Blues Traveler and More Set for FreeForAll Concert Series at Columbus Commons, 8/30

Grammy Award-winning artists Blues Traveler will join Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legends The Family Stone and Hang on Sloopy hit maker Rick Derringer for a FREE concert at Columbus Commons in Downtown Columbus as part of the new FreeForAll Concert Series, it was announced today.

The FreeForAllTM Concert Series Kickoff Event will be held on Friday, August 30, and will serve as a celebration of a great summer and the kickoff of the new highly-anticipated football season, highlighted by a special live performance of Sloopy, the Official Rock and Roll Song of the State of Ohio and the state's unofficial sports anthem, by the artist who took it to #1 on the rock charts in 1965. Gates open at Columbus Commons at 5:30 p.m. and the show starts at 6:30 p.m.

As with all FreeForAll Concert Series events, all tickets for the Kickoff Event are free. The first opportunity to get tickets will be presented by Mikey's Late Night Slice and will come on Thursday, August 15, at Columbus Commons during the Food Truck Food Court (11:00 am - 2:00 pm) and the Downtown Live! Concert Series (7:00 pm - 11:00 pm) where 500 pairs of free FreeForAll tickets will be distributed by Mikey's Late Night Slice during each event.

Additional ticket distribution events and locations will be announced during the coming weeks, as fans will be able to pick up their free tickets from series sponsors and during various promotions by series media partners. Ticket distribution announcements will be made by Ricart Automotive Group, NBC4, 97.1 FM The Fan, and Clear Channel Outdoor, as well as on the FreeForAll website, FreeForAllConcerts.com, and on FreeForAll's social media platforms @itsfreeforall on Twitter and on Facebook at facebook.com/freeforallconcerts.

FreeForAllTM Concert Series events are produced by Free For All Events LLC. The series was created and developed by two long-standing Central Ohio entertainment and sports marketing firms -- The Team Sports, Entertainment, & Media and Event Marketing Strategies, Inc.

Rick Derringer and his band will fire up the thousands in attendance at the Kickoff Event with a set sure to bring down the house, featuring a very special version of Hang on Sloopy, Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo, and other songs from his collection of hits.

The headliner for this incredible party will be the world's greatest live jam band, multi-platinum and Grammy Award-winning recording artist Blues Traveler. The bill will be supported by a funky performance of famous hits from The Family Stone. Two Family Stone songs, Dance to the Musicand Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again), are among The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked them 43rd on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

In addition to Blues Traveler, The Family Stone, and Derringer, the FreeForAll Kickoff Event will include Columbus' own Erica Blinn and The Handsome Machine. Blinn's performance comes just as she is preparing to release her first studio album and is sure to set the tone for an outstanding evening of celebration and entertainment.

"The FreeForAll Kickoff Event will be a celebration of a great summer and the beginning of the 2013 football season," said Dave Whinham, President of The Team Sports, Entertainment, and Media. "This will be a party that thousands of fans will want to attend. We're very excited to be producing this event with Event Marketing Strategies and all of our distinguished partners."

"The Columbus Commons provides an outstanding metropolitan setting for
the FreeForAll," added President and CEO of Event Marketing Strategies, Jeff Milgrom. "We believe we are creating something very special that will become a trademark event for Columbus Commons and our city for many years to come."

"To be a part of such a spectacular event and the building of a new tradition in central Ohio is truly exciting," said Rick Ricart from series sponsor Ricart Automotive Group.

The Kickoff Event will also include Unique Features and promotions between acts with celebrities and community leaders, prizes and giveaways throughout the night, and great food and beverages available for purchase from Mikey's Late Night Slice and World of Beer.

The FreeForAllTM Concert Series is an ongoing series of concerts in Central Ohio that feature high quality presentations of national act concert events for which the tickets are absolutely free. As the FreeForAllTM name implies, all FreeForAllTM events are FREE to the public, though tickets are required. Free tickets are made available by FreeForAllTM sponsors and event partners who partner with FreeForAllTM as a way to give back to the Central Ohio community that has supported their businesses through the years. FreeForAllTM Concert Series events are produced by Free For All Events LLC. For more information visit FreeForAllConcerts.com.

The Team: Sports, Entertainment, & Media is a Columbus-based company that focuses its efforts in four areas: (I) brokering of sports and entertainment opportunities and entities, (2) producing of live sports and entertainment events, (3) providing comprehensive management and consulting services, and (4) creating, producing and placing media and branding elements. Since beginning in January of 2002, The Team has successfully managed transactions for an array of highly respected organizations throughout the industry including teams at all levels, venues, buyers, sellers, licensed products, television and media projects and other related businesses. For more information visit theteamllc.com.

At Event Marketing Strategies (EMS), it's about the experience. EMS believes that smart strategy, creativity, and savvy marketing, combined with face-to-face interaction, can result in high consumer engagement and a strong return on investment for all clients. EMS provides access to clients' targeted consumers at strategically selected venues, activation of experiences that engage consumers, and heightened awareness resulting in lead generation and a positive impact on the client's business objectives. EMS seeks strategic opportunities, such as sporting events, festivals and fairs, entertainment venues, concert tours, cross-country tours, and custom-created events, to capture the attention of consumers. For more information visit eventmarketingstrategies.com.

Columbus Commons is 7 acre green space located in the heart of Downtown Columbus with a state-of-the-art performance space, Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion, a hand-carved carousel, an outdoor reading room, world-class gardens designed and maintained by the Franklin Park Conservatory, outdoor cafés, bocce courts, a life-size chess set, and much more! A unique gathering space for Central Ohio community, Columbus Commons supports the ongoing, market-driven development of a truly remarkable and walkable Downtown neighborhood that integrates living spaces with retail, office, and entertainment opportunities. For more information visit columbuscommons.org.

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