GRD announces headline concerts

It may not have been the best-kept secret in town, but Great River Days officials have now made public the headline concert line-up for the 52nd annual GRD festival, July 28-31 at Riverfront Park in Muscatine Iowa. Grammy-winning Country/Rock music artists “The Kentucky Head Hunters” will appear on the Main stage as the finale of a three evening concert series in conjunction with the event.

Best known for songs such as “Dumas Walker”, “Walk Softly On This Heart Of Mine” and “Oh Lonesome Me” , the group has produced 11 albums since their founding, and earned double-platinum status from the Recording Industry Association of America. KHH brings a mix of rock, blues and country music influences to the stage, performed by musicians who literally grew up together. Original members Greg Martin, along with brothers Fred and Richard Young first jammed in 1968 under the band name “Itchy Brother”. Later, when a recording deal with Led Zeppelin’s “Swan Song” label fell through after Zeppelin drummer John Bonham’s death in 1980, the band members left the rock music scene on a hiatus for greener pastures. They reunited in Nashville in 1986, and formed the “Kentucky Head Hunters”, applying their rock music roots to a country music crowd. The resulting record deal with Mercury led to their debut album, “Pickin on Nashville” which yielded four top 40 hits and a Grammy award for “Best Performance by a Group or Duo”, Country Music Association’s “Album of the Year”, and “Vocal Group of the Year” in 1990.

Opening for the Kentucky Head Hunters on Saturday July 31, is a local country music band that has historical ties to Muscatine. “Deliverance” was formed in 1974, and has actively played throughout the Midwest region (including a few past GRD events) for the past 36 years. Deliverance is not new to the Main Stage, and has opened for artists such as Tracy Lawrence, Kenny Chesney, Confederate Railroad, and David Allen Coe.

The four piece band will be will be joined by Muscatine vocalist Lacey Lynne, who has more than a fair share of Nashville experience to bring to the Main Stage. In her six years as a professional country music singer, she has performed with artists such as Willie Nelson, Vern Gosdin, and appeared at Farm-Aid as well as the Grand Ole Opry.

A discounted All-event concert ticket for the three evenings of entertainment can be purchased in advance starting on June 14 at many locations throughout the area.