Multiplatinum-Selling Band Imagine Dragons to Perform Live From the Allstate® Fan Fest in New Orleans, Chart-Topping Music Superstars Walk The Moon to Join the Celebration and Actress Lucy Hale Returns to Host New Orleans Festivities During ‘Dick Clark’s

Multiplatinum-Selling Band Imagine Dragons to Perform Live From the Allstate® Fan Fest in New Orleans, Chart-Topping Music Superstars Walk The Moon to Join the Celebration and Actress Lucy Hale Returns to Host New Orleans Festivities During ‘Dick Clark’s

MULTIPLATINUM-SELLING BAND IMAGINE DRAGONS TO PERFORM LIVE FROM
THE ALLSTATE® FAN FEST IN NEW ORLEANS DURING
‘DICK CLARK’S NEW YEAR’S ROCKIN’ EVE WITH RYAN SEACREST 2018’

CHART-TOPPING MUSIC SUPERSTARS WALK THE MOON TO JOIN THE CELEBRATION
AT THE 2ND ANNUAL CENTRAL TIME ZONE COUNTDOWN

ACTRESS LUCY HALE RETURNS TO HOST NEW ORLEANS FESTIVITIES

The New Year’s Celebration Begins Live at 8:00 p.m. EST
on ABC From New York City’s Times Square

To ring in the New Year, multiplatinum-selling band Imagine Dragons is slated to perform on “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018” from the Allstate® Fan Fest in New Orleans, Louisiana, where locals and tourists gather each year to celebrate the New Year in advance of the annual Allstate® Sugar Bowl®. Also taking the stage from New Orleans is chart-topping supergroup Walk The Moon, who will join the celebration at the 2nd annual Central time zone countdown of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018.” Award-winning actress Lucy Hale, best known for her role as Aria Montgomery on the Freeform hit series “Pretty Little Liars,” returns to host the live celebration from the Crescent City, providing viewers with exclusive celebrity and fan interviews leading up to the midnight countdown and stunning fleur-de-lis drop near Jackson Square at the dawn of the New Year. America’s largest celebration of the year will take place SUNDAY, DEC. 31, beginning at 8:00 p.m. EST on The ABC Television Network.

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018” marks the 46th anniversary of America’s largest celebration of the year and will include 5 ½ hours of special performances and reports on New Year’s celebrations from around the globe. Ryan Seacrest will host the primetime festivities and lead the traditional countdown to midnight from Times Square in New York City, as he has for the last 12 years, with live onsite reporting from actress and comedian Jenny McCarthy. Multiplatinum music superstar Ciara will ring in the New Year from the west coast as the new host of the Hollywood Party in Los Angeles. Additional performances to be announced at a later date.

“Each year, Allstate looks forward to bringing unforgettable fan activities and musical performances to the Allstate Fan Fest ahead of the annual Allstate Sugar Bowl, and celebrating not only the game itself, but also the start of a new year,” said Pam Hollander, vice president of marketing for Allstate Insurance Company. “We are thrilled to once again be working with ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest’ to bring this memorable experience to those joining us in New Orleans as well as people tuning in across the country.”

“I’m thrilled to have ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018’ back in New Orleans to ring in the New Year in our great city,” said Mayor Mitch Landrieu, New Orleans. “This is the perfect way to kick off our city’s 300th anniversary. Here in New Orleans, we know how to celebrate, and I can’t wait for another opportunity to showcase our rich culture to the rest of the country.”

“We are looking forward to another successful Central time zone fleur-de-lis drop in the historic French Quarter, and this year it carries even more importance since New Year’s Eve will mark the beginning of a year-long celebration of New Orleans’ Tricentennial. Travel + Leisure magazine just named New Orleans ‘America’s Best City for New Year’s Eve.’ ‘Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ will broadcast just why that is to millions of viewers, and we are delighted that the partnership we’ve forged with dick clark productions allows us to reach so many viewers in this way,” said Stephen Perry, president & CEO New Orleans Conventions and Visitors Bureau. 

“Like the rest of Louisiana, I am thrilled to have ‘New Year’s Rockin’ Eve’ back in New Orleans as we kick off the Tricentennial year and celebrations,” said Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. “It will be a fun, historical night, and I encourage everyone watching to come celebrate New Orleans’ birthday with us as well as see the rest of Louisiana.” 

