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The headliner Wednesday is DecembeRadio, who burst on the scene in 2006 with their self-titled Slanted Records' debut. The project was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album and earned the group four Dove Award nominations, including nods in the Best New Artist category and Song of the Year for "Drifter."
That night the band claimed their first Dove Award when DecembeRadio was honored for Rock Album of the Year. The band received its second consecutive Dove Award for Rock Album of the Year with their latest release, Satisfied, only a few months ago.
The band's drummer, Boone Daughdrill, is a former resident of New Hebron and Brookhaven.
Wednesday night's lineup also includes national Christian recording artist Bethany Barr Phillips and Cornerstone, a Columbia band.
Tickets for Wednesday night are sold separately and are not included in the weekend ticket package. Activity begins at 6 p.m. at the Atwood Water Park.
The Colonels, a Brookhaven band, will perform Thursday night after local talented artists compete for a session at Route One Studios in the Atwood Idol contest. The winner will also open Friday night's shows. Interested artists can register in advance at the Lawrence County Community Development Association or before the event, which begins at 6 p.m.
The heart and soul of the festival each year are the weekend concerts and McElroy said this year the entertainers are as strong as they've ever been. Jamey Johnson will headline on Friday with the Honkytonk Tailgate Party, featuring Bates, Wills and Willmon, as the main attraction Saturday. Events begin around 6 p.m. each night.
"I think this is the most (entertainers) we've had in a very long time," McElroy said. "It's unusual for us to have entertainers this big both nights."
Johnson is the co-writer of the Country Music Association and Academy of Country Music 2007 Song of the Year "Give It Away," recorded by George Strait. Trace Adkins, George Jones and Joe Nichols have also recorded his songs. Instead of sitting at home collecting royalty checks, however, he recorded his own album, That Lonesome Song, and has blazed the charts with his own hit song, "In Color."
Chad Simmons, of Brookhaven, and national recording artist The Lost Trailers will open for Johnson with Brookhaven's Ghosttown closing Friday night's activities.
Bates and the Honkytonk Tailgate Party are making their second appearance at the festival. Ironically, they both played the 2004 Atwood Music Festival, but Bates was not a part of the tour group at the time.
Bates, of Columbia, has recorded two critically acclaimed albums - Rainbow Man in 2003 and Leave The Light On in 2006 - plus seven hit singles including "The Love Song," "Long, Slow Kisses," and "One Second Chance."
Mark Wills is a multi-platinum selling country music star with eight top 10 hits including "Don't Laugh At Me" and "Wish You Were Here." "Don't Laugh At Me" was nominated by the CMA for Single, Song, and Video of the Year. Wills won the ACM's award for Top New Male Vocalist. In 2002, his single "19 Somethin'" spent six weeks at No. 1 and was Billboard's top country hit of the year. Mark just recently released his latest album, Familiar Stranger.
Trent Willmon first captured country music audiences with songs like "Beer Man," "Dixie Rose Deluxe's" and "Home Sweet Holiday Inn." His sophomore album, A Little More Livin', produced his first Top 25 single, "On Again Tonight."
Nash Street and national recording artist the LoCash Cowboys will open for the Honkytonk Tailgate Party with the Cowboy Blues Band closing the festival.
For more information, call McElroy at (601) 587-3007.
