By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Among the Wild West Festival's lineup this year is a singer who was just nominated for three Academy of Country Music Awards.
Lainey Wilson along with Kameron Marlowe and Joshua Ray Walker will perform on July 2.
The lineup also includes Sunset Sinners opening for and Lonestar on June 30 and DoC opening for Hairball on July 1.
The festival will run from June 30 to July 3 this year.
Lainey Wilson
Lainey Wilson is a Nashville newcomer on the Broken Bow Record label. Wilson's single “Things A Man Oughta Know”is getting frequent play after its release in August 2020.
Wilson has been nominated for the 2022 ACM Awards for Song of the Year (“Things A Man Oughta Know“), as the artist and songwriter, and New Female Artist of the Year. The ACM Awards are March 7.
“Things A Man Oughta Know” was also highlighted in NPR’s Best Music of 2019. Wilson has been named MusicRow’s Next Big Thing 2021. Strings & Spurs included her on their “Country Artists to Watch in 2021” list. The singer/songwriter's music has also been featured on the television show "Yellowstone."
Joshua Ray Walker
Country singer/songwriter Joshua Ray Walker entered the scene in 2019 with his album "Wish You Were Here" in 2019, which was followed by "Glad You Made It" in 2020 and his newest album "See You Next Time."
Some of his singles include "Working Girl," "Canyon" and "Last Call."
Walker recently made his debut on the "The Tonight Show," where he performed “Sexy After Dark.”
Kameron Marlowe
North Carolina country singer/songwriter Kameron Marlowe has had 165 million on-demand streams.
A hint of what could have been came in 2018, with a Top 24 appearance on Season 15 of NBC’s The Voice, according to the singer's website. He came on the scene with “Giving You Up" and was signed to Columbia. He released a self-titled EP in 2020.
Lonestar
Lonestar first hit the charts in 1996 with the band's second single,"No News." Other hits followed, including "Come Cryin' to Me" and “Everything’s Changed.”
Their quadruple-platinum 1999 album "Lonely Grill" featured four No. 1 hits "Amazed, "What About Now," "Mr. Mom" and “I’m Already There."
Lonestar won the Academy of Country Music Awards for New Vocal Group in 1996, and Single and Song of the Year in 2000, along with Humanitarian of the Year in 2002. They also won Country Music Association's Vocal Group of the Year and International Artist Achievement award in 2001.
Today the band features Dean Sams (keyboards, acoustic guitar, background vocals), Michael Britt (lead guitarist, background vocals), Keech Rainwater (drums) and Drew Womack (lead vocals, guitar).
Sunset Sinners
The Sunset Sinners describe their genre of music as “Whiskey Barrel Rock,” which is a fusion of Southern and '70s rock blended with red dirt country, according to their website. The Sinners feature the vocal stylings of Tony Bowell, rhythm section of Blake Blackim (drums), Brad Johnson (bass) and on guitar Chris Brungardt.
The Sunset Sinners will also be playing a show April 1 at the Fox Theatre in Hays.
Hairball
Hairball bills itself as 20 concerts in one night. It has evolved into an explosive national touring act that brings the glory of the '80s with a homage to the biggest arena acts in the world, according to the band's website.
You’ll see all of your favorite legendary hits - from Van Halen, KISS, Motley Crue, Queen, Journey and Aerosmith, the website said.
Vocalists Joe Dandy, Kris Vox, and Dave Moody lead the band. The motor that drives the Hairball dragster consists of HBK on the electric bass, Billy on the drums, and Happy on the lead guitar, according to its website.
DoC
DoC is a local band. They played under the Hays Downtown Pavilion after the Wild West Festival parade in 2020.
DoC is a cover band that performs hits from all sorts of genres and eras, including both rock and country. The band features Chad Stoecklein, guitarist/lead vocalist and Jeremy Schumacher on drums.
If you want to catch a preview, they will be opening for Sunset Sinners April 1 at the Fox Theatre in Hays.
To learn more about buying tickets for this year's festival, see the festival's website.