2014 Honda Civic Tours Open in August

The 2014 Honda Civic Tour—Honda's 13th annual celebration of new music—is slated to kick off on Aug. 20, 2014. And on October 1. And then again some time in mid-November.

That's because Honda is dialing up the volume on its musical partnerships this year, with an expanded 2014 Honda Civic Tour that features three runs with three different types of music, as well as a comprehensive "Honda Stage" initiative that will both incorporate the tour and add a new, digital dimension to its efforts.

For the actual 2014 Honda Civic Tour, the alternative bands Grouplove and "Portugal. The Man" will get things started this summer, and also welcome Tokyo Police Club and Typhoon as opening acts at select venues (see next page for dates). The second leg of the series will feature American Authors, the group behind the hit "Best Days of My Life," while Latin DJ collective 3BallMTY will close out the tour. Further, as has become a tour tradition, all three legs will feature hotted-up 2014 Honda Civics designed by the musical artists themselves.

But as mentioned, the 2014 Honda Civic Tour also becomes part of a much bigger commitment to music from the automaker, which describes the Honda Stage campaign as a "unique, 360-degree multi-platform music program" that will include:

• A dedicated YouTube channel at www.YouTube.com/HondaStage
• Sponsorship of "major" concert events, along with Honda Stages at some of the country's biggest music festivals
• Exclusive interviews and in-studio music performances for REVOLT TV (and the Honda Stage YouTube channel)

The party line from Nick Lee, Honda brand manager, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.: "There is a new generation of music fans that can now share in Honda's passion for music and fun-to-drive vehicles with the expansion of the Honda Civic Tour, reaching a wider and broader fan base. We are thrilled to work with so many talented artists, sponsor their tours and underwrite ticket prices so that fans have access to the music they love at an affordable price."

2014 Honda Civic Tour Dates: Leg 1

Grouplove and "Portugal. The Man" will headline the first phase of the 2014 Honda Civic Tour that currently is scheduled for:

August 10—Marymoor Park in Seattle

August 11—Edgefield in Portland, Oregon

August 13—Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

August 15—The Greek Theatre in L.A.

August 16—Brooklyn Bowl in Las Vegas

August 17—Open Air Theatre in San Diego

August 19—Red Butte in Salt Lake City

August 21—Red Rocks in Morrison, Colo.

August 22—Harrah's in Council Bluffs, Iowa

August 24—Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee

August 27—Simeon Estes in Des Moines, Iowa

August 29—Crossroads in Kansas City, Mo.

August 30—South Side Ballroom in Dallas

September 2—Masquerade in Atlanta

September 3—Uptown Theatre in Charlotte, N.C.

September 5—Horseshoe Casino in Cincinnati

September 10—LC Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio

September 12—Merriweather Post Pavilion in Washington, D.C.

September 14—Bank of America Pavilion

September 16—Central Park Summerstage in New York

Typhoon is slated to open for the headliners on August 10, and during all September dates, while Tokyo Police Club will do the honors from August 11-17.

Added Hannah Hooper of Grouplove: "I would say that this is the dream tour. Honda is really invested in all art forms and connecting music with fans."

For more info on the 2014 Honda Civic Tour, folks can visit the aptly named www.HondaCivicTour.com website.