Award-Winning Drunk Unkles Take the Stage in Vegas

The NSCA Education Foundation announces the Drunk Unkles' first 2018 fundraiser, scheduled for Wednesday, June 6, at Vinyl in the Hard Rock Hotel Las Vegas. Now in their 13th year of supporting the NSCA Education Foundation, the Drunk Unkles have generated more than $1 million for the industry through this annual event.

In February, the Drunk Unkles received NSCA's 2018 Volunteer of the Year award to recognize their continuous efforts to make the systems integration industry better. This fundraiser will not only strengthen the NSCA Education Foundation's efforts to grow the AV industry, but will also give the industry the chance to thank its beloved Drunk Unkles for all they've done.

Dubbed "Awards are Nice ... Like Tequila on Ice" as a toast to the band's recent accomplishment, the Drunk Unkles concert kicks off InfoComm this year. Tickets for the event can be picked up at designated sponsor booths during InfoComm 2018, or downloaded at www.nsca.org/nsca-education-foundation or www.drunkunkles.com.

Thanks to the generosity of Cleerline's Rob D'Addario, the Drunk Unkles will auction off a Music Man guitar with an authenticated signature from renowned guitarist Albert Lee -- with strings attached (featuring the latest D'Addario strings and accessories). The funds generated from this auction will be donated to the NSCA Education Foundation.

Donations from industry professionals, manufacturers, consultant firms, dealers, distributors, rep firms, and integrators as part of this annual event allow the NSCA Education Foundation to establish meaningful and impactful programs, offer scholarships, and provide training opportunities for new professionals and industry veterans.

"The Drunk Unkles are a very humble group that will likely want to hide from the attention and recognition of all they've done," says Chuck Wilson, director of the NSCA Education Foundation. "It does appear, however, that tequila is their sweet spot. The Drunk Unkles have supported our industry in a way that no other group has."

The band performed its first fundraising event 16 years ago to help the family of an industry peer who unexpectedly lost his life. Not only is the annual Drunk Unkles performance during InfoComm a great party and a fun way to reconnect, but it more importantly brings in funds that allow the NSCA Education Foundation to continue to support the systems integration industry.

Sponsors for this year's event include Atlas Sound, Barco, Belden, Biamp, Bosch Communications Systems, BTX, Cleerline, FSR, Harman, Liberty AV, Milestone AV Technologies, NEC Display Solutions, Solutions360, Stewart FilmScreen, SurgeX, Synnex Corporation, West Penn Wire, and Winsted Corporation.

Their support helps fund industry programs like IGNITE and the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools (PASS K-12).

The all-star band features Felix Robinson, "Unkle" Steve Emspak and Marc Hochlerin of Shen Milsom & Wilke; Mike Phillips of Hudson Marketing Inc.; John Cardone of Cardone Solomon and Associates; and "Aunt" Lisa Wenger, formerly of Bosch Communications Systems and now with the Lisa Wenger Band. On June 6, a number of special guests will also be welcomed, including Mark Peterson, Billy Larson, and Rob D'Addario.