Music and special events attract non-riders to Awesome Biker Nights
By Jesse Claeys Journal staff reporter | Posted: Saturday, June 21, 2008
Bikers ride alongh Fourth Street during Awesome Biker Nights on Historic Fourth Street Saturday, June 16, 2007. (Jim Lee/Sioux City Journal)
Awesome Biker Night is more than just a rally attracting thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts to downtown Sioux City.
It's also a fundraiser, a music festival and somewhat of a carnival sideshow (complete with tattoo contests and high-wire acts). Here the Journal presents the non-biker side of the Awesome Biker Nights for your entertainment consideration. All events require a daily $10 admission wristband available at the gates.
MUSIC
Thirteen bands will perform Friday and Saturday nights at Awesome Biker Nights. Performing on three stages, this year's musical lineup includes a mix of local, regional and nationally touring acts. This year's headliners, who will all perform on the West Stage located in the Convention Center parking lot, are:
Jimmie Van Zant, Friday, 8:15 p.m. -- There must be something in the water down in Jacksonville, Fla. What else could explain the explosion of Southern rock that occurred in a city mostly known for its military bases? Native Ronnie Van Zant put the town on the map fronting Lynyrd Skynyrd before he died in a plane crash. Ronnie's brother Donnie started .38 Special. Kid brother Johnny replaced Ronnie in Skynyrd. Now, cousin Jimmie Van Zant has joined the family business and has released two albums as he is out to prove Southern style is alive and well.
Blackfoot, Friday, 10:30 p.m. -- In the 70s American rock was all about Southern rock. Blackfoot was among the leaders in the genre. Bass player Greg T. Walker and lead guitarist Charlie Hargrett are the two original members still performing as Blackfoot to this day. On stage the men are joined by Michael Sollarsi (drums) and Bobby Barth (guitar). Blackfoot, which took its name from the Native American tribe that is part of founding member Rickey Medlocke's heritage (he now plays with Lynyrd Skynyrd), is best know for hits such as "Highway Song" and "Train, Train."
Pat Travers Band, Saturday, 8 p.m. -- Jimi Hendrix is to credit for the creation of rocker Pat Travers. Soon after a 12-year-old Travers saw guitar legend Jimi Hendrix perform in Ottawa in the mid-'60s, Travers knew he had to learn how to play a guitar. In his teens he landed in the band of Ronnie Hawkins (best known for performing with a backing cast that would transform into The Band) and soon branched out on his own. Travers', who features the bluesy side of rock, was most commercially successful in the late-70s with a pair of Top 30 releases, 1979's "Live! Go For What You Know" (considered by many Travers fans to be his finest hour) and 1980's "Crash and Burn."
Night Ranger, Saturday, 10:30 p.m. -- Guitarist Brad Gillis had a tough choice to make in the early 80s. He could have spent his time with his newly-formed band, Night Ranger, which was struggling to make a name for itself in the San Francisco music scene, or continue to fill the shoes of Randy Rhoads performing and touring with heavy metal god Ozzy Osbourne. Gillis picked Night Ranger and the band has been rewarded was a career that includes 16 million albums sold world-wide. Gillis joins bassist Jack Blades and drummer Kelly Keagy as the original members now touring the nation. Songs like "Don't Tell Me You Love Me," "Sister Christian" and "(You Can Still) Rock In America" brought the group fame and chart success.
OTHER EVENTS
Awesome Biker Nights features a number of special events, ranging from the tattoo contest to a biker rodeo to a poker run. Events this year that are expected to attract large crowds are:
High Wire Motorcycle Stunt Performers, Thursday, 6 & 8 p.m., Friday, 5:30, 6:45, 8:15 & 10 p.m., Saturday, 2:30, 4:30, 6 & 10 p.m. -- For the past three seasons Una Mimnagh has stunned visitors to Atlantic City's Steel Pier. How? Not content to let a motorcycle rider suspended 70 feet in the air simply ride across a wire, she dangles below, attached to the cycle with a rope. She'll perform a similar feet on a custom designed course located near 4th and Iowa streets.
Team Extreme X Trials, Friday, 6, 7:30 & 9:15 p.m., Saturday, 3:15, 5:15 & 7 p.m. -- The best way to describe this event is as gymnastics on two wheels. Riders conquer a monstrous obstacle course while never once touching boots to the ground. Balance and precision is required here when riders take to a course near 4th and Iowa streets.
Sioux City Roller Dames Exhibition, Saturday, 5 p.m. -- Awesome Biker Nights is hosting the first ever public bout (roller derby speak for game) of Sioux City's newly formed flat-track roller derby league. For this event the Siouxicide Shockers battle the Dirty Players Club on a cement course constructed in the 1200 block of Fourth Street.
For more on this year's Awesome Biker Nights, visit www.awesomebikernights.com
It's also a fundraiser, a music festival and somewhat of a carnival sideshow (complete with tattoo contests and high-wire acts). Here the Journal presents the non-biker side of the Awesome Biker Nights for your entertainment consideration. All events require a daily $10 admission wristband available at the gates.
