MEDIA ACCESS

GOO GOO DOLLS and Hippies & Cowboys to perform at Slave 2 Nothing Foundation’s Rock 2 Freedom Benefit Concert
In-N-Out Burger President/Owner Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, In-N-Out Burger Company Band .48 Special, and surprise legendary musicians will perform to fight substance abuse

Irvine, CA (August 2024)– The Slave 2 Nothing Foundation is proud to present its fourth annual Rock 2 Freedom™ Benefit Concert featuring GOO GOO DOLLS and Hippies & Cowboys on Saturday, October 12th, at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California. The Concert will benefit programs improving the lives of individuals and families affected by substance abuse.

In-N-Out Burger® President/Owner Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson, In-N-Out Burger Company Band .48 Special, and surprise legendary musicians will also perform to support the cause during National Substance Abuse Prevention Month.

“Being in a family impacted by substance abuse, I’ve always felt inclined to spread awareness about addiction and offer support to those experiencing it,” said Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson. “The heartache that comes with it is so profoundly spread between the individual affected and their family and friends. It’s an ongoing worldwide epidemic that continues to grow, but there is certainly hope for an end. Our work in healing the broken continues as we join at the Rock 2 Freedom concert to give hope to those who have been affected by addiction.”

“We have a serious problem with substance abuse in our country – drug overdoses are claiming more American lives than vehicle traffic crashes or firearm-related incidents,” said Sean Ellingson, co-founder of the Slave 2 Nothing Foundation. “We have so much important work to do. There is hope and support, and we’d love for the community to join us at Rock 2 Freedom because we can make a difference together.”
Doors open at 6:15 p.m., and general admission concert tickets are $50. Purchasing a concert ticket includes a raffle ticket for a chance to win an In-N-Out Burger Cookout Truck, access to the official band and event merchandise, photo activations, airbrush tattoos, and an exclusive benefit auction featuring unique rock memorabilia, custom collectibles, In-N-Out fan exclusives, and exciting travel and entertainment experiences.

Top-level sponsorship packages include VIP access and early entrance to main floor seating at 5:30 p.m., heavy hors d’oeuvres, exclusive VIP gifts, sponsor recognition, Rock 2 Freedom concert attendee gifts, and In-N-Out Burger meal cards. All monies raised will directly support the Slave 2 Nothing Foundation to help fight substance abuse.

To register for the Rock 2 Freedom benefit concert, please visit rock2freedom.com.
For anyone unable to attend, all donations are sincerely appreciated. In-N-Out Burger is proud to underwrite all administrative costs of this event and the Slave 2 Nothing Foundation to ensure that 100% of every dollar raised at this concert goes directly to organizations that are dedicated to fighting substance abuse in our communities.

Since 2016, Slave 2 Nothing has granted over $10 million dollars to support organizations providing healing to individuals and those impacted by substance abuse.
For event updates, follow the Slave 2 Nothing Foundation on Instagram (instagram.com/slave2nothingfoundation) and visit slave2nothing.org. Concertgoers are encouraged to use the hashtags #slave2nothing and #rock2freedom to join the conversation on social media around this year’s concert.

Addiction can hurt anyone. Help us fight back!

The Slave 2 Nothing Foundation was founded in 2016 by Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson and Sean Ellingson with the mission to free people from being enslaved to any person or substance. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Slave 2 Nothing exists to create, educate, and assist in solutions to eliminate human trafficking and help individuals and their families experience complete freedom and healing from substance abuse.

GOO GOO DOLLS – Formed by John Rzeznik and Robby Takac in Buffalo, NY in 1986, Goo Goo Dolls have quietly broken records, contributed a string of staples to the American songbook, connected to millions of fans, and indelibly impacted popular music for three-plus decades. Beyond selling 15 million records worldwide, the group has garnered four GRAMMY® Award nominations and nearly a dozen platinum & gold singles combined, and seized a page in the history books by achieving 16 number one and Top 10 hits. As a result, they hold the all-time radio record for “Most Top 10 Singles.”

Thus far, A Boy Named Goo [1995] has gone double-platinum, Dizzy Up The Girl five-times-platinum, and Gutterflower [2002] and Let Love In [2006] both went gold as Something for the Rest of Us [2010] and Magnetic [2013] bowed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200. Their music continues to reach new audiences around the world and rack up platinum & gold statuses – including the recently platinum-certified “Slide”, “Black Balloon” and “Better Days” – and has been covered by everyone from Taylor Swift to Phoebe Bridgers and Maggie Rogers.

Among a string of hits, “Iris” clutched #1 on the Hot 100 for 18 straight weeks and would be named “#1 Top 40 Song of the Last 20 Years.” On the heels of going viral on TikTok, the track recently achieved seven-times-platinum status and re-entered the Billboard charts, yet again proving the timelessness of Goo Goo Dolls’ illustrious catalog.

Hippies & Cowboys – It’s not every day we get to watch the rapid rise of an American rock ‘n’ roll band, from performing as an unknown at Fox & Locke’s open mic night to quickly selling out the venue multiple times. Their hurried success inspired Hippies & Cowboys to record a live album at the site, which is a popular live music venue in Leiper’s Fork, TN.

Now, a year later, the band is moving headlong toward rock ‘n’ roll mainstream. Hippies & Cowboys performed at the popular Pilgrimage Music & Cultural Festival in 2023, with a repeat performance in 2024. They are playing gigs with Blackberry Smoke, are on the line-up for 2024’s Bristol Rhythm & Roots Festival, headlined the 55th Swampaversary at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in the “Hit Recording Capital of the World,” and regularly bring down the house as high-energy crowd-pleasers at Kid Rock’s on Lower Broadway in Nashville.

Off the heels of their new single “Circle Back Around,” Hippies & Cowboys will release back-to-back singles this summer, followed by an EP release in September. The band’s first national tour is set for October in support of the new music.

Hippies & Cowboys’ music fuses country and Southern, rock and soul, which gives the band a universal appeal. Front man Aaron Sparling delivers his high-octane rock vocals and sweat and blood commitment note by note by note. His band mates go toe to toe with Sparling in musicality, energy, and passion.

When asked what drives him, Sparling says, “The fans. Pure and simple. Seeing the joy that music brings to people and feeling that excitement of creation…It’s amazing.” Follow Hippies & Cowboys on social: #hippies&cowboys @hippiesandcowboysband – Visit: https://www.hippiesandcowboysband.com

.48 Special – .48 Special is the In-N-Out Burger Company Band: Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson (vocals/bass), Sean Ellingson (guitar), Dave Edmunds (drums), Greg Nogle (vocals/bass), Kenny Echizen (guitar), Tony Morales (bass/guitar), Mike Rodrigues (keyboard), Cholton Smith (vocals), Robert Concepcion (vocals) and Kristi Calmy (vocals). They are known for playing 90s rock, alternative, and metal favorites with some classic rock hits, and they’re working on some original songs you may hear in a future setlist. However, that is not all they are known for – you won’t see a show without an aerial and fire-eating/dancing performance. .48 Special often plays at company gatherings, fundraisers, and picnics and has shared the stage with many rock icons over the years.

**Editors, Producers, and Photographers Note: All media must have advanced credentials to attend Rock 2 Freedom. Please visit rock2freedom.com/media to learn about these requirements and apply.