Just Announced! STYX to perform at the festival Saturday Oct 10th


FRIDAY - October 9, 2009 - 7pm
____________________________________

Julianne Hough (pronounced “Huff”).

Julianne Hough wins BEST NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR from the Acaedemy of Country Music

She has a warm, textured voice that is equally suited to feisty up-tempo tunes and contemplative ballads, both of which can be found on her debut LP. “I love story songs and message songs,” she says, “but I also love quirky, fun, up-tempo songs that make you want to just get up and move.”

The debut single, “That Song In My Head,” is a buoyant effort that is incredibly infectious.

‘“My Hallelujah Song’ is a Craig Wiseman tune,” says Julianne, “and I just feel like everybody needs a hallelujah song. No matter what you’re doing in life---whether you are working at your dad’s company, playing soccer or being a little ballerina---that’s your hallelujah song. It’s when you feel like you’re right where you’re supposed to be and I’m happy right where I am.”

George Strait recently announced Julianne Hough was his pick for opening act for his 2009 tour and we are proud to announce she will take some time to come to Panama City Beach October 9, 2009 to appear at the Seafood, Wine and Music Festival. CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR ADVANCE DISCOUNT TICKETS NOW!

FRIDAY - October 9, 2009 - 9pm
____________________________________

The story of John Anderson and his platinum-plus album, Seminole Wind, is the story of the country music "come-back" of the decade. It's the true-to-life, yet larger-than-life, saga of one of the most dramatic career turn-arounds of the 1990's. It's the story of just reward for a singer who originally took country music by storm and helped keep it true to its roots back in the early '80's. His memorable hits from that musical era included Wild and Blue, I'm Just An Old Chunk Of Coal, 1959, I Just Came Home To Count The Memories, Black Sheep and Swingin'. Swingin' was not only the Country Music Association's 1983 Song of the year; more recently it was cited by the A.M.O.A. as one of its all-time top-forty jukebox hits--right up there with Hey Jude and other perennial favorites by The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Patsy Cline, George Jones, and The Rolling Stones.

Straight Tequila Night, the lead-off single from Seminole Wind (Anderson's debut album for BNA Entertainment), went to number one across the board on every country chart. It was his first bona-fide chart-topper since Black Sheep in 1983. When It Comes To You, the second single, reached number two, while Seminole Wind, the heartfelt title tune soared to number one when released. Seminole Wind is a vivid personal statement which Anderson wrote after visiting his 95-year old grandmother, and after driving around Florida observing the drastic ecological changes that time and progress wrought on his native state. Its accompanying video was shot at a cypress preserve in the Florida Everglades with assistance and participation of the region's native Seminole Indians. It too leaped to the number one spot on national video charts. John followed Seminole Wind with five more critically acclaimed albums, spawning hits like, Money In The Bank, I’ve Got It Made, I Wish I Could Have Been There, Let Go Of The Stone, Bend It ‘Til It Breaks,Mississippi Moon and Somebody Slap Me. Recently, John has released “Anthology” on his own JA Records, distributed by Audium/KOCH Entertainment. This 30 song collection is a culmination of all the hits in John Anderson’s spectacular career as well as a few important songs that have been popular in his road show and frequently requested by his loyal following. John states, “This project has great significance to me as this music and the musicians who played on it have become a big part of my life. I love and appreciate my fans and thank all of the people that have supported my music!”

John Anderson…an influence to many of today’s country artists, a colorful character and truly a country music treasure! CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR ADVANCE DISCOUNT TICKETS NOW!

Spawned from a suburban Chicago basement in the early В‘70s, Styx would eventually transform into the virtual arena rock prototype by the late '70s and early '80s, due to a fondness for big rockers and soaring power ballads.

