Going all out

Summer is right around the corner, and with summer comes area festival after area festival.

One of these events, Emmons Borderfest, is celebrating its 15th year. Mark Heggestad, chairman of Borderfest, said he wanted to bring a national act to Emmons to show appreciation to the event’s current and past supporters.

Hitchville out of Minneapolis will play at 8:30 p.m. June 26, and the All BS Band out of southern Minnesota will open for Confederate Railroad, of Marietta, Georgia, at 8:30 p.m. June 27.

 

Hitchville

Hitchville is a seven-member country band out of Minneapolis who has opened for acts like Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Big & Rich, Sugarland, the Zac Brown Band and Blake Shelton, among others.

The group has performed at the Moondance Jammin’ Country festival and have been to WE Fest for four years straight. It has also played twice at a beach party concert by Miller Lite and the Minnesota Vikings  at the Hard Rock Hotel in Cancun, Mexico.

Hitchville’s first album, which is self titled, was released in 2012. The band’s most recent single, “Even When It’s Bad It’s Good,” was released in January.

The band is led by vocals from Heidi Owens and Matt Kneefe. Kris Stauffer plays bass and is primary backup vocals, Martial Besombes plays keyboard, Kirk Humbert plays lead guitar and does vocals, Marv Gohman plays fiddle, mandolin, guitar and does vocals. and Ryan Inselman plays drums.

 

Confederate Railroad

Formed in 1987, Confederate Railroad came onto the southern rock scene in the early ’90s. The band was founded by Danny Shirley and the group got a break by signing to Atlantic Records. It has had a handful of charting singles, including “She Took It Like A Man,” their first single.

Other singles include “Jesus and Mama,” “Queen of Memphis,” “Trashy Women” and “She Never Cried.”

The band has released six albums; its first, a self-titled album, has been certified double platinum and its second, “Notorious,” has been certified platinum/

In 1993, Confederate Railroad was awarded Best New Group at the Academy of Country Music Awards.

According to the band’s website, it has 18 charted hits and has sold five million albums.

Shirley is the lead vocalist with Mark Dufresne on drums, Wayne Secrest on bass, Rusty Hendrix on lead guitar and Bobby Randall on steel guitar, fiddle and vocals.

 

15th anniversary

Borderfest is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, and Heggestad credits that as to why he brought in a national act, as well as why he brought in country acts this year.

There will be other events at Borderfest, which will be June 26 through 28.

Confirmed events include a kids pedal pull, a senior center bake sale, parade, a pork chop supper and a car, motorcycle and tractor show.

Heggestad said the street dances are a rain or shine event. The All BS Band will open for Confederate Railroad on Saturday, and Confederate Railroad will play two full sets of music.

“It’s definitely a street dance atmosphere,” Heggestad said.

Confederate Railroad will also do a meet and greet with fans after the show, Heggestad said.

Tickets for Borderfest go on sale March 16, and a list of ticket sale locations will be posted on the Borderfest Facebook page.

Tickets for the June 26 street dance with Hitchville will be $8 in advance and $10 at the door. Tickets for the June 27 street dance with the All BS Band and Confederate Railroad will be $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

Confederate Railroad is being sponsored by Norseman Trucking out of Lake Mills and the All BS Band is being sponsored by Pub 69 in Twin Lakes.

 

Tickets, please

What: Emmons Borderfest

When: June 26-28

How much: $8 in advance, $10 at the door on June 26; $12 in advance, $15 at the door on June 27

Where to buy: Locations will be released March 16 on the Emmons Borderfest Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/EmmonsBorderfest