Tony Hawk to revive Huckjam format as part of music festival

SAN DIEGO (AP) - Skateboarding pioneer Tony Hawk says he's bringing back his Huckjam format as part of the Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival on San Diego's waterfront Nov. 22-24.

Two other San Diego athletes, baseball Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman and surfer Rob Machado, are investors and ambassadors for the festival.

The Huckjam format features choreographed and freestyle skating with live music.

"I'm excited to bring my own flavor to this whole festival of music and art and culture and food, and I'm adding punk rock and skateboarding, which I'm very familiar with," Hawk said at a news conference Monday.

Bands scheduled to play the Huckjam Stage are Pennywise, Suicidal Tendencies, X and Vandals, with DJ Z-Trip.

"In between those bands you're going to see us skating with Z-Trip spinning live," the 51-year-old Hawk said. "We're going to bring back the choreography and freestyle elements.

"It's pretty cool to get to do this in San Diego," he added. "I love any event where I get to sleep at home. It's going to be a blast and I think there are going to be many, many more to come."

Hawk said it's been 10 years since he did a Huckjam arena tour.

Among the acts announced Monday for the festival are Ben Harper, MGMT and Slightly Stoopid. More than 80 acts are scheduled to play on seven stages.

Machado also plays guitar, and his Rob Machado & Friends are scheduled to play.

"I think we're lucky to have this opportunity to be part of something that is San Diego, for San Diego," said Hoffman, who spent the bulk of his career with the Padres and was inducted into the Hall of Fame last summer. "It isn't this festival out in the middle of the desert where everybody's getting dirty. You get a chance to be in our city ... and experience what San Diego is like."

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