Local Heroes

What is the Local Heroes Mobile Stage you say???

Ernie Ball wants to give you a chance to play live. It's that simple. We know that being a musician is about sharing your music and connecting with the audience. There's no better place to do that than live on stage. After all, you might own a tennis racket and some balls, but without the court, where are you going to play? The same problem occurs with emerging rock stars. Sure, you can get away with a certain amount of noise, and you've convinced yourself that sleeping in a tent so you can fit a drum kit in your room is a good idea, but those shenanigans can't last forever. Quite frankly, the singer is sick of practicing his stage dives only to land in your dirty laundry. The bass player's custom 16x10" cab is rattling stucco off the side of the house, and neighborhood dogs won't stop barking due to the high-freq's emanating from your lot. That's where we step in.

Ernie Ball's Local Heroes Mobile Stage travels the country bringing local bands a place to play. The 24 X 16 traveling stage was designed, engineered, and manufactured by Ernie Ball's in-house staff. Mounted on a 40 foot, ten-wheel freightliner truck, the Local Heroes Mobile Stage is fully self-contained. It travels with it's own lighting, back-line, 27,000 watt EV sound system, and 12 KW diesel generator. The mobile stage features equipment from DW, Zildjian, Remo, Mesa Boogie, Hartke, Roland, EV, Midas, Klark Teknik, TC Electronic, and Auralex.

"It's harder than ever for talented new musicians to gain recognition. Ernie Ball feels that the lifeblood of music is in emerging talent, "says Sterling Ball, president of Ernie Ball. "We want to support up and coming bands, and give them the opportunity to gain exposure. With the mobile stage, we have taken it one step further every band deserves a place to play."

The Ernie Ball Local Heroes Mobile Stage has been home to thousands of musicians. Every year it can be heard rocking at the Vans Warped Tour. The Local Heroes Stage has been spotted at the SXSW Festival, the Target Grand Prix, The Dallas Guitar Show, The Moto Madness Tour, The Furnace Festival, and at the Vans Triple Crown Snowboarding Championships. The Ernie Ball Local Heroes Mobile Stage is home to the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands, the longest running and largest live music promotion of its kind.

You've had your practice time, your set list is complete, and you are ready for mainstream exposure. Welcome to the Local Heroes Mobile Stage. You've earned it.

2003 Vans Warped Tour