Jason McCoy returns as host for The Country Music Association of Ontario Awards

Apr 8, 2015

The Country Music Association of Ontario (CMAO), presented by Slaight Music, is thrilled to announce Jason McCoy of the Road Hammers is returning as host of the CMAO awards. Confirmed performers for the award show include Jason Blaine, Leah Daniels, Tim Hicks, the Russell DeCarle Trio and Deric Ruttan. The Western Swing Authority also return to the awards as the event’s house band. The award show will be held Monday, May 25, 2015 at the Flato Markham Theatre. Tickets are on sale for $59.95. For more ticket information visit www.ticketbreak.com.

“It’s an honour to be back hosting the celebration of Ontario’s homegrown talent, simply thebrightest and best of the Canadian Country scene!” McCoy says.

As a 25-year veteran of the entertainment industry, and two time CCMA Male Vocalist of the Year, McCoy is the king of reinvention. Growing up in the small town of Minesing, Ontario, McCoy admired the well-rounded artistry of classic entertainers from Roger Miller and Johnny Cash to Merle Haggard and Glen Campbell. Armed with a guitar and a dream, McCoy set out at the age of 19 to follow his own path to stardom. As a solo artist, he’s racked up multiple CCMA and CMA awards along with a Gold album.

As creator and front man of the highest selling band in Canadian Country Music history, The Road Hammers, McCoy took on the Country Rock genre and guided the band to unprecedented success throughout Canada and the United States, picking up a Platinum album, CCMA Group of the Year award, and a JUNO Award along the way.

The CMAO was formed in 2007 by Rob MacArthur, founding patron Linda Wright and a number of interested and enthusiastic individuals who thought it was time to have a voice for country music in Ontario. The Association brings together the talent and the industry professionals. Its mandate is to foster and support the growth and development of Ontario’s country music and its industry, provincially, nationally and internationally. The CMAO has now hosted two annual Awards Shows with the assistance of presenting sponsor Slaight Music. These sold-out events featured performances from Ontario’s top talent including Jason McCoy, Deric Ruttan, Jason Blaine, Tim Hicks, Tebey, Autumn Hill, Small Town Pistols, Michelle Wright, Marshall Dane and many more. The CMAO is also proud to have presented last month its first educational conference, the highly successful two-day Road to Independence, with the financial contribution of the OMDC and presenting sponsor CMT.

Pembroke native Jason Blaine has been at the top of the Canadian country music charts on both radio and CMT Canada with more than a dozen TOP 10 singles including the 2012 CCMA Single of the Year “They Don’t Make Em Like That Anymore”. Currently in the studio recording his sixth full length album, Blaine’s current single “Country Side“ is the #1 Canadian song at Country Radio nationally. www.jasonblaine.ca

Leah Daniels is a girl with purpose. This past year, she released two singles, received her second CCMA Award Nomination and broke over a million views on YouTube. Daniels’ debut album is scheduled for release in mid 2015. “Go Back”, the debut single, recently achieved “Top-Twenty Hit Status” at country radio and at CMT video across Canada … a sign Daniels is on her way.

Two time JUNO Award nominee and 2014 CCMA Award winner for Rising Star, Tim Hicks has cemented his status as one of the biggest breakout Canadian country music acts seen this decade. Hicks boasts five Top 10 singles, nearly 3 million YouTube hits, two JUNO Award nominations, and a third gold-certified single fueled by the party anthem “Stronger Beer”. In 2013, Hicks became the highest selling digital Canadian Country Artist of the Year for his debut album Throw Down, as well as the Most Played Debut Artist overall at Country radio. Hicks sophomore album 5:01 debuted at #1 on the SoundScan Country Album sales chart last August (2014), making this his first #1 country album and paving the way for an undeniably huge year in 2015. www.timhicksmusic.com

It’s fair to say the Nashville-based, Bracebridge, Ontario born singer/songwriter, Deric Ruttan has a fair bit to celebrate these days. Ruttan’s songs have been recorded by Tim McGraw, Eric Church, Dierks Bentley, Darius Rucker, Gary Allan and dozens of others, and he’s been recognized repeatedly by the Canadian music industry with a variety of SOCAN (10) and CCMA Awards (2), and a JUNO nomination for Best Country Record for 2010’s Sunshine. He is the reigning CCMA Songwriter Of The Year.

