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Main Street El Dorado Presents MusicFest XXVI

Posted on August 18, 2013

The 2007, 2009, 2011 and most recent 2012 Arkansas Festival of the Year, MusicFest 26 returns to Downtown El Dorado for another amazing weekend of music. Two days, four stages and over thirty musical acts featuring Bret Michaels, Justin Moore, Julie Roberts, Austin Brown, Frank Foster, Randall Shreve and many more performing at South Arkansas? largest outdoor music event.
MusicFest El Dorado boasts its biggest musical lineup yet.  Whether you like country, rock, R&B, bluegrass or blues, MusicFest 26 has something for everyone. Festival times are 5pm until midnight on Friday, October 4th and 10am until midnight on Saturday, October 5.  For festival information, artist info, music and press info, visit www.musicfesteldorado.com.
*Discount Weekend Passes On Sale Now*
Ticket prices are $20 per day for adults; BUT Discount Weekend Passes are now available for only $30 at Brookshire?s locations in El Dorado, Arkansas. Discount Weekend Passes are also available online at www.musicfesteldorado.com until Thursday, October 3rd.  Kids 12 and under get in FREE with paid adult admission!
 
Announcing MusicFest El Dorado?s BIGGEST LINE-UP EVER! 
 
Rock & Roll icon BRET MICHAELS
Bret Michaels is a multiplatinum global superstar who has turned his passion for music into a multi faceted brand that encompasses record breaking touring sales, Reality TV stardom, legendary songs that have sold over 32 million records, product endorsements as well as being a devoted philanthropist, all supported and followed by three generations of loyal fans.
 
Bret rose to fame as the front man of Poison, one of rocks most iconic and enduring bands, he helped define the rock n roll scene on the Sunset Strip. Their massive success includes selling over 30 million records worldwide and numerous hit singles. Equally as successful, Bret’s solo career has charted its own course with multiple solo albums.
 
His talent, business acumen and natural candor have solidified him as “a cultural touchdown” in the words of Viacom CEO Judy McGrath, making him one of the most sought after performers in the world with nearly 300 live performances yearly. His 2012 Get Your Rock On Tour culminated with yet another string of sold out shows ending on New Year’s Eve.
 
When this multi talented performer is not touring he can be found both in front of and behind the camera as a director, producer and a reality TV superstar. His first foray into reality TV brought the record-breaking “Rock of Love with Bret Michaels” franchise to VH1, one of the most successful shows in the network’s history, shattering weekly rating records during its run. Following three successful seasons of the show, he teamed up with VH1 for the docu-series “Life as I Know It” setting even more records. Bret has also starred in and won Donald Trump’s NBC hit, “Celebrity Apprentice”. Michaels latest television endeavor, “Rock My RV? has become a huge hit on cable TV.
 
Country Music Superstar Justin Moore
Justin Moore hit Nashville in 2009 with a ready-made image. He was the good kid from a small town with a rowdy heart of gold who just happened to be able to sing about it. Moore had grown up in tiny Poyen, Arkansas, where he worked on his grandparents’ cattle farm and enjoyed an archetypal American rural childhood. He started singing as early as two years old, and at eight he won a talent show at the local high school. He sang gospel songs in church but spent the rest of his time listening to country music, studying the genre inside and out, focusing on old and new country all at once.   Moore may have been from a small town, but he wasn’t na?ve, and when he finally moved to Nashville after high school, he was prepared and soon signed a writing deal with Big Picture Music while patiently waiting for the right break.
 
