelaide – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/RIZSYABMUSGG-find-me-love
10 Minneapolis, MN Music @ Zoo Outdoor Amphitheatre *
12 Milwaukee, WI Pabst Theatre
WINNER: Cedar Ave. – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/NUZEWGVKLSND-up-north
13 Chicago, IL House of Blues
WINNER: Wes Kirkpatrick – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/BDQLWGIYFFBJ-superstition
14 Chicago, IL House of Blues
WINNER: happygolovely – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/EGVFRAROCQIA-london-fog
16 Grand Rapids, MI Intersection
WINNER: LoveSickRadio – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/CGASCYZCQYYK-she-said-boys-dont-matter
17 Royal Oak, MI Royal Oak Music Theatre
WINNER: Canons – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/FMKOERYJQCST-someday-soon
19 Cleveland, OH House of Blues
WINNER: Caleb Lovely – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/CRZTMADPMMQG-stay-official-video-mp
20 Pittsburgh, PA Carnegie Music Hall
WINNER: Brooke Annibale – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/GUGZOKIQTYNG-enemy
21 Columbus, OH Newport Music Hall
WINNER: Acalasia – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/PPHXEMRQTNRG-tell-me-how-to-be
23 Cincinnati, OH Moonlight Gardens
WINNER: The Working Hour – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/XWPBLBAPWXDD-stay-here
24 Indianapolis, IN Egyptian Room
WINNER: Crawpuppies – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/PEXYUIGDFLOD-outta-my-head
25 Tulsa, OK Cain’s Ballroom
WINNER: Phil Marshall – http://www.ourstage.com/tracks/IFSLLDQGVSYK-free

Shout It Out Tour Second Leg
(Opening Acts to be announced in September)
September
14 Mesa, AZ Piper Theater
16 Anaheim, CA House of Blues
17 Los Angeles, CA House of Blues
18 San Diego, CA House of Blues
20 & 21 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
22 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom
23 Seattle, WA The Moore
25 Vancouver, BC Commodore Ballroom
27 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory
28 Boise, ID Knitting Factory
30 Salt Lake City, UT The Depot
October
1 Boulder, CO Fox Theatre

* Not a “Shout It Out with HANSON” date.
** Rooney not on this date