MUSIC
Thirteen bands will perform Friday and Saturday nights at Awesome Biker Nights. Performing on three stages, this year's musical lineup includes a mix of local, regional and nationally touring acts. This year's headliners, who will all perform on the West Stage located in the Convention Center parking lot, are:
Jimmie Van Zant, Friday, 8:15 p.m. -- There must be something in the water down in Jacksonville, Fla. What else could explain the explosion of Southern rock that occurred in a city mostly known for its military bases? Native Ronnie Van Zant put the town on the map fronting Lynyrd Skynyrd before he died in a plane crash. Ronnie's brother Donnie started .38 Special. Kid brother Johnny replaced Ronnie in Skynyrd. Now, cousin Jimmie Van Zant has joined the family business and has released two albums as he is out to prove Southern style is alive and well.
Blackfoot, Friday, 10:30 p.m. -- In the 70s American rock was all about Southern rock. Blackfoot was among the leaders in the genre. Bass player Greg T. Walker and lead guitarist Charlie Hargrett are the two original members still performing as Blackfoot to this day. On stage the men are joined by Michael Sollarsi (drums) and Bobby Barth (guitar). Blackfoot, which took its name from the Native American tribe that is part of founding member Rickey Medlocke's heritage (he now plays with Lynyrd Skynyrd), is best know for hits such as "Highway Song" and "Train, Train."
Pat Travers Band, Saturday, 8 p.m. -- Jimi Hendrix is to credit for the creation of rocker Pat Travers. Soon after a 12-year-old Travers saw guitar legend Jimi Hendrix perform in Ottawa in the mid-'60s, Travers knew he had to learn how to play a guitar. In his teens he landed in the band of Ronnie Hawkins (best known for performing with a backing cast that would transform into The Band) and soon branched out on his own. Travers', who features the bluesy side of rock, was most commercially successful in the late-70s with a pair of Top 30 releases, 1979's "Live! Go For What You Know" (considered by many Travers fans to be his finest hour) and 1980's "Crash and Burn."
Night Ranger, Saturday, 10:30 p.m. -- Guitarist Brad Gillis had a tough choice to make in the early 80s. He could have spent his time with his newly-formed band, Night Ranger, which was struggling to make a name for itself in the San Francisco music scene, or continue to fill the shoes of Randy Rhoads performing and touring with heavy metal god Ozzy Osbourne. Gillis picked Night Ranger and the band has been rewarded was a career that includes 16 million albums sold world-wide. Gillis joins bassist Jack Blades and drummer Kelly Keagy as the original members now touring the nation. Songs like "Don't Tell Me You Love Me," "Sister Christian" and "(You Can Still) Rock In America" brought the group fame and chart success.
OTHER EVENTS
Awesome Biker Nights features a number of special events, ranging from the tattoo contest to a biker rodeo to a poker run. Events this year that are expected to attract large crowds are:
High Wire Motorcycle Stunt Performers, Thursday, 6 & 8 p.m., Friday, 5:30, 6:45, 8:15 & 10 p.m., Saturday, 2:30, 4:30, 6 & 10 p.m. -- For the past three seasons Una Mimnagh has stunned visitors to Atlantic City's Steel Pier. How? Not content to let a motorcycle rider suspended 70 feet in the air simply ride across a wire, she dangles below, attached to the cycle with a rope. She'll perform a similar feet on a custom designed course located near 4th and Iowa streets.
Team Extreme X Trials, Friday, 6, 7:30 & 9:15 p.m., Saturday, 3:15, 5:15 & 7 p.m. -- The best way to describe this event is as gymnastics on two wheels. Riders conquer a monstrous obstacle course while never once touching boots to the ground. Balance and precision is required here when riders take to a course near 4th and Iowa streets.
Sioux City Roller Dames Exhibition, Saturday, 5 p.m. -- Awesome Biker Nights is hosting the first ever public bout (roller derby speak for game) of Sioux City's newly formed flat-track roller derby league. For this event the Siouxicide Shockers battle the Dirty Players Club on a cement course constructed in the 1200 block of Fourth Street.
For more on this year's Awesome Biker Nights, visit www.awesomebikernights.com
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SUXS wrote on Jun 25, 2008 9:18 AM:
Really all this forum is the corner-stoners passing judgment, which by the way I thought only God was allowed to do and trying to kill an event they object to.
ABN is not for everyone. You don't like it don't go. Simple as that.
Ride On Brothers. "
History reveals wrote on Jun 23, 2008 10:02 AM:
Ej wrote on Jun 21, 2008 2:49 PM:
uh oh wrote on Jun 21, 2008 11:22 AM:
Sleeping in? Now you have broken another commandment (of which I am guilty of too from time to time).....which says, remember to keep the Sabbath Day Holy. In other words, keep Sunday's reserved for God and go to church.
Have a great weekend! "
Jeff wrote on Jun 21, 2008 9:15 AM: