From Country and Rock to R&B and Oldies, BayFest has it all in 2013

Get ready for BayFest 2013 Oct. 4, 5 and 6 to rock the streets of downtown Mobile with another stellar lineup of musical artists from legends and rising stars to newcomers – you won’t want to miss out.

“We’re excited to announce this amazing group of artists who will electrify our stages during the three day festival,” said Bobby Bostwick, BayFest president and CEO. “This is just the beginning, there are more announcements ahead as we get closer to the BayFest festival date.”

BayFest 2013 is on track to meet, if not surpass, 2012’s economic impact with another stellar lineup of entertainers in all genres of music. For more information, contact Shana Jordan at sjordan@bayfest.com or 251-478-5679. BayFest, Alabama’s largest music festival is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation that brings family-friendly entertainment to Downtown Mobile. BayFest fills multiple stages with more than 125 musical acts, and since it’s inception in 1995 has generated in excess of $350 million in tax revenue for the Mobile economy. BayFest gives back to the Gulf Coast community with thousands of dollars in student scholarships and promotes physical well being with a 5K and Fun Run. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit bayfest.com.

Here are just some of the fabulous artists you’ll see and hear at BayFest this year:

Zac Brown Band

Country music group Zac Brown Band will make their first appearance at BayFest as the Saturday night headliner on the AT&T/Southern Ford Dealers Stage. Together, the band has 10 No. 1 hit radio singles, as well as two platinum selling records. The band’s latest album, “Uncaged,” debuted at No. 1 on Billboard 200 and earned the country group their third Grammy for Best Country Album.

Little Big Town

Country music superstar group Little Big Town will perform as the Sunday night headliner on the AT&T/ Southern Ford Dealers Stage. The group from Homewood has been together since 1998, and just blew out the charts with their No. 1 single “Pontoon” from their fifth studio album entitled “Tornado.” The group performed at BayFest in 2006 at the time of their first top 10 hit single “Boondocks.”

Gary Allan

Country music artist Gary Allan returns to BayFest on the AT&T/ Southern Ford Dealers Stage Friday, Oct. 4. Allan’s signature sound can be described as country-rock. His No. 1 hits include: “Nothing On But The Radio” and “Watching Airplanes.” Allan’s latest hit, “Every Storm (Runs Out of Rain),” has soared to the top of the country music charts.

Hunter Hayes

Rising country star Hunter Hayes will make his first BayFest appearance this year on the AT&T/ Southern Ford Dealers Stage Friday, Oct. 4. Hayes has been performing for as long as he can remember. He has taken the stage with legends like Hank Williams Jr. and performed for President Bill Clinton at the White House. The songs “Wanted” and “Somebody’s Heartbreak,” both off the young star’s self-titled album, reached No. 1 on the Country Music Billboard charts. Hunter Hayes was nominated for three awards at the 2013’s Grammy’s.

Daughtry

Daughtry has scored four No. 1 Top 40 hits: “It’s Not Over,” “Home,” “Feels Like Tonight,” and “No Surprise.” Daughtry has won four American Music Awards and received four Grammy nominations including Best Rock Album. Daughtry has performed all over the world including sold-out stages in South Africa, Singapore and the Philippines and will take the Coca-Cola stage, Sunday night.

Three Days Grace

After headlining one of the biggest rock tours in the United States, the super group Three Days Grace will rock BayFest this year on the Coca-Cola stage Friday night. The band has just recently released their new album, “Transit Of Venus,” and also released their newest No. 1 single, “Chalk Outline.” Their album “Life Starts Now” has gone gold and the band has now sold more than 6 million albums in the United States.

The Isley Brothers

Billboard R&B chart toppers, The Isley Brothers, will take the Miller Light/Wind Creek Casino Stage Sunday, Oct. 6. “Body Kiss,” the most recent album has come a long way since their first 1959 R&B album, “Shout.” The Isley Brothers have countless Billboard No. 1s including, “Don’t Say Goodnight” and “Spend the Night.” The band’s lead singer, Ronald Isley, currently has his hit single “Dinner and a Movie” climbing the R&B charts.

Anthony Hamilton

R&B Superstar, Anthony Hamilton, returns to BayFest on the Miller Light/Wind Creek Casino Stage Friday, Oct. 4, in downtown Mobile. The Grammy Award winner is known for his rich and soulful vocals. Hamilton recently released his Grammy nominated fourth studio album, “Back To Love.” His first single from the album, “Pray For Me,” was nominated for a Grammy and hit No. 1 for four weeks on the Billboard’s Urban Adult Contemporary chart.

Kellie Pickler

Country music star Kellie Pickler will perform at BayFest Sunday, Oct. 6 on the AT&T/Southern Ford Dealers Stage. The former American Idol contestant and North Carolina native released her debut album, “Small Town Girl,” in 2006 and the hit single “Red High Heels.” Pickler released her self-titled second album in 2008 and produced the hit singles “Best Days of Your Life,” which reached number nine on the Hot Country Songs Billboard Chart, and “Don’t You Know You’re Beautiful.”

Halestorm

Hard Rock/Metal group Halestorm will rock the Coca-Cola Stage Saturday, Oct. 5. After scoring two Top 10 singles, “I Get Off” and “It’s Not You” from their self-titled debut, Halestorm just released their newest album, “The Strange Case Of.” At the 55th Grammy Awards, Halestorm brought home Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance for the album’s first single, “Love Bites.”

