Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers Showcase Emerging Talent on two Arizona Bike Week Stages at WestWorld
Four rising Arizona bands are set to take the stage at Arizona Bike Week, earning opening slots for some of the biggest names in rock and country during the April 8–12, 2026 rally at WestWorld.
Selected by headlining artists themselves, the up-and-coming acts will kick off performances for Black Stone Cherry, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening, Cody Jinks and Ted Nugent—putting local talent in front of one of the largest motorcycle rally crowds in the country.
Tucson-based rock and blues band Znora is set to open for Black Stone Cherry Wednesday, April 8. Drop Diezel, a hard-rock cover band, will kick things off for Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening Thursday, April 9. Christopher Shayne, known for his Southern rock sound, will warm up the crowd for Cody Jinks Friday, April 10. Stereo Rex, a Phoenix-based rock band, will open for Ted Nugent Saturday, April 11, rounding out the lineup of emerging acts plucked from our extensive local music scene.
“This is a prime opportunity for some great local bands to step onto a major stage,” said Arizona Bike Week Co-Producer Lisa Cyr. “They’ll be performing in front of massive crowds and sharing the spotlight with nationally recognized artists.”
Znora earned consideration for an opening slot at ABW through a competition hosted by Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Teen Centers, which provides free after-school training in music, art, dance, and more for teens ages 12–20.
Each year, the teen centers hold a competition called Proof is in the Pudding. This four-round contest features over 300 young musicians annually. Since winning the competition, Znora has amassed an impressive resume of performances, including opening for Alice Cooper at his annual Christmas Pudding Concert, and will now add kicking off the four-night concert series in the RockYard, opening for Black Stone Cherry to their list of accolades.
In addition to Znora, six other Proof is in the Pudding finalists will be performing at Arizona Bike Week this year. On Sunday, April 12, the HandleBar stage at Arizona Bike Week will showcase the talents of Annalise Mendoza, Vipera, Faultline, Piper Connolly & The Habit, and Garrett James & The Wanderers.
After placing second at Alice Cooper’s teen competition in 2025, Plum, an all-female band, went on to compete and be voted into the finals at the annual Rock Out to AZ Bike Week band competition, landing them a coveted position on the HandleBar stage on Saturday, April 11.
In addition to four nights of headline concerts, Arizona Bike Week delivers a full-throttle festival experience with five days of entertainment, including six custom bike shows, high-energy stunt performances, racing events, interactive exhibits and a sprawling vendor marketplace featuring apparel, gear, art and more.
Tickets are available now and include single-day passes as well as Rally Passes that allow entry for all days and all concerts at Arizona Bike Week.
Fans planning their visits around a particular performance or experience should secure tickets now, as headliners and fan-favorite showcases draw large crowds. Admission is free from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day for those who want to browse vendors, catch stunt shows and take in the daytime activities without staying for the concerts.
Adding to the excitement, Vitalant, the nonprofit blood collection organization, is offering one lucky blood donor a brand-new Harley-Davidson Nightster, giving anyone who donates blood at one of the Vitalant Motorcycle Drives a shot at the top prize. Organizers will announce the winner on Sunday, April 12, at Arizona Bike Week.
For more about Arizona Bike Week or to purchase tickets, visit AZBikeWeek.com.