Balloons, Tunes & BBQ

Thanks to the generosity of event sponsors (listed at right), parking is FREE and there is NO admission fee for these great entertainment options.

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Friday night

Sam 100.7 will present Bowling Green Idol, a 7th year event which continues to grow in popularity. Tryouts will be held in mid-August at the United Way office on College Street. Additional details will be forthcoming at the Sam 100.7 website.

Local solo artists will audition and be narrowed to a field of ten by a panel of knowledgeable, independent judges. These ten individuals will each perform twice, center stage on Friday night in hopes of being crowned 2011 Bowling Green Idol Champion.

The Farm featuring 2010 Balloons, Tunes & BBQ concert performer Nick Hoffman of the Kenny Chesney Band will perform after BG Idol at 7:30pm and members of The Farm (Nick, Krista, and Damien) will be the BG Idol Celebrity Judges!

Local group Miss Nomer will provide live music before the Bowling Green Idol competition begining at 5:00 p.m.

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Saturday night

Stage entertainment Saturday evening will feature a grand lineup for country music fans. WGGC 95.1 will sponsor an awesome concert featuring four live bands, headed by Country music sensation Mark Wills.

The Mark Wills’ story is one of an award-winning singer’s singer. His matchless phrasing, passionate and meaningful delivery and right-on-the money vocals make each and every song he performs come alive. And the people listen…his list of accolades is his testament.

Mark Wills is a multi-platinum selling country music star with eight top 10 hits to his credit including “19 Something,” “Wish You Were Here”, and “Don’t Laugh At Me;” all of which received nominations for Single, Song, and Video of the Year by the Country Music Association. Wills is a former winner of the Academy of Country Music ‘s award for Top New Male Vocalist and his single “19 Something” spent six consecutive weeks at No. 1, was Billboard’s top country hit of the year in 2002, and was the second most-played song of the past decade. Other hits you might recognize include “Jacobs Ladder”, “Back At One”, “Places I’ve Never Been”, “I Do (Cherish You)” and “Crazy White Boy”….that’s just one chapter in Mark Wills’ life story. Mark’s most recent album was released for sale just last month on June 21, 2011. LOOKING FOR AMERICA clearly raises the flag to demonstrate the responsibility he feels to Americans alike, and specifically our military, with the title cut “Looking For America” and “Crazy Being Home” (a single just recently released to radio for play).

Wills has made seven trips to entertain our troops; he is familiar with the places they’ve been. His trips have taken him to Iraq , Afghanistan and Kuwait. Supporting our troops is just one of a number of philanthropic endeavors Mark Wills dedicates his time and effort to. He has aligned with USA Cares to launch a national awareness campaign surrounding the severity of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). And since 2007, Mark has been a national spokesperson for the Children’s Miracle Network and its annual celebrations. As an active representative, he accompanies miracle children to Walt Disney World and then to Washington each year as part of a national awareness campaign.

Saturday night’s concert will also feature one of country music’s brightest young talents in the form of Walker Hayes. Walker’s signing with Capitol Nashville typified the business plan of the music company, which aims to sign unique artists to their roster. Because of his unique style and creativity, Walker’s debut album, REASON TO RHYME, doesn’t sound like a debut at all. It reminds one of a polished stone, not a diamond in the rough. The album is rife with picturesque images of love and lust with just the right dash of his trademark sense of humor. Singles released thus far from the debut album, “Pants” and “Why Wait For Summer”, have been well received by country music fans. No matter what happens next, Walker has proved that dreams, with a heaping helping of determination, can come true. The man who sang cover tunes at the Bluebird Café is now a songwriter and performer of extraordinary proportions. Hayes is one of “Country Weekly’s Ones to Watch” in 2011!

The Saturday night line-up also includes Nashville up and comer Chris Cavanaugh. Chris’ self titled album of ten songs explodes with proof of his deep down passion for playing and performing.

Finally, regional band favorite Salvage Town will kick things off center stage at 5:30 p.m. on concert night.