Rascal Flatts to tour

Rascal Flatts will launch their new tour this summer, “Flatts Fest,” on June 18 in Bristow, Virginia and fans will have plenty to enjoy with the purchase of their concert tickets. Details of the interactive pre-show festivities and contests have just been announced and will include a karaoke challenge, a wedding chapel, scavenger hunt and more. There will also be carnival food and games, and plenty of opportunities to win prizes. “Flatts Fest” will run through September 18, visiting 23 cities with opening acts Sara Evans, Easton Corbin and Justin Moore.

The “Flatts Fest” Karaoke Challenge, presented by Starkey, offers fans a chance to open for Rascal Flatts at one of their 2012 tour stops (market to be determined based on winner’s hometown). Local area radio stations and record label executives will be on hand to listen to fans sing their favorite song on stage in the plaza. Finalists perform during the last hour of the pre-show festival and the winner will go backstage and meet Rascal Flatts, as well as see their winning performance on the jumbotron during the show. Their video will then be entered in the grand prize contest for fans to vote on after the end of the tour in September. The grand prize winner gets a trip to the Smoky Mountains to record their own CD courtesy of the Chartbuster Experience and will open a select show for Rascal Flatts during their 2012 tour. Fans should listen to their local radio station to win a chance to pre-qualify for the finals, or plan to arrive early on show day to sing and win.

Before Rascal Flatts takes the concert stage, one lucky radio listener will take the hand of the one they love at the “Why Wait” Chapel, located in the middle of the “Flatts Fest” pre-show plaza festivities. Local radio stations will pre-qualify five lucky listeners to get the chance to re-new their vows, propose to their loved one or have a ceremony (faux or real) at the “Why Wait” Chapel. The radio station will draw the winner’s name the week before the show and that couple will meet at the chapel to say “I Won’t Let Go.” After the ceremony, they will be escorted to backstage to meet Rascal Flatts. The winners from each of the 23 tour stops will be entered to win a honeymoon trip to Las Vegas. For the rest of the fest guests, there will be memorabilia from the “Why Wait” video shoot and drawings for wedding-related prizes.

All concertgoers can participate in the “Flatts Fest” Scavenger Hunt using the free Flatts Fest wi-fi hot spot and their cell phone. After arriving to the concert venue the day of each show, fans simply check in via www.rascalflatts.com to receive the checklist – then find the scavenger hunt signs within the venue and scan the QR code to receive a surprise. Every fan on site who plays the game is also automatically entered for a chance to spin the “Flatts Fest” Prize Wheel just before the start of the show. Those chosen to spin will receive a text on when and where to meet, and will spin to win big prizes, including items like an autographed guitar or a birthday phone call from Rascal Flatts!

While on the scavenger hunt, fans can stop by the “Flatts Fest” Fan Zone, sponsored by Mossy Oak, to check out the Rascal Flatts museum, take photos with life-size cutouts of the band, sing along with their favorite Rascal Flatts music videos, and send a video question to the guys at the “Ask Flatts” corner. Some questions may be chosen to get answered on the big screen during the show.

Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka and Mathews Bows will also be on hand with fun activities, giveaways and sweepstakes opportunities. There will be prizes around every corner at “Flatts Fest”!

Rascal Flatts debuted their first album on Big Machine Records, NOTHING LIKE THIS, last November at #1 on the country album sales chart and became one of only four country acts to debut six consecutive studio albums at #1. Since their musical debut in 2000, the band has sold 20 million albums and 25 million digital downloads and delivered 13 #1 singles to the top of the chart. Rascal Flatts is the most awarded country group of the past decade with nearly 40 trophies from the American Country Awards, Academy of Country Music, American Music Awards, Country Music Association, People’s Choice Awards and more. Since their touring career began, they have sold over 6 million concert tickets

For additional information on Rascal Flatts and their tour go to www.rascalflatts.com or www.livenation.com

2011 “FLATTS FEST” dates:
6-18 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
6-19 Virginia Beach, VA Farm Bureau Live at Virginia Beach
6-24 Oshkosh, WI** Country Festival USA
6-25 Chicago, IL First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
6-26 Maryland Heights, MO Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
7-8 Cuyahoga Falls, OH Blossom Music Center
7-9 Camden, NJ Susquehanna Bank Center
7-17 Craven, SK** Craven Country Jamboree
7-22 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
7-23 Noblesville, IN Verizon Wireless Music Center
7-24 Twin Lakes, WI ** Country Thunder Festival
7-28 Atlanta, GA Lakewood
7-29 Charlotte, NC Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre7-30 Raleigh, NC TWC Music Pavilion
8-4 Detroit, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
8-6 Detroit Lakes, MN** WE Fest
8-11 Hartford, CT Comcast Theatre
8-12 Darien Lake, NY Darien Lakes PAC
8-13 Ottawa, ONT** Rideau Carelton Raceway-OLG Slots Casino
8-19 Tampa, FL 1-800-ASK-GARY Amphitheatre
8-20 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
8-27 Oro Station, ONT** Burls Creek Family Event Park
9-9 Salt Lake City, UT USANA Amphitheatre
9-10 Denver, CO Comfort Dental Amphitheatre
9-11 Albuquerque, NM HardRock Casino Albuquerque Presents The Pavilion
9-15 Sacramento, CA Sleep Train Amphitheatre
9-16 Mountain View, CA Shoreline Amphitheatre
9-17 San Bernardino, CA San Manuel Amphitheatre
9-18 San Diego, CA Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
**Not a “Flatts Fest” date