Then there’s the success of Ruttan’s latest album Take The Week Off and his current single “Don’t It Feel Good,” which generated both Grammy and ACM nominations in the Songwriter of the Year categories, and won him and his co-writers a CCMA and a CMAO in 2014 for Songwriter(s) Of The Year. The lead single, the album’s title track, previously won a 2014 CMAO for Single Of The Year and one of the album’s tracks, co-write “Mine Would Be You,” became a runaway #1 hit for Country superstar Blake Shelton. www.dericruttan.net

The Western Swing Authority is a unique collaboration of some of Canada’s top studio and touring musicians who share a common love for authentic Western Swing. They are a group of seasoned professionals whose individual bios include multiple Canadian Country Music Awards, Juno nominations, with resumes that span from Gordon Lightfoot, to Michelle Wright to George Canyon, to Kellylee Evans. Their self-titled, debut album arrived to critical acclaim and brought their music to people all around the world. www.thewesternswingauthority.com

The Best Prank Birthday Card Ever! A Musical card that NEVER STOPS PLAYING

Apr 8, 2015

This just might be the best joke gift ever for the music fan in your life. The Joker Birthday card is a musical card that NEVER STOPS PLAYING until the battery dies or you break it. And that’s the point.

Your card is delivered to you in a “Safe mode”. Here you can start and stop the song as much as you want. After you sign the card with a lovely message, pull the activation tab inside the card which will activate the card. Then slide it into an envelope and deliver!

Yes, THAT long.

Card inventor Travis put it to the test and dunked it a few times in a bucket of water. Did it survive? Watch and find out.

eOne heads to MIPTV with strong slate of new factual and scripted series as well as returning series favorites

Apr 8, 2015

Entertainment One Television (eOne) has unveiled its compelling new lineup featuring both factual and scripted programming, as well as returning and renewed series for this year’s MIPTV, announced today by Stuart Baxter, President, Entertainment One Television International.

Buyers will have the opportunity to meet Emily Fox (Jane by Design, Ghost Whisperer) creator and executive producer of the VH1 hit series Hindsight and prolific UK producers Jamie Campbell and Joel Wilson (Glue) of the new terrifying drama based on real events,The Enfield Haunting. In addition, Emmy® award nominated executive producer Stephen David (The World Wars, The Men Who Built America) of AMC’s new high-end event mini-series, The Making of the Mob: New York will also be available for meetings and will be featured in the MIPDoc session titled “From the Godfather of Factual Drama, The Making of the Mob” which will take place on Sunday April 12th at 11:45am in the Agora Room.

Hot off the heels of a second series renewal, the VH1 critically-acclaimed dramedy Hindsight taps into universal themes of love, friendship and second chances. The series follows Becca (Laura Ramsey), a once-divorced woman plagued with doubt on the eve of her second wedding wondering if she’s made the ‘right’ choice this time. After reminiscing about her past, Becca is inexplicably transported back to 1995 on the morning of her first nuptials.

eOne’s first-look deal with UK indie Eleven Film introduces the new horror series The Enfield Haunting. Adapted from Guy Lyon Playfair’s book “This House is Haunted,” the three part supernatural drama starring Timothy Spall and Matthew Macfadyen is based on real events surrounding the phenomena, and draws on extensive documentation, recordings and witness statements. The incident remains to this day the most documented account of poltergeist activity in British history. The series will premiere on UK’s SKY this Spring.

