_______________________________________________________ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2016 Moondance Jam Contact: Kathy Bieloh 218‐836‐1055 [email protected] Photos: http://www.moondanceevents.net/festivals/pressrelease.html MOONDANCE JAM GATES OPEN WEDNESDAY TO CELEBRATE THE ROCK FESTIVAL'S 25TH ANNIVERSARY Over fifty bands set to play four stages: Godsmack, Chicago, BOSTON, Bush, Sixx:A.M., Rick Springfield, Chevelle, Queensryche, Loverboy take the evening spots on the main stage WALKER, MINNESOTA – July 14, 2016 – Moondance Jam, Minnesota's biggest rock festival, will begin celebrating their 25th anniversary next week when they open the campground gates at noon on Wednesday, July 20th. Rock and classic rock fans will take over the 300 acre campgrounds and concert area through the weekend to jam with Godsmack, Chicago, BOSTON, Bush, Sixx:A.M., Rick Springfield, Chevelle, Queensrÿche, Blues Traveler, Little River Band, KIX, Foghat, FireHouse and ThundHerStruck. Even though the festival "officially" starts on Thursday, many three day ticket holders come a day early for the free Pre Jam Party featuring bands on the Saloon and main stage. This year Killer Queen, Europe's top Queen tribute band, will headline the Pre Jam Party with The Fabulous Armadillos & Collective Unconscious Tribute to the Eagles opening for them. Moondance owner and promoter Kathy Bieloh said that she wouldn't be surprised to see a record number of campers on the grounds on Wednesday this year with this being the 25th anniversary, "Our reserved campsites were sold out early back in March and a lot of those were for four days. Plus we get a lot of Jammers who decide to upgrade to four day camping at the get when they get here." Even if you didn't get your reserved camping ahead of time, there will still be plenty of sites available in the general campground that can be ordered until Monday or at the gate when you arrive. General Manager Jon Bieloh and his crew are ready for the big week, "We had a really good turnout for our country festival last month and used a good portion of general camping. But for the rock festival, we know it will fill up and are making sure that all of our available general camping space is ready to go by Wednesday. Even though general is our largest campground, we will have the entire overflow area north of that ready to go if it is needed." Tickets and camping for 25th Anniversary of Moondance Jam are still available at a discount if ordered online or by phone by Monday, July 18. After that they will be available at the gate starting Wednesday, July 15. Prices, ticket and camping options and schedules for all of the stages can be found at moondancejam.com. Camping and Concert Gate Times Early camping check‐in on Wednesday runs from Noon until 9:30 p.m. Even if you didn't originally purchase 4‐day camping, you can upgrade at the gate if you want to come a day early. Check‐in on Thursday, Friday and Saturday runs from 10:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Please do not show up before the check‐in time – you will not be allowed to wait on the highway. Concert gates open at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday and at noon on Thursday through Saturday. The VIP tent will open Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. for early check‐in and the Pre Jam Party with free beer, pop/water and discount cash bar. Location, Parking & Shuttles Moondance Jam is held on the Moondance Fairgrounds grounds 6 ½ miles southeast of Walker, MN on HWY 200. There is $15/day parking available at the Moondance Fairgrounds parking lot just off of HWY 200 and $5/day motorcycle parking near the East concert gate (accessible through gate #1). Northern Lights Casino offers paid parking in their lot 2.5 miles west of Moondance. Moondance Jam provides a free shuttle service that runs to and from 2:00 p.m. until 1:30 a.m. Special needs accessible parking is available on the south side of the concert area. Festival Seating for General Admission and Organized Lawn Chair Seating Moondance Jam began as classic rock festival with open festival seating for all general admission ticket holders and continues that tradition today over two decades later. All ticket holders at Moondance have equal opportunity to get up to the front of the stage or sit back on the lawn seating area. Concert goers who wish to bring in a lawn chair need to purchase a chair tag. Tags are available at the gate for $30 or online until Monday for $25. Lawn chair seating spots are given on a daily first‐come‐first‐served basis. The only way to "reserve" a spot in the lawn chair seating area is get to the concert area early each day. Accessible seating is available in the concert area with gate personnel and security available for on‐hand assistance. Featured at Moondance Jam for 2016 Moondance has four different bars with various specials throughout the Jam. The Lazy Moon Bar & Grill features a full food and bar menu, a breakfast buffet and bloody mary bar in the morning, off sale beer and liquor throughout the festival and acoustic entertainment all day. The MDJ Saloon and outdoor Tiki Bar (just outside the Lazy Moon Bar & Grill) will have some of the biggest regional and tribute bands at the Jam. Listen to tributes bands covering The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Wings, Pearl Jam, AC/DC, along with bands that mix it up with covers and originals! There is a Traveling Art Pub painting party at noon on Friday in the MDJ Saloon. Billy B's bar on the hill is open daily and has free beer & wine tasting by Harvest Moon Festival at 1pm on Friday and a beer pong tournament starting at noon on Saturday. The Moondance Jam camping contest prelims are on Thursday afternoon with the finals on Friday afternoon in the campgrounds. Winners of the beer pong tourney and camping contest can even win Backstage Bar passes for Saturday night and tickets to next year's Moondance Jam. New at Moondance Jam for 2016 At the Pre Jam Party on Wednesday the first 300 Jammers who stop in to Billy B's or the corner bar in the Saloon with an old mug from another festival (except Moondance) can trade it in for a 2016 Moondance mug for only $6 and get a free fill. Plus we'll have some live entertainment at Billy B's for the first time with Tim Eggebraaten "Off Duty". Main Stage Schedule Wednesday, July 15 Pre Jam Party (free for all 3‐day ticket holders) 10:30 p.m. ‐ Killer Queen 9:00 p.m. ‐ Takin it to the Limit: The Fabulous Armadillos & Collective Unconscious Tribute to the Eagles 7:30 p.m. ‐ Mountain Ash Thursday, July 16 11:00 p.m. ‐ Godsmack 9:00 p.m. ‐ Bush 7:00 p.m. ‐ Chevelle 5:00 p.m. ‐ KIX 3:00 p.m. ‐ FireHouse Friday, July 17 11:00 p.m. ‐ Chicago 9:00 p.m. ‐ Rick Springfield 7:00 p.m. ‐ Loverboy 5:00 p.m. ‐ Little River Band 3:00 p.m. ‐ Foghat Saturday, July 18 11:00 p.m. ‐ BOSTON 9:00 p.m. ‐ Sixx:A.M. 7:00 p.m. ‐ Queensrÿche 5:00 p.m. ‐ Blues Traveler 3:00 p.m. ‐ ThundHerStruck *Schedule and lineup are subject to change without notice. Side stage schedules and additional information can be found online at www.moondancejam.com. ### .