LAS CRUCES, NM- The line-up for the 2015 Las Cruces Country Music Festival is complete. The star-studded list includes Kenny Rogers, Dustin Lynch, The Swon Brothers, RaeLynn and Bri Bagwell. Tickets are now on sale for the April 24-26 event.
The country music party begins Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. with merchandise vendors, food, dancing, a kid's fun area, and live music on two stages. The festival will also host the New Mexico TRUE area which features vendors and artisans from all over the state. The star entertainment begins at 7 p.m. on the main stage with the beautiful and talented 20 year-old country music sensation RaeLynn. Friday's featured performer is the timeless and legendary country music artist, Kenny Rogers. His show begins at 9 p.m.
The festivities continue Saturday morning downtown with the Las Cruces Farmers & Crafts Market. It features more than local 300 local vendors and is rated as one of the top farmers markets in the country. Action continues at mid-day on the campus of New Mexico State University. The Aggies host their annual rodeo with collegiate teams competing from around the Southwest. The festival grounds re-open at 4 p.m. with more live music on the local stage, dancing and activities for the kiddos. The lights on the main stage go up at 6 p.m. as the talented and charming Brig Bagwell takes the spotlight for her performance. She is followed by the "2014 Country Music Association Vocal Duo of the Year" nominees, Swon Brothers at 7:15 p.m. The headliner for the evening's performances is "Young Gun and Top Country Artist," Dustin Lynch who takes the stage at 9:15 p.m.
Phil San Filippo, executive director for the Las Cruces Convention Visitors Bureau says he is looking forward to listening to some of the best country music talent in the country. "We have a legend in Kenny Rogers, a trio of standout stars in Dustin Lynch and the Swon Brothers, and the addition of RaeLynn and Brig Bagwell, two beautiful young ladies with outstanding voices and stage presence, I couldn't ask for anything better," says San Filippo. "It's going to be a great show, in a great venue and I am looking forward to it. The fans are going to love it!"
Sunday's activities move to the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum for the Country Breakfast and Western Wear Fashion Show at 10 a.m. The morning features a home-cooked country meal, acoustic performances by festival artists as well as a western wear fashion show.
If you're itching for the festival and can't wait until April don't despair, log onto lccountryfest.com and enjoy a free music stream with songs from this year's artist and previous music festivals as well. Click on the "Tune in to Las Cruces Country Music Festival" link at the top of the web page and enjoy the selections.
Local bands are also invited to compete in the Las Cruces Country Music Festival "Battle of the Bands." Bands will compete for a chance to perform on the festival's local stage. Those interested in competing should contact the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau at (575) 541-2150. Full details will be available on the website in the upcoming weeks.
Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased at the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau located at 211 N. Water St. or online atlccountryfest.com. The festival offers several ticket options, starting with a day pass for only $22 per person per day in advance or $25 at the gate. A two-day festival pass is $40 in advance or $45 at the gate.
This pass includes access to all concerts, the NMSU rodeo, and the "Behind the Music." For those wanting the "red carpet" treatment there is a VIP package available for $150 which includes access to all the concerts, Sunday Brunch, Behind the Music, the NMSU rodeo, special VIP seating at the festival, a commemorative t-shirt, front of line access for artist meet-n-greets and access to Thursday night VIP party. Individual passes are available for Sunday Brunch for $15 and Behind the Music for $10.
