Country music artist Thomas Mac entertains crowd at Festival of the Bells; Creed Fisher to replace Bryce Leatherwood for Saturday show

On a beautiful summer evening, the three-day Festival of the Bells continued Friday, July 7 with a great turnout for Thomas Mac’s country music concert, as the Festival committee also announced a change for the Saturday night show.

Just before 9 p.m. Friday, Festival committee chairman Tom Zile took the stage to announce that the previously announced headliner, “The Voice” Bryce Leatherwood, would be unable to perform Saturday, with Creed Fisher now slated as the closing act.

Zile said that Leatherwood’s team contacted them around 4 p.m. Friday and let them know that Leatherwood had a fever of 104 and was too sick to come to the Festival.

Chuck Lipps of RMA Presents — who has provided entertainment booking for the Festival for “24 years minus two [for COVID-19],” he said —  told the crowd that he was able to find a replacement in Fisher.

“We did find out a couple hours ago that Creed Fisher will be here tomorrow night,” Lipps said. “You’re going to love him. He’s a modern-day Hank Jr., he’s pro-America, and he’ll get up here and tell it like it is.

“He was the Entertainer of the Year for the Texas Music Association Awards here a couple years ago. Make sure you come out. It’s going to be a great show.”  

Fisher’s website describes the artist as “country music’s beloved antihero,” with music “celebrating blue collar sensibilities, patriotism and fun-loving simple pleasures.”

According to his Facebook biography, “A proud self-proclaimed redneck, Fisher places his ‘good ol' boy’ status at the center of his own country sound. From southern rock to heavy metal, to tender ballads and even hints of bluegrass, Fisher’s music doesn’t follow any rules, but what makes sense to his own feelings and those he feels with his fans. But one thing remains true, Creed is country and forever remains connected to his roots and the USA. His music comes from the heart and speaks of the love he has for God, his family, his country and his fans.”

On Friday night, however, it was all about Thomas Mac. With over 4 million TikTok followers, plus 58 million views and counting, Mac drew a good crowd to Crossroads Park in Hillsboro.

Following a performance by local band Blue Steel, Mac entertained the crowd with a mix of his original songs, such as “More Like a Bar,” “I Love My Truck” and “Why Beer Is Better Than Women,” as well as covers.

After opening with his song “Countryfied” and a cover of Tim McGraw’s “I Like It, I Love It” (with the reference to the Braves changed to the Reds), Mac drew huge cheers as he told the crowd he was born in Ohio.

“I’m a Buckeye, baby,” he said.

Mac encouraged the crowd to sing along as he performed an acoustic medley of several classic country hits, such as “Hey, Good Lookin,’” “Ring of Fire,” “King of the Road” and “Mammas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” complete with an impression of Willie Nelson.

The crowd also sang along with his spirited covers of “Folsom Prison Blues” and “Family Tradition,” among others.

Also on Friday, Festival events included a human fooseball tournament, bingo, a kids’ coloring contest, a battle of the banks, a performance by illusionist Jake Lindsey and an armed services and veteran recognition ceremony.

The festival concludes Saturday with a busy schedule of activities, beginning with a 5K run/walk at 8 a.m. (registration at 7 a.m.). At 9:30 a.m., a 3-on-3 basketball tournament will begin at the Railroad Street Park (registration starts at 9 a.m.).

At 10 a.m., there will be several simultaneous activities kicking off with the pet parade (registration starts at 9:30 a.m.), cornhole tournament (registration starts at 9 a.m.) and the Highland County Historical Society’s annual Pioneer Day at the Scott House all starting at the same time.

Later in the morning, a kids dash will start at 10:30 a.m. (registration at 10:15 a.m.).

At 11 a.m., rides will open, while a car show (registration starts at 10 a.m.) and the baby parade (registration at 10:30 a.m.) will begin. Car show awards will be presented at 3 p.m.

In the afternoon, a “Festival’s Got Talent” competition will begin at 1 p.m., and a scavenger hunt will be held starting at 4 p.m.

Following the annual Festival of the Bells auction at 8 p.m. — which Zile said will feature a commemorative bell as well as Cincinnati Bengals memorabilia — the event ends with Fisher’s concert at 9 p.m.

The complete schedule can be found at: https://www.thefestivalofthebells.com/schedule.

For pictures from Thursday night, go to: https://highlandcountypress.com/2023-festival-bells-underway-christian-artist-micah-tyler-kicks-concert-slate.