The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus (The Lennon Bus), the premier non-profit 501(c)(3) state-of-the-art mobile production facility that provides hands-on experiences for students of all ages, presented by Other World Computing (OWC), makes its return to The 2018 NAMM Show at the Anaheim Convention Center with special guests Bootsy Collins, legendary bass player, and Andy Grammer, multi-platinum recording artist. Kicking off at NAMM, and chock full of new gear and equipment, the Lennon Bus will stop in cities across America throughout the year including Sacramento, Texas, Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Miami and many more.
“Kicking off the tour at NAMM has become somewhat of a staple in the Lennon Bus legacy. We feel more connected to the crowd each year, and the energy at NAMM gives us the motivation and drive needed to get on the road to inspire young people across the U.S.,” said Co-Founder and Executive Director Brian Rothschild. “With the involvement of OWC, Bootsy Collins and Andy Grammer, this NAMM Show will be one to remember.”
Throughout The 2018 NAMM Show, the Lennon Bus will be parked on the central Grand Plaza in front of the Anaheim Convention Center. The Lennon Bus will offer trade show attendees interactive tours and will showcase the updated display of state-of-the-art equipment and gear, advanced recording technology, and innovative capabilities with products provided by OWC – the official presenting sponsor of the 2018 Lennon Bus Tour.
Highlights include:
- Saturday, January 27 from 6:00 -7:30 p.m., Collins will host the annual John Lennon Educational Tour Bus Imagine Party featuring a performance from Grammer. In addition to hosting, Collins will take the stage with local Anaheim students to perform “Together We Can,” a song he first recorded on the Lennon Bus in New York City.
- Saturday, January 27 at 11 a.m., Collins will host the Funk Off. at OWC Booth 11802. Open to anyone, Collins will judge contestant’s bass skills. The top five finalists will take home OWC gear and move on to the finals, which will take place live on stage at the Imagine Party. The winner, picked by Collins, will win his signed Yamaha bass guitar and an OWC package.
- Thursday, January 25 – Sunday, January 28, attendees will be able to win free, limited-edition OWC / Lennon Bus T-shirts with an onsite game at OWC Booth 11802.
This year, the Lennon Bus will be premiering many new features. The Lennon Bus studios and the demo tent will be powered by the new Apple iMac Pro with additional 5K displays providing an expansive monitoring system for editing ultra-high definition video and photography. OWC’s innovative products provide the bus with fast, dependable and silent storage solutions.
Musicians onboard the Lennon Bus will now get to pair Yamaha electric guitars with Yamaha guitar amps including the THR10C combo and the THR100H dual head with the THRC212 cabinet. The Yamaha MX61BU will be the new featured synth keyboard in the demo tent and all support products are now provided by K&M Stands.
A new feature in the Lennon Bus demo tent is the Creator’s Station. In this space, visitors can participate in an interactive experience using an Apple iPad Pro, Audio-Technica’s iOS-compatible AT2020USBi microphone, and ATH-M50x headphones. During select events throughout the year, visitors can participate in a project entitled “What does peace mean to you?” by recording their unique answer in the Creator’s Station. The audio, photos, and b-roll captured for this activation, from students of all ages across the country, will lay the foundation for an original short film.
LENNON BUS AT NAMM SCHEDULE
Lennon Bus Interactive Tours
Wednesday, January 24 – 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Thursday, January 25 – 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday, January 26 – 10:00AM – 6:00PM
Saturday, January 27 – 10:00AM – 3:00PM
Sunday, January 28 – 10:00AM – 5:00PM
Wednesday, January 24
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – NAMM FOUNDATION PANEL w/ Lennon Bus – Hilton, Lower Level, Catalina 7
Table 1 – Working with Schools to Advance Music Education
Thursday, January 25
12:00 PM – Olivia Millerschin (John Lennon Songwriting Contest NAMM Show Winner) performs on stage in Grand Plaza
2:00 PM – Giveaways at Lennon Bus
Friday, January 26
2:00 PM – Giveaways at Lennon Bus
Sunday, January 27
11:00 AM – FUNK OFF w/ Bootsy Collins at OWC Booth 11802
12:00 PM – Common Souls (John Lennon Songwriting Contest Song of the Year Winner) performs on stage in Grand Plaza
2:00 PM – Giveaways at Lennon Bus
5:00 PM – Press/VIP Badge Pickup at Lennon Tent
6:00PM – 7:30PM – Imagine Party
Speeches
Bootsy Collins performs with Anaheim Students “Together We Can”
Funk Off finals – Winner takes home Bootsy’s Yamaha Bass & OWC Package
Andy Grammer performs
For the second time, I won a Yamaha Keyboard. I attend NAMM every year.
As an advocate for Youth in Music, my first win in 2017, inspired me to give the instrument to a youth participating in a musical or play that I will sponsor. This is in the process and will bring happiness.
The second win, 2018, will be given to the youth that takes on the responsibility of Musical Director.
I am inspired by the John Lennon Tour bus to finalize all planned events.
The Keyboards will be used to inspire a youth to continue to express through music.
Thanks with Appreciation.
Linda McShan
email: Steps2stepssuccess@gmail.com