Utilizing an immersive blend of dramatic scenes, archival footage and groundbreaking VFX, The Making of the Mob: New Yorkchronicles the historical roots of the original five families that led to the formation of the modern American mafia. Spanning over 50 years, the series traces the rise of Charles “Lucky” Luciano, Meyer Lansky, Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel, and other notorious gangsters from their beginnings as a neighborhood gang of teenagers to murderous entrepreneurs and bootleggers who organized the criminal underworld and turned it into an American institution. Premiering this year on AMC, the series will also feature interviews with historians, authors, actors, law enforcement personnel and family members, including: actors Joe Mantegna and Drea de Matteo; mob attorney and former Las Vegas Mayor, Oscar Goodman; author, David Pietrusza, who is an expert on Lucky Luciano’s criminal mentor Arnold Rothstein; and Meyer Lansky’s grandson, Meyer Lansky II, among others.

With astounding creativity, cutting-edge scientific research and breathtaking CGI, the world’s most renowned naturalist and masterful storyteller David Attenborough and the multiple Emmy and BAFTA award-winning team at Atlantic Productions embark on a unique, compelling and imaginative journey through the past, present and future of the mighty Great Barrier Reef – the Earth’s largest living structure. In this iconic, natural history series, David Attenborough dives deeper on the Reef than anyone previously and reveals never before seen secrets that are invisible to the human eye. David Attenborough’s The Great Barrier Reef provides unprecedented insight into the most microscopic and evolutionary details of this global marine treasure, which is home to countless species of fish, whales, dolphins, turtles and birds.

Other key eOne titles heading to the market include:

Renewed and returning scripted series – The Walking Dead (S5), The Book of Negroes, Halt and Catch Fire (S2), Turn (S2), The Red Road (S2), Bitten (S2), Rogue (S3) and Welcome to Sweden (S2).

New factual series – Mummies Alive, A Night on Earth: Africa, Tornado Hunters, Journey to the Centre of the Brain, Drug Wars,Sports on Fire, Emergency and See No Evil.

Entertainment One Television Enters First Look Deal with Mark Ford and Kevin Lopez’ Creature Films for Unscripted Programming

Apr 8, 2015

Following a year of rapid growth and success in its Alternative Programming Division, Entertainment One (eOne) is expanding the unit further by entering into a first look agreement with veteran unscripted television and film producers Mark Ford and Kevin Lopez and their Creature Films banner.

Under the deal, Ford and Lopez will bring their industry expertise and instinct for innovative, fresh content to develop and produce unscripted programming with eOne. The announcement was made today by Tara Long, SVP of U.S. Alternative Programming, eOne Television.

“We have strategically built out eOne Television’s Alternative programming business in a way that supports our partners and serves as a creative home for top producers to innovate, and we are proud to forge this partnership with Creature Films. We look forward to joining forces with Mark and Kevin to develop and produce a slate of new, original and inspired projects,” said Long.

“We’re thrilled to join the stellar team at eOne. We feel like it’s a match made in heaven and we’re excited to dig in and get started on a bunch of interesting projects together,” said Ford and Lopez.

Ford and Lopez founded Creature Films as a full service film and television production company in 2004, and together they have produced over one hundred hours of television for many networks including MTV, VH1, Bravo, Oxygen, TV Land, History Channel, and TLC. Their producing and show-running credits include MTV’s Laguna Beach and Taking the Stage, VH1’s long running Emmy nominated series Behind the Music, Bravo’s Kandi Factory and upcoming There Goes the Motherhood. They have also produced and directed acclaimed music documentaries like NWA: The World’s Most Dangerous Group, Let’s Spend the Night Together, and Uprising: Hip Hop and the LA Riots, which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and won multiple awards. They are currently producing a new music biography series called The Ride for MTV International and they have more than a dozen projects in development.

Creature Films joins an esteemed group of producers focused on Alternative programming who hold first look deals with eOne Television, including Kevin Healey (Scare Tactics), who is developing and executive producing David Spade’s reality prank show Fameless for TruTV under his deal with eOne, and Riaz Patel (How Do I Look?).

