PHOENIX, AZ. (Top40 Charts/
Celeste Polonski) - Sextet LYDIA and New York City-based duo BLACK GOLD have teamed up for the 'ILLUMINATE YOURSELF' tour, named for Lydia's debut release Illuminate (Low Altitude/Universal Motown). The cross-country trek kicks off February 19 in Albuquerque, NM and wraps four weeks later in Lydia's hometown on March 21. The bands have also joined forces to present the 'ILLUMINATE YOUR CITY' contest, aimed at promoting local charities along the tour route.
For the 'ILLUMINATE YOUR CITY' contest, fans doing charitable work in the local tour markets are asked to create a short video explaining why their charity should be featured at their local date of the tour. The winning charity in each market will receive tickets to the show and an area by the merch booth to promote their cause. A grand prize winner-chosen from the local winners-will receive a $1000 donation to their cause. For more information on the contest from the bands themselves, visit: www.youtube.com/user/IlluminateYourself. Videos for consideration should be uploaded directly to YouTube as a response to the videos the bands posted explaining the contest.
ABOUT LYDIA:
In the five years since their inception, Phoenix, AZ sextet LYDIA-lead vocalist/guitarist Leighton Antelman, keyboardist/backup vocalist Mindy White, guitarists Steve McGraw and Ethan Koozer, bassist Jed Dunning and drummer Craig Taylor-has grown to become darlings of the indie rock world. LYDIA's intoxicatingly melodic styling and deliciously layered male/female vocals have the fans and critics raving. Absolute Punk's CEO & Founder Jason Tate hailed Illuminate a contender for their prestigious 2008 Album of The Year Award, while their legion of fans are signing up to be MySpace friends in droves-54,000 of them to be exact! Illuminate is a standout album that sees LYDIA carving out their own style in the indie pop/rock genre. The instrumentals and vocals work together in tandem to create an absorbing and atmospheric listen that people won't soon forget. www.lydiamusic.com; www.myspace.com/lydia
ABOUT BLACK GOLD:
New York-based duo BLACK GOLD-recently selected as one of MetroMix's 'Blowin' up in '09' artists to watch-released their debut album, Rush, on February 3. Rush features 'Detroit'-an iTunes' 'Single of the Week' (10/7/08) which received over 420,000 downloads-and new single 'Plans & Reveries,' which Spin described as 'sweeping orchestral rock (2/09).' The video for the single recently premiered on PureVolume.com and can be viewed at www.purevolume.com/videos/471. Multi-instrumentalists Eric Ronick and Than Luu of BLACK GOLD are veteran performers who have tested their respective wares by logging significant stage time with a variety of acts (Panic At The Disco, M. Ward, Ambulance Ltd., Rachael Yamagata). www.blackgoldmusic.com; www.myspace.com/blackgold
Thu - 2/19 - Albuquerque, NM - The Launchpad
Fri - 2/20 - Colorado Springs, CO - The Loft
Sat - 2/21 - Denver, CO - Larimer Lounge
Tue - 2/24 - Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room
Wed - 2/25 - Des Moines, IA - Vaudeville Mews
Thu - 2/26 - St. Paul, MN - Station 4
Fri - 2/27 - Madison, WI - The Annex
Sat - 2/28 - Chicago, IL - AV-Aerie
Mon - 3/2 - Cleveland Heights, OH - The Grog Shop
Tue - 3/3 - Philadelphia, PA - The Barbary
Wed - 3/4 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East
Thu - 3/5 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge
Fri - 3/6 - Hoboken, NJ - Maxwell's
Sat - 3/7 - Washington, DC - Rock and Roll Hotel
Sun - 3/8 - Richmond, VA - Canal Club
Mon - 3/9 - Wilmington, NC - Soapbox Lounge
Tue - 3/10 - Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506
Wed - 3/11 - Atlanta, GA - Drunken Unicorn
Thu - 3/12 - Oxford, MS - Proud Larry's
Fri - 3/13 - New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
Sat - 3/14 - Dallas, TX - Club Dada
Sun - 3/15 - Denton, TX - Rubber Gloves
Tue - 3/17 - San Antonio, TX - White Rabbit
Sat - 3/21 - Tempe, AZ - The Clubhouse
