Attendees of Nick’s Big Time Rush concert series will be getting a special appearance by one of gaming’s most iconic characters, Mario himself.

In a press release sent out earlier this morning, Nintendo announced that Mario and crew would be  following the tour around the country challenging gamers to step up to the wheel before the big show. The Big Time Rush Tour runs from July 5th to August 5th with playable demos of Mario Kart 7 available on site for gamers to get their hands on.

“Big Time Rush fans will discover a new kind of rush when they tear up the track with Mario,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “The frenetic fun of Mario Kart 7 makes a great match with the band’s energetic music. The chance to get hands-on with Nintendo 3DS will make each of these concerts even more memorable for attendees, whether they’re experienced gamers or newcomers.”

 Also available to download at the concert would be Nintendo Miis based off characters from the hit Nickelodeon show that can be used in-game and on the track. Tour dates with available MK7 demos are listed below:

July 5: Columbus, Ohio – Nationwide Arena
July 6: Milwaukee – Summerfest
July 7: St. Louis – Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
July 8: Cincinnati – Riverbend Music Center
July 10: Atlanta – Aaron’s Amphitheater at Lakewood
July 11: Birmingham, Ala. – Oak Mountain Amphitheatre
July 13: Houston – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
July 14: Dallas – Gexa Energy Pavilion
July 15: Tulsa, Okla. – BOK Center
July 17: Phoenix – Ashley Furniture Home Store Pavilion
July 19: Irvine, Calif. – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre
July 20: San Diego – Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre
July 21: Las Vegas – Mandalay Bay Events Center
July 22: Mountain View, Calif. – Shoreline Amphitheatre
July 23: Paso Robles, Calif. – California Mid-State Fair
July 25: Salt Lake City – USANA Amphitheatre Energy Solutions Arena
July 27: Kansas City, Mo. – Sprint Center
July 28: Minneapolis – Target Center
July 29: Indianapolis – Klipsch Music Center
July 31: Clarkston, Mich. – DTE Energy Music Theatre
Aug. 1: Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio – Blossom Music Center
Aug. 3: Louisville, Ky. – KFC Yum! Center
Aug. 4: Tinley Park, Ill. – First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
Aug. 5: Burgettstown, Pa. – First Niagara Pavilion

While I can’t say we here at GU are overly fond of teen-pop sensations (barring Bieber, of course!) the concert does seem like an awesome way to persuade a new generation of potential gamers with one Nintendo’s tried and true franchises. Points for pairing concerts and driving closed circuits Nintendo, though Nascar may have you beat to the punch!