Country music stars Travis Tritt and Scotty McCreery will headline the first two-day Memorial Day Festival at Denham Springs' North Park on May 27-28.
In addition, country music icon Randy Travis will be honorarily inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame during Saturday night's performance by the Grammy-winning band Shenandoah.
Travis Tritt
Festival producer/promoter Scott Innes made the announcement at a news conference Friday morning. Cajun Country Jam, which has hosted country and rock shows and food truck festivals in the area over the last 10 years, is the festival's presenter. Most recently, Cajun Country Jam put on the first West Baton Rouge Food Truck Festival & Car Show in Port Allen in October.
"We worked for months to put together a lineup that reflects the pulse of country music fans not only local but nationwide," Innes said.
"We truly feel we have put together the perfect storm," Innes said of booking country stars of the '90s along with those of today.
Singer-songwriter Tritt, 59, has had five No. 1 songs — "Help Me Hold On" (1990), "Anymore" (1991), "Can I Trust You with My Heart" (1993), "Foolish Pride" (1994) and "Best of Intentions" (2000) — and 15 top 10 hits. The Georgia native also has won two Grammys and four Country Music Association awards.
"When he rolls into an event, he comes in three 18-wheelers, two tour buses, it's the real deal. And he sells out everywhere he goes," Innes said.
Travis, meanwhile, has had 16 No. 1 songs, beginning with 1986's "On the Other Hand" to 2002's "Three Wooden Crosses." He's sold more than 25 million records, won multiple Grammys, CMAs, Academy of Country Music awards, American Music Awards and Gospel Music Association awards, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2016.
Travis seldom performs since suffering a stroke in 2013. However, Shenandoah will spend about 10-15 minutes singing some of Travis' hits.
Travis also will be available to sign copies of his book, "Forever and Ever, Amen: A Memoir of Music, Faith, and Braving the Storms of Life."
Scotty McCreery
Headliner McCreery, 29, who got his big break by winning Season 10 of "American Idol," already has three No. 1 songs — "Damn Strait,” “You Time” and “In Between” — from his five studio albums.
McCreery will perform on the festival's second day, which has been devoted to some of country's newer, up-and-coming artists, including Mitchell Tenpenny, Tyler Braden, Bear Bailey, Clay Cormier and Thomas Cain.
Along with Tritt and Shenandoah, Saturday's lineup will offer Kendall Shaffer, Chase Tyler, Nelson Blanchard, Konner James, Abby Leigh and Ben Ragsdale.
This will be a rain-or-shine festival, and there is no reentry once inside the park. The 52-foot stage will be set up on the park's football field.
Tickets and mandatory parking passes are on sale now at thecajuncountryjam.com. Prices start at $90 for a one-day pass, with weekend general admission and pit passes also available. Camping spots for the weekend also will be offered.
"We want to make this a great experience for people," Innes said.
