Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/11544
TODO LIST A t first glance the INK-N-IRON FESTIVAL may look a little daunting, however, this summer Festival truly has something for everyone. The variety of activities include Tattoos, Kustom Cars, Entertainment, and much more in this expansive crowd pleaser event, sure to be one of the most unique experiences of the summer. The Ink-N-Iron Festival, now in its seventh year, will take place over the weekend of June 11th-13th, aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach. Described as a hybrid of an Art Gallery and Community Festival, the event draws an average of 15,000 people each year, all looking forward to Live Music, Hot Rods- Kustoms, Burlesque, Art Shows, 50's Fashion, and, of course, Tattoos. According to Trace Edwards, Ink-N-Iron co-organizer, the Festival is an experience of a lifetime. "You can rarely go to an event that pulls in such a cross section of people from the globe," he says. "This adds to the whole flavor and feel of the show and there's nothing else like it in the world that encompasses the music genres and Live Acts that we do." To top it all off, you're on one of the most famous Historical Art Deco Ships. Representing all styles, the Tattoo Show alone covers three floors inside the ship, with 280 of the best tattoo artists in the world flown in from 25 countries for the three-day event. The Festival's main event will be the Tattoo Contest where contestants pay $10 to enter a specific category (i.e. Best Black & Gray) and the chance to win a trophy for themselves and their artist. A panel of industry leaders will judge each tattoo, using multiple criteria and awards given. These awards are imported antique Italian silver sacred hearts framed under glass. Entertainment for this Festival will be at several locations. Musically, the Festival is organized to display four main types of music: The Americana Experience, The Rockabilly Experience, The Rock Show, and The Psychobilly Freakout. Last year's event highlighted The Sonics, The Eagles of Death Metal, and The Slackers, but this year, Ink-N-Iron Festival at the Queen Mary will be graced with established and new talent including Merle Haggard, Rev. Horton Heat, X, Stiff Little Fingers, The Aggrolites, Swingin' Utters, and Hepcat, among others. In addition the Festival will also host its Stop Staring! Pin-up Pageant. This has become one of the most anticipated Pin-Up Pageants in the country (sponsored by Stop Staring! Clothing) with entrants from across the U.S. and some from Europe. The Pageant at Ink-N-Iron pays the highest cash prize awarded (to the girls that make it great) on the pin-up pageant circuit. The top twelve go on to a live finale at Ink-N-Iron with the audience and a panel of industry judges deciding on the winner. Besides the money, prizes also include Pageant Sash- Cash-Gift Bags (value $200) and the twelve finalists go on to become the Ink- N-Iron Calendar Girls. You can check out the finalists at http://www.ink-n-iron. com/vote.asp Perhaps one of the biggest draws is the "Iron" Portion of the Festival, showcasing Kustom Cars and Rods. The Ink-N-Iron Car Show is described as the best car show of its type in Southern California. With an impressive selection of over 200 selected cars in last year's show, cars are strictly hand picked, must be pre-'63, and have to be in a style from that era. According to the organizer, this year's event has award categories for more cars than ever before, with nine trophies being awarded from car clubs including the West Coast Kustoms, MoFos, Poor Boys, Cavaliers and others and even a "Best of Show" award, given to the overall favorite of the Festival. The Awards Ceremony will take place on Sunday at the Tiki Drive-In Stage. With other festivities including a pole performer showcase, a Carnival Cabaret, and Movies on the Green, this Festival will provide continuous entertainment. "We've brought in the International Pole Performer Showcase, with title-holding pole athletes from Sweden, Argentina, and across the U.S. performing in the athletic sport of pole performing," explains Edwards. Each artistic performer will demonstrate individual athletic skills on poles that reach as high as 15 feet. The showcase will take place four times in the Sin Alley Ballroom throughout the weekend. Each of the eight performers has been selected to demonstrate a different "presence," promises the organizer, with the aim to allure and entertain you. The vaudevillian cabaret and burlesque show "Carnival Cabaret" will feature girls from around the World and across the Nation, in addition to magic and comedy, snakes and swords, and clowns on bikes, from high wire heights. Also, Movies will be shown every night of the Festival at the Tiki Drive-In Stage. On Friday Russ Meyer's "Faster, Pussycat" can be viewed, while Saturday's screening will be a double feature of "Beat Girl" and "Dragstrip Girl". The documentary about legendary tattoo artist, Sailor Jerry, called "Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry", also will be screened during the Festival a total of six times throughout the weekend in the Queen Salon. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.ink-n-iron.com/tickets.asp or at one of 16 ticket outlets, a list of which can be found at the above address. Festival gates open Friday at 2PM and open Saturday and Sunday at 11AM. Parking lots open 8AM each day; Box Office at 10 AM each day. Single day tickets can be purchased at the box office for $40 each day, cash/Visa/ MasterCard/ATM only on the days of the event and only if tickets are still available and 3-Day tickets can be purchased at the box office on Friday for $80, cash/Visa/MasterCard/ATM. Also, if you get tattooed at the Festival you will receive a voucher good for a $10 refund off admission. Simply show the voucher and your new tattoo at the stage inside the tattoo exhibit hall to receive your cash! Kustom Cars and Lots of Ink INK-N-IRON at Queen Mary, Long Beach june 11th-13th, 2010 By>>Daniel albert LIVEMAGS.NET JUNE>>10 39