Roland at the 4th Annual ACM Party for a Cause Festival
A Fun Time for All at Roland’s Backstage Artist Lounge
Roland and BOSS had a blast at our backstage artist lounge and gear “petting zoo” at the Academy of Country Music’s 4th Annual ACM Party for a Cause Festival. The three-day, two-stage charitable event in Las Vegas attracted nearly 50,000 music fans who enjoyed more than 30 acts from country music’s top names. This year, the festival took place April 1-3 at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds, and featured many top-tier acts plus full headline sets from Carrie Underwood, Dierks Bentley, and Kenny Chesney. The weekend led up to the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards, which included Sam Hunt singing his hit “Make You Miss Me” while playing a custom-prepared white Roland V-Piano Grand.
Video: Roland at ACM Party for a Cause 2016
Inside the Roland and BOSS Artist Lounge at the ACM Party for a Cause Festival
The Roland and BOSS artist lounge at Party for a Cause was buzzing with activity over all three days. Many of the festival’s talented musicians stopped by to check out the latest gear, including the BOSS BC-1X and Waza Craft effects pedals, SY-300 Guitar Synthesizer, VO-1 Vocoder, and DD-500 Digital Delay, plus the Roland ELCajon EC-10, RD-800 Stage Piano, and JUNO-DS synthesizer. Some of the artists were trying the products for the first time, which inspired improvised jam sessions with other visiting musicians and lots of enthusiastic reactions all around.
Swon Brothers bandmates Zach Swon (TD-25KV V-Drums) and Seth Costner (guitar) jamming with Roland and BOSS gear at the ACM Party for a Cause Festival.
One of the jams included Swon Brothers bandmates Zach Swon on the Roland TD-25KV V-Drums kit and Seth Costner on guitar. The Swon Brothers are currently on tour with Carrie Underwood, and Zach commented, “I want a kit for the tour bus!” The guitar and bass players from Jana Kramer’s band loved using the SY-300 during another improv jam session that night. Afterward, Jeff Coleman said, “I can’t remember the last time I sat down with no idea what I was going to play like this. What you guys did here was really inspiring.”
Jana Kramer band members Nick Scallorn, Andrew Talbot, and Jeff Coleman (left to right) try out BOSS gear and Roland Blues Cube amps at the ACM Party for a Cause Festival.
Visitors also included Donnie Marple, the drummer for Lee Brice and the 2007 Guitar Center Drum-Off winner, who commented, “I’m having way too much fun!” Later, when speaking with us about the GC Drum-Off prizes, he enthused, “I sold the car and kept the TD-20 V-Drums kit I won!”
Donnie Marple, drummer for Lee Brice and 2007 GC Drum-Off winner, plays the TD-25KV V-Drums at the ACM Party for a Cause Festival.
51st Academy of Country Music Awards
The fun-packed musical weekend culminated with the 51st Academy of Country Music Awards, held on Sunday evening at the nearby MGM Grand Garden Arena and televised live on the CBS Television Network. One of the show highlights was Sam Hunt singing his hit “Make You Miss Me,” which featured the artist playing a white Roland V-Piano Grand custom-prepared for the event.
More Info
The festival’s ticket proceeds benefitted ACM Lifting Lives, the Academy’s charitable arm. For more information, visit the ACM Lifting Lives website.
To view pictures of all three days, visit the Roland U.S. Flickr galleries:
Keyboardist Kyle Stallons gets to know the RD-800 Stage Piano with the help of Roland Product Specialist Scott Berry at the ACM Party for a Cause Festival.
Day one: ACM Party for a Cause Festival.
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