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2008 Camp Jam Ready-Set-Rock! Tour Heading to Houston

Young rock stars will be given the chance to play Guitar Hero against real Rock Stars for some serious cash.

Coming to Houston this weekend is the Camp Jam and NAMM “Ready-Set-ROCK! Tour.” It's a free, interactive music clinic that will give you a chance to learn from and play against for real rock stars.

The event will kick off with a free music clinic led by Liberty DeVitto, who played drums in Billy Joel’s band for more than 30 years and has also backed rock legends such as Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger and Stevie Nicks.  During the clinic, Liberty and Camp Jam instructors will give you a “backstage” look at what you can expect when attending Camp Jam this summer, offering up music instruction, sharing tricks of the trade, helping hone rock ‘n’ roll chops and teaching you about being in a successful band.

After the clinic comes the Guitar Hero III™ battle. The first 40 people registered will be given the chance to demonstrate their GH3 skills and the five top scorers will compete head-to-head against Liberty for a $100 gift certificate to the music store.

Then, you can show off your for real shredding skills in a Best Rock Solo Contest, with the winner receiving a free week session at Camp Jam this summer in Houston. The contest is open to all guitarists, bass players, drummers, keyboardists and vocalists. Instruments will be provided although guitarists and bass players can bring their own instrument if they like.

Anyone who signs-up early for the "Ready-Set-Rock! Tour" online will receive a $5.00 coupon to participating music store and the first 25 will receive a free Camp Jam T-shirt. Walk-ups are welcome, but if you plan to participate in either the Rock Solo Contest and / or the Guitar Hero battle, signing up early is recommended as there will be limited time slots. Sign up at the Camp Jam MySpace Page.

When/Where:

March 8, 2008
10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Ft. Bend Music Center
12919 SW Freeway, Suite 160
Stafford, Texas 77477


March 8, 2008
2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Percussion Center
6990 Portwest Drive #100
Houston, TX 77024

March 9, 2008
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Evans Music City
6240 Westheimer Rd
Houston, TX 77057

Camp Jam Presents "Roctober Special": $50 Off Camp + $50 Gift Card

It's the month of Rocktober here at Camp Jam Rock 'n' Roll Summer Day Camp, and thanks to our friends at NAMM and your local music retailers, Camp Jam is offering big savings and more to you through the end of the month.

Sign up between now and October 31 for either Camp Jam 2008 or Camp Jam Kidz 2008 and receive $50 OFF the cost of the rock music camp + a $50 NAMM GIFT CARD (redeemable at participating local NAMM music retailers).

While supplies last, you will also receive a Camp Jam T-shirt and a copy of Camp Jam's "Book of Rock," an instruction book that includes rock styles and techniques that are essential to the style of rock and roll.

Best part is JUST PAY $200 NOW to secure a spot and have until February 29, 2008 to pay the balance.

Get Ready To Be Part of the Best Camp Jam Ever. SIGN UP TODAY.

Houston's Percussion Center Sponsors Charity Drumming Event

One of Camp Jam's biggest supporters, The Percussion Center in Houston, TX, is trying to get all of Houston's drummers into one place at the same time to help raise money for charity and at the same time maybe break a Guinness World Record.

Texas BigBeat is a statewide drumming event raising funds to provide educational programs for underprivileged, special needs and at-risk children so that they can create a positive and productive future for themselves. Proceeds from this event will go to Cherish Our Children International (COCI) a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization.

In Houston, Texas COCI supports the No More Victims Program, whose focus is to assist at risk children in preventing the continuing cycle of addiction, abuse, violence and incarceration by providing a safe facility for them to go. By supporting the high school age children they are more able to positively help their younger siblings.

While helping out the community, Texas BigBeat wants to try and get 550 drummers to play together and create a new Guinness World Record. The current record is held by the Woodstick event in Seattle with 533 drummers.

Here's how you can be part of this event:

• Register to be a Texas BigBeat drummer and spread the word to other drummers.
• Create your own "Personal Fundraising Page" and send emails to friends and family about the opportunity to support your fundraising efforts and/or download a Texas BigBeat Donation form and give your friends, family, co-workers and band members a chance to contribute to the future of underprivileged, special needs and at-risk youth.

So, if you are a drummer in Houston or know any drummers in Houston, sign up for this event and help out this great cause.

New Camp Jam Rock 'n' Roll Summer Day Camp Map

Every year Camp Jam Rock 'n' Roll Summer Day Camp draws rockers from all across the US and even overseas. Check out this nifty application called Frappr that lets you see where other Camp Jammers are from and let's you mark the city you live in. Just pin yourself on this map or click on the Frappr logo on the left of the page and see where people are rocking out.

