Imagine a huge Broken Spoke Saloon with hot barmaids and biker contests and four days of non-stop headliner entertainment transported from Sturgis to the heart of ‘The Big Easy,’ the one and only New Orleans. Add one of the biggest Easyriders Shows and "authentic" New Orleans cooking and culture, including charity plantation and riverfront rides and famous chefs mixing it up with famous bike builders in the "Chrome Kitchen."
This all-inclusive event presented by Bikeweek.com, the Broken Spoke Saloon and Easyriders Events, May 6th to 10th will feature negotiated hotel accommodations, quality food, drinks and rides, with a hub of activity and nightly shows at the New Orleans Broken Spoke.
"This will be more than a bike rally in New Orleans, this will be a New Orleans experience for bikers," said Larry Oliphant, CEO of Bikeweek LLC/Bikeweek.com. "This will be a world class annual event in partnership with the City of New Orleans, State of Louisiana, Budweiser, Coca-Cola, Easyriders and of course the world famous Broken Spoke Saloon.
"No one throws a festival like New Orleans, and no one throws a party like Jay Allen and his Broken Spoke."
Edgar Winter, BlackFoot, Farrell Webber Band, Aultimate Ozzy, Hells Bells (AC/DC tribute band), Seven Bridges Road (Eagles tribute band), and Houses of Holy (Led Zeppelin tribute band) have already been signed for this event.
The World’s Biggest Biker Bar, the Broken Spoke Saloon will be rolling its 18-wheelers into the ultimate party town to create the ultimate party in the French Quarter’s Warehouse District – complete with four days of live headliner music, Lucky Daredevil thrillshows, the Budweiser Burn Out, bike build offs and more.
The Louisiana Hospitality Foundation will be serving "authentic" New Orleans cuisine throughout the rally at "rally prices."
No stranger to New Orleans, Jay has fond memories from his early 20’s when he was a "Lucky Dog" man, peddling Lucky Dog hot dogs and chili dogs on Bourbon & Toulouse street corners, and living "for cheap" in slave quarters on Esplanade Street.
"It’s my hope that we can all partake in the party, rides and events and share the birth of a tradition that will be around for many years to come," said the famous bar owner. "The New Orleans Spoke will be in the perfect party spot, chock full of the hottest of wild bartenders and contests that are on the razor’s edge – hot, funny and tweaked!"
Across the street, rally goers will be able to check out one of the biggest Easyriders V-Twin shows of the year, being staged in the New Orleans Convention Center.
"Easyriders Events is proud to be part of the Bike Week New Orleans project," said John Green, director of Easyriders Events. "It is a rare opportunity for us to be involved at ground level with a group as passionate about the Motorcycle lifestyle as we are.
"We have seen a recent shift in Motorcycle entertainment. With the new economy, people are looking for the same experience they find at Daytona and Sturgis close to their home turf."
The New Orleans Easyriders Show will feature all the usual elements that make for a great show.
The Centerfold Tour is the focus of the show, featuring unbelievable motorcycles built by this year’s tour builders: Tempest Cycles, Road-Hawgs, Skunkworx, Gangster Choppers and the Chopp Shop; plus fashion shows, door prizes, 100’s of vendors, 200 custom bikes, food and ice cold beer; performances by The Purrfect Angelz, and live music by Magic Red and the VooDoo Tribe.
"We have exact replicas of the Captain America and Billy bikes from the Easy Rider movie," said John, who has been staging Easyriders Events for more than 20 years. "But to add a New Orleans flair to the show, we are hosting the Chrome Kitchen featuring the top chef’s in New Orleans cooking and dishing out some local favorite cuisine."
World famous builder Paul Yaffe will be on hand with his bikes and product line. Dorian Swanner from Carolina Custom Products will be displaying the bike he built for the Easyriders Sweepstakes giveaway, and the Executive Choppers bike will be on display that will be given away Sept. 5th at Easyriders’ Grand National event in Chillicothe, Ohio.
Centerfold tour builders Erick Ackley and Dave Sekman – Tempest Cycles, Jerry Burrow – Road-Hawgs, Bruce Mullins – Skunkworx, John Dodson – Gangster Choppers and Shannon Davidson – Chopp Shop will be at the New Orleans show.
"You will see a lot of great industry products and the latest from leading manufacturers such as S&S Cycle and Baker Drivetrain," said Jay. "Plus, top builders from the gulf coast region vying for the much sought after Easyriders trophy."
The competition is open to the public, and basic spots for competitors are FREE. Look for details at the Easyriders website: EasyRidersEvents.com.
"The editor of Easyriders Magazine, Dave Nichols will be on hand, looking for bikes to cover in the upcoming issues. Crews from In The Wind, V-Twin and Biker magazines will also be on hand to help us keep the party rolling. The world’s most famous motorcycle photographer Michael Lichter will be there to document this inaugural Event," said John.
"There will be an after party at the Broken Spoke on Saturday night. We are going to fire the bikes up and ride over to party with Jay Allen."
"Ride Louisiana" will kick off the inaugural French Quarter rally, with ride-in events scheduled for five major stops on Monday evening, culminating with BBQs and events scheduled for Baton Rouge and Biloxi on the eve of Bike Week New Orleans.
Cycle Source Magazine is also hosting its first hard-core ride-in Chopper Show. Look for more articles to follow….
Complete event information including ticket options and inclusions, maps, rides, hotel booking, entertainment, vendors, official merchandise and more is available at the official web site: www.BikeWeekNewOrleans.com.