Since eOne Television’s US Alternative Programming division launched in 2012, Long and her team have developed and produced an impressive and successful slate of shows, with many additional series in various stages of production and development. The division’ slate of successful projects includes Nellyville (garnered BET’s #1 non-scripted series among 18-49 year olds over the past two years); It’s A Mann’s World (BET); Ball Up: Search for the Next (Fox Sports Net); Mary Mary (WE tv); SWV Reunited (WE tv); The Sheards (BET); a series of specials of Big Surprise! on E! Entertainment featuring stars such as Nick Cannon and Macklemore; one-hour biographical special Knight Life with Gladys on OWN; and Chill for TruTV, among others.

Nirvana’s Worst Gig Was A Sight To Behold

Apr 7, 2015

On October 30th, 1992, Nirvana were booked to play a major show in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is one of the shows that every band gets to have in their career. Everything went strikingly wrong – the sound, the opening band not connecting, the crowd and on and on. I’m sure Nirvana couldn’t get out of the city fast enough.

Kurt later shared his memories of the gig:

“When we played Buenos Aires, we brought this all-girl band over from Portland called Calamity Jane,” Kurt recalled. “During their entire set, the whole audience—it was a huge show with like sixty thousand people—was throwing money and everything out of their pockets, mud and rocks, just pelting them. Eventually the girls stormed off crying. It was terrible, one of the worst things I’ve ever seen, such a mass of sexism all at once. Krist, knowing my attitude about things like that, tried to talk me out of at least setting myself on fire or refusing to play. We ended up having fun, laughing at them (the audience). Before every song, I’d play the intro to ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ and then stop. They didn’t realize that we were protesting against what they’d done. We played for about forty minutes, and most of the songs were off Incesticide, so they didn’t recognize anything. We wound up playing the secret noise song (‘Endless, Nameless’) that’s at the end of Nevermind, and because we were so in a rage and were just so pissed off about this whole situation, that song and whole set were one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had.” (from Nirvana: The Chosen Rejects)

So, gather up some popcorn for 2 hours of a show that owed almost nothing to its creators and everything to a colossal bad vibe.

Doc From 1965 on Mods, Beatniks, Rockers

Apr 7, 2015

The documentary Primitive London takes a look at tribal youth culture and its fashions. The four youth cultures briefly examined are Mods, Rockers, Beatniks and those who fall outside of society who become drummers, like Keith Moon. Just kidding on the last part.

Mostly it’s all about the Beatniks, who are filming hanging out, getting drunk, and causing fuss. The featured musicians are Ray Sone, harp (later of The Downliners Sect) and Emmett Hennessy, vocals, guitar.

Entertainment One Music Signs NYC Rock Act Cilver

Apr 7, 2015

NYC rock act CILVER has signed a worldwide deal with eOne Music with plans to release their debut LP later this year. “I’m looking forward to a great future at eOne!,” says vocalist Uliana Preotu. “I’m very excited to be a part of such an amazing home for artists and work with people who are just as passionate about music as we are!”

Anchored by songwriting duo Uliana Preotu and guitarist Leon Lyazidi, the band has come a long way from their previous projects in New York City. What served as an artistic restart has turned into a runaway train of accomplishment that seems to be going faster as time goes on. “eOne is real,” says Leon. “When we set out to launch Cilver, we were looking for people who ate, slept and bled music just like we did. eOne was clearly a cut above everyone else and we couldn’t be more excited to be part an amazing roster, led by a passionate and creative team. The future is bright!”

Check out the official Video for “In My Head” featuring Bumblefoot of Guns N’ Roses taken from the band’s most recent EP.

After landing a management deal with The RSE Group (Slayer, Gojira, Ghost, Mastodon), representation from The Agency Group, and legal from Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP, 2014 ended up as the band’s busiest year yet. The band gained traction touring as openers on the Revolver Magazine Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock tour with Sick Puppies and Lacuna Coil. Uliana was also featured in the Hottest Chicks in Hard Rock issue of the magazine and calendar. After a series of radio festivals and showcases, Cilver found themselves on a boat with Motorhead for the Motorboat Cruise this past fall. In similar fashion, you can catch Cliver on the ShipRocked Cruise this weekend, which sails from Miami to the Bahamas.

