Two performers added to Fall Festival lineup
By Steve Wildsmithof The Daily Times Staff
Originally published: July 24. 2008 3:01AM
Last modified: July 24. 2008 12:05AM
More changes to the lineup of this year's Foothills Fall Festival were announced on Wednesday, but the good news is there have been no more cancellations since Willie Nelson backed out.
Instead, two additional acts -- country star Billy Currington and up-and-coming female artist Ashton Shepherd -- have been added to the bill for Sunday, Oct. 12. The previously-announced Julianne Hough, who made a name for herself on ABC's "Dancing With the Stars," has rescheduled her appearance, giving area residents another concert to look forward to on Dec. 5.
"For a festival that draws so many big names and phenomenally talented artists, it's not unusual to have schedule changes," said Jane Groff, events coordinator for the City of Maryville, which puts on the festival. "We've been fortunate in the past that we haven't had to deal with a lot of those changes, but we feel confident we can proceed with ticket sales with a confirmed lineup of great music for this year's festival."
As previously announced, this year's headliners include classic rock band Foreigner on Friday, Oct. 10; country artists the Road Hammers, Billy Ray Cyrus, Jason Aldean and Josh Turner on Saturday, Oct. 11; and, in addition to Shepherd and Currington, Sunday's lineup will feature Jason Michael Carroll and country music legend Kenny Rogers.
Starting Friday through Aug. 15, a three-day pass to the festival will be $35. Tickets for the festival go on sale Friday through Tickets Unlimited or in person at any Blount County First Tennessee Bank location or GreenBank branch. They're also available at the Maryville Municipal Center. To purchase tickets by phone, call 656-4444.
Despite the cancellation of Nelson earlier this month, Groff said this year's festival continues to draw interest from fans both locally and across the Southeast. Last year's festival -- which featured Big Rich, Sara Evans and REO Speedwagon -- sold out by the end of summer, and with another strong lineup, many callers have indicated they plan to buy passes early this year before they sell out.
Currington's addition to the lineup comes as part of the list of available performers that local residents could vote for in a recent poll on the Web site of WIVK-FM, one of the festival sponsors. After Nelson's cancellation, the votes by the public helped determine Rogers as Nelson's successor.
Currington, signed to Mercury Nashville, has charted five Top 10 hits on the Billboard country charts, including two No. 1 songs -- "Must Be Doin' Somethin' Right" and "Good Directions."
Shepherd, a 21-year-old native of Alabama who is signed to MCA Nashville, released her debut album, "Sounds So Good," earlier this year. It rose to No. 16 on the Billboard Country Albums chart.
Hough, who exercised her option to join the cast of a fall edition of "Dancing With the Stars," has pledged to make it up to her Foothills Fall Festival fans by scheduling a Dec. 5 concert locally. Details of that show will be announced at a later date.
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