Poppyseed Bandits Post Camp Jam Houston Pictures

Two of the many kids who attended Camp Jam Rock 'n' Roll Summer Day Camp in Houston, TX. (Images Courtesy of Poppyseed Bandits Flickr Set)

We just came across some amazing pics of Camp Jam Rock 'n' Roll Summer Day Camp week 4 in Houston, TX, posted by Poppyseed Bandits. It really looks like the campers had a great time and played some great concerts. In fact, the picture at the top to the right is of The A Team's lead guitarist Aiden Kennedy playing a lick from Led Zeppelin's "The Ocean."

Check out a slideshow of the whole Flickr set below:

If you guys have any pics from your experience at the rock music camp feel free to send them to us, leave a comment or drop us an email to blog@campjam.com, and we'll post them.

Camp Jam People Profile: Houston

Next on the list of cities that the Camp Jam Rock 'n' Roll Summer Day Camp will be heading to this summer is Houston. Camp starts on June 11 so let's take a look at who you will meet and learn from while you are there.

Each camp location has its own Music Director(s), each of which are musicians in their own right and responsible for hiring staff members, monitoring camp classes and activities and placing campers into bands based on ability level and compatibility.

Camp Jam will also feature a series of Master Classes, sessions with a legendary rocker in which they share their stories, talk about the role music has played in their lives and best of all jam with the campers.

Houston

Music Directors:

The peal of a trumpet calls a lunchtime concert by the St. John's School Jazz Band in Houston, TX. In a small courtyard outside the lunchroom, students enjoy this change of pace led by music teacher Darrell Parrish. Composer, musical scholar, professional performer, and teacher of 27 years, Mr. Parrish leads the School's growing wind and jazz program. Whether he finds himself playing the electric bass, piano, tuba or euphonium, his forte is relating to students by playing right beside them, inspiring students with his passion for music.

Master Class Schedule (when each legendary rocker will be at camp)

June 6 -JEFF CARLISI -  Jeff Carlisi is the original guitarist and songwriter for the classic rock band 38 Special, which boasted more than five platinum albums during the 1980s and is best known for songs such as “Caught Up In You”, “Back Where You Belong” and “Hold On Loosely.” Today, Carlisi is helping young aspiring musicians make their rock star dreams come true with Camp Jam, which he co-founded in 2004.
June 12 - JIM PETERIK - One of the most successful rock songwriters of the past 4 decades, Peterik is best known for his band Survivor and for the rock anthem "Eye of the Tiger." Peterik has also written or co-written hit songs for 38 Special, Lynryd Skynyrd, REO Speedwagon, Doobie Brothers, Sammy Hagar and Cheap Trick, among others.  At 16 years old, Peterik founded the band Ides of March and wrote and sang the song “Vehicle,” which Bo Bice of American Idol fame went on to perform and record as his first single.
June 19 - CARMINE APPICE - Appice first came to prominence as the flamboyant percussionist with the late 1960s psychedelic foursome Vanilla Fudge. After his successful run with them, he then went on to join Jeff Beck in the power trio Beck, Bogert and Appice. He later joined Rod Stewart's backing band, and played drums on (and co-wrote) such Stewart hits as "D'Ya Think I'm Sexy?" and "Young Turks." Appice has recorded with Stanley Clarke, Ozzy Osbourne, Ted Nugent, and Pink Floyd and played in the bands King Kobra and Blue Murder. He is known for his showmanship, which includes stick tosses and twirls, power fills, and double-bass drum bombs.
July 19 - LIBERTY DEVITTO - Known as the quintessential “songwriter’s drummer,” DeVitto was the drummer for Billy Joel for more than 30 years, supplying the rhythmic framework for Joel’s multi-platinum hit albums (150 million sold) and legendary live concerts. DeVitto has been a session drummer on numerous recordings and has played live with artists such as: Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Stevie Nicks, Chuck Berry and Elton John.

Camp Jam City Profile: Houston

Houston

Dates:     Houston - Session 1 - June 11-15, 2007
               Houston - Session 2 - June 18-22, 2007
               Houston - Session 3 - June 25-29, 2007
               Houston - Session 4 - July 9-13, 2007

Location:  St. John's School
                2401 Claremont Lane
                Houston, TX 77019

Recommended music stores:

Evans Music
6240 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77057
713.781.2100

Percussion Center
6990 Port West Drive
Houston, TX 77024
713.468.9100

Parker Music
9941 North Freeway
Houston, TX 77037
281.820.0011

Guitar Center
7729 Westheimer Road
Houston, TX 77063
713.952.9070

Music scene info (with help from Wikipedia):

Many venues scattered across Houston regularly host local and touring rock, blues, country, hip hop and Tejano musical acts. Unfortunately, there has never been a widely renowned music scene in Houston. Artists seem to relocate to other parts of the United States once attaining some level of success.