Much Announces Launch of Much Digital Studios

Apr 7, 2015

Much announced today the creation of Much Digital Studios, a multi-channel network of Canadian and international YouTube creators slated to launch this spring. Much Digital Studios will harness the vision of YouTube creators from multiple genres to fuel a new digital strategy for the brand. As part of this strategy, Much.ca, long a destination for Much’s loyal fans, will re-launch to showcase new curated content from Much Digital Studios, together with current on-air programming, music videos, and interviews. Much Digital Studios, and the new Much.ca, are the latest ways Much is connecting with Canadian and now international youth, celebrating the diversity, creativity, and irreverence of Much fans by keeping them at the centre of the brand.

Much is the go-to channel for all things pop-culture, delivering trendworthy, topical programming, and exclusive live events. From the MUCH MUSIC VIDEO AWARDS to its industry-leading online and social media outreach, including Much.ca, on Twitter (with over half a million followers), and Facebook(with more than 1.3 million likes and counting), Much continues to deliver unique and clever programming to its audience. Much supports the Canadian music video production industry with its annual, multi-million dollar contribution to MuchFACT. Much is available in more than 8.2 million homes across Canada via satellite, IPTV, and cable, as well as more than 1 million mobile devices. Much is a division of Bell Media, which is part of BCE Inc. (TSX, NYSE: BCE), Canada’s largest communications company.

“This is the next natural step in the ongoing evolution of Much,” said Tracey Pearce, Senior Vice-President Specialty and Pay, Bell Media. “Much has always inhabited the space our fans live in, evolving our focus to deliver what our current fans want. Short-form digital content is what they want now, andMuch Digital Studios is being launched to feed that desire.”

“Much has always been committed to remaining relevant to our audience – our currency lies in our connection to youth,” said Justin Stockman, Vice-President, Specialty Channels, Bell Media. “Much Digital Studios strengthens our connection to our loyal and engaged fans, and at the same time deepens our ability to provide bespoke opportunities for advertisers.”

Much Digital Studios will provide new branded content integration opportunities for brands that activate with Much. These brands will now have increased opportunity to align themselves with digital stars and influencers, both online and on-air, specifically through branded interstitial content. These opportunities will help clients to target Much’s core 12-34 demographic with increased precision.

Based at the Much Queen Street West headquarters in Toronto, the roster of channels available via Much Digital Studios will vary in genre from music and comedy, to beauty and style, to gaming and travel and more, all featuring YouTube creators both established and emerging.

Each creator will have access to five studio spaces within the 299 Queen Street West campus, including a new street-front studio dedicated to Much Digital Studios. Much will work with each creator to build their profile, connecting them with like-minded brands and other creators in the Much Digital Studios network. Creators will have increased opportunities online at Much.ca, and on-air through exposure to Much’s more than 9 million subscribers.

Creators wishing to join Much Digital Studios can click here.

The CCMA Announces Top Six Finalists for the 2015 CCMA Discovery Program

Apr 7, 2015

The Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) is pleased to unveil the top six finalists for the 2015 CCMA Discovery Program. The finalists are: Meaghan Blanchard (P.E.I), Raquel Cole (B.C.), (Ray Gibson (B.C.), Maddison Krebs (Alberta), Sykamore (Alberta) and Katia Zuccarelli (Ontario). Now in its third year, this national initiative was created to educate and support Canadian country music artists in their pursuit of a career in the music industry.

“The CCMA Discovery Program has grown and evolved every year since its inception,” says Don Green, President of the Canadian Country Music Association. “We are so proud to have this program recognized and supported by the country music industry from coast to coast. Over 40 professionals in the business took part in the meticulous jury process that whittled down over 170 applicants to the six finalists that will start their journey with us in just a few short weeks. There is no shortage of musical talent in Canada; we’re thrilled to be the springboard for six emerging artists in their career development.”