The festival is hosted by the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau. For more information visit lccountryfest.com
2015 Festival Schedule
Thursday, April 23rd
7:00 PM VIP Party, Hotel Encanto
Friday, April 24th
10:00 AM Rodeo- NMSU campus
5:00 PM NMSU Rodeo- NMSU campus
4:00 PM Country Music Festival gates open - downtown
7:00 PM RaeLynn on main stage - downtown
9:00 PM Kenny Rodgers on main stage - downtown
11:00 PM Official CMF after party - De La Vegas
Saturday, April 25th
8:30 AM Farmers & Crafts Market with local country entertainment - downtown
10:00 AM Rodeo - NMSU campus
5:00 PM Rodeo - NMSU campus
4:00 PM Country Music Festival gates open - downtown
4:00 PM "Behind the Music" with festival artists - Rio Grande Theater
6:00 PM Bri Bagwell - downtown
7:15 PM Swon Brothers on the main stage - downtown
9:15 PM Dustin Lynch on main stage - downtown
11:00 PM Official CMF after party - De La Vegas
Sunday, April 26th
10:00 AM Country Breakfast at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum - Featuring a western wear fashion show and acoustic performances by some of our festival artists.
1:30 PM Rodeo NMSU campus
5:00 PM: Rodeo awards presentation
BIOS
A legend among legends, Kenny Rogers will headline Friday evening's lineup. His career spans more than five decades and features 24 #1 hits, including, "The Gambler," "Lady," "Lucille," "She Believes in Me," "Islands in the Stream," and "We've Got Tonight." He has sold more than 120 million records worldwide and recorded more than 65 albums during his career. The Recording Industry Association of America ranks him as the 8th best-selling male artist of all time with 1 Diamond album, 19 Platinum albums and 31 Gold albums. He has received hundreds of awards for his music and charity work, including three Grammys, 11 People's Choice Awards, 18 American Music Awards, eight Academy of Country Music awards and five Country Music Association awards.
Dustin Lynch, Saturday's headliner, is one of country music most successful young artists with three of his hits listed on the country music charts. His latest single, "Where It's At" reached #1 on Billboard Magazine's US Country Airplay list during September and October and also peaked at #4 on their US Hot Country Songs list. Lynch's other hits include his 2012 debut single, "Cowboys and Angels" which became a modern day country classic and was ranked as one of Billboards' Top 5 Country Songs of 2012. In 2013, a sexy, up-tempo barnstormer "She Cranks My Tractor" reached #1 on Great American Country Top 20 Countdown.
The Swon Brothers are an American country music duo from Muskogee, Oklahoma, finishing in third place on the fourth season of NBC's The Voice. The duo has produced three albums, most recently is their self-titled album The Swon Brothers released on October 14, 2014. Their debut single "Later On" reached the 13th spot on Billboard's Country Airplay chart. There newly released single, "Pray for You" is quickly gaining momentum on the radio waves. Other popular songs from the duo are, "This Side of Heaven," "Same Old Highway," "What I'm Thinking About," "Pretty Beautiful," "Danny's Song," "I Can't Tell You Why," "Wagon Wheel," "Pretty Beautiful," "Turn the Page," "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes," and "Seven Bridges Road."
Rae Lynn RaeLynn auditioned for the second season of The Voice in 2012 and her performances led to a contract with Republic Nashville. In 2013 she was one of the featured performers in the Blake Shelton, "Boys 'Round Here" music video. She also performed with Blake Shelton in the hit single, "Buzzin" which peaked at #44 on the Hot Country Songs Chart published by Billboard Magazine. Her other songs include "Hell on Wheels," "Free Fallin," "Wake up Call," "She's Country," "Boyfriend," and her latest release, "God Made Girls," peaked at #7 on the Hot Country Songs Charts.
Bri Bagwell is a native of Las Cruces and is a rising star in the country music scene. In 2013 & 2014, she earned the Texas Regional Radio Music Award Female Vocalist of the Year honors and continues writing songs for Sony/ATV Publishing in Nashville Tennessee. She was a contestant on CMT's Next Superstar and continues to have success with her music. Her first song, "Banned from Santa Fe" was released in 2011 and quickly gained support from music fans throughout the country. Her song, "Whiskey" became her first top 15 hit and has passed 70,000 views on the single's video list. In 2013, she released her self-titled EP, which features two brand new radio singles, "Hound Dog" and "Crazy" both songs continue to climb the Texas music charts.