(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — The Nashville Star Tour hits the road this summer, kicking off on June 18 in Kettering, OH, featuring the four finalists from USA Network's Nashville Star TV talent search. Brad Cotter, this year's winner, heads the package of young country talent with runners-up George Canyon, Matt Lindahl and Lance Miller.
"The Nashville Star Tour is really sizzling," notes Rob Beckham, the William Morris agent booking the tour. "We've had a terrific response so far." Currently there are 28 dates confirmed and producers of the our plan to carry it to as many cities as can be accommodated within the window of time established for the tour, which will stretch across the United States and into Canada.
"The Nashville Star Tour will recreate the energy and feel of the TV series," notes Brinson Strickland of 262 Five, Ltd., the company producing the tour. "The video screens at each concert venue will run highlights of each performer's segments from the series of shows. We're pleased to announce that the Nashville Star Band, the same group from the show, will be traveling with the tour and backing up each performer."
Each concert will run approximately 90 minutes. Performers will appear in reverse order of their finishes on the show. As the winner, Brad Cotter will close each show, preceded by George Canyon, Matt Lindahl and Lance Miller.
The Nashville Star Tour is also providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for local talent. "Promoters in the tour cities can run their own Nashville Star Tour contest," says Strickland. "Local winners will automatically go to the Regional Finals in the 2005 Nashville Star competition. They will also have a chance to open the Nashville Star Tour concert in their town."
Fans will have the chance to get up close and personal with the Nashville Star Tour performers. All four artists will be available for media interviews and meet-and-greet autograph sessions in each city. "We'll have Nashville Star merchandise along with items from each individual artist to sell," says Strickland. "We're hoping that each of the artists will bring CD singles or other original music that fans can purchase."
The Nashville Star winner receives a contract with Sony Nashville, along with other prizes. Last year's winner Buddy Jewell has already scored two Top 10 singles and a Gold album since his debut. "Fans will get to share the excitement and energy of Nashville Star all over again," adds Strickland. " It's really the TV show come-to- life!"
Nashville Star Tour itinerary:
06/18/04 Kettering, OH Fraze Pavilion
06/19/04 Cleveland, OH Palace Theater
06/20/04 Louisville, KY Palace Theatre
06/23/04 West Palm Beach, FL Kravis Center for the Performing
Arts
06/24/04 Tampa, FL Carol Morsani Hall
06/25/04 North Charleston, SC Oyster Shell at No. Charleston
Coliseum
06/26/04 Lake Buena Vista, FL House of Blues
06/27/04 Sarasota, FL Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
07/06/04 Seattle, WA Paramount Theatre
07/08/04 Albuquerque, NM Sandia Casino Amphitheatre
07/10/04 Englewood, CO Fiddler's Green Amphitheatre
07/16/04 Easton, PA State Theatre
07/17/04 Huntington, WV Big Sandy Superstore Arena
07/18/04 Hershey, PA Hershey Park Amphitheatre
07/22/04 Doswell, VA Paramount's King's Dominion
07/23/04 Cary, NC The Amphitheatre at Regency Park
07/24/04 Charlotte, NC Paramount's Carowinds Palladium
07/30/04 Paducah, KY Four Rivers Center
07/31/04 Kansas City, MO Beaumont Club
08/05/04 Columbus, GA Columbus Civic Center
08/06/04 Mableton, GA Mable House Amphitheatre
08/07/04 Jacksonville, FL Florida Theatre
08/12/04 Niagara Falls, ONT Niagara Fallsview Casino Avalon
08/13/04 Rochester Hills, MI MeadowBrook Music Festival
08/14/04 Mundelein, IL Sundance Saloon
08/17/04 Lewisburg, WV State Fair of West Virginia
Fairgrounds
08/21/04 Owensboro, KY Executive Inn Rivermont
–Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen
