Well, we've known for a while now that the 2011 Vans Warped Tour will be kicking off right here in Dallas at the end of the month -- on Friday, June 24, to be exact -- at Gexa Energy Pavilion and its surrounding parking lots.
We've known, too, that, the day before the kickoff, The Devil Wears Prada was set to perform an in-store set at a Vans store in the region (Town East Mall in mesquite, turns out).
And we know, from history, that the Warped Tour sure does like the Double Wide, using the Deep Ellum hotspot annually as a place to hold its Dallas date after-parties.
Well, now we know this: Last week, the Double Wide added to its calendar page a note that, on Thursday, June 23, the night before the Warped Tour's very first date, it would be hosting the official Warped Tour kickoff party. Aside from one brief misfire club's ticketing agency, though, the details for the event have been largely kept under wraps. Further adding to the confusion was the fact that, when we first called the folks running the Warped Tour's publicity, they hadn't even heard yet about the event.
So much for confirming exactly what was going down with the event, then.
Until now, of course. Yesterday evening, the Double Wide finally posted to its calendar page some actual details about the event, which is sponsored by Vans (of course), Sailor Jerry Rum (why not?), Alternative Press (duh) and Elm St. Tattoo (makes sense).
So what does this all mean? Well, that a number of the bigger names from the tour will be performing acoustic sets. And one Dallas band will be performing a plugged-in set. And there will be karaoke. And there will be a DJ, too.
Oh, and one more thing: The whole event will be free to attend.
Hit the jump for details.
Want details? You got 'em: The Double Wide will play host to a set from Dallas' own Missile; acoustic sets from Mike Herrera (of MxPx), Tom Gabel (of Against Me!) and Ben Nichols (of Lucero); and a DJ set from DJ Keenan, as well. The folks of Good Luck Karaoke will be running the karaoke portion of the evening.
So, we'll see you there, yeah? We'll be the ones with bells on.
