Punk Rock Is Dead
Vans Warped music tour makes 2018 its last ever with date in Dallas
The Vans Warped Tour, the annual punk-rock music festival that's crossed the U.S. every summer for the past 23 years, is calling it quits. Summer 2018 will be its swan song, and it's going out with a lineup that reads like a Warped greatest hits.
Acts performing include Reel Big Fish, Simple Plan, All Time Low, Four Year Strong, 3OH!3, Less Than Jake, Underoath, We The Kings, The Used, and Tonight Alive. Newer acts joining the tour include State Champs, Trash Boat, Don Broco, Grayscale, Waterparks, Real Friends, and Movements.
The tour has 38 dates, commencing June 21 in Pomona, California, and ending August 5 in West Palm, Florida. It will hit three cities in Texas, including Dallas' Starplex Pavilion on July 6; San Antonio's AT&T Center on July 7; and Houston's NRG Park on July 8.
In a statement, founder Kevin Lyman said, "I truly am happy to get the chance to travel around the country one more time to thank you for your support, and bring you another best day ever."
The Vans Warped Tour is the largest traveling music festival in the United States, and the longest-running touring music festival in North America. Originally conceived by Lyman in 1995 as an eclectic alternative-rock festival with a focus on punk rock, it has grown to include a multitude of genres, including metal, hip hop, reggae, and pop.
Past performers who've gone on to fame and fortune include Blink 182, No Doubt, Sublime, Beck, Katy Perry, NOFX, Limp Bizkit, Black Eyed Peas, Green Day, Eminem, Yellowcard, Bad Religion, and more.
It remains one of the best tours to attend to discover emerging acts and, in keeping with the original idealism of punk rock, it spotlights nonprofits and companies working to make a positive impact on the world.
In 2018, it will launch the FEND Movement (Full Energy, No Drugs) in partnership with the Preventum Initiative.
The FEND Movement empowers youth to make a stand against opioids. It aims to engage 50,000 young people between March and August 2018, giving them the chance to earn rewards and prizes as they increase their knowledge and change their attitudes and behaviors in relation to opioids. Youth can participate by downloading the Preventum app and on-boarding to the FEND campaign.
Other organizations touring this summer include A Voice For The Innocent, American Red Cross, Hope For The Day, Feed Our Children Now!, Living The Dream Foundation, To Write Love on Her Arms, and Truth. Fans can see their favorite bands as well as become educated on these causes and how they can help.
Returning this summer are two stages showcasing heavy and hardcore music with acts that include Chelsea Grin, Mychildren My Bride, Every Time I Die, Knocked Loose, The Amity Affliction, and Ice Nine Kills.
The Entertainment Institute will return as well, hosting educational workshops and Q&A's hosted by writers, artists, and photographers. More information regarding the artists conducting workshops will be available in April at thinktei.com.
This year's sponsors include dailyKARMA, Ernie Ball, Equal Vision Records, Full Sail University, Peta2, MusiCares, PRS Guitars, Hopeless Records, Viceland, Violent Gentlemen, and Hope For The Day.
3D collector tickets, as well as super fan bundles, are on sale now and can be purchased at vanswarpedtour.com. General admission tickets go on sale March 8 at 10 am at livenation.com.
The tour dates are as follows:
June 21 Pomona
June 22 San Diego
June 23 Mountain View
June 24 Ventura
June 28 Phoenix
June 29 Las Vegas
June 30 Salt Lake City
July 1 Denver
July 3 St. Louis
July 5 Bonner Springs, Kansas
July 6 Dallas
July 7 San Antonio
July 8 Houston
July 10 Nashville
July 12 Virginia Beach
July13 Camden
July 14 Holmdel
July 15 Hartford
July 16 Pittsburgh
July 17 Toronto
July 18 Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
July 19 Cincinnati
July 20 Detroit
July 21 Chicago
July 22 Minneapolis
July 23 Milwaukee
July 24 Indianapolis
July 25 Darien Center, New York
July 26 Scranton
July 27 Mansfield, Massachusetts
July 28 Wantagh
July 29 Columbia, Maryland
July 30 Charlotte
July 31 Atlanta
August 2 Jacksonville
August 3 Orlando
August 4 Tampa
August 5 West Palm Beach
Scarborough Renaissance Festival takes place every Friday-Sunday through May 25 in Waxahachie. Photo courtesy of Scarborough Renaissance Festival 
Festival of Joy returns to Klyde Warren Park. Photo courtesy of Festival of Joy 
Lone Star Smokeout Bbq & Country Music Festival will be at AT&T Stadium. Photo courtesy of Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants 
Two guests at The Other Art Fair review a collection of curated works $500 and under. The Other Art Fair