Bayou Country Superfest returns for a sixth year of music this Memorial Day in LSU’s Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge.
Kenny Chesney, one of country music’s major attractions, headlines the festival Saturday. Sunday Blake Shelton, a country star and a singing coach for TV’s “The Voice,” headlines and closes Superfest 2015.
Superfest’s two days and 10 acts include Shelton’s singing-star wife, Miranda Lambert, rising country stars Brantley Gilbert and Tyler Farr and, appearing solo without Jennifer Nettles, his singing partner in the big-selling duo Sugarland, Kristian Bush.
Superfest’s Saturday and Sunday of country stars will be preceded by country-gone-pop superstar Taylor Swift’s Friday night concert in Tiger Stadium.
Presenting country music’s biggest stars since its 2010 debut, Bayou Country Superfest is produced by the New Orleans-based Festival Productions BCM and AEG Live in association with the Austin, Texas-based Messina Group. Superfest producer-director Quint Davis is also producer-director of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
Kenny Chesney
Saturday, 9:25 p.m.
Kenny Chesney is no stranger to stadiums, including Tiger Stadium. In 2010, Chesney and Taylor Swift headlined the first Superfest. Chesney returned to headline again in 2011.
With his beach-loving everyman image, Chesney sings such feel-good, summery hits as “Summertime,” “Beer In Mexico,” “I Go Back” and “Coastal.” His 16 albums run from 1994’s “In My Wildest Dreams” to 2014’s “The Big Revival.” .
Blake Shelton
Sunday, 9:35 p.m.
Blake Shelton releases hit songs and albums but he’s even more famous for being a coach on TV’s “The Voice.” He’s in his eighth season with the reality show and singing contest.
Like his singing-star spouse, Miranda Lambert, Shelton has a shelf full of honors. He’s a Country Music Association entertainer of the year and five-time Country Music Association male vocalist of the year.
Shelton released his latest album, “Bring Back the Sunshine,” in September. “Sunshine” includes the hit singles “Neon Light” and “Lonely Tonight,” his 13th and 14th consecutive No. 1 singles.
Brantley Gilbert
Saturday, 7:40 p.m.
Georgia native Brantley Gilbert’s third album, “Just as I Am,” is the third-highest charting-country debut of 2014. Also one of the year’s Top 5 best-selling country albums. The American Music Awards named “Just as I Am” its favorite country album of the year. Brantley has released five No. 1 singles. This summer he’s joining fellow Superfest performer Kenny Chesney on “The Big Revival Tour.”
Miranda Lambert
Sunday, 7:50 p.m.
Miranda Lambert, a returning Superfest performer, has five Country Music Association and six Academy of Country Music female performer of the year awards. She’s the winner of four Grammys for country album of year.
Lambert’s latest album, “Platinum,” made history when it debuted at the top of Billboard’s country albums chart. Tyler Farr
Saturday, 6:30 p.m.
Released in April, Tyler Farr’s new album, “Suffer in Peace,” reached the Top 5 on both the all-genre Billboard Top 200 albums chart and Billboard’s country albums chart. The Missouri native’s 2013 album, “Redneck Crazy,” also reached those charts’ Top 5. The New York Times described Farr’s “Suffer in Peace” as a “collection of Southern rock cut through with real moments of tenderness.” Entertainment Weekly named him country music’s “king of heartbreak.”
Kip Moore
Sunday, 6:40 p.m.
In December during the American Country Countdown Awards telecast, Kip Moore received the breakthrough artist of the year award.
Colt Ford
Saturday, 5:40 p.m.
Georgia native Colt Ford turned heads when he mixed country music with hip-hop. But now some of the country’s biggest stars, including Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line, regularly put rap in their country.
Ford’s 2014 album, “Thanks for Listening,” features collaborations with his friends Keith Urban (“She’s Like”), Duck Dynasty’s Boss Hog, Willie Robertson (“Cut ’Em All”), Jerrod Niemann (“Crickets”) and others.
David Nail
Sunday, 5:40 p.m.
The Grammy-nominated David Nail’s oft-praised current album, “I’m a Fire,” appeared on many best of 2014 lists, including those of Rolling Stone Country, NPR, iTunes and Billboard. The album includes his million-selling song, “Whatever She’s Got.”
Kristian Bush
Saturday, 5 p.m.
When singer-songwriter Kristian Bush returns to Superfest on Saturday, he’ll perform solo rather than one-half of the duo Sugarland. Bush and his Sugarland partner, Jennifer Nettles, are going solo while Sugarland is in hiatus.
Bush released his album, “Southern Gravity,” last month. USA Today named the album’s first single, “Trailer Hitch,” song of the week.
Cassadee Pope
Sunday, 5 p.m.
The season-three winner of “The Voice,” Cassadee Pope is among the select number of female country artists whose debut singles sold a million copies. That song, “Wasting All These Tears,” appears on Pope’s hit album, “Frame By Frame.”
TICKETS
Single day and two-day ticket packages are on sale through AXS.com/bayoucountrysuperfest or by calling AXS at 888-611-8184. The Superfest box office will be located outside of Tiger Stadium at Fan Fest. It will be open 10 a.m.-9 p.m. May 22-May 24.
Stage-front, standing-room tickets in an area called the Golden Horseshoe will be available for each day of the festival. The Tiger Plaza will be a general-admission ticketed space that will allow guests a free-flowing festive hangout area.
Single-day tickets are $50-$250 per day; two-day ticket packages $45-$250 per day. Children under 2 will be admitted free (with the exception of the Golden Horseshoe area); no seat provided.
FAN FEST
Taking place outside of Tiger Stadium at Nicholson Drive, the free Fan Fest runs 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Fan Fest’s Bud Light Stage will present performances each day. Fan Fest features an artist meet-and-greet area and festival merchandise.
PARKING
Cash-only parking will be available for first-come, first-served purchase on event days. Advanced parking is sold out. Parking lots will be open on event days beginning at 9 a.m.
Superfest main stage schedule
SATURDAY
5 p.m.: Kristian Bush
5:40 p.m.: Colt Ford
6:30 p.m.: Tyler Farr
7:40 p.m.: Brantley Gilbert
9:25 p.m.: Kenny Chesney
SUNDAY
5 p.m.: Cassadee Pope
5:40 p.m.: David Nail
6:40 p.m.: Kip Moore
7:50 p.m.: Miranda Lambert
9:35 p.m.: Blake Shelton