Jana Kramer, Phil Vassar headline 2016 Festival of the Bells

By Caitlin Forsha
The Highland County Press

On behalf of the Festival of the Bells committee, entertainment chairman Rick Williams has announced two exciting artists selected to headline the 2016 festival, set for June 30-July 2 in uptown Hillsboro.

Recent ACM Female Vocalist of the Year nominee Jana Kramer will perform Friday night at the Festival, while popular singer-songwriter Phil Vassar will headline the Saturday night show.

“We are excited about this year’s talent and welcome everyone to the 2016 Festival of the Bells,” Williams said.

Jana Kramer, whose smash hit “I Got The Boy” was named one of Rolling Stone’s top country songs of 2015, won the ACM for Top New Female Artist in 2012, according to her website (janakramer.com). Her album, “thirty one,” debuted in October in the top 10 of all Billboard album sales and debuted in third place on the Country Albums chart. “I Got the Boy” was certified Gold by the RIAA on Nov. 30, according to Kramer’s website, selling over 500,000 copies.

Originally an actress appearing on the hit TV show “One Tree Hill,” Kramer signed a record deal in 2011 and released her debut album, “Jana Kramer,” in 2012. The album included several hits, including “Whiskey” and “Why You Wanna,” the latter of which reached No. 3 on the Billboard US Country Airplay chart. “Why You Wanna” was nominated for Single of the Year and Music Video of the Year at the American Music Awards, as well as Female
Video of the Year and Breakthrough Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards.

“Country music is in my blood,” Kramer says in her artist biography. “I love country music because it tells a story, and I have a lot of stories to tell.”

Kramer recently gave birth to her first child, a daughter, with husband, Michael Caussin, a former NFL tight end. She is scheduled to resume touring in April.

“I think we’re going to score a big hit with our entertainment again,” Festival of the Bells President Michael Bradford said. “We have some really great talent lined up for Friday and Saturday.

“We’ll also be working on some new and better things to do at the festival, outside of the concerts, to be entertained. We will be keeping some of the events from last year and adding some new things.”

“We are looking forward to a wonderful festival this year, with great activities and great entertainment,” Bradford said.

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• While his country songs have been recorded by country music legends such as Tim McGraw and Alan Jackson since the mid-1990s, Phil Vassar began his singing career with the release of his self-titled debut album in 2000, according to his website (philvassar.com). Vassar’s first album yielded the Top 5 hit debut single “Carlene,” followed by the smash “Another Day in Paradise,” which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.

The album also included the singles “That’s When I Love You,” “Six-Pack Summer” and “Rose Bouquet.”

Vassar’s discography includes “10 No. 1 singles and 26 Top 40 hits,” according to his website. Among his many well-known singles are “American Child,” “In A Real Love” and “That’s When I Love You.”

Vassar has released six albums, including a greatest hits compilation that features both Vassar’s own hits and the smash hits he wrote for other singers, including Jo Dee Messina’s “Bye Bye” and “I’m Alright,” Tim McGraw’s “My Next Thirty Years” and “For A Little While” and Collin Raye’s “Little Red Rodeo.”

Vassar is currently touring in the United States and Europe as part of his 2016 American Soul Tour. He keeps an active social media presence, including taking song requests from social media and starting an online video series, “Songs from the Cellar,” which can be viewed on his website or at songsfromthecellar.com.

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Festival of the Bells announces
2016 dates, committee members

• The Festival of the Bells committee has announced the dates for the 2016 festival, as well as this year’s committee members.

The 2016 Festival of the Bells will be June 30 and July 1-2.

The committee members and officers for the 2016 Festival are:

• Michael Bradford, President;
• Mary Fent, Vice-President/Crafters;
• Beverly Carroll, Co-Treasurer;
• Connie Williams, Co-Treasurer and VIP Tent;
• Debbie Wallingford, Secretary/Information Booth;
• Rick Williams, Entertainment;
• Tara Pendell, Food Vendors;
• Sara Carroll, Website/Food Vendors;
• Abby Hilterbrand, Crafters/VIP Tent;
• Nyhla Rothwell, 5K Race and Events;
• Charlie Wallingford, Information Booth;
• Norman Fent, Set Up;
• Ronnie Whitenack, Set Up;
• Justin Harsha, Set Up (City Representative).

“The festival committee is busy getting ready for the 2016 festival with great events and entertainment,” committee president Michael Bradford told The Highland County Press.

Updates will be added to the Festival of the Bells website (www.festivalofthebells.com), as well as their Facebook.

Check back to highlandcountypress.com for more information as it becomes available.