Converse Inc. has announced the launch of its first ever Converse Rubber Tracks Live Tour featuring acclaimed metal band High On Fire and Converse Rubber Tracks Recording artist's Blackest opening the east coast dates and Arctic opening the west coast dates.  The lineup for these shows include headlining bands who hand pick emerging artists that have recorded at Converse Rubber Tracks to open the shows. The tour kicks off in Converse's hometown of Boston on Tuesday, August 12th and will follow with stops in Toronto (August 14th), Brooklyn (August 15th), Los Angeles (August 19th) and San Francisco (August 20th).  The tour will coincide with Converse Rubber Tracks "pop-up" recording studios in each of these markets and is part of several ongoing opportunities for emerging artists to unleash their creative spirit. All tickets for the Converse Rubber Tracks Live Tour are free.

Tour dates:

August

12 – Boston, MA – The Sinclair
14 – Toronto, ON – Adelaide Hall
15 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
19 – Los Angeles, CA – The Echoplex
20 – San Francisco, CA – The Chapel

With a high-octane live show and a sound that crashes like thunder, Oakland's High On Fire has put the power back in power-trio. The band has burned the metal rulebook and forged a new archetype with their unique and distinctive sound.  Hailing from New York City hardcore metal band Blackest will join the east coast leg of the tour.  Southern California's heavy rock band Arctic will join the west coast leg of the tour.

The Converse Rubber Tracks program was born out of the brand's desire to give back to the music community and provide opportunities for artists who might not be able to afford studio time. Since the flagship studio opened in Brooklyn in July 2011, over 800 emerging artists have had the opportunity to record original music alongside the Converse Rubber Tracks team of experienced engineers at no cost.  At the end of their studio time, the artists retain all of the rights to their own music.

In the past two years, the program has expanded beyond the studio in Brooklyn with Converse Rubber Tracks Live and Converse Rubber Tracks "pop-up" studios.  Converse Rubber Tracks Live is a free music series, which offers musicians exposure in performing in front of live audiences. Converse Rubber Tracks "pop-up" studios have brought the Converse Rubber Tracks experience on the road to vibrant music communities around the globe.  Both music platforms have been established in cities such as Austin, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Boston, Montreal, São Paulo, Beijing, Amsterdam and Mexico City to name a few.

The Converse Rubber Tracks "pop-up" studios will coincide with the tour dates and will be set-up in each of the following markets:  Boston, MA - Q-Division Studios (August 11th – 15th), Toronto, Ontario - Nobel Street Studios (August 6th – 10th), San Francisco, CA - Different Fur Studios (August 18th -22nd) and Los Angeles, CA - The Fortress (August 18th – 22nd).

Local artists in each market will be able to apply for free studio time to record original music in a state-of-the-art studio setting. If selected, the artists will spend a full day recording, and at the end of the process, retain all rights to their work. Artists are invited to visit Converse.com to receive more information and instructions on the registration process.