NEW TOUR: DJ-driven, rave-style multimedia affair stars some of Japan’s popular virtual characters, or avatars. (Anime Entertainment)
Event Booked Into 37 Venues
Bob Ringe could easily sit on the considerable laurels he amassed in the course of 50 years in the music business, but instead, the founder of Survival Management Inc. is launching a touring anime festival in North America.
Survival Management represented acts including Leslie West and Mountain, Ian Hunter of Mott the Hoople, The Knack, Mick Ronson and Alan Parsons. As co-head of A&R at RCA Records, Ringe helped sign David Bowie, Lou Reed, the Kinks, Pure Prairie League and produced PPL’s hit single “Amie.”
Now, Ringe is co-founder and CEO of Anime Entertainment LLC, which is launching the International Anime Music Festival to 37 North American venues over two months beginning Feb. 6 at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver, B.C.
The show is a DJ-driven, rave-style multimedia affair that stars some of Japan’s popular virtual characters, or avatars, including singeroid “#kzn,” vocal duo Himehina, vocal trio MaRiNaSu, the North American debut of fan favorite GUMI, and pop twins LiLYPSE.
New songs will be featured as Ringe and company adapt an event that’s proven popular in Japan, where the anime music movement originated before gaining global popularity.
“Music is the key, but the production of the show is like a rave with massive sound, lights, production, three LED screens a DJ and a ton of merch,” Ringe said.
The IAMF follows Ringe’s foray into hologram-based entertainment, featuring deceased performers in three shows by Whitney Houston, Roy Orbison and Buddy Holly and Maria Callas.
He founded BASE hologram with Marty Tudor.
Tudor is also Ringe’s partner in Anime Entertainment, whose production for the first time combines virtually generated animated characters, called VTubers, and virtual singers, called Vocaloids, with computer generated voices, on the same stage.
The tour is represented by Wasserman Music in North America and UTA internationally.
Ringe said he was indoctrinated into anime during Atlanta Anime Weekend.
“We’re trying to build an audience and a brand that we believe is the future,” Ringe said, adding that it might take a few years to see if the event has legs.
The show loads in and out in a day and runs about three hours.
“Because of the younger demographic, I insisted that these be early shows (with 7:30 p.m. starts),” Ringe said. “This is a family oriented show. There is no cursing, nothing x-rated, nothing risqué. Parents can feel comfortable bringing their children.”
Tickets range from $55 to $100 for a VIP package that includes early entry and merchandise.
The lowest capacity venue on the tour is 2,800 and the highest about 5,000.
“All of the major promoters are involved, Live Nation, AEG, Nederalander,” Ringe said.
Swings through South America and Asia are also in the works, he said.
INTERNATIONAL ANIME MUSIC FESTIVAL NORTH AMERICA 2023 TOUR SCHEDULE:
Mon, Feb. 6 | Vancouver, BC | Orpheum Theatre
Feb. 8 | Seattle, WA | Paramount Theatre
Feb. 9 | Portland, OR | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Feb. 11 | San Jose, CA | San Jose Civic Auditorium
Feb. 14 | Los Angeles, CA | Microsoft Theatre
Feb. 16 | Phoenix, AZ | Arizona Financial Theatre
Feb. 17 | Las Vegas, NV | The Theater at Virgin Hotels
Feb. 18 | Albuquerque, AZ | Revel Entertainment Center
Feb. 19 | Denver, CO | Mission Ballroom
Feb. 21 | Kansas City, MO | Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
Feb. 23 | Austin, TX | ACL Live at Moody Theater
Feb. 24 | San Antonio, TX | Tech Port Arena
Feb. 25 | Irving, TX | The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Feb. 26 | Houston, TX | 713 Music Hall
Feb. 28 | Oklahoma City, OK | The Criterion
March 1 | St. Louis, MO | The Factory At The District
March 2 | St. Paul, MN | Myth Live
March 3 | Milwaukee, WI | Riverside Theatre
March 4 | Chicago, IL | Riviera Theatre
March 5| Detroit, MI | Masonic Temple Theatre
March 7| Indianapolis, IN | Murat Theater at Old National Center
March 8| Cleveland, OH | The Agora
March 9 | Cincinnati, OH | Bogart’s
March 11 | Montreal, QC | MTELUS
March 12| Toronto, ON | HISTORY
March 14 | Pittsburgh, PA | Roxian Theatre
March 15 | New York, NY | Terminal 5
March 16 | Boston, MA | Roadrunner
March 17 | Mashantucket, CT | The Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino
March 18 | National Harbor, MD | MGM National Harbor
March 19 | Philadelphia, PA | Franklin Music Hall
March 21 | Charlotte, NC | Blumenthal Performing Arts Center – Belk Theatre
March 22 | Jacksonville, FL | Florida Theatre
March 23 | Durham, NC | DPAC
March 24 | Atlanta, GA | Fox Theatre
March 25 | Orlando, FL | Hard Rock Live
March 26 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | Broward Center for the Performing Arts
March 30 | Monterrey, Mexico | Arena Monterrey
March 31 | Mexico City, Mexico | Arena CDMX
