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Hundreds of artists from nearly every imaginable musical genre prepare to perform on five NAMM Show stages, as the 2015 NAMM Show returns to Anaheim January 22-25. Live music will set the soundtrack for product debuts from more than 5,000 music brands throughout the four-day music industry trade event. Star-studded awards shows, music-making opportunities, and live performances set the stage for a NAMM Show the industry will be talking about for years to come.
“NAMM is a great show to conduct business, but perhaps the soul of NAMM, and what makes it different from its competitors is the music,” said Joe Lamond, president and CEO of NAMM. “Seeing musical performances from some of the best artists in the world and having our musical heroes checking out the latest gear next to us in an exhibitor’s booth are the experiences that we’ll be telling everyone all about when we get home.”
Productive days on the show floor flow into evenings spent networking with friends, set to a musical soundtrack playing on the Hilton Lobby Stage, the Marriott Lobby Stage, CenterStage between convention center halls B and C, The Venue Stage presented by Pioneer DJ, and the NAMM GoPro Stage on the Grand Plaza.
Live Music
Each night of the show, check out high-energy headliners from 6-7:30 p.m. on the NAMM GoPro Stage on the Grand Plaza. Immediately following the Industry Tribute on opening night, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue take the stage with their brand of hard-edged funk employing hip-hop beats, rock dynamics and improvisation in a jazz tradition. On Friday night, The Imagine Party hosted by the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and The NAMM Foundation features the legendary George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic. Celebrate Saturday night with “Stanley Randolph and No Wonder” featuring the Stevie Wonder Band and special guests on vocals.
DJs spin EDM and house music at Monster Cable After Dark from 7-9 p.m. at The Venue Stage Presented by Pioneer DJ. Performances from DJ Ecto1, Crisco Kidd, Brandi Garcia, DJ Splyce, and more will fill the plaza with beats as a Stone Brewing Co. beer garden and some of L.A.’s most popular food trucks refuel industry guests.
Check out the full line up of performances on the NAMM Show stages, including GRAMMY winner Daniel Ho, former New York Yankee Bernie Williams, KUSI-TV’s Brad Perry, alumni of NBC’s “The Voice,” and festival favorites.
She Rocks Awards
Friday from 6-8:30 p.m., the She Rocks Awards presented by the Women’s International Music Network pays tribute to women who display leadership and stand out within the music industry. Held in the Hilton Anaheim Pacific Ballroom, the event honors performers Colbie Caillat, The Bangles, Mindi Abair, and female industry leaders. Purchase tickets for the show at sherocksawards.com.
NAMM TEC Awards
Hosted by comedian Sinbad on Saturday, January 24, the 30th Annual NAMM TEC Awards honor excellence in sound technology and creativity. Legendary guitarist Slash will receive the prestigious Les Paul Award, and bassist Nathan East and Ed Cherney will be inducted into the TEC Hall of Fame. VIP reception starts at 6 p.m. and the awards show begins at 7 p.m. For a list of all the NAMM TEC award nominees and to purchase tickets, visit tecawards.org.
Industry Icons
Be inspired as renowned musician, DJ and composer Moby* opens the show’s Generation Next events Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the Hilton’s NAMM Foundation Lounge. Apple co-founder Steve “Woz” Wozniak opens Saturday morning’s NAMM U breakfast session, chatting music and technology with NAMM’s Joe Lamond at 8:30 a.m. in the Hilton Pacific Ballroom.
Make Music!
Everyone’s welcome at Friday’s All-Industry Drum Circle presented in collaboration with Remo Inc. from 5:45 – 7 p.m. at the Palm Terrace between the convention center and Hilton. Sunday, join a trombone circle at 11:30 a.m., a trumpet circle at 1 p.m. or a uke circle at 2:30 in the NAMM Member Center (convention center lobby), presented in collaboration with Conn-Selmer, Warwick Music Ltd., and Kala Brand Music Co.