JanSport® Announces Grand Prize Winner of its Fourth Annual Online Battle of the Bands Competition, Powered by Sonicbids

JanSport®, the original outdoor gear brand that equips people globally with quality backpacks, travel gear and collegiate apparel, today announced Hotfox as the grand prize winner of its fourth annual online “Battle of the Bands” competition (jansport.sonicbids.com), powered by Sonicbids.

As the grand prize winner, Hotfox will receive JanSport’s classic Right Pack and luggage set, as well as a three-day, two-night stay in Austin, Texas, for the South by Southwest music festival (SXSW). On Friday, March 16, 2012, Hotfox is invited to play at the Sonicbids Official SXSW Party, presented by JanSport from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Maggie Mae's (www.maggiemaesaustin.com).

"We're pumped to be included in the Sonicbids party presented by JanSport at SXSW. JanSport and Sonicbids are fabulous!” said Oliver Hopkins, lead singer, Hotfox. “We greatly appreciate the support given by our friends and allies and we look forward to the show."

"It's exciting to see Hotfox join the Sonicbids Official SXSW Party line-up. This is the fourth year we've partnered with our good friends at JanSport to get a fan-favorite on the stage at Maggie Mae's,” said Kimberly Thompson, CMO, Sonicbids. “Hotfox’s fans pushed them into the top 10 list in the battle, showing just what engaged fans emerging musicians have.”

Based in Bloomington, Ind., Hotfox formed in June 2010. They recorded an album that summer entitled “You, Me & the Monster,” and proceeded to play in shows with bands like Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., Margot & the Nuclear So & So’s, Company of Thieves and Walk the Moon. The band is characterized as playing melodic, noisy rock music. Their tunes have a modest, quiet fury about them that gets louder and louder every time they play. Hotfox released their debut album in the summer of 2011 and they are currently working on recording a new album in the early months of 2012.

For additional information about JanSport's Battle of the Bands competition and its grand prize winner, visit jansport.sonicbids.com.

For more JanSport news, visit www.jansport.com/unzipped.

About Sonicbids

Sonicbids is the leading matchmaking site for bands and music promoters. Since its launch in 2001, Sonicbids has grown into a global network of more than 335,000 artists and 25,000 promoters, which includes exclusive partnerships with events like South By Southwest (SXSW) and CMJ. Sonicbids has partnered with some of the world's most recognized consumer brands like Converse, Diesel and Renaissance Hotels to develop customized Social Music Marketing programs that tap into Sonicbids members' 100 million hyper-engaged fans. Learn more about Sonicbids at www.sonicbids.com.

About JanSport®

JanSport, a division of VF Outdoor, Inc., was founded in 1967 in Seattle, Washington, by three pioneers in the outdoor industry. Though the Company began by manufacturing and marketing world-class outdoor backpacks, today the product offering includes technical outdoor gear, daypacks, travel gear and collegiate decorated apparel, sold in sporting goods stores, college bookstores, department stores, and specialty and boutique retail locations throughout the world. The Brand has the spirit of fun and discovery, represented in the Brand tagline: Discover Freedom. For more information, visit www.jansport.com.