The First Annual Country Throwdown Tour® (www.countrythrowdown.com) presented by Rockstar Energy Drink will make a stop in Houston at The Showgrounds at Sam Houston Race Park (www.theshowgrounds.com) on Wednesday, June 9, 2010. The day-long festival, produced and created by the 4 FINI, Inc., the company responsible for the hugely successful Vans Warped Tour, includes performances from 12 country acts on 3 stages along with a variety of vendors, meet and greet opportunities and more!

Early Bird General Admission tickets are available for $30 each for the first 1,000 purchasers. Tickets go on sale beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 10.

Country Throwdown is anchored by headliners Montgomery Gentry, Little Big Town and Jack Ingram. Other artists confirmed for the first annual multi-stage country tour include Oscar-winning singer-songwriter Ryan Bingham and The Dead Horses, Eric Church, Eli Young Band, The Lost Trailers, Jonathan Singleton & The Grove and Emily West. Performances will take place on one main stage and two side stages throughout the day. Check out new videos from the artists, full band profiles, and free Mp3s by visiting www.countrythrowdown.com/bands.

In keeping with the spirit of discovering new artists, the tour has partnered with The Bluebird Café to feature nine emerging singer-songwriters. The Cafe is world-renowned for launching the careers of country super stars Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood, Keith Urban, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift.

The 2010 Bluebird Café tent will highlight up-and-coming artists Ashley Ray, Brad Tursi, Cory Branan, Dave Pahanish, Jedd Hughes, Sarah Buxton, Troy Olsen, Heather Morgan and Walker Hayes. Fans will get to see these artists perform in intimate “In the Round” sets, whereby musicians take turns performing together while briefly describing their song craft. These artist will also perform during the main stage set changes. To learn more about emerging acts, visit: http://www.countrythrowdown.com/bands.

Country Throwdown Tour® features a diverse lineup uniting established and emerging artists in the country music scene, as well as a full concourse of lifestyle attractions and vendors. Gates open daily at 1:00 p.m. and fans are encouraged to come early to win the chance for a seat upgrade; join in the pre-show party; get autographs from their favorite artists; and watch the Bluebird Café tent artists.

Fans who bring an empty Rockstar Energy Drink can to recycle will get early entrance through the Rockstar entrance area; and fans that spend $30 on Wrangler jeans (in participating retail locations) will receive a Country Throwdown Tour poster and will be entered for a chance to win concert tickets and meet-and-greets with their favorite tour artists.

The tour has teamed up with Tickets-for-Charity® to offer premium seats and exclusive VIP Packages to benefit great causes. Fans can purchase this special selection of premium seats and VIP Packages by visiting www.ticketsforcharity.com or calling Tickets-for-Charity at 866-567-4576.

The Country Throwdown Tour® is made possible through the support of presenting sponsor Rockstar Energy Drink, and supporting sponsors: Wrangler, Best Buy, Affliction, media sponsors GAC TV and PEOPLE Country, NAMM, BMI, Capitol, Warner Bros Nashville and Show Dog Universal.

Tickets for the Country Throwdown Tour® are available beginning Saturday, April 10th at 10 a.m. for $30 Early Bird General Admission Tickets (1,000 tickets available; first-come, first-served); $120 General Admission 4-Pack (limited number available; first-come, first-served); $50.75 General Admission Advance/$58 General Admission Day Of Show; $74.75 VIP Advance/$82 VIP Day Of Show. All dates, acts, and ticket prices subject to change without notice. Additional service fees are added to all purchases. Tickets are available online at www.theshowgrounds.com, www.livenation.com or at participating Houston-area Randalls locations, The Showgrounds box office or by calling 800-211-3381.