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NEW YORK - Major League Soccer announced today that Atlantic Records recording artist The Academy Is... and Kin Kon/Nettwerk recording artist Kinky will perform live during the Sierra Mist 2007 MLS All-Star Game. Major League Soccer's 12th annual All-Star Game features the 2007 MLS All-Star squad taking on Scottish Premier League club Celtic FC at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo. The match will be broadcast live on ESPN2 and Telefutura on Thursday, July 19 at 9:00 p.m. ET.
The Academy Is..., who just concluded their 42-city tour with Fall Out Boy, +44, Paul Wall, and Cobra Starship, will headline the halftime festivities with a live performance of songs from their smash album Santi. After the 2005 release of "Almost Here," the band's sophomore album Santi marks a major leap forward, both in terms of sonic strength and artistic vision. The band reveals a unique gift for stadium-sized melodies and unstoppable hooks. Raw yet rich, complex but immediate, Santi instantly catapults The Academy Is... to the front ranks of modern American rock bands.
The Chicago-based band's Santi, has drawn ecstatic coverage in a variety of national publications, including a June cover feature in Alternative Press magazine. The band was recently feted in Rolling Stone as one of the year's "10 Artists to Watch," where Santi was hailed for combining "heart-on-sleeve melodrama with a hard-rock swagger."
Kinky will kick off the Sierra Mist 2007 MLS All-Star Pre-Game Show performing songs from their third hit album REINA, which Rolling Stone called "dance-till-you-drop mayhem." The Monterrey, Mexico quintet - whose Latin inspired music blends rock, dance and techno - released Reina last summer, solidifying them as one of the most important Latin bands not only in the Spanish speaking world, but as a key crossover group into the Anglo market.
Kinky's rock anthem, "Solo un Paso" is the theme song for Fox Sports en Espanol's 2007 broadcast of Major League Soccer. The genre-busting band recently opened the 2006 MTV Latin Video Music Awards in Mexico City and has toured with the likes of Shakira, Los Lonely Boys, Café Tacuba, The Flaming Lips, Cake, De La Soul and more.
"Major League Soccer is pleased to welcome The Academy Is... and Kinky to highlight our 12th Season celebrations at the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game," said MLS Vice President of Special Events, Geoffrey Hayes. "With performers like Christina Aguilera, Michelle Branch, Paulina Rubio, Switchfoot, Bowling for Soup and Lupe Fiasco highlighting past MLS events, we are proud to continue the tradition of providing world-class entertainment at our marquee events."
The evening prior to the 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game, the League will host the inaugural MLS Soccer Jam, a free, public event at Skyline Park in downtown Denver, where The Academy Is... and Kinky will both perform. This celebratory event will also feature soccer exhibitions, interactive displays, food and beverage and many more activities for fans of all ages.
The 2007 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game featuring Celtic FC offers four levels of ticket pricing ranging from $40 to $60 for individuals (Endline - $40, Corner Flag - $50, Premium - $55, VIP - $60) and can be purchased at the Dick's Sporting Goods Park Box Office, located at 6000 Victory Way from 10:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. local time Monday-Friday, Saturdays from 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m. or by calling TicketHorse at 1-866-461-6556. For more information call 303-825-GOAL or visit www.coloradorapids.com.
Dick's Sporting Goods Park will host its first MLS All-Star Game. During All-Star Week, Sierra Mist and MLS will host numerous soccer-themed events, activities and tournaments at Dick's Sporting Goods Park and in the Denver area. Check out www.MLSnet.com for more details.
