New music festival features big names

PROVIDENCE, KENTUCKY -- It's been a lifelong dream for Winghaven Lodge owner Russell Edwards to host a major music event. Now he's doing it, and in his first year for the first ever Tradewater Music Festival he's bringing in a line-up of well-known country-rock artists from a variety of styles of music.

Some highlights of the festival -- running Friday and Saturday -- include American County Music Award winner Jack Ingram with hits including “Lips of an Angel,” "Measure of a Man" and “Barefoot and Crazy." Confederate Railroad follows, performing hits such as “Queen of Memphis," “Daddy Never Was the Cadillac Kind” and their signature song “Trashy Women.” 

In addition to the Main Stage entertainment Friday night Clayton Quisenberry, a Kentucky up-and-coming songwriter and Nashville recording artist, will perform during set changes on the Food Court Stage.

There are several different types of tickets for the festival -- one day only passes, weekend passes and VIP passes.

Confederate Railroad will be available to VIP ticket holders for pictures and autographs. Closing out Friday night will be performer and songwriter David Lee Murphy, best known for songs “Dust on the Bottle” and “Party Crowd." Murphy’s songs have been recorded by some big names, including Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Luke Bryant and Eric Church.

Gates open at 3 p.m. Friday with the concert kicking off at 5 p.m. and running through 11 p.m. Friday. Saturday concerts run 1-11 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to bring folding chairs and coolers. Tent and RV camping will be allowed. 

Saturday's lineup is kicked off with Princeton, Kentucky’s, own Alonzo Pennington, an International Thumb Picking Grand Champion and semi-finals winner of the International Blues Competition on Beale Street.

Finally, the last performance on Saturday night is the iconic Kentucky Headhunters. They will perform hits such as “Dumas Walker,” “Spirit in the Sky,” “Walk Softly on this Heart of Mine” and much more.

Michele Edwards, one of the festival's organizers, said the entire Tradewater Music Festival is on the lodge's property. They built an amphitheater to allow them to put on festivals like this one, as well as small events throughout the year. 

"We did our best to find a good mix of people who we thought the audience would want to hear," Edwards said. "It's exciting we are doing something like this for the community. We're just 5 miles outside of Providence, a community that's come on hard times the last few years with the coal industry slowing down. To see eight bands over two days for just $65 for a pass -- that's pretty reasonable entertainment right in our own backyard."

The Tradewater Music Festival is on the banks of the Tradewater River at the Webster/Crittenden county line. The GPS address is 15616 State Route 120 Providence, and it's 50 miles from Evansville and 35 from Henderson.

Tickets are available ahead of time at any Sureway or Food Giant grocery stores in the area, by calling 270-635-2969 or visiting tradewatermusicfest.com. Advanced tickets will be at will call. If you are purchasing at the gate, Edwards said to expect some lines. 

If you go

What: Tradewater Music Festival

When: 3 p.m. Friday through 11 p.m. Saturday

Where: On banks of the Tradewater River at the Webster/Crittenden county line. The GPS address is 15616 State Route 120 Providence.

Tickets: From $35 to $120 by calling 270-635-2969 or visiting tradewatermusicfest.com. Advanced tickets will be at will call.