Moore eventually signed with Big Machine Records, home to pop-country stars like Taylor Swift and Jewel. By then he had landed some opening spots on tours by Trace Adkins, Luke Bryan, Brooks & Dunn, ZZ Top, and the Rowdy Frynds Tour with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Hank Williams, Jr. His first single, “Back That Thing Up,” made it onto the country Top 40 charts. A second single, the autobiographically apt “Small Town USA,” topped the charts and paved the way for his self-titled debut, Justin Moore, which became a Top Ten success. Moore returned with another Top Ten country hit, “If Heaven Wasn’t So Far Away,” and a second studio album, Outlaws Like Me.
Sun Records Recording Artist Julie Roberts
With her deep, blues-soaked voice that poignantly captures the pain of the wronged and forgotten, Julie Roberts has quickly become a favorite of the fans and music critics alike. Roberts has been singing as long as she can remember.  She eventually moved to Nashville and landed a job as the assistant to Luke Lewis, Chairman of Universal Music Group Nashville. Lewis eventually heard Robert?s demo without knowing who it was. Floored by the demo, Lewis asked to meet the singer, and the surprised music executive was directed to the young woman sitting just outside his door.
 
Entertainment Weekly awarded her self-titled debut CD an A, calling it one of the most auspicious debuts in years. The New York Times said Roberts aching and resolute hit “Break Down Here” was one of the year’s best country ballads. Spotting her talent early, CMT selected Roberts to be the first artist ever to appear in “In the Moment,? the music networks hour-long documentary on the making of a star. The album was certified gold and led to two Horizon Award nominations from the Country Music Association, Top New Artist and Top New Female Vocalist nominations from the Academy of Country Music, as well as a Breakthrough Artist nomination from the CMT Awards. She delivered memorable performances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America and joined pop superstar Rihanna in a Clinique HAPPY campaign.
 
After years of non-stop touring, appearances and walking on some of the nation?s most famous stages, Roberts spends much of her time, when not working on music, sharing her talent with several charity organizations close to her heart. She recently joined with the organization Magdalene as the first female country artist to embark on a women’s prisons tour?performing, sharing her story and providing hope along the way.
 
POP MUSIC PRODIGY? Austin Brown
When music is ingrained into your being to the point that it becomes a part of your DNA, pursuing a career on stage is the natural progression of things. As the nephew to The King of Pop Michael Jackson, music and performance has been an integral part of his being since the tender age of 5 years old. Today, Austin is focused on cultivating his passions as an artist and perfecting his craft along the way.
 
Nathaniel Austin Brown began his foray into music after years of watching his influential musical family both create and revolutionize the modern-day music landscape. From the beginning, Austin excelled in music production, so when he came of age, music became his sole focus and the artist Austin Brown was born. Like many music prodigies, Austin Brown cut his teeth by ghostwriting songs for today’s influential musical power players.
 
Austin’s musical journey can be described as many things; eclectic, exciting, creative, innovative? but never mundane. His style effortlessly fuses rock, R&B, soul and funk to construct a melodic platform that relates to many people on multiple levels. “My music is inspired by life, everyday situations and wanting to pay homage to the people who inspired me to make music”, says Austin. “I make music for people to enjoy and for them to have a sense of escapism. I want my music to take you through the trials and tribulations of the world.”
 
Austin Brown recently released his highly-anticipated project, Highway 85, and regarded by many, fans and critics alike, as a work of art that showcased Austin’s musical prowess and innovativeness with popular tracks “Ménage A Trois” and “Stargazer”. Highway 85 demonstrates why artists such as Miguel, Lupe Fiasco, Ciara and Eric Benet are among the various musical peers who have performed with Austin and have supported him throughout the years.
Austin is currently performing on various high-profile shows including pop mega station KIIS-FM Los Angeles’ Wango Tango, Fox’s “Good Day NY” and BET’s “106 & Park”, and being featured on Ryan Seacrest’s AXS Live, CNN’s SXSW stage and BET’s Music Matters Showcase.
   
New Country Outlaw Frank Foster
Born and raised in North Louisiana in a little place called Cypress Bottom, Frank Foster started down his road working in the Gulf of Mexico on an oil rig. Now, playing to sold-out crowds throughout the South, Foster has drawn attention from such notables
as Hank Williams Jr., all the while increasing a devoted fan-base wherever he performs. His latest album, “Red Wings and Six Strings,? debuted at #2 on ITunes.
 
