Entertainment : Second Annual Country Fest set for June 4

Me & Rosie B: Rosie and Tom Bielefeldt, Jeff Mattison and Keith Lindsey.

Little Texas

Leroy Parnell

The Second Annual Country Fest will take place Saturday, June 4, 2016, in the grandstands of the Benton County Fairgrounds.

As last year, the headlining singers are recording artists who have been making records and touring for decades. This year's singers include Leroy Parnell and Little Texas.

And like last year, local bands will perform. This year a new band, Me and Rosie B, will sing, along with the Cedar Rapids-based JC Project.

The host of the event will be comedian Travis Hempstead of Center Point.

JT Promotions is organizing the concert. Kevin Schlarbaum and his friend, Keith Lindsey started the company last year, to organize the first Country Fest. "JT" represents the letters of the men's wives, Teresa Lindsey and Jackie Schlarbaum.

The new band Me and Rosie B includes Rosie and Tom Bielefeldt, Jeff Mattison and Keith Lindsey.

“With the success of last year's concert we decided to keep going and growing it each year,” said Teresa Lindsey. “We learned a lot last year so are looking forward to another great success for Benton County and Vinton.”

The Bellamy Brothers really enjoyed playing here and seeing our community, Lindsey said of last year’s headline performers.

Because four bands are performing this year, the gates will open sooner, but a specific time has not yet been set.

Among the changes planned for this year, Lindsey says, is free parking at the fairgrounds.

“The best news to get out is FREE PARKING. We heard the community’s complaint and will not charge this year,” she said.

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the gate and will go on sale in the spring of 2016.