THE JOHN LENNON EDUCATIONAL TOUR BUS RETURNS TO NAMM FEATURING A NEW DOLBY ATMOS STUDIO

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is pleased to announce it is back on the road after a major upgrade made possible with support from Dolby, Apple, Genelec, Grace Design, Blackmagic Design, Battle Born Batteries, Apogee, Flock Audio, and other generous sponsors, with integration provided by Westlake Pro. The inaugural tour of the freshly wrapped and upgraded Lennon Bus began with stops across the US and Canada with the esteemed Hip Hop pioneer RZA of Wu-Tang Clan, who used the newly installed 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos studio with Genelec monitors to mix songs on his latest album A Ballet Through Mud. Dolby Atmos allows creators to go beyond stereo by precisely placing and moving individual sounds in three dimensions, all around the listener, so they feel like they are inside the song. The Lennon Bus will demo new tracks from RZA’s soon-to-be-released album throughout the NAMM Show, with the immersive sound of Dolby Atmos.

The Lennon Bus can be visited in Hall A, Booth 10739. Visitors can tour the Bus and experience live demos of new music in Dolby Atmos and video content created on The Lennon Bus by emerging artists Ella Rosa and Reggie Becton, enjoy daily panels, and participate in special events and giveaways.  Raffle tickets will be distributed to all visitors at the Bus each day with prizes including Genelec 8010 speakers, Gibson guitars and Audio-Technica microphones. The Lennon Bus and the Dolby Institute are sponsoring “Come Together” cocktail receptions at the Booth on Friday and Saturday from 5-6PM, featuring live performances by Khemist, winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest Song of the Year.

The NAMM Foundation's support recently brought the Bus to stops at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) focusing on providing information on careers in music education, music products and the music business. The Fall tour was made possible through a generous donation to The NAMM Foundation by Dinah Gretsch and Mrs. G’s Music Foundation. Many more HBCUs will be visited in 2024. In Washington, DC, the Bus joined The NAMM Foundation on its visit to Capitol Hill with efforts to gain additional support from Congress for music education in schools.

On its visits to schools, students learn about the workings of a professional audio and video studio, and they have the unique opportunity to compose, record, and mix an original song using the newest technology and products from Dolby, Solid State Logic, Gibson Guitars, Roland drums and keyboards, and Audio-Technica microphones and headphones, to name just a few of the sponsored products. In the same day, they produce and shoot an accompanying video for the completed original composition with Blackmagic Design cameras. Power is now provided by Battle Born Batteries, incorporating green energy and eliminating 1,500 pounds from the previous power system. Dr. Denis Phares, CEO of Dragonfly Energy, the maker of Battle Born Batteries, will be hosting a panel at 1PM on Friday on the Bus’ stage, entitled Powering the Lennon Bus: Taking the State-of-the-Art Mobile Recording Studio Off the Grid with Lithium Technology.

Since 1998, this Bus has left an indelible mark on hundreds of thousands of students, offering its unique experiential programs. The Bus has a dedicated crew of three producers/educators who live onboard and provide tailored events and services for small, medium, and large groups.

Inspired by John and Yoko's vision of embracing creativity and imagining peace, the Lennon Bus is committed to providing young people, communities, and schools across the nation with free events, workshops, interactive experiences, and hands-on opportunities to create original audio, video, and broadcast projects that reflect their ideas and concerns.

About the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus:

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus is the premiere non-profit mobile recording facility that provides hands-on experiences for students of all ages. In its 26th year of touring, the Lennon Bus features a Dolby Atmos studio with the latest audio and video technology, gear and products. The concept began as an offshoot of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, dedicated to providing opportunities for both professional and amateur songwriters around the world; proceeds from which help support the Lennon Bus. The Lennon Bus travels across the U.S. and Canada year-round, providing free tours and workshops at schools, colleges and universities, festivals, on tours with headlining artists, and at major industry conferences. Lennon Bus Europe began providing these same opportunities to the young people of Europe when it launched in Liverpool, UK in May 2013.  The Lennon Bus is made possible by Yoko Ono Lennon and the following sponsors and contributors: Apple, Inc., The Dolby Institute, Battle Born Batteries, NAMM Foundation, Westlake Pro, Gibson Gives, Audio-Technica, Genelec, Apogee, Roland, Epiphone, Triple G Ventures, Triad-Orbit, Reason Studios, Solid State Logic, Neutrik, Blackmagic Design, Grace Design, Avid, Universal Audio, and Flock Audio. 

About The Dolby Institute:

The Dolby Institute was created to educate, inspire, and empower the next generation of content creators. We partner with schools, colleges, and organizations worldwide to help train professional, emerging, and underserved creators. Through educational programs, strategic partnerships, workshops, and events, we work to educate artists and provide access to Dolby content creation tools that are used widely by leading entertainment industry professionals. Drawing on Dolby’s history of innovation in entertainment, our mission in education is to provide the resources and teachings necessary to empower artistic expression. To learn more about the Dolby Institute visit https://www.dolby.com/institute/ 

About Dolby Atmos:

Dolby Atmos is a completely new way to create and experience music that delivers artistic expression at its fullest capacity, forging a deeper connection between artists and their fans. Music in Dolby Atmos goes beyond the ordinary listening experience by immersing you in the song, revealing details with unparalleled clarity and depth. It gives artists more space and the freedom to fully realize their vision and unlock new levels of emotion in their music for their listeners. Whether it’s hearing the layers of instruments move all around you, catching the subtle breath a singer takes between lyrics, or feeling melodies wash over you – nothing puts you inside the music like Dolby Atmos.

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Press Contacts:

For more information:  Jo-Ann Geffen, JAG PR, jgeffen@jagpr.com  (818) 905-5511

For more information on Dolby: Rachel Lowery, Rachel.lowery@dolby.com