Freedom Fest features afternoon, evening of music
GENTRY — An afternoon and evening of music will be a part of the Gentry Freedom Festival on Wednesday, July 4, on the stage in Gentry City Park.
When the celebration begins at noon on Wednesday, Amity Heart will take the stage. Th e name “Amity
Heart” stands for friendship heart, and the friendship of Jaci Rae and Travis Wayne is so tightly woven that it carries over into their musical harmonies. Both began singing as young children and both are from musical family backgrounds and sang in church. Their songs reflect their Southern values. Jaci grew up in Missouri and was influenced by country music. Travis grew up in Oklahoma singing Southern gospel. Both styles blend together to make up the sound of Amity Heart.
After the Little Miss and Mister Gentry and the Miss Gentry Pageants at 1:30 and 2 p.m., Mark Shields and Good Company of award-winning lead will take the stage at singer Chelsey Seboldt, 3 p.m. The band plays hot bassist and guitarist Jacob modern-sounding rockabilly Watson, guitarist Chris music with a rocking Beasley and drummer rhythm in all their songs. Dakota Watson. Back Road According to the band’s Story has shared the stage web post, the band performs with multiple nationally “in different styles,” touring artists and was but gives nominated for Group of listeners the Year and Female Vocalist the “feeling of the Year in the 2016 of and 2017 KTTS Springfield, traveling Mo., Country Music through Awards. The band’s debut America single, “Nothing Left to as the Lose,” was released in late music 2017 and climbed into the brings top 100 Music Row Charts you in a few months. to the John King will take the 1950s stage at 7:30 p.m. and perform and you up until the fireworks enjoy the vintage sound display begins at dusk. and rhythmic ballads.” King comes from a little Mark Shields plays guitar. mountain town in Georgia Jordy Rachlend plays but is now opening drums and Frankie Cadillac, for award-winning artists, the upright bass. writing Number 1 songs
At 4:30 p.m., the River’s and performing across the Edge Band will entertain country. with its blend of today’s King grew up working and yesterday’s country with his hands, building hits, along with some rocking work ethic as he built originals. Blake Turner structures. After graduating sings and plays acoustic from high school, he guitar, Jeramy Rhoden pursued a music degree plays bass, Michael and and went to study at the Douglas Thompson play University of Georgia. electric guitars and fiddles, “My time at UGA helped and Shon Finney plays me tremendously,” King drums. said. “It made me realize I
Back Road Story will could make a career out of perform at 6 p.m. Back doing what I love.” Road Story is a country King’s debut radio single, music band which consists “Tonight, Tonight,” earned him his first Top 40 hit and was heard by millions of NFL fans and used to highlight CBS network’s Thursday night football throughout the 2014 season.
In addition to his rising success as an artist, King is also earning national recognition as a songwriter. In early 2016, King experienced his first No. 1 with a song called “We Went” recorded by artist Randy Houser. King co-wrote the song with friends Matt Rogers and Justin Wilson and received a 2016 ASCAP Songwriter Award for the song’s success. King also had a hand in writing Craig Morgan’s current single, “I’ll Be Home Soon.”
In late 2016, King signed his first management deal with Narvel Blackstock and Starstruck Entertainment. In late 2017, King released the single, “I Still Pick Up,” from his latest project. The song debuted Top 5 on the Apple Music Hot Chart and has already gained over one million streams in a short time. The music video recently debuted on CMT and was voted Top 10 on the countdown.