PORTSMOUTH, NH: The lineup for the 2017 Annual New England Country Music Festival presented by the Harbor Agency was released this morning, January 30, 2017. For the third consecutive year, the festival will take place at the Redhook Brewery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on August 6th and is proudly sponsored by Federal Savings Bank. Fresh off of a year with a release of a critically acclaimed album, Frankie Ballard will bring his rock ‘n roll attitude and high energy as the headliner of the festival. Ballard, with three Number One songs under his belt, exclaimed to New England Country Music, “It’s an honor. Thank you for having me. I’m going to rock the house- guaranteed.”
Also playing at the festival are fellow Number One recording artists Michael Ray and William Michael Morgan. Ray, a native of Eustis, Florida, reached the top of the country charts in August of 2015 with his smash hit, ‘Kiss You In The Morning,’ And this past October, William Michael Morgan, a rising star with a traditional sound that resembles Keith Whitley, got his first Number One of his own with his single, ‘I Met A Girl,’ the first single off his 2016 album, titled ‘Vinyl.’ He recently told New England Country Music, “I’m looking forward to getting up there. I know Michael and Frankie real well. But I love watching local talent too. I was local talent once. Michael was local talent once and so was Frankie. It’s going to be a lot of fun playing this festival.”
Casey Derhak, now a Nashville resident, will be coming to Portsmouth for what one could call a homecoming show. Derhak was born at the Pease Air Force Base which the Redhook Brewery is on. The rising star will bring what he calls ‘flow-country’ to his new live concept, which will feature him, a guitar player and DJ.
The lineup rounds out with three talented New England based artists- Paige Davis, Jimmy Connor and Timmy Brown. All three play shows throughout the New England region and have received numerous awards and even radio airplay. Jimmy Connor is the lone artist to return to the festival for the second consecutive year. He excitedly said, “I’m thrilled to have been asked back to play such a great festival. The lineup this year is amazing! This is an incredible opportunity for me to get to open for three artists who I respect so much… William Michael Morgan, Michael Ray, and Frankie Ballard. The crowd is in for a great show and I think this year is going to be the best festival yet. The entire day at the festival is just such a great experience for everyone who attends. I had a blast last year and can’t wait to do it again!”
DJ MikeyFletch of Country Road Entertainment will play for the crowd in between sets. The festival is an all-day, family-friendly event with kids 12 and under admitted to the festival for no cost. Tickets start at just $30 for general admission tickets, $35 for PIT tickets and $75 for VIP tickets. Prices will increase on June 6th. Tickets will be available to the general public starting on February 1st at 10AM. A portion of proceeds will benefit Annie’s Angels, a Seacoast organization that helps local families struggling financially through a life threatening disease, illness or disability connecting neighbor to neighbor, friend to friend and business to business in a caring fundraising network.
Tickets and more information can be found at www.necmharbor.com.
RSVP on Facebook here.