Stay Tuned prepares to tour Pacific Northwest, putting its WESTAF's IMTour grant to good use

Stay Tuned, the outfit formerly known as MainLine, is preparing to hit the road in the next few weeks, taking advantage of the $3000 Western States Arts Federation Independent Music on Tour grant Mane Rok was awarded last year. What makes this jaunt particularly noteworthy, beside the fact that local...

By Dave Herrera

May 2, 2013

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Stay Tuned, the outfit formerly known as MainLine, is preparing to hit the road in the next few weeks, taking advantage of the $3000 Western States Arts Federation Independent Music on Tour grant Mane Rok was awarded last year. What makes this jaunt particularly noteworthy, beside the fact that local hip-hop acts don't tour as often as local rock acts, is that the outspoken MC was the sole hip-hop recipient of WESTAF's IMTour grant, alongside other such acts as Ian Cooke, Snake Rattle Rattle Snake, the Changing Colors, Paper Bird and the Photo Atlas.

The grant recipients, as you might recall, were chosen by a panel of industry veterans, and the pilot program was founded with the intent of assisting select local acts with touring endeavors, as well as coordinating press and merchandise. With that in mind, Stay Tuned, which just released its new album, Murder He Wrote, is slated to embark on a short tour of the Pacific Northwest, nearly a dozen dates in all, starting in Bozeman, Montana at the Zebra Lounge on Wednesday, May 15.

"For years, I've watched in utter jealousy of our Canadian counterparts having their government back independent artists, helping them maintain careers in a cut throat business," says Mane Rok in his statement. "To see a 'for the people, by the people' mentality in the belly of the beast in this cut throat business is humbling. I feel like we have a leg up with protection for our necks for once. It gives me a bit of hope here in these Rocky Mountains."

Stay Tuned Pacific Northwest tour Spring 2013

05/15 - Bozeman, MT - Zebra Lounge 05/16 - Spokane, WA - Carr's Corner 05/17 - Seattle, WA - LoFi 05/18 - Kingston, WA - The Filling Station 05/19 - Olympia, WA - McCoy's 05/21 - Portland, OR - Mt. Tabor 05/22 - Everette, WA - Tony V's 05/23 - Port Angeles, WA - Juan De Fuca Festival 05/24 - Port Angeles, WA - Juan De Fuca Festival 05/25 - Jerome, ID - Rockin Wheel Saloon 05/26 - Salt Lake City, UT - Bar Deluxe

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