H.O.R.D.E. Festival, conceived by Blues Traveler frontman John Popper as a traveling roots rock and jam band festival which crisscrossed North America to record crowds from 1992-1998, makes its highly anticipated return for one US date only at DTE Energy Music Theatre on Thursday, July 9 at 5 p.m. DTE will be the only destination for this acclaimed festival revival where Blues Traveler is joined by alt-rockers 311, Big Head Todd and the Monsters and The Verve Pipe.

Tickets at $69.50, $49.50 and $25 in the pavilion, $20 on the United Shore lawn and $60 United Shore lawn four-packs go on sale Friday, May 1 at 10 a.m. at Livenation.com, Palacenet.com, The Palace Ticket Store and all Ticketmaster locations. Tickets may be also charged by phone to American Express, Discover, Visa and MasterCard by calling 800.745.3000.

The H.O.R.D.E. Festival began in 1992 as a solution to the dilemma of five east-coast bands that sought to avoid the club circuit in the summertime when other larger bands were playing to sold-out amphitheaters. After seven successful years, the final H.O.R.D.E. date took place on September 5, 1998 at Portland Meadows in Portland, Oregon.

Multi-platinum rock group 311 have developed a reputation as one of the most entertaining live bands in the US. Their celebratory live shows and hybrid sound have earned them a massive grassroots following and a catalog of modern rock hits, including “Down,” “All Mixed Up,” “Amber,” “Come Original,” and “Beautiful Disaster.” The band’s most recent release, 2014’s Stereolithic, topped the Billboard Alternative Albums chart. In celebration of their 25th anniversary as a band, 311 will release a special 4 Disc Box Set this summer.

For nearly three decades, the New Jersey-based band Blues Traveler has sold more than 13 million albums worldwide. Their multi-platinum album, four, featured the GRAMMY® Award-winning, Billboard top 10 smash, “Run-Around.” Blues Traveler’s most recent studio album Blow Up the Moon, is the 12th studio album and was released on April 7. Each track on the album was recorded as a collaboration, including guests  3OH!3, JC Chasez, The Dirty Heads, Rome Ramirez, Hanson, Plain White T’s, Thompson Square, Secondhand Serenade, New Hollow, Jewel, Bowling for Soup, and Thomas Ian Nicholas.

Founded in Colorado in 1986, Big Head Todd and the Monsters (BHTM) catapulted out of the mountain states and into the national spotlight. With chart-topping singles and engaging live shows, BHTM has sold over three million albums and packed major venues worldwide, including selling out their home state’s historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre seven times, most recently in 2012. Most importantly, they’ve done it the old-fashioned way: with excellent songwriting, scorching guitar and fearless genre melding. The band’s most recent release is 2014’s Black Beehive, recorded at Butcher Boy Studios in Chicago.

With a reputation for spectacular live performances, the genesis of East Lansing, Michigan band The Verve Pipe can be traced back to the early 1990s when the principal members of two rival Michigan bands joined forces. After releasing two independent albums, I’ve Suffered A Head Injury and Pop Smear, the group quickly garnered a regional following for its textured rock songs distinguished by innovative arrangements, soul-searching lyrics and layered vocals.

The success of both albums attracted the attention of RCA Records, which released their platinum major label debut Villains in 1996. The album featured the radio hit “Photograph” and the #1 single “The Freshmen,” one of the most successful multi-format tracks of 1997 and winner of an ASCAP Pop Award. Their follow-up release, the critically acclaimed self-titled LP The Verve Pipe, featured “Hero,” a Top 15 hit at Modern Rock radio. They released their first rock album in over 13 years last June with Overboard, a collection of 10 new songs including the first single “Crash Landing,” along with “Hit and Run,” “Latchkey Kid” and the haunting title track “Overboard.”

The “Workshop Stage” will feature the Thomas Nicholas Band with frontman Thomas Ian Nicholas, who starred in the American Pie movie franchise. The band, along with bassist Clint Fowler, drummer Tim Moore and guitarist Matt Kennedy, has released five albums. Their fourth album, a self-titled EP released in March 2012, includes the single “My Generation” which is also on the American Reunion soundtrack album. Their latest album is the EP, Security, released in April 2014. Michigan funk-pop band The Ragbirds will also perform on the second stage, which will allow bands the unique opportunity to jam with each other.

In addition to the “Workshop Stage,” the festival grounds will feature local craft beer selections, vendor booths, non-profit groups, including mobile food rescue organization Forgotten Harvest; Ypsilanti non-profit Growing Hope; youth social services agency Ruth Ellis Center; Notes for Notes, which is dedicated to providing youth with free access to music instruments, instruction and recording studio environments; and Detroit Institute of Music Education (DIME), a music college custom built for serious musicians who desire a long-term, professional career in modern music.

H.O.R.D.E. Festival featuring 311, Blues Traveler and Big Head Todd and the Monsters at DTE Energy Music Theatre is part of the Belle Tire Concert Series.