Motown Winter Blast Announces National Music Line-Up - KEM, Clint Black, Smash Mouth to Perform for Super Bowl Event

Motown Winter Blast Announces National Music Line-Up - KEM, Clint Black, Smash Mouth to Perform for Super Bowl Event

DETROIT, Jan. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- The Detroit Super Bowl XL Host Committee announced today an incredible line-up of national musical acts performing the Thursday, Friday and Saturday night before the big game during Motown Winter Blast, a winter festival created as the backdrop for Super Bowl XL in Detroit. Scheduled to perform on the Sprint Stage atop Premier Garage near Campus Martius are Motown star KEM, country music powerhouse Clint Black, blues and rock guitarist Kenny Wayne Shepherd, new soul duo Kindred The Family Soul, alternative rock hit makers Smash Mouth, R&B artist Trey Songz, classic rock pioneer Mark Farner and others.

"We are pleased to present these nationally known performers which represent a very diverse lineup of music," said Susan Sherer, Executive Director of the Detroit Super Bowl XL Host Committee. "From country music superstar Clint Black to rock chart topper Smash Mouth to KEM and Kindred The Family Soul -- two of today's hottest R&B hit makers -- this will be an incredible backdrop for Super Bowl XL."

Happening February 2-5, Motown Winter Blast will occupy 14 city blocks in the heart of downtown, and features dog sledding, a 200-foot-long snow slide, ice sculptures, as well as performances by Olympic figure skaters, 60 musical acts and more than 40 restaurants. The event also features hip and fun outdoor entertainment zones, including the General Motors Ice Garden, Ford Motor Company Family Fun Zone, Chrysler Jeep(R) Dodge Taste of Detroit; and the michigan.org Winter Experience. The event is free and open to the public from 4 p.m. - 12 a.m. Thursday, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Sunday.

"We've stepped up our game by expanding Motown Winter Blast and bringing even more excitement to downtown Detroit," said Jonathan Witz, Motown Winter Blast Producer and President of Jonathan Witz & Associates. "Come Super Bowl Sunday, we expect people not only to talk about which team they're cheering on but also the great time they had at our outdoor extravaganza."

Motown Winter Blast's national music line up, performing on the Sprint Stage, includes:

KEM

Motown recording artist and Detroit-native KEM is known for his smooth R&B lyrics and soothing vocal style. Radio & Record magazine recently named him adult R&B Artist of the Year and named his hit single "I Can't Stop Loving You" number one Urban Adult Contemporary Song of the Year.

Clint Black

Country music artist Clint Black has been churning out #1 hits since 1989. With hits like "A Better Man," "Nobody's Home" and "Walkin' Away," this country music singer, songwriter and producer has delivered six top selling albums and, in 2003, formed his own record label, Equity Music Group.

Smash Mouth

The California alternative rock band's notable singles include Top 10 hit "Walking on the Sun" and the #1 hit single "All Star." The band was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2000. Vocalist Steve Harwell currently appears in the sixth installment of VH1's The Surreal Life.

Kenny Wayne Shepherd

This twice Grammy Award nominated blues and rock musician is one of the most acclaimed guitarists of his generation. Kenny Wayne Shepherd has released four albums, including his most recent work, The Place You're In, which includes him doubling as lead vocal.

Kindred The Family Soul

This husband-and-wife team emerged from the Philadelphia neo-soul movement to produce some of the most inspiring musical combinations of soul, R&B, hip- hop, funk, pop, smooth jazz, and soft rock. Their debut album "Surrender to Love" includes such radio favorites as "Stars" and "Far Away."

Mark Farner

Mark Farner, original member of Grand Funk Railroad, has been recording solo albums since 1983. After touring with Ringo Starr's All-Star Band and the Northwest Airlines All-Stars, Farner enters his 35th year as a professional musician with his new band Nr'G.

Black Bottom Collective

This eight member, Detroit-based hip hop, spoken word and soul group has won several Detroit Music Awards and was named as one of America's Best Unsigned Bands in 2004 by Budweiser True Music Live. The group also features DJ Invisible, who also DJ's for rapper Xzibit.

Reefermen

Detroit favorite and masters of bar-boogie blues, the Reefermen preach the gospel of the electrified Chicago style. In 2002, Reefermen were nominated for several Detroit Music Awards including Outstanding Live Performance, Outstanding Rock Artist/Group and Outstanding Rock Instrumentalist.

Trey Songz

With an amazing tenor voice, this 20-year-old R&B artist has appeared on albums with Kevin Lyttle and Trick Daddy. A Virginia native, his first solo album, Gotta Make It, was released by Atlantic Records in 2005. Songz is currently working on collaborations with Lil' Kim, Trina, and Snoop Dogg.

Sprint Stage Performance Schedule
Thursday, February 2
Reefermen 6:00 p.m.
Mark Farner 7:30 p.m.
Smash Mouth 9:30 p.m.

Friday, February 3
Black Bottom Collective 6:00 p.m.
Kenny Wayne Shepherd 7:30 p.m.
Clint Black 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, February 4
Trey Songz 6:00 p.m.
Kindred The Family Soul 7:30 p.m.
KEM 9:30 p.m.

Motown Winter Blast attracted more than 200,000 people for its debut last year and is expected to entertain more than 250,000 Detroiters and visitors celebrating Super Bowl XL weekend. Nearly 1,000 volunteers will bring the event alive as one of the biggest festivals in Detroit history.

Motown Winter Blast sponsors include General Motors Corporation; Ford Motor Company; DaimlerChrysler Corporation; michigan.org; AAA Michigan; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network; BlueWater Technologies; Chase; Comerica Incorporated; Coors Brewing Company; DTE Energy; Fifth Third Bank; Gillette; Grabber Performance Group; LaSalle Bank; Lear Corporation; Meijer, Inc.; Motorola; Pepsi; Sprint; Visa and Visteon Corporation.

Media sponsors include Arab American News; Chum Group; Clear Channel Broadcasting; Comcast Cable; Crain's Detroit Business; Detroit Free Press; Greater Media Detroit; Journal Register Company; Infinity Broadcasting; Metro Times; Michigan Chronicle & Michigan FrontPAGE Newspapers; Observer and Eccentric Newspapers; Radio One; WDIV-TV Local 4; WDVD - 96.3 FM; WJBK-TV FOX 2; News/Talk 760 WJR-AM and WXYZ-TV Channel 7.

For additional information on the Motown Winter Blast, visit http://www.motownwinterblast.com/ or call 313.963.8418.

The Detroit Super Bowl XL Host Committee (http://www.sbxl.org/ ) is a private, self-funded non-profit organization serving as the official liaison between the National Football League and the metro Detroit community to prepare for Super Bowl XL in 2006. Coordinating efforts with the hospitality, government and corporate officials, the Host Committee was formed as part of the bid process specified by the NFL and crafted to suit metro Detroit's needs.

Source: Detroit Super Bowl XL Host Committee

CONTACT: Heather Shimkos George, +1-313-832-2210 x14, +1-248-417-5773
(cell), hjg@loviogeorgeinc.com , or Aamira Bussey, +1-313-832-2210 x17,
+1-734-546-1476 (cell), akb@loviogeorgeinc.com , both of lovio|george|inc

Web site: http://www.motownwinterblast.com/
http://www.sbxl.org/

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