Sick Puppies

Sick Puppies will be performing on the Coca-Cola stage Friday, Oct. 4. Their album “Tri-Polar,” sold more than 2 million singles, and many radio hits including the No. 1 Rock track “You’re Going Down,” the Top Five Modern Rock/Active Rock hits “Odd One” and “Riptide.” They have just released their latest album “Connect.”

Dustin Lynch

Country newcomer Dustin Lynch hits the AT&T/Southern Ford Dealers Stage Sunday, Oct. 6. The singer/songwriter from Tullahoma, Tenn. is known for his hit single “Cowboys & Angels,” which reached No. 2 on the U.S. Billboard Country Charts and “She Cranks My Tractor,” the second single off of his self-titled debut album.

Drive By Truckers

The Country group Drive By Truckers will hit the AT&T/Southern Ford Dealers Stage Saturday, Oct. 5. The group from Muscle Shoals just released their latest album “Go-Go Boots” and it really brings out their country roots. The single “Cooley’s Cartoon Gold” displays a Country-Soul sound unlike anything the Truckers have ever produced.

Sevendust

The heavy metal band Sevendust will perform Sunday, Oct. 6 on the Coca-Cola Stage. Their latest album, “Black Out The Sun” was released earlier this year and is their first album to ever hit No. 1 on the Billboard charts. Their heavy-metal album is the groups’ best-selling album since their ALPHA album released in 2007.

Love & Theft

The Country music duo Love & Theft will be performing at BayFest Friday, Oct. 4 on the AT&T/Southern Ford Dealers Stage. The former trio’s first single, “Runaway” debuted in early 2009 and reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The duo is known for their No. 1 single, “Angel Eyes,” which is also the lead single from their self-titled second album.

Tamia

R&B artist Tamia will be performing on the Miller Light/WindCreek Casino Stage Friday, Oct. 4. Tamia’s songs bring hope and assure her listeners that romance and love still exist. Released in 2004, Tamia’s album, “More” debuted at No. 17 on Billboard 200 Charts. Tamia’s latest album, “Beautiful Surprises,” was released August of 2012.

Tucka

The “King of Swing,” Tucka, is set to perform Friday, Oct. 4 on the Miller Light/Wind Creek Casino Stage. Tucka has released three albums and just released his latest single, “Love Train.” Influenced by some of the R&B and Soul greats, Tucka has been winning over his fans with his signature sound.

Wet Willie

Southern rock icon, Wet Willie, will be performing Saturday, Oct. 5 on the AT&T/Southern Ford Dealers Stage. Their unique sound has been classified as Blues Rock meets Classic Soul. All five original members are from Mobile. They started playing together in 1969 and haven’t looked back since. Their 1974 hit “Keep on Smilin” hit No. 10 on national radio charts and was No. 1 in many southern markets.

Dennis “Fingeroll” Nelson with Club Nouvea

Jazz artist, Dennis “Fingeroll” Nelson, is set to perform Saturday, Oct. 5 on the Miller Lite/Wind Creek Casino Stage. Nelson, a Mobile native, has toured with artists such as Otis Day and the Knights, The Temptations and the legendary Ray Charles. Nelson has transitioned from playing music to writing and producing for major national artists. His latest album “Rolling with Passion” was released in 2010. Stemming from the success of his first movie, “Not In My House,” Dennis Nelson, now film director and producer, feels this will be his biggest year as he welcomes to the stage, Grammy Award winners Club Nouvea with their hits “Lean on Me,” “Rumors,” “Why You Treat Me So Bad” and many more.

Irene Kelley

Bluegrass singer and songwriter, Irene Kelley, will be performing Saturday, Oct. 5 on the AT&T/Southern Ford Dealers Stage. A destined music star from the start, she began singing at the tender age of 15. Her passion for writing has continued through her career as she has written songs for country stars Alan Jackson, Loretta Lynn and Trisha Yearwood. Her 1999 album, “The Simple Path” went quintuple platinum and was CMA’s album of the year.

Shawna P & The EarthFunk Tribe

Shawna P and the Earthfunk Tribe are set to perform Saturday, Oct. 5 on the AT&T/Southern Ford Dealers Stage. Shawna P is a former contestant on the NBC reality show “The Voice.” Her entitled musical style is described as a mix of Funk, Rock and Country. She has performed with Charlie Daniels, Michael McDonald and was a member of the Nashville based MusikMafia which launched the careers of Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich.

Trigger Root

The southern boys of Trigger Root will be performing Saturday, Oct. 5 on the AT&T/Southern Ford Dealers Stage. They believe that everything has an origin and they strive to combine old styles with a nostalgic feel. They are no stranger to the BayFest scene and have played at local venues such as Florabama and the Hangout, as well as the Bluegill.

Gretsch Lyles and Modern Eldorados

The Rockabilly, Honky Tonk group Gretsch Lyles and Modern Eldorados is set to perform Sunday, Oct. 6 on the AT&T/Southern Ford Dealers Stage. Gretsch and his band the Modern Eldorados, combine traditional Country and Western Swing. Their latest album “Rockmart Demos” has been gaining airplay on Alternative Country and Americana stations in the U.S. and Europe. The band was also recently featured on PBS live concert series “Studio Amped.”