RISMEDIA, May 29, 2009-Fremont Street Experience takes Las Vegas back 40 years this summer with the “Summer of ’69: Vegas or Bust” festival and concert series that commenced over Memorial Day weekend.
The celebration offers tourists and residents a summer full of free concerts by major iconic bands from 1969, including The Guess Who, Blood Sweat & Tears, Rare Earth, Janis Joplin’s Original Band Big Brother & The Holding Company, The Grass Roots, Jefferson Starship, The 5th Dimension, Canned Heat and Three Dog Night.
Fremont Street Experience will transform itself for the 40th anniversary of 1969 by taking visitors back to the legendary year. The “Summer of ’69: Vegas or Bust” event series kicked off over Memorial Day weekend and continues 108 days through Labor Day weekend. All summer long, themed nightly entertainment will also include cover bands and tribute artists, theatrical performances with costumed entertainers, new Viva Vision shows paying tribute to the year 1969 and special guest appearances. All concerts and entertainment are free to the public.
As part of the “Summer of ’69: Vegas or Bust” festivities, Fremont Street Experience has named multidiscipline artist-designer John Van Hamersveld as the “Official Artist of Summer of ’69.” Van Hamersveld is most known for his prominent 1960s iconic image of the Pinnacle Indian, The Beatles cover for the “Magical Mystery Tour” album and poster for the 1966 surf-genre movie, Endless Summer. His participation will include the creation of a debut Viva Vision show titled, “Signs of Life,” a custom-painted vintage school bus to be used during the summer-long event series and working alongside Fremont Street Experience in design aspects for Summer of ’69. Van Hamersveld will also open “Hippie Nation Gallery & Records.”
“We invite everyone to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the iconic and influential year 1969,” said Fremont Street Experience President Jeff Victor. “Fremont Street Experience is presenting an impressive line-up of major music artists from 1969 to the public at no cost. It will be a groovy summer of music, entertainment and lots of fun. With downtown Las Vegas consistently offering great deals on rooms, dining and entertainment, there is no better vacation spot to have a great time at a great value.”
For more information, visit www.vegasexperience.com.