After a two year hiatus due to Covid and all that implies, Wade Bowen is roaring back with his hometown Bowen Music Fest in Waco on April 9-10, 2022. Bowen says, ““This year’s festival means more than ever because of having to miss the past two years!” The 2018 and 2019 editions found Bowen relocating the event to Baylor University’s McCLane Stadium facilities and expanding the booking reach by bringing in such large font, top of the poster headliners as Jamey Johnson, Cheap Trick, Tracy Byrd and REO Speedwagon to intermingle with the Texas/Red Dirt names of the day.
The 2022 event takes a step back from the classic rock aspects while dialing up the country bonafides of all stripes. Bowen is hosting a mix of the hottest and freshest names on modern country radio and a smattering of 90’s classic favorites. And, as always, the event will be anchored by the biggest names of the Texas scene.
Things get rolling on Sat April 9 with Parker McCollum topping the ticket. Trailblazing 90’s country powerhouse Deana Carter rounds out a bill that also includes Wade Bowen and his band. Sun April 10 is when things get even busier. Recent award winner and top music streamer Lainey Wilson leads a bill that has vintage classic country band Shenandoah. A slew of amazing songwriters ranging from Randy Rogers, William Clark Green and Cody Canada to Jamie Lin Wilson, Stoney LaRue and William Beckmann will be part of the crew that jams with Bowen’s bands through their own songs and select covers. The entire thing will be hosted and emceed by country music’s answer to Weird Al Yankovic, Cledus T. Judd. Bowen states, “The idea behind this year was more music, more fun…we’ve all been having withdrawals from entertaining so we are excited about the entire weekend!” It’s an out of the box festival for a truly heartfelt cause. The Bowen Family Foundation has raised over 3 million dollars over the years. That money goes directly back to the community and is at the core of everything Bowen does with this event. He does it to help out his hometown and spread some goodwill and cheer via music. He just happens to have some really good friends that want to come help him out. “Anyone who knows me and my family knows how special this event is to us. Being able to bring it back and expand it to two days is something we are beyond excited about,” Bowen adds. He continues, “I’m proud of our foundation for hanging on over these past two years of difficult times, now it’s time to let loose, enjoy ourselves and raise some more money for those in need!”
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