A notable exception to the rule is Houston hip-hop, which celebrates the unique southern flavor and attitude of its roots. This has given rise to a strong, independent hip-hop music scene, influencing and influenced by the larger Southern hip hop and gangsta rap communities.  Many Houstonian hip-hop artists have attained commercial success, including Paul Wall, Bun B, Chamillionaire, Mike Jones, Lil' Flip, and Beyoncé.

There are a few Houston rock bands along the indie/punk/hardcore lines that are worth mentioning like THE JONBENET, Scale The Summit, BLAGGARDS, Windsor Drive, emosideproject, AS EDEN BURNS, and A Step Behind.

Stay tuned for more details about the cities we will be hitting and let us know if you have any more info you think we should add about your town.

Camp Jam Ready. Set. Rock! Tour headed to Houston and Dallas this weekend!!

Make sure to come out and get a taste for the Camp Jam experience.  Here are the dates and times for both cities:

HOUSTON

DATE	STORE	TIME	ADDRESS	ARTIST(S)	PHONE
March 2	Parker Music	6pm - 8pm	9941 North Fwy Houston, TX 77037	Jeff Carlisi & Liberty DeVitto	281.820.0011
March 3	Percussion Center	2pm - 4pm	6990 Port West Drive Houston, TX 77024	Jeff Carlisi & Liberty DeVitto	713.468.9100
March 4	Evan's Music City	1pm - 3pm	6240 West Heiner Houston, TX 77057	Jeff Carlisi & Liberty DeVitto	713.781.2100
March 4	Guitar Center	4pm - 5pm	7729 Westheimer Road Houston, TX 77063	Jeff Carlisi & Liberty DeVitto	713.952.9070

DALLAS

DATE	STORE	TIME	ADDRESS	ARTIST(S)	PHONE
March 2	Guitar Center	4pm - 6pm	2333 North Central Expressway #101 Plano, TX 75075	Derek St. Holmes	972.422.7171
March 3	Larry Morgan Music	11am - 1pm	510 South Garland Ave Dallas, TX 75040	Derek St. Holmes	972.864.8584
March 3	Guitar Center	3pm - 5pm	7814 North Central Expressway Dallas, TX 75206	Derek St. Holmes	214.692.9999

Camp Jam READY-SET-ROCK! Spring Tour coming to a town near you

(click banner for a tour stop in a city near you)

Camp Jam is teaming up with our friends at NAMM to present The Camp Jam Ready-Set-ROCK! Tour, a fun, interactive music experience for young rock musicians (ages 17 and under) that will be held this March and April in ALL Camp Jam cities.

This free clinic, concert and jam event will be the best way to get Ready to Rock this Summer at Camp Jam and Camp Jam Kidz. The tour will first kick off this March 2-4 in Houston and Dallas (exact locations, dates and times listed below).

CONCERT PERFORMANCE BY ROCK LEGENDS:
A special concert performance will be given by our Camp Jam celebrity rockers, providing young musicians an up- close experience with some of the music industry’s most accomplished rock musicians.

INTERACTIVE CLINIC w/ CAMP JAM PROS:
Hangout, jam and learn from some of the music industry’s top pros as well as meet the Camp Jam team in your city. Special music instruction will be provided during this unique, interactive clinic. A limited number of instruments will be provided.

ROCK SOLO CONTEST:
Any rockers, ages 7 to 17, are invited to play their best 30-second rock solo for a chance to win a $100 music store gift card. The contest is open to all guitarists, bass players, drummers, keyboardists and vocalists. Instruments will be provided although guitarists and bass players can bring their own instrument if they like.

Those interested in competing should email RockSolo@campjam.com or call 1-800-513-0930 to secure a time slot in the contest.

Camp Jam And Camp Jam Kidz Now Bringing Rock 'n' Roll Summer Day Camps to 14 Cities

We're thrilled to announce that Camp Jam Rock 'n' Roll Summer Day Camp, for ages 11-17,  and  Camp Jam Kidz, for ages 7-10, will be coming to a total of 14 cities in 2007. Sessions are being offered for the first time in:

- Phoenix
- Denver
- Los Angeles (the Valley)
- Orange County (Irvine)

And we'll also once again be returning to the following cites:

- Atlanta
- Chicago
- Cleveland
- Dallas
- Detroit
- Houston
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- St. Louis
- Washington, DC

If you play guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, or sing, then this is the camp for you. Go to CampJam.com for all the up-to-date info on session dates and exact locations, and sign up now for your session of choice today before it sells out!