The heat was up in Las Vegas for the 4th annual Academy of Country Music celebrity charity ride. This year dozens of country music superstars fired up their bikes for the charity ride in the morning and then fired up their instruments in the afternoon rocking well into the night to the delight of thousands of fans on Fremont Street. (Yes that’s country music super star Keith Anderson rocking his Vengeance gear.)
Each year during the ACM music awards in Las Vegas, riders gather to join country-music superstars Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry to participate in a charity ride to benefit the ACM Charitable foundation. Eddie and Troy are joined by other musicians who share their love for the open road and they lead hundreds of riders from Las Vegas Harley-Davidson to one of the spectacular locations outside of Las Vegas. Then the ride returns to downtown Las Vegas concluding at Fremont Street where the action really heats up. To the amazement of the fans, one artist after the next take the stage on Fremont and provide a free concert to riders and non-riders alike. This year the line-up on Fremont street included Montgomery Gentry, Phil Vassar, Keith Anderson, Emerson Drive, James Otto, Trent Tomlinson, Trick Pony, Ray Scott and as a grand finale Gretchen Wilson with special guests John Rich of Big & Rich and rockers Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart!
This year the ride left from Las Vegas Harley-Davidson and went to the lodge at Mt Charleston and included riders from all over the country. Bike license plates spotted included California, Michigan, Iowa and of course Tennessee. Ricky Kelley Harley-Davidson of Cool Springs in Franklin, TN was quoted as saying “This is truly a unique event. We have dozens of musicians in Vegas for the ACMs who love to ride and are thrilled to have the opportunity to give back to the community. This event gives everyone a chance to see old friends and benefits several great causes supported by the Academy’s charitable foundation. Each year this event has grown beyond our expectations, this year was the best yet.”
Vengeance Motorcycles was on hand for the 3rd year in a row providing additional support bringing in custom bikes for Keith Anderson, Mike Melancon of Emerson Drive and James Otto of the Muzik Mafia. In addition to these bikes host Eddie Montgomery rode his custom Planet Color painted Vengeance Banshee to lead the ride. Stephen Sharpe President of Vengeance said “We’ve been thrilled to participate in this ride. Every year we’ve made a lot of great friends and consider ourselves fortunate to participate for such a good cause. The Staff of the ACM’s goes out of their way to provide a fun and safe ride for everyone involved. We’d like to thank Bob Romeo and Brandi Brammer of the ACM’s for all of their hard work to make this possible for everyone to enjoy.”
If you’d like to ride next year put the ACM’s on your calendar and come over to Las Vegas and ride for a great cause! http://www.acmcountry.com