Hillbilly Woodstock Announces 2015 Festival Lineup; Runs 7/31 & 8/1

Promoters of Hillbilly Woodstock predict their sixth annual festival in the mountains of Western North Carolina will be the best ever. As many as 10,000 people are expected to attend the celebration of mountain culture, country cuisine and music on Friday, July 31st, and Saturday, August 1st.

The musical lineup features bluegrass, country, Americana and Southern-rock artists. The first day's schedule includes "Dr. Paul" Constantine, Pioneer Chicken Stand, Morgan Stepp & Eric Shelton, Stone Crazy Band, Sharkadelics and Neon Truckers.

On Saturday, performers will include The Roadrunnerz Band, legendary bluegrass banjo picker Raymond Fairchild, Steve Brown and the Hurricane Ridge Band, SmokeRise Band, Joe Lasher Jr., Electric Circus Band and the Lindsey Cardinale Band (LCB). Cardinale, a former "American Idol" semifinalist, recently signed with Silvercreek Records in Nashville and plans to release an album later this year.

"I think it's a really strong lineup," said promoter Terry Frady. "We have great bands that are popular regionally, like Joe Lasher Jr., Pioneer Chicken Stand and Neon Truckers, but we are especially excited to have Lindsey Cardinale coming. Anyone who makes it to Hollywood on 'American Idol' has to be good, and we have heard great things about the LCB."

"I'm really looking forward to Hillbilly Woodstock," Cardinale said. "The artists represent many genres and it's always great to be a part of that. Meeting new people and fans are what my job is all about, and there's nothing better than family events!"

Other celebrity guests will include Big Juicy from the truTV series "Lizard Lick Towing" and stars of the History Channel's "Appalachian Outlaws" and the Discovery Channel series "Moonshiners."

"These are real moonshiner, and some of them have spent time in jail, but they will be on their best behavior at Hillbilly Woodstock," joked festival co-founder Becky Ramey. "They'll be selling merchandise and signing autographs, but they won't be selling any 'shine."

Hillbilly Woodstock is sponsored by Sugarlands Distilling Co., Tennessee Hills Distillery, Budweiser, RC Cola/Cheerwine of Ashville, Ball Jar, Maggie Valley Inn and Conference Center and Rendezvous.

Other entertainment will include Shane McCoy and James Hatfield, descendants of the infamous Hatfields and McCoys, who will perform a lumberjack-themed program. There will also be a car and motorcycle show called "Hillbilly Show 'n Shine" and a cornhole tournament. Most events will be emceed by popular radio personality John Roten, of KISS-FM in nearby Ashville.

Hillbilly Woodstock draws fans from around the country, and was named "Event of the Year" in 2013 by the Maggie Valley Chamber of Commerce.

"There's something for everyone at Hillbilly Woodstock," Ramey said. "It's just hillbillies and rednecks sitting around, having fun. If you're not one when you get here, you will be, by the time you leave!"

Hillbilly Woodstock will take place Friday, July 31, and Saturday, August 1, from 11:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m. at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds, 3374 Soco Road, Maggie Valley, NC 28751.Tickets are $10 per person, per day. Free for ages 10 and under. For more information, visit www.HillbillyWoodstock.com or www.Facebook.com/hillbillywoodstockfestival.

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