2012 Craven Country Jamboree lineup includes Brad Paisley, Alan Jackson and Blake Shelton
By Jeff Dedekker, Leader-Post July 19, 2011
Think of the best present you've ever received, multiply by four and you'll arrive at the gift bestowed upon fans of the Craven Country Jamboree on Sunday night.
Traditionally festival organizers announce just one headliner in advance, but some unique circumstances allowed them to unveil all three headliners for the 2012 Jamboree before Rascal Flatts took to the mainstage to bring this year's festival to a close.
Brad Paisley will follow in the footsteps of Rascal Flatts, George Strait, Kenny Chesney and Toby Keith as the Sunday night headliner in 2012, with Alan Jackson and Blake Shelton confirmed as the Saturday and Friday night headliners, respectively. Organizers also confirmed that the Band Perry will be part of the Sunday lineup in 2012.
"One reason we could announce four acts is that we were able to get four acts signed," explained Troy Vollhoffer, executive producer of the festival. "It's usually difficult to get one major act signed a year in advance, so when we were able to get the deals done with Brad, Alan, Blake and the Band Perry, we decided to announce them all.
"It's also a gift for our fans who make this festival the success that it is year in and year out. We are bringing our fans back home in 2012."
Paisley, the reigning Country Music Association entertainer-of-the-year, will be making his second appearance at the festival - he was a headliner in 2005. He last played in the Regina area on Feb. 19, 2009 when he brought his Paisley Party tour to the Brandt Centre.
Currently touring in support of his latest album, This Is Country Music, the three-time Grammy Award winner has 16 No. 1 singles to his credit. His hits include Celebrity, Alcohol, She's Everything To Me, Waitin' On A Woman, Then and Mud On The Tires
The 52-year-old Jackson will be returning to the festival for the first time since 2006. Jackson is a two-time Grammy Award winner who has an amazing total of 26 No. 1 hits. He's left his mark with a wide array of songs, from hurtin' songs Monday Morning Church, Someday and Dallas, to party songs like Don't Rock The Jukebox, Chattahoochee, Summertime Blues and It's Five O'Clock Somewhere.
Jackson's Goodtime tour made a stop at Regina's Brandt Centre on Jan. 23, 2010.
Shelton will be making his first appearance at the festival. He is just coming off the first season of the reality television series The Voice, which has increased his public profile beyond the country music community. He's also one half of a country power couple, having married Miranda Lambert on May 14.
The 2010 CMA male vocalist-of-the-year, Shelton has topped the charts with nine No. 1 singles.
His current single, Honey Bee, is currently No. 1 and joins an impressive discography that includes Austin, Some Beach, All About Tonight and Who Are You When I'm Not Looking.
The Band Perry, comprised of siblings Kimberly, Neil and Reid Perry, is making a name for itself with songs like If I Die Young, which reached No. 1, and You Lie, which currently is No. 2 on the charts. The trio will serve as the opening act for Keith Urban's shows at the Brandt Centre on Sept. 16 and 17.
jdedekker@leaderpost.com