2010 Big O Music Fest Friday Artists & Performance Times

  Randy Houser - The passion, enthusiasm and conviction in Randy Houser’s music is utterly irresistible.  One listen to his soul-drenched singing is enough to convince you that you are in the presence of a masterful performer. One scan of his deeply felt lyrics is all the proof you need to see that this is a major songwriting talent. And one meeting with this smiling, endearing, open-hearted personality is all it takes to make you believe he deserves to be a star.  That indefinable something, called charisma, is all over his exceptional debut CD. Whether plunging into sadness or leaping for joy in song, Randy Houser has what all great country artists have – believability.  The album is the capstone of an extraordinary run of good fortune for the singer-songwriter. Thanks to his riveting vocal prowess, Randy is receiving great response from both fans and radio programmers with his first single, the gripping, strikingly emotional ballad “Anything Goes.”  As illustrated in his breakthrough single, Randy Houser is a breathtaking vocalist with fire and conviction at his core. The songs he has chosen by other Nashville writers for this album are superb showcases for the vocal side of his talent. In addition to “Anything Goes,” they include the sensual “Strange” and the ultra-cool, groove-saturated “How Many Times,” the latter featuring harmony vocals by superstar Vince Gill.  Click Here for Randy's Full Bio...

  Mark Wills - Have a chat with Mark Wills for a few minutes, and he's likely to discuss the passions of his life - his music, his family, the recent album, the live concerts, his GAC show "The Year," finding great songs and of course the social causes that he pours himself into.  Wills has numerous hits under his belt already - "Jacob's Ladder," "Don't Laugh At Me," "I Do (Cherish You)" and his seven-week number one smash, "19 Something," to name just a few.  In addition, he has sold millions of albums.  However, he's not even close to being finished.  With his new record deal on Tenacity Records and his latest album, Familiar Stranger, currently in stores, his mission is pretty clear: "I just want to be back in the game, a viable artist," says Wills. He's certainly in the game - produced by studio-master and songwriter Brett James, the album flows like a river, showing all sides of Mark's versatility and range - from beautiful, soulful ballads, like "The Likes of You," to the crank-it-up high energy evident on "Rednecks Anonymous." "My goal was for this album to sound like a bunch of great musicians playing live.  To be completely honest, I don't think a lot of country artists capture that," says Wills.  "I think with Brett's help we succeeded. I worked on this record for two years and I am really proud of it.  I wanted it to sound like everything from Harry Connick Jr. to Aerosmith, and I think there's something for
all the fans - from the rockin' stuff to the ballads."  This summer Mark Wills will hit the road with his cohorts Trent Willmon and Jeff Bates on the Honky Tonk Tailgate Party.  And there is a lot more to come from Mark Wills, so stay tuned!  Click Here for Mark's Full Bio...

  Josh Gracin - Born and raised in Westland, Mich., about 30 minutes west of Detroit, Josh Gracin grew up listening to his parents' favorites -- Elvis, the Beatles and the vintage rock and pop on a favorite local station. Then, when he was 11, the station's format changed to country, and he started getting into artists such as Garth Brooks, Joe Diffie, George Strait and Randy Travis. His first public appearance was at an eighth grade talent competition where he sang Brooks' 1993 hit "Standing Outside the Fire" and managed to win over an audience full of dance music-loving peers. Growing up as the only boy among four sisters, Gracin found his parents unwilling to sign a release for him to play sports, so he took up saxophone instead. He also had experience singing everything from opera (as a member of his school choir) to Motown (as the only male singer in a review called the Fairlane Youth Pop Orchestra). While still in school, he was part of a talent competition that took him to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry.  After high school, he enlisted in the Marines and a few years later got married. About two years into his four-year term of the Marines, he saw the first American Idol show. Though he hadn't sung in a couple of years, he auditioned and was chosen as a finalist in the second year of the series, ultimately placing fourth.  Gracin's self-titled debut album, featuring the first single "I Want to Live," was released in 2004. Its second single, "Nothin' to Lose," reached No. 1 at country radio. Click Here for Josh's Full Bio...

Mountain Heart - Mountain Heart is the band that has been fearlessly revolutionizing the way acoustic music can be presented and played. The band's name has been synonymous with cutting-edge excellence in acoustic music circles since the group's creation in 1999. Widely known throughout the music industry for continually redefining the cutting edge, the band has gained legions of fans both as a result of their superlative musicianship, and more notably, their incomparably exciting live performances. As one of the most highly awarded ensembles ever assembled, Mountain Heart, or members of the band, have either won or been nominated for multiple Grammys, ACM, CMA, and IBMA Awards. They have appeared on the revered stage of the Grand Ole Opry in excess of 100 times and have shared the stage with acts ranging from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Montgomery Gentry, George Jones, Merle Haggard, and Brad Paisley to Alison Krauss, Tony Rice, Travis Tritt, Yonder Mountain Stringband, LeAnn Rimes, and Patty Loveless.  Mountain Heart's musical virtuosity, unmatched energy, and keen sense of entertainment dynamics have helped them to forge a highly unique sound, and stage show, which appeals to an incredibly wide variety of musical tastes. From large outdoor folk music and bluegrass festivals, to sold-out arena shows opening for Southern Rock icons, Lynyrd Skynyrd, to co-headlining concerts with the acoustic guitar legend, Tony Rice, Mountain Heart always makes an undeniable connection to an audience, leaving them on their feet. In short, this rare comibination of abilities makes Mountain Heart one of the most versatile acts ever assembled.  As the group leading the charge in taking acoustic music to the masses, Mountain Heart deftly combines elements of rock, jamband, country, blues, jazz, and bluegrass into a high-energy sound that is at once fresh, accessible, and unmistakeable. Click Here for Mountain Heart's Full Bio...