THE CRAZY DAVE'S MUSIC EXPERIENCE
POWERED BY MUSICIANS INSTITUTE
ANNOUNCES INITIAL 2015 MUSIC FESTIVAL LINEUP
AND EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR MUSIC STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN
"THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE"

DEDICATED TO INSPIRING THE ROCK STARS OF TOMORROW!

The Crazy Dave's Music Experience will kick off their 2015 music festival season April 25 & 26 at Florida's biggest rock festival—Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville—in Jacksonville. Additional festivals confirmed for 2015 so far include: Monster Energy Carolina Rebellion (May 2 & 3 in Concord, NC) and Rock On The Range (May 15, 16 & 17 in Columbus, OH). All three festivals are part of the World's Loudest Month.

The Crazy Dave's Music Experience powered by Musicians Institute is a free, traveling interactive exhibit where fans are treated like rock stars and get hands-on interaction with tons of musical equipment—much of which is used by their favorite artists—participate in Meet and Greets with some of their favorite band members, attend clinics, check out acoustic sets, win prizes, and more. The exhibit is designed to tell the iconic stories of the music brands that helped build the industry. Thousands of festival attendees visit The Crazy Dave's Music Experience each year.

An important element of The Crazy Dave's Music Experience that will be expanded at each festival this year is The Student Experience (www.thestudentexp.com). The Student Experience is a community outreach program for aspiring young musicians created by The Crazy Dave's Music Experience and supported by their partner, Musicians Institute. It's a special opportunity for students enrolled in music-related academic programs—and their educators—to receive access to The Crazy Dave's Music Experience before the festival gates open, and receive behind-the-scenes access throughout the day. Participating students will gain a valuable perspective on the wide array of opportunities within the music industry. Participants will meet with band members, sound and lighting engineers, guitar techs, production staff, and representatives from instrument manufacturers.

Check out video highlights of The Student Experience here: https://vimeo.com/97263513.

The Student Experience is open to musicians in second grade through college. To apply for free admission to The Student Experience in Jacksonville, FL (April 25 & 26), Concord, NC (May 2 & 3) or Columbus, OH (May 15, 16 & 17), please visit: www.thestudentexp.com/participate-2015/.

Event producer and founder Mark "Squiggy" DiGiacomo is dedicated to inspiring the rock stars of tomorrow. He explains, "We aim to provide an awe inspiring and memorable encounter for students, and create meaningful awareness of the components of the music industry often lost in the shadows of rock-stardom. With funding constantly being cut for music education, it's the responsibility of the people who benefit from the arts, related businesses and lifestyle to step in and help. It's the job of the concert promoters, instrument manufacturers, retail stores and famous artists to keep the tools of the trade accessible to children and future generations, which is why we are so honored to have Musicians Institute as a partner. It's exciting to see the instant connection they have with each student and educator that walks into The Experience."

"The Crazy Dave's Music Experience is an amazing organization, and Musicians Institute is proud to be their partner," says Jessica Sullivan, Director of Marketing for Musicians Institute. "We share the goal of supporting music education and creating the next generation of musicians. I've seen the excited faces of young students who feel that The Crazy Dave's Music Experience was created just for them. Inspiring kids today isn't always easy, but the staff at The Crazy Dave's Music Experience do it at every event—and that impresses me."

Clay Busch, Head of Marketing for Danny Wimmer Presents (preeminent festival producers and co-executive producers of the World's Loudest Month festival series) agrees, noting: "We're excited to keep growing the festival experience with everyone over at Crazy Dave's Music. With public education and music programs losing government funding annually, it's our responsibility to support creative artists and give them an outlet to learn, create and discover music with their favorite brands, rock stars and festivals."

Everyone is welcome to visit The Crazy Dave's Music Experience. At each festival, visitors to The Crazy Dave's Music Experience will have the chance to test the latest music equipment from companies such as: Ashdown, Blackstar, Charvel, Chauvet Lighting, Cynosure Custom Guitars, Epiphone, ESP Guitars (celebrating their 40th anniversary), EVH, Fender, Gibson Pro Audio, Hercules DJ, Jackson, Jim Dunlop (celebrating their 50th anniversary), Korg, Kramer, Lace Pickups, Marshall Amps, Moog, MXR, Paul Reed Smith, SKB Cases, Takamine, Vox, and Yamaha, as well as check out items from Affliction Clothing. Inside The Crazy Dave's Music Experience Tent, festival attendees can participate in Meet and Greets with some of their favorite band members, participate in a "30 Seconds to Shred" competition for a chance to win great prizes, attend clinics, and check out acoustic sets on the ESP/Affliction "Live Fast Stage." In addition, the "Dime Icon" presented by Dean Guitars display will feature a few of Dimebag Darrell's own guitars along with re-issues of his famous guitars.

At Monster Energy Welcome To Rockville, The Crazy Dave's Music Experience will donate Cynosure Custom Guitars to The Navy Seal Foundation and Birdies for the Brave.

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/CrazyDavesMusicExperience
• Website: http://www.crazydavesmusic.com
• The Student Experience Website: www.thestudentexp.com
• Video Highlights: https://vimeo.com/95007376

(Students and Mark "Squiggy" DiGiacomo
tour the LOUDER THAN LIFE 2014 festival grounds in Louisville)

(Students with members of Nothing More)

(Rob Caggiano of Volbeat meets fans at The Crazy Dave's Music Experience)

(Student playing guitar at The Crazy Dave's Music Experience)