Summertime is approaching and with the summer comes the music festival season, and the fastest growing festival in the country is the 3rd annual BamaJam Music and Arts Festival in Enterprise, AL, June 3-5 2010. This year’s lineup includes such superstars as Kenny Chesney in one of his few appearances this year, Hank Williams, Jr. in his only appearance in Alabama this year, 2010 Female Vocalist of the Year, Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Gregg Allman, Zac Brown Band, Jamey Johnson, and many more on four stages.
The BamaJam Music and Arts Festival is the brainchild of Ronnie Gilley of Ronnie Gilley Entertainment. With a sincere desire to give back to Houston County, AL, the area where he grew up, Gilley had the vision to turn a large peanut field into one of the biggest festivals in the country. Last year the festival alone brought in over 10 million dollars to section of South Alabama that desperately needed it. With over 100,000 attendees last year, each year has gotten bigger and better and they are expecting even more this year. The layout of the land even changed this year, the main stage has been backed up 300 feet to enlarge the audience area, the parking areas have been enlarged, and for all the campers, the camping area has been expanded. The vendor area has been changed to be more festival-goer friendly.
BamaJam continues to have one of the best line ups around. According to Gilley, “It is imperative, if you’re going to be successful, that you bring the artists in that people want to see, and we’re going to keep top level talent in here every year.” The lineup this year is a diverse group of alternative, southern rock, and good old country music. Last year’s attendees came from forty eight states and six countries and Gilley attributes that to the lineup and mixture of genres.
Gilley has also recruited Tony Conway as Executive Producer of BamaJam Music and Arts Festival. Conway said Gilley called him with a simple request, “I want you to come down and help us program this and let’s make it bigger and better.” Conway describes it as “an all ages show so even people can bring their family and camp out and enjoy the festival”. Conway has taken that request to heart as he is dedicated to making the best BamaJam yet. He also expresses Gilley sentiments of giving back to the community. The festival is hiring over 500 people from the area to work the festival and according to Conway, “It’s a big boom to that community.” Conway and Gilley have been working very hard to make the festival something that festival-goers will enjoy and want to attend year after year to see their favorite artists perform. Conway says he is very proud to be working for Gilley and his hope is that “everybody that comes this year will have a wonderful time and I want everybody that reads this article to pray for sunshine and a nice breeze and 80 degrees.”
BamaJam Music and Arts Festival will be held in Enterprise, AL on June 3-5 2010. To buy tickets, Ticketmaster has been added this year where you can go to any Ticketmaster location anywhere in the United States or at www.ticketmaster.com. You can also order tickets online at www.bamajammusicfestival.com. For the first time, this year you can even order single day tickets if you can’t attend all three days. As far as price, ticket prices for BamaJam Music and Arts Festival is about half the price of tickets to comparable festivals but they do increase in price at the gate so make sure you get your tickets early.
BamaJam Music and Arts Festival is poised to be the one of the premiere music festivals in the country. Make sure to make your way to Enterprise, Alabama this June for a great time…and say hello and thank you to Mr. Gilley and Mr. Conway.