The 2015 CCMA Discovery Program finalists will be flown to Toronto for their Music Industry Discovery Week, running April 26 through May 1. During this week, the finalists will learn, in-depth, about the music business and artist development through industry-led panels and seminars; live performance training from Tom Jackson Productions; vocal coaching from voice consultant, Tamara Beatty; an industry showcase opportunity and more. Each finalist will also be paired with an established Canadian country artist for a mentorship program which will take place during the summer months. Finally, during Country Music Week 2015 in Halifax, taking place from September 10 to 13, the finalists will perform at a public CCMA Discovery Showcase. An industry-led jury will select the winner of the 2015 CCMA Discovery Award as part of the event.

The winner of the 2015 CCMA Discovery Award will receive music video funding, subject to the standard terms in the VAP agreement (courtesy of CMT Canada); support from SOCAN; production and recording (courtesy of Barrytone Studios); cash prizing (courtesy of Galaxie); a guitar (courtesy of Gibson); other industry-related prizing (courtesy of Strut Entertainment), and a performance spot on the 2016 CMA Music Festival Global Artist Party showcase in Nashville.

More information on the top six finalists for the 2015 CCMA Discovery Program:

Meaghan Blanchard (Hometown: Hunter River, PEI)
Meaghan Blanchard is a singer-songwriter who grew up in the rolling hills of beautiful Prince Edward Island and is as vibrant as her red-headed curls. Blanchard recorded Changing Things, her first collection of songs, at the age of only 18. She has twice won the ECMA Country Recording of the Year: once in 2011 for her second recording, Chasin’ Lonely Again, and again in 2014 for her most recent album, She’s Gonna Fly.
Facebook: MeaghanBlanchard | Twitter: MeagBlanchard | Instagram: meaghanb22
Website: www.meaghanblanchard.com

Raquel Cole (Hometown: Vernon, British Columbia)
B.C.’s Raquel Cole ended 2014 on a high note by opening numerous fall shows for Grammy award-winning band, Diamond Rio, on their arena tour. Cole is quickly becoming recognized as a gifted guitarist and songwriter. Her song, “It’s For Real This Time” was recently featured on Sirius XM’s The Highway. She is currently opening shows for Josh Turner on his U.S. tour, with upcoming stops in the northeast, including the Best Buy Theatre in New York, NY. Cole is confirmed to perform at Canadian Music Week this spring.
Facebook: raquelcolemusic | Twitter: raquelcolemusic | Instagram: raquel_music
Website: www.raquelcole.com

Ray Gibson (Hometown: Maple Ridge, British Columbia)
If you haven’t heard of Ray Gibson, you’re one of a few. With nearly 40 thousand followers on Instagram and Twitter combined, and over 750,000 views on YouTube alone, it’s easy to say Gibson has a committed fan base and blossoming online presence. Gibson has performed over 60 shows throughout British Columbia over the last few years, including a recent after-party in Kamloops for international country stars Florida Georgia Line.
Facebook: raygibsonmusic | Twitter: raygibsonmusic | Instagram: raygibsonmusic
Website: www.raygibsonmusic.com

Maddison Krebs (Hometown: Okotoks, Alberta)
Young and effervescent Maddison Krebs displays an uncanny, nuanced and very real sensibility for writing and singing in a vintage style. With a sound often compared to the timeless classics created by legends of country music, Krebs continues to master the nostalgic style she has such an acute awareness of – a sound that hasn’t been mainstream for over 50 years. From deep, sorrowful heartache to unbridled optimism, her song delivery and vocals will surely make you remember the name Maddison Krebs for years to come.
Facebook: maddisonkrebsmusic | Twitter: maddisonkrebs | Instagram: maddisonkrebs
Website: www.youtube.com/maddisonkrebs

