On Saturday, June 1, recent CMA Award winners Little Big Town and Hunter Hayes will headline the star studded Blue Ridge Music Festival at Salem Stadium.
Fellow Nashville recording artists Gloriana, Colt Ford, Greg Bates, Will Hoge, Sweetwater Rain and Virginia’s own legendary Skip Castro Band are rounding out the lineup of this day-long event.
“We are very pleased to be partnering with Mike Smardak and the fine people at Outback Concerts on this event and hope to make the Blue Ridge Music Festival an annual event in Salem Stadium,” said Carey Harveycutter, Salem’s director of Civic Facilities.
“We’re excited for this event,” stated Mike Smardak, president of Outback Concerts.
Special can’t begin to describe the past 12 months for Little Big Town. The hard working quartet was named Vocal Group of the Year at the recent Country Music Association Awards in November and the group’s smash hit “Pontoon” off of their number one album “Tornado” also was named the CMA’s single of the year.
Hunter Hayes, who has made several trips to the valley in recent years, took home the coveted New Artist of the Year honor at the CMA ceremonies in Nashville. Hayes self titled debut album already has produced two number one hits including “Storm Warning” and “Wanted.” The talented Louisiana native played more than 30 instruments on the album.
Another crowd favorite will be the Charlottesville based Skip Castro Band that has been lighting up venues across the commonwealth with their blistering rhythm and blues rock since 1977.
Salem has played host to a number of major stars for stadium shows in the past decade. In 2005, Salem Memorial Ballpark welcomed Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson to the stage, in 2006, Dierks Bentley and Miranda Lambert headlined the festival and in 2011, the Zac Brown Band performed at Salem Stadium.