 “We’re pleased with the important roles Allstate and the Sugar Bowl Committee are playing to provide a unique New Year’s Eve event that shines a spotlight on the College Football Playoff as well as on the city and its 300th anniversary celebration,” said Allstate Sugar Bowl CEO Paul Hoolahan. “This is a great chance for fans to enjoy Imagine Dragons and Walk The Moon as they gear up for the Playoff Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl the next day.”

Formed in 2009, Imagine Dragons first revealed their emotionally charged and inventive sensibilities with a series of independently released EPs that earned them a grassroots following. Signed to KIDinaKORNER/Interscope by hitmaking producer Alex Da Kid, the band greatly expanded their fanbase with the release of their multiplatinum breakthrough single “It’s Time” (featured on the 2012 EP “Continued Silence”). Since making their full-length debut with 2012’s multiplatinum “Night Visions,” Imagine Dragons have drawn worldwide adoration for their anthemic yet moody alt-rock. With their past hits also including “Radioactive” (a diamond-selling smash that won Best Rock Performance at the 2014 Grammy Awards), Imagine Dragons went on to see “Smoke + Mirrors” debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart upon its release in early 2015. On their third album, the platinum-selling “Evolve” – released June 2017 – achieved gold in less than a month and debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Rock Albums chart. The GRAMMY® Award-winning band shift perspective and take on a brighter but more layered emotional outlook. The album has launched two No. 1 hits on the Billboard Alternative songs chart: “Believer” and “Thunder.” The first single, “Believer,” topped the Alternative radio chart for 12 weeks and the follow-up, “Thunder,” hit No. 1 at Alternative, Hot AC and Top 40 radio. Both tracks also hit the top 10 of the all-genre Billboard Hot 100, making Imagine Dragons the only rock act to score two top 10 hits on the chart in 2017. On lead single, “Believer,” Imagine Dragons wholly embody the emotional dynamic at the heart of “Evolve.” With its bold percussive vocals and hip-hop-inspired rhythms, the track offers a testament to gaining strength through adversity. In bringing “Believer” to life, Imagine Dragons joined forces with Swedish production duo Mattman & Robin and carved out a cleaner sound than they’d ever attempted before. In a departure from the largely self-produced “Night Visions” and its 2015 follow-up “Smoke + Mirrors,” “Evolve” finds the band working closely with Mattman & Robin and producers like Joel Little (best known for helming the production of Lorde’s “Pure Heroine”). Despite the minimalistic approach of “Evolve,” Imagine Dragons achieve a rich complexity partly informed by their taking time out to recharge. After much soul searching during a year-long break from touring, the band arrived at a new mindset and ultimately brought a greater sense of openness to their music.

Walk The Moon recently released their new album, “What If Nothing,” via RCA Records, which includes their current single “One Foot.” Since the single’s release, “One Foot” has quickly made its way up the charts with over 16.2 million streams across all partners and hit the Top 10 at Alternative Radio. Rolling Stone called the album “vibrant,” while Billboard praised the band as “more raw and real than ever before.”The band will be hitting the road on their “Press Restart Tour” this January, which will be making stops across the country in cities including New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles. Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, Walk The Moon consists of Nicholas Petricca (singer/keyboardist), Kevin Ray (bassist), Eli Maiman (guitarist) and Sean Waugaman (drummer). In 2015, the band catapulted to stardom when their hit single “Shut Up and Dance,” which is included on their RIAA Certified Gold album “Talking Is Hard,” became a multiplatinum global smash that peaked at No. 1 on the Alternative, Hot AC, AC charts, No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and went to No. 2 at Top 40 radio. The track also broke the record for consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs chart at the time. “Shut Up and Dance” racked up over 6 million downloads and 850 million streams in the process leading to a slew of honors including winning two Billboard Music Awards, a nomination for an MTV Music Video Award for Best Rock Video, American Music Award nominations for Favorite Pop/Rock Duo Or Group, New Artist of the Year and Favorite Alternative Rock Artist. They were also nominated for an iHeart Radio Music Award for Best Duo/Group of the Year, Song of the Year, and Alternative Rock Song of the Year for “Shut Up and Dance.” Walk The Moon has been praised by music industry tastemakers across the board since their explosive first single, “Anna Sun,” was released in 2012, as Interview Magazine proclaimed, “There’s something about Walk The Moon that’s absolutely out of this world. Their music is addictive, energetic and fun.” Rolling Stone also raved about the band’s live show, “The precocious Ohioans stack melodies upon melodies in new-wave-infected songs that attack the ear like a starving Mike Tyson.” 

