The 2024 Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival (MVMAF) welcomes pop-country band Lonestar on Aug. 10 at 8:30 p.m. at the Public Square. Friday night’s main stage headliner is Knox County’s own Six Miles to Nellie, with Thursday night’s show returning for 2024 with Central Ohio’s iconic Phil Dirt & the Dozers.
“We are very excited to have another award-winning, chart-topping band to perform Saturday night,” said MVMAF Director Trina Trainor. “We also heard from both attendees and vendors that they would like Thursday night to return, so it’s back!”
About Lonestar:
Not every musician has the opportunity to revisit and even potentially improve upon their biggest hits. But on 2023’s TEN to 1 record, the award-winning band Lonestar—Dean Sams (keyboards, acoustic guitar, background vocals), Michael Britt (lead guitarist, background vocals ), Keech Rainwater (drums) and Drew Womack (lead vocals, guitar)—are taking a fresh look at all 10 of their chart-topping country songs.
This streak started in 1996 with the band's second single, the rock-edged "No News," and continued with the following year's "Come Cryin' to Me" and “Everything’s Changed.” The band's quadruple-platinum 1999 album Lonely Grill spawned four No. 1 hits (including the beloved global smash "Amazed") and established Lonestar as music's preeminent pop-country band—a status they'd maintain through the 2000s and beyond.
With these re-recordings, the band members were mindful of striking a balance between preserving the sonic elements fans were familiar with—and not repeating them. Fittingly, TEN to 1 record reflects the ways Lonestar's hits have evolved over the years during the band's rousing, high-energy concerts. Such talent has contributed to the band winning many of music’s top honors, including Academy Of Country Music Awards for New Vocal Group in 1996, Single and Song Of The Year in 2000, and Humanitarian Of The Year in 2002. They also won the Country Music Association's Vocal Group of the Year and International Artist Achievement award in 2001. All told, Lonestar has sold more than 10.5 million records since its formation.
With the release of the TEN to 1 record, the band members are full of gratitude for what they've accomplished already and excited about what the future holds.
"It's amazing that we're still standing and putting on great shows after all these years," Sams said. "The fans are still coming out to our shows night after night to see us and hear our music. That's almost 30 years of touring, and I can't tell you how grateful I am—and I've never once taken it for granted."
About Six Miles to Nellie:
Bringing the sound of generations of storytelling through music, Six Miles to Nellie features lead vocalist Courtney DeCosky; songwriter/guitarist Jeffrey Williams; bassist Michael Wolfe; drummer and vocalist Les Harmeyer; singer/songwriter John Schnabel; and Robert Shipley on keyboards. Each band member brings with them not only a passion for music but an aim to breathe new life into traditional Americana while keeping its authenticity alive. The Dirty Horns will also join the band again at this year’s festival.
About Phil Dirt & the Dozers:
Phil Dirt & The Dozers will transport you to another time and place, the classic Rock 'n Roll of America's golden years. The Dozers perform the intricate vocal harmonies of the Beach Boys, Four Seasons, the Eagles and many more to perfection.
The show is performed absolutely live with a sophisticated yet lighthearted approach that creates an atmosphere all age ranges will enjoy. This is an amazingly talented group of musicians, yet very humble, professional, and, dare we say, charming?
Updates about preferred concert seating tickets, the annual car and motorcycle cruise-in, other events, and schedules for this year’s MVMAF will be on mvmaf.org/ or on the festival’s Facebook and Instagram (@mvmafohio).
The 2024 Mount Vernon Music and Arts Festival is Thursday evening-Sunday afternoon, Aug. 8-11, around the Public Square and the streets of downtown Mount Vernon.
