Headline Act: Jeffrey Steele
Among his many accolades over the past few years, Jeffrey Steele has been named BMI Songwriter of the Year (2007 and 2003), and the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) Songwriter of the Year (2006, 2005 and 2003). CMA has twice awarded him the coveted “Triple Play Award” for three No. 1 songs in a year (2010 & 2007). His country and A/C mega-hits include a string of chart toppers including: “Knee Deep”, “Here,” “My Wish,” “The Cowboy In Me,” “These Days”, “Everyday”, and the groundbreaking “What Hurts The Most,” nominated for Best Country Song at the 2007 Grammy Awards. Additionally, he has won numerous BMI Country and Pop awards, been named one of billboard magazine’s top 5 writer’s 8 years in a row, as well as Music Row Magazine’s 2006 Songwriter of the Year Award. And now, Jeffrey can add Golden Globe nominee to the list with his nomination for Best Original Song “I Thought I Lost You” for the Disney/Pixar animated feature BOLT, performed by Miley Cyrus and John Travolta.
BMI recently recognized Jeffrey for over 35 million airplays for hits he penned for a multitude of artists including Montgomery Gentry, Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Trace Adkins, Steve Holy, Phil Vassar, LeAnn Rimes, Rascal Flatts and Van Zant. Jeffrey’s compositions can be found on recent and up and coming releases by Zac Brown Band, Billy Ray Cyrus, Joe Cocker, Gretchen Wilson, Miley Cyrus, Hinder, JaneDear Girls, Joanna Smith, LoCash Cowboys, Danny Gokey, Heidi Newfield, Rascal Flatts and more. From JeffreySteele.com.
Opening Act: The Kurt Thomas Band
An inspiring high school graduation performance and $80 were all it took to get singer/songwriter Kurt Thomas hooked on the music business. And now, the small town country boy from Dahlonega, GA has recorded four CD's and opened for some of the biggest names in country music including Kenny Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, LeAnn Rimes, Gary Alan, Sugarland and Zac Brown Band.
Kurt grew up enjoying the close-knit country life in Dahlonega where he heard local musician, Jay Drummonds, sing "Small Town" by John Cougar Mellencamp at his high school graduation. At that moment, he decided that's what he wanted to do with his life and after graduation; he bought his first guitar for $80 from his friend, musician Zac Brown.
Together, Kurt and Zac began playing at local functions. Eventually, Kurt started his own band, Kurt Thomas and the Small Town Band, in honor of the night he decided to make music his life and to honor the way of life that he had been raised to love.
The small town way of life is a frequent theme in many of the songs Kurt writes. Kurt recalls that he used to work at an old country store called Pierce's. "All the old farmers would hang out there in the mornings and tell stories about their lives and I guess that it had a big impact on my life" says Kurt. He has recorded four CD's with Lee Davis at MLD Productions - "Kurt Thomas and the Small Town Band" was first, followed by the solo CDs, "Enjoy The Ride" ,"Turn Up The Radio" and the latest release “Six Strings and a Prayer”.
"Kurt's songwriting ability is one of the most amazing talents I have seen in my many years in the music business", said Davis, an opinion supported by Kurt's 2008 win of Kenny Chesney's Next Big Star contest making him the opening act for Chesney, Brooks & Dunn, Sammy Hagar, LeAnn Rimes, Gary Alan and Sugarland. Kurt has also opened for Zac Brown Band, Joe Diffie, Little Big Town and Blue County.
After opening for Chesney, Kurt went on to win CMT's Music City Madness - a nationwide contest that lead to Kurt's doing an Unplugged Studio 330 session on CMT as well as a mentorship with Grammy-award winning singer, Randy Travis.
Kurt has a unique ability to captivate an audience - whether playing old favorites or his own songs. "I have always tried to stay in touch with the fact that a good song tells a story and most of my songs always do", says Kurt.
Today, Kurt Thomas is doing what he does best: writing songs and playing shows all over the United States. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Sabrina, and they have two young sons, Bo Taylor and Van Tyler, and a little girl Jolene Taya. "I'm loving life and enjoying the ride", says Kurt, while living out his dream. From KurtThomasMusic.com.