UPDATED 4/25
PHOTO GALLERY: from opening night with Billy Currington, Jamey Johnson and more.
STORY: Country music festival draws big-name acts to Charlotte
LIVE UPDATES: Country Life Music Festival
Reba McEntire is one of the many stars appearing at the Country Life Music Festival making its debut this weekend near Punta Gorda (courtesy photo).
Reba McEntire proved she’s still the queen of country music Sunday, turning in a flawless performance and taking home the milestone award at the nationally-televised 50th annual Academy of Country Music Awards at AT&T Stadium in Texas. This weekend, she will headline the Country Life Music Festival at a new outdoor venue east of Punta Gorda.
Reba alone would be an impressive get for Southwest Florida, but she’ll be joined by 17 other country acts including such major stars as Hank Williams, Jr., Billy Currington, Big & Rich, Jamey Johnson, Charlie Daniels and Chris Young. Last month, Country Weekly magazine included Country Life in its “Essential 2015 Summer Country Music Festival Guide.”
Numerous music festivals have come and gone in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. None have boasted the talent that attendees will get to see this weekend. Brad Maloney, concert promoter and founder of Country Life, wants to show the music world we’re ready for the big time here in Southwest Florida.
After a quarter century booking acts, Maloney launched Country Life Music Festival two years ago in Peoria, Illinois. Its success led to a second fest last summer and another three-day bash there this July. We talked to Maloney last week about why he brought his Country Life Music Festival to Southwest Florida, how he secured all these stars and his plans here for the future.
Hank Williams Jr. performs before the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race, Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
Q: What prompted you to expand this year from Illinois to Florida?
A: I started coming to Fort Myers in the 1970s as a child to visit my grandparents who had a winter home. I moved here the day after high school in 1982 and have moved back and forth several times. Fort Myers is a tier two market for entertainment, which leads to the bigger markets getting the big names and Southwest Florida getting skipped over as acts go from Tampa to West Palm or Miami. Hopefully, this helps put the area on the map for a lot of artists. Most importantly, the residents need to get out and support this festival and show artists and management that Southwest Florida can support events this size and others. The industry runs on ticket sales. If a venue or city can’t sell tickets, nobody wants to play there.
Q: Why did you choose Charlotte County?
A: A couple of reasons. One, it’s close to Tampa and Fort Myers and Naples, so we can draw from both directions. Two, Florida Tracks and Trails, this venue is going to be amazing and will quickly become a destination for major events, again, only with the support of the residents.
Q: But Florida Track and Trails hasn’t even opened yet. What appealed to you about this venue?
A: There is nothing like it. It’s perfect to expand our brand as it has something to offer in addition to the festival. Off road ATVs, motor cross, paint-ball, beach, lakes, camping. It is set up for the entire family to enjoy. The 50-acre grass festival lawn sets up perfect for our event.
Q: Do you plan on making Country Life an annual event here?
A: Yes, we have a three-year deal with the park and plan to make this the biggest, premier music festival event in the state
Q: How many people do you expect at the festival?
A: We expect 8-10,000 per day for the first year. There is plenty of on-site parking for everyone. This festival is unique, not only do we offer six different levels of ticketing, but we offer three-day and single-day tickets for those that can only make it for a day or two.
Q: Any advice for people camping?
A: The actual campground at FTT is not open. We are offering festival camping for this event, which means we are bringing in all the power for the campground. Next year, FTT will have their full service campground open.
Q: Advice for people getting a hotel?
A: You can stay from Port Charlotte all the way to Fort Myers. Several hotels are offering specials.
Q: What’s the key to booking the talent for a festival that will appeal to a broad audience?
Jamey Johnson and his band perform during the Farm Aid 2013 concert at Saratoga Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Hans Pennink)
A: That is the most difficult. Again, getting the bigger names to commit to a first year festival at a brand new venue is a challenge. Believe it or not, it is not all about the money to these artists. They want to play in front a big crowd and if they don’t think you can pull a crowd they will play somewhere else that weekend. To fill the artist roster here of 18 acts, it took about 30 offers. It’s just not that they don’t want to play, there are many other factors, such as routing, other offers, radius clauses from other events in Florida, etc. It’s a lot of work and takes about three months to get it done.
Q: Just getting Reba would have impressed people. Have you worked with her before?
A: First time with Reba, and what a perfect time to have her. The brand new album “Love Somebody” came out (last) Tuesday, she has been all over the news and TV with being on “The Voice” and the “Today” show. Her single “Going Out Like That” is going through the roof right now and who doesn’t love Reba?
Q: Hank Williams, Jr., hasn’t played anywhere very close to here in years. Was he a tough “get”? Have you worked with him before?
A: Fortunately, I have worked with Hank. He played our first year festival in Illinois and just killed it. He had a great time and our staff did a great job working with his. Hank only plays a handful of dates a year and it’s like winning the Lotto to get a commitment. You have no idea how exciting it is to have Hank here this year. Very well could be his last date ever in these parts.
Q: Why do you think this could be Hank’s last show ever in these parts?
A: He is down to 10-12 shows a year, as he is really spending a lot of time hunting. That, along with that he gets so many offers each day around the country and only plays limited shows, gives it a long shot that we will see him again here for some time.
Brad Maloney, of Blu Events & Entertainment, is the founder and promoter of Country Life Music Festival debuting Friday through Sunday outside Punta Gorda (courtesy photo)
Q: Who’s a young up and coming act people should not miss?
A: Don’t miss Dexter Roberts. He was in the finals of “American Idol” last year and was a big favorite of Keith Urban, who he is playing with at our festival in July. Talk about amazing raw talent, this kid has it. His first EP is now out and his first single “Dream About Me” has hit the charts and is playing on radio around the country.
Q: Grayson Rogers, Casey Weston and Jack Michael are all local acts. How did they land on a lineup with all these established stars?
A: I like to put some local/regional talent on the lineup, it helps these young folks to get out in front on thousands of people and get a taste of their dream, nothing like playing the big stage with some legends.
Q: Anything you would like to add?
A: I ask for folks to get out and support this festival. It’s the first of its kind in Southwest Florida and we want it to grow and become a premier event in the region. Instead of driving across the state to attend something like this, we have brought it right to your back yard. This event is for all ages and will be a great customer experience across the board.
Country Life Music Festival
Friday-Sunday, Florida Tracks & Trails, 39450 Bermont Road, Punta Gorda; single day tickets start at $49; (309) 268-1202; countrylifemusicfestival.com
Billy Currington performs in concert at The Sands Event Center on Thursday, March 19, 2015, in Bethlehem, Pa. (Photo by Owen Sweeney/Invision/AP)
Friday
Billy Currington, 9:30 p.m.
Jamey Johnson, 8 p.m.
.38 Special, 6:30 p.m.
Gloriana, 5 p.m.
Craig Wayne Boyd, 4 p.m.
Grayson Rogers, 2:45 p.m.
Saturday
Hank Williams, Jr., 9:30 p.m.
Big & Rich, 7:30 p.m.
Charlie Daniels, 6 p.m.
Love & Theft, 4:30 p.m.
Dexter Roberts, 3 p.m.
Casey Weston, 2 p.m.
Sunday
Reba, 8:30 p.m.
Chris Young, 7 p.m.
Tracy Lawrence, 5:30 p.m.
Craig Campbell, 4 p.m.
Chris Weaver, 3 p.m.
Jack Michael Band, 2 p.m.
Check out our Country Life Music Festival playlist:
