Carolina Country Music Festival Adds Another Day, More Artists

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What could be more fun than three days of country music in Myrtle Beach's downtown district? Try four days of country music in the same scenic setting.

The inaugural event, which will be held on the former Pavilion site along Ocean Boulevard and the Atlantic Ocean, has seen such a reaction to the announcement of the event that a fourth day was added to the initial three-day concert. The event is now Thursday through Sunday, June 4-7.

Billed as the kick-off party to the main concert lineup, Thursday's opening night will feature Academy of Country Music nominee for New Artist of the Year Sam Hunt and other local bands to be announced. Hunt, a former University of Alabama-Birmingham football player turned country music star, took Nashville by storm with his debut album “Montevallo,” which topped three of Billboard's Country charts. He also wrote hit songs for such big names as Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney and Billy Currington, and he earned a 2015 Grammy Award nomination for his songwriting.

The festival's lineup also got a recent boost with the addition of Southern rock pioneers and South Carolina's own Marshall Tucker Band. Known for such hits as “Can't You See” and “Heard It In A Love Song,” the Spartanburg-based band will perform together for the first time in more than three decades this summer, giving the Carolina Country Music Festival a bit of a family reunion feel. The band will play the final day of the show, Sunday, June 7, at 3:30 p.m.

The Carolina Country Music Festival also recently announced the full lineup and schedule for the three-day festival, including two separate stages to keep the music going all day and night. All headline acts will perform on the Jack Daniel’s Stage on the east end of the Pavilion site closest to the beach, while the WPDE Stage will be on the opposite end and will host some of the lesser-known but up-and-coming artists. Three of the regional acts playing the WPDE Stage will be selected in a contest sponsored by ReverbNation.com.

Friday's 10 p.m. headline act on the main Jack Daniel's Stage will be Rascal Flatts, proceeded by Cole Swindell (8 p.m.), Rodney Atkins (6:30 p.m.), the Georgia Satellites (3:30 p.m.), and the Davisson Brothers Band (2 p.m.). Saturday's schedule is highlighted by Eric Church, Big & Rich, Colt Ford, and Corey Smith on the Jack Daniel's Stage. The show closes Sunday night with Lady Antebellum, Hunter Hayes, David Nail, Kellie Pickler and MTB. Others scheduled to appear throughout the event are Ricky Young, Brooke Eden, Brian Davis, Rainey Qualley, and John King. In all, more than 35 national, regional and local acts will perform.

An estimated 25,000 fans are expected to pack the Pavilion site for the shows, and attendees are encouraged to bring a beach blanket or a lawn chair for comfortable seating arrangements. Additional parking is being added to the areas surrounding the concert site and free shuttles will carry ticket-holders to and from the venue. A concessions area and vendor tents will be set up to accommodate the big crowds.

Tickets to Thursday's kickoff event are $39, but those who have already purchased packages to the three-day event can get free tickets to the kick-off party. Tickets can be purchased at the Carolina Country Bar, located at 300 Ninth Ave. North in Myrtle Beach; Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets to the main event are $189 for general admission, $299 for main stage VIP passes, and $999 for a Super VIP package. To purchase tickets online or for more information, visit http://www.carolinacountrymusicfest.com

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(Posted: 5/11/15)