Multitalented and dynamic, Lucy Hale has captured the attention of millions as the star of Freeform’s smash hit series “Pretty Little Liars.” Hale has won a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Cable TV Actress in 2014. She has also won a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actress six times, and she was presented with the 2013 Gracie Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Rising Star. Hale was most recently seen as Aria Montgomery in “Pretty Little Liars” which had its series finale this past June after seven seasons. She also recently wrapped production on the thriller “Truth or Dare” from Blumhouse Productions. The film will be released on April 29, 2018. Hale can next be seen starring in the upcoming CW’s new dramedy, “Life Sentence,” set to release in spring 2018. The show follows her character, Stella Abbott, who finds out her terminal cancer is cured and now must learn to live with all the choices she made when deciding to live like she was dying. In addition to her thriving acting career, Hale recently joined forces with Rascal Flatts to release a cover of “Frozen”’s epic anthem “Let It Go” for the We Love Disney compilation. This followed the release of her debut album, “Road Between,” the year prior. Previously, Hale headlined the launch of American Rag’s All Access campaign for Macy’s and released a collaboration collection with the beach-friendly apparel brand Hollister. Prior, she starred as the lead in CW’s critically acclaimed comedy “Privileged.” That same year, Hale starred in Warner Bros.’ coming-of-age comedy “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2,” alongside Blake Lively, Amber Tamblyn and America Ferrera. She also starred as the lead in ABC Family’s teen musical, “A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song,” alongside Freddie Stroma and lent her voice to Disney’s animated film “Secret of the Wings.”

“Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018” is produced by dick clark productions with Ryan Seacrest, Allen Shapiro and Mike Mahan serving as executive producers and Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco as co-executive producers. Larry Klein is producer.
   
The complete lineup airing Sunday, Dec. 31, on ABC is:
  
08:00-10:00 p.m. EST – “Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018 – Part 1”

10:00-11:00 p.m. EST – “Dick Clark’s Primetime New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018 – Part 2”

11:30 p.m.-1:09 a.m. EST – “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018 – Part 1” 

1:09-2:13 a.m. EST – “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2018 – Part 2”

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Hashtag:  #RockinEve
Website:  newyearsrockineve.com
  
About dick clark productions
dick clark productions (dcp) is the world’s largest producer and proprietor of televised live event entertainment programming with the “Academy of Country Music Awards,” “American Music Awards,” “Billboard Music Awards,” “Golden Globe Awards,” “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest,” “Hollywood Film Awards” and the “Streamy Awards.” Weekly television programming includes “So You Think You Can Dance” from 19 Entertainment and dcp. dcp also owns one of the world’s most unique and extensive entertainment archive libraries with over 60 years of award-winning shows, historic programs, specials, performances and legendary programming. For additional information, visit www.dickclark.com. 

About ABC Entertainment
ABC Entertainment airs compelling programming across all day parts, with new shows including fall’s No. 1 new drama, “The Good Doctor”; as well as “Kevin (Probably) Saves the World” and “The Mayor”; and current hits such as groundbreaking dramas “Designated Survivor,” “Quantico,” “Scandal” “How to Get Away with Murder,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and “Once Upon a Time.” The ABC Television Network is also home to the Emmy® Award-winning “Modern Family” and trailblazing comedy favorites “black-ish,” “American Housewife,” “Fresh Off the Boat,”  “The Goldbergs,” “The Middle” and “Speechless”; hit game shows “$100,000 Pyramid,” “Celebrity Family Feud,” “Match Game” and “To Tell the Truth”; reality phenomenon “Shark Tank,” iconic “The Bachelor” franchise, long-running hits “Dancing with the Stars” and “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” and the return of “American Idol”; “General Hospital,” which has aired for over 50 years on the network, along with daytime talk show “The Chew”; and late-night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” The network also boasts some of television’s most prestigious awards shows, including “The Oscars®,” “The CMA Awards,” and “The American Music Awards.”

About Allstate
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life’s uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Other growth platforms include predictive analytics company Arity and consumer-product protection plan company SquareTrade. Allstate is widely known through the slogan “You’re In Good Hands With Allstate®.” Allstate agencies are in virtually every local community in America. In 2016, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $42 million to support local communities.