Festival welcomes Kip Moore, James Wesley, Hunter Hayes
The city of Hillsboro will welcome country acts Kip Moore, James Wesley and Hunter Hayes to the 2012 Festival of the Bells.
Moore and Wesley will perform Friday night of the festival, on June 6. Hayes will perform Saturday, July 7.
Wesley, who is originally from southeastern Kansas, with a voice his website describes as "whiskey smooth," released his first album in 1999. His second studio album features the love song "Jackson Hole" and his breakout hit, "Didn't I."
"Kip Moore's big song is 'Somethin' 'Bout a Truck," Rick Williams, chair of the Festival of the Bells entertainment committee, said. "He has another one coming out that's really good, too."
Last month, Moore, who is scheduled to perform during the festival's Friday night concert, had the number one single with "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck," according to the Billboard Hot Country Song Chart and the Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart.
Williams said that they are excited to once again have an artist heading to Highland County who is on the rise.
"We're really happy about Kip hitting number one," Williams told The Highland County Press. "We're tried to get some people coming to town who are just about to really hit it, and it looks like we've done it again."
Moore grew up in Georgia but spent time in Hawaii before he moved to Nashville in 2004. "Somethin' 'Bout a Truck' was his first top 20 hit, according to his website. His debut single, "Mary Was the Marrying Kind" was released in 2011. Moore also co-wrote Wesley's song, "Walking Contradiction."
Hunter Hayes is nominated as best new artist by the Academy of Country Music Awards – an honor that was taken last year by 2011 Festival of the Bells performers The Band Perry.
"We're been very fortunate, and we've picked people over the years who have won that award many times," Williams said.
Hayes, who is from Breaux Bridge, La., co-wrote a song, "Play," at the age of 16 and was recorded by another Festival alum, Rascal Flatts.
His debut single "Storm Warning" came out in 2011, and he was an opening act for Taylor Swift during her Speak Now World Tour.
Swift, according to Williams, brought in the largest crowd in festival history in 2007 with an estimated 17,000 packing the streets of Hillsboro.
"We're just super happy with the three people we've got coming this year," Williams said.
When it comes to booking the acts for each year's festival, Williams said it's almost a year-round activity traveling to see groups to find a good fit for the Highland County community.
"I really enjoy doing it, and I do it to try to give back something to the people of Highland County. The most I've ever traveled at one time to see a show was nine hours, and then we had to turn around and drive back. I've done that more than once, but I love it."
Williams said that after he watches a performance, he always meets the groups they're considering booking, and he likes to see if they have an appreciation for small towns.
"I think it's cool if you can find a group that has something in common with the Hillsboro area," Williams said. "I think that's important."
"There's probably three concerts that stick out in my mind," Williams said. "It would be hard to put them in order, but if I had to, I really liked Neal McCoy, Taylor Swift, and it's a tie between Lady Antebellum and The Band Perry."
Festival chairperson Michael Bradford said that in addition to the stage entertainment, the committee is working to develop new and exciting attractions for the 2012 festival.
"The baby parade is making a comeback," Bradford said. "HUBA (The Hillsboro Uptown Business Association) is taking it over this year. It will most likely be on a Saturday morning, but we don't have the set schedule yet. We're really excited to be working with them and to have the baby parade back."
The festival footprint will be the same this year, Bradford said, with the 100 blocks of North and South High Street and East and West Main Street being shut down for festival activities. Gov. Trimble Place and Gov. Foraker Place will also be closed, with Gov. Trimble Place designated for the city's activities.
Corporate sponsor NCB is also working with the festival to set up a pavilion that will feature the work and wares of Highland County businesses.
"We're really excited," Bradford said. "I think it's going to be a really good weekend for everyone."