Miranda Lambert and Toby Keith Rock The Rapids Openers Announced
Grand Rapids, Michigan, July 30th, 2012 — Rock The Rapids, presented by Miller Brewing, Grand Rapids’ Original Music Festival, announce that the country trio, Pistol Annies will open for Miranda Lambert on Monday, August 20 and country music’s hot newcomer Kip Moore will open for Toby Keith on August 22 at Rock The Rapids as part of the Auto Value Main Stage concert series at the six-day music festival.
Setting the stage for headliner, Miranda Lambert, on Monday, August 20 is uniquely enough Lambert’s own self-founded trio, Pistol Annies. The all girl band is made of up Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe and Angaleena Presley. They surprised the country world and debuted their single, “Hell On Heels” on the CBS airing of ACM Girls Night Out in 2011. That performance hit the proverbial bullseye, with the three women trading chilling verses and marrying their three distinct voices together on the chorus, a hair-raising declaration of wicked girl power dished out with the dangerous beauty of deadly sirens. Following that debut performance they went on to release their first album, fittingly titled Hell On Heels. Adding to their own brand of country sass, the trio has given themselves nicknames, Lone Star Annie (Lambert), Hippie Annie (Monroe) and Holler Annie (Presley), which pays homage to where each grew up. The video for their latest single, “Takin’ Pills” debuted earlier this month.
Opening for Toby Keith on August 22 is hot country newcomer, Kip Moore. Moore’s debut album, Up All Night, was released on MCA Nashville in April of this year and quickly spawned his very first No. 1 hit, “Somethin’ Bout A Truck”. Music Row Magazine journalist/historian, Robert K. Oremann noted, “For Years I have been searching for the missing link between blue-collar rock and country music. This year I think I have heard it. His name is Kip Moore. There is fiery urgent intensity in his voice. His lyrics vibrate with conviction and true grit. The melodies have gripping, heart-in-throat passion. And the roaring, propulsive performances on his debut album sound like signposts on the highway to some Southern-fried Born To Run. Dare I say it? This man just might be the hillbilly Springsteen.” Moore’s follow up single, “Beer Money” is currently climbing the charts and favored to follow in the footsteps of his previous No. 1 hit.
Don’t miss your chance to see the Pistol Annies with Miranda Lambert on Monday, August 20 and Kip Moore with Toby Keith on Wednesday, August 22 at Rock The Rapids in downtown Grand Rapids. Passes are on sale now and can be purchased at rocktherapids.showclix.com, by calling 888-718-4253 or visit www.rocktherapids.org for more information.
About
Rock The Rapids, presented by Miller Brewing, is a non-profit music festival that runs August 20-25, 2012 in the heart of downtown Grand Rapids, MI. Rock The Rapids spans several genres of music and is sure to have a little bit of something for every music lover. Previously announced headliners set to play the Auto Value main stage include Miranda Lambert on Monday, August 20; the Rockstar Energy Drink UPROAR Festival featuring Shinedown, Godsmack, Staind, Papa Roach and Adelitas Way on Tuesday, August 21; Toby Keith, “Live In Overdrive” presented by Ford F-Series on Wednesday, August 22; Carnival of Madness featuring Evanescence, Chevelle, Halestorm and New Medicine on Thursday, August 23; Boyz II Men and Bell Biv DeVoe on Friday, August 24 and Big Boi of OutKast and B.o.B on Saturday, August 25. Ticket options include single day, two-day, weeklong and VIP passes with early entry option upgrades, all while supplies last. Rock the Rapids Music Festival is presented by Miller Brewing and sponsored in part by Soaring Eagle Casino and Resort, Pepsi, Showclix, Branns and Jimmy Johns. Stay tuned to www.rocktherapids.org, www.facebook.com/rocktherapids or @rocktherapids for more information.
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