Just because you’re slathered in SPF 50, covered in insect repellant, have pissed in a Port-A-Potty and somewhere a band is playing it doesn’t mean it’s a festival.  It just means it’s summer. The term festival is used for virtually every event involving live music events outdoors.

Recently I attend INK-N-IRON in Long Beach, California. and enjoyed 3-days of sensory overload. INK-N-IRON is a true festival experience that certainly has music as an important element, but that element supports everything else that is going on, rather than dominating.

INK-N-IRON is a celebration of kustom kulture, Americana and the art of rebellion.  A diverse and passionate group of tens of thousands of people make the pilgrimage to Long Beach: Latinos in cuffed Levis and greased hair, punk rockers with pink Mohawks, custom bike builders with pompadours, sexy babes, Suicide Girls, hot rod enthusiasts in mechanic shirts, rockabilly hipsters and pin-up babes.  Collectively they are the heart of the experience.

This eclectic group of trendsetters all come to INK-N-IRON to explore and experience vintage collectibles, hot rods and kustoms, burlesque, art shows, fashion, 280 of the best tattoo artists in the world, pin striping, pin-up contest, BBQ, beer, hundreds of vendors selling amazing hand crafted merchandise, and – of course – an incredible lineup of music.

Bacardi’s experiential nightlife activation on tour with the Black Eyed Peas is enjoying some great press, a few samples of which you’ll find below. We promise a more in-depth look at the tour in the near future!

Bacardi and BEP Jacksonville Tour Stop - Ponte Vedra Recorder

Bacardi and BEP Atlanta tour stop - Gwinnett Daily Post

Bacardi and BEP Atlanta Tour Stop - AJC.com

Bacardi and BEP Charlotte Tour Stop - Creative Loafing

Bacardi and BEP Nashville Tour Stop - Nashville Metromix