Early on, Styx's music reflected such then-current prog rockers as Emerson, Lake & Palmer and the Moody Blues, as evidenced by such releases as 1972's self-titled debut, 1973's Styx II, 1974's The Serpent Is Rising, and 1975's Man of Miracles. While the albums (as well as non-stop touring) helped the group build a substantial following locally, Styx failed to break through to the mainstream, until a track originally from their second album, "Lady" started to get substantial airplay in late '74 on the Chicago radio station WLS-FM. The song was soon issued as a single nationwide, and quickly shot to number six on the singles chart, as Styx II was certified gold. By this time, however, the group had grown disenchanted with their record label, and opted to sign on with A&M for their fifth release overall, 1975's Equinox (their former label would issue countless compilations over the years, culled from tracks off their early releases). On the eve of the tour in support of the album, original guitarist John Curulewski abruptly left the band, and was replaced by Tommy Shaw. Shaw proved to be the missing piece of the puzzle for Styx, as most of their subsequent releases throughout the late '70s earned at least platinum certification (1976's Crystal Ball, 1977's The Grand Illusion, 1978's Pieces of Eight, and 1979's Cornerstone), and spawned such hit singles and classic rock radio standards as "Come Sail Away," "Renegade," "Blue Collar Man" and "Fooling Yourself.В”

The band decided that their first release of the '80s would be a concept album, 1981's Paradise Theater, which was loosely based on the rise and fall of a once-beautiful theater (which was supposedly used as a metaphor for the state of the U.S. at the time -- the Iranian hostage situation, the Cold War, Reagan, etc.). Paradise Theater became Styx's biggest hit of their career (selling over three million copies in a three-year period), as they became one of the U.S. top rock acts due to such big hit singles as "Too Much Time on My Hands". It also marked the first time in history that a band released four consecutive triple-platinum albums.

A career-encompassing live album, Caught in the Act, was issued in 1984, before Styx went on hiatus, and the majority of its members pursued solo projects throughout the remainder of the decade. A re-recording of their early hit, "Lady" (titled "Lady" '95"), for a Greatest Hits compilation, finally united Shaw with his former Styx bandmates, which led to a full-on reunion tour in 1996. But drummer John Panozzo fell seriously ill at the time (due to a long struggle with alcoholism), which prevented him from joining the proceedings -- as he passed away in July of the same year. Although grief-stricken, Styx persevered with new drummer Todd Sucherman taking the place of Panozzo, as the Styx reunion tour became a surprise sold-out success, resulting in the release of a live album/video, 1997's "Return to Paradise," while a whole new generation of rock fans were introduced to the grandiose sounds of Styx via a humorous car ad which used the track "Mr. Roboto," as well as songs used in such TV shows as South Park and Freaks & Geeks. CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR ADVANCE DISCOUNT TICKETS NOW!

2009 TOUR CELEBRATES 40 YEARS OF FUNK!

Grand Funk Railroad is celebrating its 40th Birthday in 2009! Originating from Flint, Michigan in 1969, this top selling American rock group of the 70’s is “COMIN’ TO YOUR TOWN TO HELP YOU PARTY IT DOWN”. Grand Funk Railroad is extremely excited to be touring on this 40 year milestone. After playing to millions of fans on the band’s tours from 1996 to 2008, Grand Funk’s 2009 Tour will continue to reach both new and long-time fans. Known as “The American Band”, is featured regularly on VH-l's Behind the Music, and they are one of Homer Simpson's favorite bands!

We're proud to announce Panama City Beach will be one of 40 select cities Grand Funk Railroad will perform in on their 2009 "40 Years of Funk" Tour. The band is made up of original founding members Don Brewer (vocals and drums, writer and singer of the multi-million selling hit, We’re An American Band) and bassist Mel Schacher, “The God Of Thunder”. Joining Don and Mel are true “All Stars” - singer Max Carl (38 Special), lead guitarist Bruce Kulick (KISS), and keyboardist Tim Cashion (Bob Seger , Robert Palmer). CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR ADVANCE DISCOUNT TICKETS NOW!

___________________________________________________________________________________________

LOCAL AND REGIONAL ENTERTAINMENT FOR THE 2009 FESTIVAL IS BEING FIRMED UP NOW... our entertainment director is putting together a group of varied local and regional entertainment to perform throughout the 3 day and 3 night festival. Here's who we have so far...