A Little Country…a Little Rock and Roll!

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WE THE KINGS
5:15 PM—Bradenton Main Stage

We the Kings are a melodic emo pop band from Bradenton, Florida. Friends since childhood (the band’s moniker even refers to the name of their junior high school mascot), the four bandmates: singer/guitarist Travis Clark, guitarist Hunter Thomsen, his brother, bassist Drew Thomsen and drummer Danny Duncan—formed the group while attending high school. They placed a number of tracks on the social networking site Purevolume in 2007 to build online buzz. From the release of their debut album, “We The Kings” in ’07…to their newest studio album release titled “Six” this year, the group has has earned national fame and recording success including a Top 100 singles such as “Check Yes Juliet” and “We’ll Be a Dream,” the latter which featured guest vocals from Demi Lovato.

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Andy Pursell Band
5:15 PM—Palmetto Main Stage

The Andy Pursell Band was started by lead singer/songwriter Andy Pursell in 2015 and has performed at venues such as: Grand ‘Ole Opry, Hard Rock Café, and the Whiskey a Go Go blending country with a rock edge. The band keeps fans on their feet with an energetic mix of originals and cover songs.

In 2016, the band was named “Favorite New Country Artist” by the Tampa Bay Music Network and this year opened up for John Micheal Montgomery at the Punta Gorda Downtown Hoedown Festival. They were also a supporting act for Clay Walker at the Kix Country 92.9 Fest in Port Charlotte, FL and the headline act for the 2017 Suwannee River Jam.

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Couch Music Education Foundation Students
Noon—Bradenton Main Stage and Palmetto Main Stage

The Del Couch Music Education Foundation is a non-profit organization formed to provide area youth with the opportunities to create and learn the art of music, to record and listen to their musical creations and to provide a platform where they can enhance their musical, cultural, academic and life opportunities.

Focusing on underprivileged and disadvantaged youth, but available to all, the Foundation works with local schools and civic organizations to provide services that have been drastically reduced over the years or are no longer available in area schools. To provide musically inclined kids with these opportunities, the Foundation has arrangements with organizations such as The Boys & Girls Clubs, The YMCA and the Palmetto Youth Center.

Penny Fountain
1 PM—Bradenton Main Stage

Penny Fountain is an alternative punk band from Palmetto, Florida. Members JT Baumgardner [vocals], Tony Koon [lead guitar], Tyler Esposito [rhythm guitar], Xavier Wilkinson [bass] and Joel Lopez [drums] formed April 2018.

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Trevor Bystrom Band
1:45 PM—Bradenton Main Stage

Trevor Bystrom plays a wide range of instruments in various styles, including a
Weissenborn slide guitar, 12-string guitar, and an instrument he built himself
called an ngoni (African harp). Spanning multiple genres, his original
compositions continue to explore new world sounds and grooves. Trevor is a
singer-songwriter at his core, having begun writing his first year of high school,
and enjoys the process of seeing his originals come to life, from the initial
acoustic versions of his songs, to the engineered art of the recording studio.

Trevor and Morgan joined up with Kristie Armas on the U-bass to form, The
Tribal Trio. With this acoustic act, Trevor released his second album, “Live and
Direct,” which sold almost 1,000 copies without a label. After two years with this
trio, Trevor’s songwriting visions led him to pursue a more dynamic project with a
full size band.

Shaman–Tribute to “ABBA”
2:45 PM—Bradenton Main Stage

Formed by Del Couch, Shaman has toured throughout the southeast for 20 years, performing at corporate functions, weddings and street parties. Playing almost every genre, they are known for their high-energy dance sets. Featuring Dian Kalley on vocals, Kenny Crawley on Drums, Dr, Erol Ozsever of guitar and Del on keyboards and trumpet.

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Under the Moon & Friends
4 PM—Bradenton Main Stage

A dynamic 3 piece band, Under the Moon performs around the Tampa Bay area at
various functions including: The Farmers Market, The Reserve in Sarasota and the Art Ovation Hotel. Featuring Delaney Couch, Savannah Waller and Ivan Biletsky, all members are seniors at Manatee School for the Arts.

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Sam Woolf
4:30 PM—Bradenton Main Stage

SAM WOOLF is a singer-songwriter who gained national recognition as a Top Five finalist on American Idol’s 2014 season. Best known for his original compositions and pitch perfect vocals, Sam has been hailed as a “natural singer whose soul and passion are undeniable in every note he sings.” With the support of his strong network of fans, dubbed the “Woolfpack,” Sam’s live performances and recordings has garnered millions of views on social media.

In 2014, Sam released his debut EP Pretend, produced by Grammy award-winner Danny Blume. The album, which was released independently, debuted at #9 on the Billboard Heatseakers Chart. Most recently, Sam released two new singles, “Fast ‘n’ Dirty,” and “Stop Thinking About It,” which he co-wrote with Stephen Puth (brother of singer-songwriter Charlie Puth). Additionally, he recorded “On It” with the Como Brothers at Germano Studios in New York City with Grammy Award-nominated engineer Kenta Yonesaka.

301 Travelers
1 PM—Palmetto Main Stage

301 Travelers is a up and coming band that doesn’t limit themselves to a genre! 80s Rock, 90s contemporary, New Country and even a little Pop mixed in here and there! You’ll be out of your seat and on your feet all “show” long!

Matt Walden
2 PM—Palmetto Main Stage

At the age of 15, Matt Walden started writing songs in his room stemming from heartbreak and hormones, posting originals and quick covers on YouTube of artists such as The Maine, Hunter Hayes & Ed Sheeran. He wrote ‘breathe’ in October 2016 about his dealings with suicide, depression and the overall negative thoughts he experienced…wanting to spark hope not only in himself, but others who may be dealing with similar trials. In the summer of 2017, he released the ‘Alive – EP’ that has accumulated roughly 500k+ plays and is still growing…while steadily releasing singles in January, February & April of 2018. As of October 2018, his song ‘Milestone’ ft. Joey Kidney is about to break 1,000,000 streams on Spotify. Throughout it all, his goal remains constant: to be/create an escape.

Brandi Sparks
3 PM—Palmetto Main Stage

Brandi Sparks is a singer who’s passion for music began at an early age. At 24 years old,  she started performing professionally—moving further south to refine her dream. She has had the privilege of learning from, recording, and performing with some talented musicians over the years and is now pursuing her passion more than ever. She currently lives in Bradenton with her 3 year-old son, Gavin.

Billy Rice Band—Tribute to GEORGE STRAIT
4 PM—Palmetto Main Stage

Billy Rice was born in Ohio and moved to Florida at age 7. He bought his first guitar from Sear’s & Roebuck using money he saved by mowing lawns. With a band of schoolmates, he played his first professional performance at 14 years of age. He has toured extensively throughout Florida and graced the stage with acts such as: Toby Keith, Mark Chesnutt, David Lee Murphy and recently was an opening act for Keith Urban.