House of Blues(R) & American Honda Motor Company, Inc. Partner in Charity Auction of One-of-a-Kind Honda Fit Art Car

House of Blues(R) & American Honda Motor Company, Inc. Partner in Charity Auction of One-of-a-Kind Honda Fit Art Car

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., June 8 /PRNewswire/ -- American Honda Motor Company, Inc., introducing its premium entry-level Fit to a new generation of North American drivers, and House of Blues Entertainment, Inc., the definitive live music brand, are driving into new territory together with a month-long "Fit In The House" promotion and the creation and subsequent auction of a one-of-a-kind, custom-painted Honda Fit. A true piece of drivable art on the go, the 2007 Honda Fit Custom Art Car was painted by renowned folk artist Jack Poppitz (whose many pieces of original folk art and murals are hung in House of Blues(R)-branded clubs throughout the U.S.).

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060608/LATHFNS1 )

Honda and House of Blues (HOB) are encouraging music, art and car enthusiasts alike to bid on the opportunity to drive away with the sporty work of art by visiting www.fitinthehouse.com from June 20 through June 30. The Fit Custom Art Car and its stylized depiction of the history of blues will be on display at HOB Anaheim in Downtown Disney during the month of June.

Honda and HOB will generate even more excitement in June by staging numerous "Fit In The House" promotional events at HOB clubs that will include Honda Fit car displays, nightly giveaways, online and on-site branding and an enter-to-win Fit in the House Sweepstakes. One very lucky Sweepstakes winner will drive home a grand prize 2007 Honda Fit Sport. Other "Fit In The House" Sweepstakes prizes include music downloads and a rockin' trip for four to HOB Las Vegas that includes airfare, show tickets and hotel rooms for two nights. "Fit In The House" is the first collaboration between HOB and Honda.

"Honda is looking for a hip, urban attitude for the new Honda Fit, and House of Blues represents a perfect complement to our marketing plan," said Tom Peyton, senior manager of Honda National Advertising. "Helping a worthy charity like the IHOBF makes our partnership even more compelling."

100% of the proceeds from the Fit Custom Art Car auction will benefit International House of Blues Foundation (IHOBF), a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to bringing the arts to schools and communities through programs that promote cultural understanding and creative expression. One such program is "Blues SchoolHouse," a multidisciplinary program that teaches students about the music, history and cultural impact of the blues and the traditions of related folk art. Offered at HOB venues, the program includes a live musical presentation of blues history and a guided, interactive tour of the HOB Folk Art Collection. With more than 5,500 pieces of original art displayed throughout the multi-faceted clubs, the HOB collection is one of the nation's largest on public display. Please see www.ihobf.org for more information.

"Each year, thousands of students nationwide view, learn about and discuss art during Blues SchoolHouse programs at House of Blues venues. Jack Poppitz is one of many artists whose work is featured," said Susan Jauron, Executive Director of IHOBF. "Now, through the Honda and HOB Honda Fit Custom Art Car charity auction, his artwork will help support these and other IHOBF programs in the 2006 and 2007 school year."

Jack Poppitz, a self-taught outsider folk artist and carpenter living in Colorado, usually works with old wood as a backdrop for his folk art. The Fit provided a unique, aerodynamic canvas for his eclectic approach to his craft. Poppitz painted every square inch of the Honda Fit Custom Art Car with the imaginative flags and blues musicians for which he's best known. Among the many "Blues Angels" taking a permanent ride on the Honda Fit Custom Art Car are legends such as Ray Charles, B.B. King, Lead Belly, Walter "Furry" Lewis and J.B. Lenoir. Driving the hood of the Fit is a glorious depiction of blues guitarist Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins, resplendent with angel wings flying.

Please visit www.fitinthehouse.com for more information about "Fit In The House" program, the new Honda Fit and links to sweepstakes and auction.

ABOUT HOB ENTERTAINMENT, INC.

HOB Entertainment, Inc., a Los Angeles-based global entertainment company, is the definitive live music brand. Founded in 1992, this dynamic company with soul, spirit and vision is comprised of several unique businesses, including:

* House of Blues Clubs, which operate 1,000 - 2,300 capacity venues
located in New Orleans, Los Angeles, Chicago, Myrtle Beach, Orlando,
Las Vegas, Anaheim, Cleveland, San Diego and Atlantic City.

* House of Blues Concerts, Inc., which owns, operates or exclusively
books 19 arena and amphitheatre venues throughout North America,
including Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver, Dallas, Seattle (The Gorge),
Atlanta, Cleveland, Toronto and Vancouver.

House of Blues -- IT IS LIVE! (TM) www.hob.com

ABOUT THE HONDA FIT
The Fit is Go! -- www.honda.com

For more information or downloadable high-resolution images of Honda vehicles, please visit www.hondanews.com. Consumer information about the Honda Fit is available at www.honda.com.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060608/LATHFNS1
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN1
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: House of Blues Entertainment, Inc.

CONTACT: Liz Smith of House of Blues Entertainment, Inc.,
+1-323-769-6507, lsmith@hob.com; or Chris Martin of American Honda Motor Co.,
Inc., Public Relations, +1-310-783-3164, chris_martin@ahm.honda.com

Web site: http://www.hob.com/
http://www.fitinthehouse.com/
http://www.hondanews.com/
http://www.honda.com/

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