The inaugural Voices Of America Country Music Festivalis set for Thursday August 10th thru Sunday August 13th at 8187 VOA Park Drive, West Chester Township, OH 45069. Just follow the 700 WLW radio tower
The music kicks off with Riley Green and Chris LaneThursday (August 10th) as both last shared a stage in Cincinnati together with Brad Paisley on June 21st, 2019 at Riverbend.
Riley Green just finished a opening slot for Luke Combs and Chris Lane recently joined forces with Cincinnati Bengals supported and former bassist of Rascal Flatts, Jay Demarcus on his label, Red Street Records, according to reports.
As for playing live shows Chris Lane shared with me that he welcomes the taking of as many phone photos then sharing with your family, friends and followers.....but he makes a prediction concerning the social trend in the YOUTUBE video below:
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FRIDAY has a line up of well known and some you should know more about because of their stories you just don't hear on the airwaves.
Chase Riceis a down to earth guy with an incredible story of being like Forest Gump. That movie had the character, portrayed by Tom Hanks, showing up in situations through out history. While Chase is not part of history changing situations he is someone who shows up in big moment unique situations.
See more on the link: CHASE RICE IS A FOOTBALL, NASCAR SURVIVOR GUY
John Morganis known for his musical writings but he is a dynamic performer in his own right. Had the pleasure of chatting with him during a CMA Fest 2023 event and he talked about being excited to perform at the VOA Country Music Fest.
If you get there early you may hear some Jason Aldean smashes like: “Trouble with a Heartbreak,” the Carrie Underwood duet “If
I Didn’t Love You" and "That’s What Tequila Does.” Besides his hit music connections he has been on TV recently and it all started with a UBER driver conversation.
See more of his unique story at the link:JOHN MORGAN MUSIC CAREER STARTED WITH UBER RIDE
Seaforth is a couple of guys that you will know where they hail once you hear them pontificate. They are over 9,000 mile transplants from Australia. They told me their band name comes from the area of Sydney, Australia they are from.
You may have seen them at Brick Street Bar, one of Cincinnati's area hot spots, where they have played several times.
ALABAMAis a legendary band. They had 21 straight #1 singles, a record that will probably never be equaled in any genre.
The above photo was the last time I had the pleasure of seeing them in the Cincinnati area, Fraze Pavilion in Huber Heights on July 26, 2013. We have lost Jeff Cook since that time but he left a legacy of insightful music and conversations during my meets with him.
CINCINNATI fun fact about the band's origin that is linked, via Kevin Bacon's Six Degrees analogy, to the youth of the Cincinnati Bengals. Alabama formed in Fort Payne, Alabama, in 1969 and recently in the Bengals locker room, during training camp,Kicker Evan McPherson, who started his football career at Fort Payne High School in Alabama mentioned that he wanted to get back to Fort Payne to see the band's return of June Jam this year but could not make it. MONEY MAC McPherson, as some fans dubbed him during the Super Bowl run a few years back, is a HUGE music fan of the country music genre and beyond. Take a look at his SWIFTIE logic when we discussed the Taylor Swift show at Paycor stadium during the summer. CLICK HERE: Evan McPherson TAYLOR SWIFT fan.
SATURDAY has a big line up of talented performers.
Megan Moroney had a smash breakout song recently with the college football themed song 'Tennessee Orange' that is rumored to be about Morgan Wallen but she won't confirm. Look for a tattoo that she said she was going to get after the song reached #1 in celebration of the 'Tennessee Orange' success. She has multiple dates sold out on her "Lucky" tour this fall. FUN FACT: in 2019 I saw Sugarland and back stage Kristian Bush was telling me about this young he was working with and that she was clearly a star of the future. That girl was MEGAN MORONEY as Sugarland's Kristian Bush produced her project.
We first met Gabby Barrett during her run to the finale American Idol season 16 in 2017 - 2018. That also were she met her husband and band leader Cade Foehner (pictured above). Gabby placed 3rd and Cade placed 4th in the competition that year. They now have to infants. They last time they performed in Cincinnati was at Riverbend with Jason Aldean on August 25th, 2022.
Chris Young a few years back shared with me a fan that during a meet & greet asked him how he does it.....play baseball and perform music. There was a pitcher that played in the majors that looked similar to Chris named CHRIS YOUNG that caused the confusion.
During a conversation with Old Dominion, I asked the guys if there was any confusion concerning the Old Dominion trucking company and their band trucks. Matt, mentioned that one time on social media a fan said that he was almost ran of the road by an Old Dominion truck...the band explain it was not them and the guy didn't believe them.
Drake Milligan has an Elvis vibe and encourages his band to study Elvis videos for inspiration that will come out in shows. His first public appearance with at Brick Street Bar in Oxford, Ohio (Miami University) on November 30th, 2022. Besides placing 3rd on season 17 of America's Got Talent in 2022, after competing on American Idol in 2018 but dropped out, he portrayed Elvis Presley on the CMT series Sun Records and starred
in a film called “Nobody” where he played a young teen Elvis.
Matt Stell could be the guy you need to help you win that pickup basketball game with friends. From 2002 to 2006, he played college basketball for Drury University for four years on an athletic scholarship.
Frank Ray is a guy that will know if security is working. The New Mexico native played shows on the weekends while working as a police officer for 10 years. He finally gave up the day job to pursue his music dream and passion in 2017.
Jo Dee Messina is on her Heads Carolina Tails California after the intellectual sounds of her hit song was used by Cole Swindell in his recent smash. Recently backstage at the CMA Fest 2023, I asked her about the new found following of a younger generation playing her music and her reply was that it's "mind blowing" to watch that younger generation in the front row sing, not just the verses but, the entire songs "word for word."
SUNDAY the biggest lineup of the weekend concerning the festival. The acts on this line up have truly reached platinum status
Lainey Wilsonis the most personable star in country music at this moment. She recently became CMA Female Vocalist of the year due to her overwhelming personable, friendly personality with music stories of relevance, which shows on stage, The star of VOA Country Fest 2023.
Dan + Shay since my first meeting in 2014 have been guys whom when you are in their presence treat you like that co-worker listening and engaging with you directly. If you engage with them on social media they will actual see your post (the two above in the photo) and reply. So down to earth that Dan Smyers and I had a conversation about our push mowers that we use...Dan still mows his own large yard with a push mower.
Jake Owen is a fun and hip singer that I swear has a photogenic mind. Every time I have seen him he remembers in details the last time we talked. He has been known to go barefooted on stage so show some love and take off those boots and shoes.
Niko Moon is an upbeat, energetic time. You are sure to dance to his hit 'Good Time.'
Ashley Craft is a vibey, rootsy singer with a hard edge at times. You may have seen her open for ZAC BROWN BAND on August 29, 2021 at Riverbend Music Center.
Tyler Booth is a Kentucky native with a young fusion of fun that single Old Soul country music. He is a throwback sound with a development deal on the same group that Luke Combs works with. The picture above for early 2021 while covid was still a thing. He has play Brick Street Bar in Oxford, Ohio (Miami University) multiple times to big crowds.
See much more at get details on tickets, parking and any other details to plan your visit at: VOA Country Music Fest.com.
Look for more content concerning this event over the course of the festivities through August 13th.
NOTE: This blog is not associated with the VOA Country Music Festival, West Chester Township, The VOA Park or any media outlet that may be covering the event. It's purely entertainment and content for the fans that follow Dan Van Country/Country Music Relevant Rehash & Country Music Lovers. All photos and audio of the acts, on this blog, were originated by Dan Van Country.