Having always been a huge music lover and listening to Hank Williams when he was just 3 years old, Foster was drawn to outlaw country and southern rock. A guitar fell in Foster?s lap when he was just barely out of High School and changed his life. From the oil rig to the night club, Foster started playing music wherever he had the chance, and it didn?t take long for people to start noticing his unique talent and style. Foster?s music has finally begun to fulfill his dream of living off of his guitar. “Luckily, people have liked my music enough to give me the confidence to really make a go of it. So here it goes…? – Frank Foster
 
Indie Rockers Randall Shreve & the Sideshow
Randall Shreve & the Sideshow bring their own wine-soaked flavor of indie rock to audiences around the country. Their music, which has been described as “Vaudeville Rock,” derives its unmistakable sound from influences such as Queen, Muse, The Beatles, and Jeff Buckley, but plays them against the dark and sultry backdrop of cabaret.  Fans have come to expect not only exceptional musicianship from their live shows, but a unique entertainment experience. They never leave disappointed.
 
Front man Randall Shreve is a quintessential entertainer. His live shows are charged with electricity, and he possesses that rare charisma that takes over rooms.
Before starting his own tour, Randall performed for several Grammy award-winning bands, produced and played on over fifty recordings, toured extensively in the U.S., Canada and Europe, and was featured in a movie starring Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom.
In 2011 he completed his first full recording, “The Jester,” and now charges stages around the world with a gritty power that can only be witnessed to understand.
 
American Idol finalist & Arkansas native Rachel Hale
Rachel Hale is from Prescott, Arkansas and began singing across the country at a young age. At only 13, she won the title of Pre-Teen America where she traveled across the United States singing to hundreds.
 
Rachel competed and won the opportunity to open for country star Tracy Byrd and also opened for Joe Nichols the following year.
 
While interning in Los Angeles for Patriot Records, Rachel auditioned for Season 12 of American Idol, became a featured contestant and was a top 20 female finalist competing in the “live” shows. The judges named her the “happiest contestant” because she was always smiling. Due to American Idol, many doors have opened, and Rachel is currently writing, recording, and working on an EP in Nashville, TN. Rachel wants to share her music with the world in an effort to make it a better place, and she aims to do just that.
 
Other acts scheduled to perform include The Drew Henderson Band, Swamp Donky, Band of Stepbrothers, Mix Tape, Moonshine Mafia, DWB, Jim Mize, The Frontier Circus, Matthew Davidson, Richard Johnston, The Neal Street Strummers, Nakeysha Brown, Dayton Waters, Trey Johnson Trio, Dave Almond, Chris Loggins, Monty Russell, and many more!
 
EVENTS! 
In addition to dozens of exciting musical acts, MusicFest features a host of attractions and events to create an incredible weekend for the entire family. There is something for everyone at MusicFest 26 including; Kids? World, family stage acts and attractions, blow-up carnival amusements, face painting, Miss MusicFest Pageant, food vendors, art & crafts, community booths and more?
 
TICKETS! 
Free before 3:00 p.m. on Saturday Only
Entrance in the MusicFest Gates is FREE before 3:00 p.m.!
 
 Discount Weekend Passes are on-sale now!
Ticket prices are $20 per day for adults; BUT Discount Weekend Passes are now available for only $30 at Brookshire?s locations in El Dorado, Arkansas.  Discount Weekend Passes are also available online at www.musicfesteldorado.com until Thursday, October 3. Kids 12 and under get in FREE with paid adult admission!
 
CONTACT:
For more information, contact Main Street El Dorado at 870-862-4747 or log on to www.musicfesteldorado.com.
For press, interviews, art or advertising, contact: info@jcproductions.tv.
 
Event Location:
Musicfest 26, October 4th & 5th, 2013
101 West Main Street, Downtown El Dorado, AR. 71730