Sykamore (Hometown: Carseland, Alberta)
Noted for her superior writing skills and raw performance style, Alberta-based Sykamore released her debut album PETAL last summer. Having performed and shared bills with Canadian music heavyweights such as Lindi Ortega and Adam Cohen, Sykamore recently received first prize in the ATB Financial All-Albertan Song Contest, with her original song, “Heaven In The Pines.”
Facebook: sykamoreproject | Twitter: sykamorejordan | Instagram: sykamore
Website: www.sykamoreproject.com

Katia Zuccarelli (Hometown: Port Credit, Ontario)
Toronto-based Katia Zuccarelli is certainly an artist to watch for. With several of her songs being produced by Rob Wells, known for his work with Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande and the Backstreet Boys, Zuccarelli is positioning herself in good company. With an admirable online presence and strong followings on social media, Zuccarelli’s star is on the rise.
Facebook: katiazuccarelli | Twitter: katiazuccarelli | Instagram: katiazuccarelli
Website: www.peppersaltproductions.com

2015 Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Inductee Exhibit Opens April 11

Apr 7, 2015

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum today announced the opening of the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Exhibit. Opening during Celebration Day at the Museum on Saturday, April 11, the 2015 Inductee Exhibit will shine a spotlight on the impact and influence of this year’s class: The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, The “5” Royales, Green Day, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Lou Reed, Ringo Starr, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble and Bill Withers.

“The Inductee Exhibit highlights iconic items that span the careers of these legends, and helps illustrate their impact on music history,” said Karen L. Herman, vice president of collections and curatorial affairs for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. “Many of these pieces are new to the museum and are being exhibited for the first time.”

Items in the 2015 Inductee Exhibit, which will be located in the Ahmet M. Ertegun Exhibition Hall on the lower level, include instruments, gear, stage clothing, and more. Highlights include:

Stevie Ray Vaughan’s butterscotch Fender Stratocaster, featuring a custom tiger stripe pickguard that is a homage to Buddy Guy, one of Vaughan’s biggest musical influences
Lou Reed’s Bolin guitar and Soldano amp, which were essential in creating his unmistakable guitar tone
Bill Withers’ Martin acoustic guitar, a stalwart with him on stage during much of his career
Ringo Starr’s drum kit, the backbeat of the British Invasion, which was used with the Beatles from 1964 to 1968
Paul Butterfield’s harmonicas and their custom case
Tré Cool of Green Day’s drum kit which he lit on fire at the 1998 HFStival at RFK Stadium
Instruments and clothing from Joan Jett and each member of the Blackhearts
Original recordings of The “5” Royales’ songs that were later covered by artists from James Brown to Mick Jagger and Derek and The Dominos

The exhibit will also include a multimedia highlight reel of speeches and special moments from the past 29 years of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Induction Ceremony including behind-the-scenes footage, rehearsals and performances. The exhibit features a video wall, with soundbars powered by Klipsch Audio, highlighting performance footage and exclusive interviews with the 2015 inductees.

Inside the Hall of Fame gallery, a new video in the entrance lobby to the Hall of Fame gallery will be added in the coming weeks and will feature the top 10 greatest induction performances as voted on by fans from around the world at www.rockhall.com. The signatures of the 2015 inductees will also be added to the signature wall and full song catalogs will be added to the interactive jukeboxes. The area that previously showcased each year’s inductees has been converted to an In Memoriam Exhibit honoring inductees who have recently passed away.

Kicking off Cleveland Rock Week, Celebration Day on April 11 will feature free admission to the Museum, live local entertainment, and more. The daylong celebration begins at 9 a.m. at the Museum and concludes with a Rock N’ Blast fireworks show at 8 p.m. at Voinovich Park. Celebration Day is presented by PNC and sponsored by the Cleveland Indians, Downtown Cleveland Alliance, The John P. Murphy Foundation, The George Gund Foundation, and The Cleveland Foundation. For more information about Celebration Day, Cleveland Rock Week, and current exhibits, visit www.rockhall.com.