HDNet presents 9-Part Zippo Hot Tour Concert Series

LOS ANGELES (www.clspublicity.com) - HDNet, the leading high-definition television network, premieres the 9-part Zippo Hot Tour Concert Series beginning Sunday, March 6, 2005 at 10:00 PM EST. The original series chronicles the 2004 ZIPPO HOT TOUR and features interviews and performances from the hottest unsigned rock bands from eight U.S. cities competing for a showcase with Island Records in New York City.

In the premiere episode, host Katie Daryl introduces the Zippo Hot Tour and takes in a performance by the 2004 kick-off band, Abloom. Each week, HDNet travels to the eight cities of the tour, including Austin, Denver, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, W. Palm Beach, Raleigh, Detroit and San Diego, known for their live music scene, to meet the bands in the competition. Katie introduces the performances and interviews band members as they tell their struggles of getting signed by a record label. She then takes viewers on a tour of each city's bustling club scene. In the final episode, HDNet will feature the winner's showcase as San Diego's 3against1, voted by fans as the best unsigned rock band in America, performs for Island Records in New York City.

The 2005 ZIPPO HOT TOUR, which is the only nationwide competition where the fans choose the bands, kicked off this month and bands from Austin, TX, Cincinnati, OH, Denver, CO, Memphis, TN, Orlando, FL, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA, Phoenix, AZ, Raleigh and Charlotte, NC, have until April 14, 11:59:59pm EST, to register at www.zippohottour.com to qualify for the first round of online competition, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The winning prize packages, valued at nearly $100,000, includes a showcase performance with Capitol Records A & R executives in Hollywood, CA, a full equipment package from partners, Peavey Electronics, TAMA Drums, ESP Guitars, PureVolume, Discfarm, Sonicbids, and Pro-mark, cash, customized Zippo lighters, and a decked out tour bus for an all-expense paid 10-city Zippo Hot Tour with a national headlining band in November.