Tyler Farr, Chase Rice to headline Franklin-Southampton County Fair

Published 9:49 am Wednesday, May 21, 2014

COURTLAND—The headlining musical acts for the Franklin-Southampton County Fair have been announced. The musical acts will take to the stage on Friday, Aug. 15, and Saturday, Aug. 16.

Tyler Farr will perform Friday, Aug. 15.

Tyler Farr will perform Friday, Aug. 15.

On Friday night, Kevin Mac, a country music artist out of Virginia Beach, will open up for Tyler Farr, a country music artist who released his first album, “Redneck Crazy,” in 2013. Mac will go on at 7 p.m. and Farr will start at 9 p.m.

On Saturday night, Chris Lane, a country music artist from Kernersville, North Carolina, will open up for Chase Rice, a country music artist from Asheville, North Carolina, who will release his first album in August. Lane will take the stage at 7 p.m., and Rice will go on at 9 p.m.

Chase Rice will sing on Saturday, Aug. 16.

Chase Rice will sing on Saturday, Aug. 16.

“I’m very excited,” said the fair’s music organizer Barbette Porter. “I think that they will be really good. I hope the community will come out and support them.”

Kevin Mac has opened for Martina McBride, Phil Vassar, Darryl Worley and Kenney Chesney. He began his career as a radio personality and deejay, which opened up opportunities for him to perform.

Chris Lane began his career in music after his college baseball career ended. Lane has opened for Florida Georgia Line, The Band Perry, the Eli Young Band, Chris Young, Brantley Gilbert and others.

Currently, Lane is touring with Lee Brice and Florida Georgia Line on select dates. Lane’s band counts Keith Urban, Eric Church and Jason Aldean as influences. He now calls Nashville home.

Tyler Farr was born in Garden City, Missouri. He was introduced into country music at 16, when his mother married his stepfather DeWayne Phillips, who played lead guitar for George Jones. While in college, Farr switched career tracks and moved to Nashville, working at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge for five months until he convinced management to let him sing. For the next few years, he would play Tootsie’s and work odd jobs, such as security at the lounge. Before long, he found a friend in Rhett Akins, who had heard some of his music that he recorded for outdoor shows and wanted to work for him. Not long after, he landed a record deal with Sony Music Nashville’s BNA Records.

Chris Lane will open on Saturday, Aug. 16.

Chris Lane will open on Saturday, Aug. 16.

Chase Rice started out pursuing a career as a football player, and was one of the top 25 recruits in North Carolina.

He played linebacker for the University of North Carolina. An injury during his junior year changed his career path, however, as he was never able to play quite the same. Though he said he gave it his best, and that was what really matters.

Rice then went on to work in two NASCAR pit crews, including that of Jimmie Johnson’s.

Music was always something he worked on, and after spending a weekend in Nashville with friends Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley, who went on to become Florida Georgia Line, he decided to move in with them. He co-wrote the song “Cruise,” but didn’t want to stop there, as he started working on the songs for his album, Dirt Road Communion, which he self-released and sold at shows. Now he’s working with Triple 8 Management, which also represents Joe Nichols and the Eli Young Band.

Rice’s music is inspired by part Garth Brooks, part Eminem, part George Strait and part Wiz Khalifa.

That’s not all, though, as on Thursday night 7 Bridges The Ultimate Eagles Experience will take to the stage at around 9:30 p.m. after the talent show. The band is an Eagles cover band that played the fair last year, but due to rain, not many were able to see them, Porter said.

“I’m hoping everyone will come out for a little bit of nostalgia,” she said. “I think everyone will enjoy them also.”

Porter added that there could be even more added as we go along.

“Everybody stay tuned,” Porter said. “We may be adding a little more.”