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Jessica Lynn (USA)
Jessica Lynn is being hailed by press around the world as a rocket force and is quickly becoming a household name. A unique face and voice in modern music, she has been seen by millions on the road and in her three full-length nationwide concert television specials. Jessica’s powerful voice and fierce stage presence showcase the multi-faceted singer/songwriter’s instrumental talents playing piano, guitar, harmonica, and the drums.
In five years of relentless international touring, Jessica has shared stages with some of the most recognizable names in country and rock music such as Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Richard Marx, Montgomery Gentry, Lonestar, The Allman Betts Band, Phil Vassar, Jo Dee Messina, ZZ Top, and the “Queen of Country” herself, Loretta Lynn. With one of the most exciting live shows in the business, Jessica has often drawn comparisons to country music superstar Shania Twain.
In addition to her success as an award-winning international performer, Jessica’s star has shined brightly not only on the musical stage, but also on the world stage, helping to illuminate many humanitarian causes. Jessica was chosen out of hundreds of bands across the United States by The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs to be an elite member of American Music Abroad, which has her traveling to countries across the globe as an ambassador for the USA, bringing American music and culture. With a massive social media presence and upcoming tour dates in several different countries, Jessica’s star continues to rise.
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Karen McDawn (Austria)
To Karen McDawn, country music is like storytelling, preferably from real life experiences. Her new album ‘To The Moon And Back’ features a lot of these stories and most of them center around love.
“Each song is the narration of a portion of my life as a loving woman and I can tell you, a lot of it was really bad. Still, each ending is a new beginning. There’s a truth here that I learned in life as well, and I sing songs about this on the album. There are also hymns on the album dedicated to love itself, and to the modern woman in love – like my first single ‘What Love Looks Like’.”
This album is 100% Karen and it’s apparent from the first to the last song! Recorded in Nashville, it features some of the best musicians in the business. Karen McDawn’s musical style was influenced by Sara Evens, Martina McBride, Mindy McCready and Jo Dee Massina to name a few. You can hear that influence in Karen’s remarkable voice – a voice made in heaven especially to interpret these songs.
“If I had to put a name on it, I’d call it modern country, country rock or classic-rock-pop-country.” – Karen McDawn
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Antoinette & The Bluebonnets (The Netherlands)
This band was founded by Antoinette Hommerson, a Dutch singer-songwriter. Antoinette has been singing and playing Country Music since she was 8 years old. You might still remember her by her former stage name “Electa Winter”. Under that name Antoinette has been performing in many countries as a solo singer, but also in different bands over the years.
From 2013 until 2018, Antoinette has been performing using her actual name. In 2019, Antoinette decided that it was time to start her own band: Antoinette & The Bluebonnets. She found a couple of passionate musicians and together they started playing some “good ole country music”, the music you wanna hear when you’re having a good time.
Antoinette & The Bluebonnets play original songs that have been written by Antoinette Hommerson and co-writers. They also play several well known country songs, country songs you haven’t heard before and they will also surprise you by playing some pop songs in their own special countryfied way. Country songs about the real things in life!
In 2021 Antoinette & The Bluebonnets released their first EP named REVIVED. As from 2023 Antoinette & The Bluebonnets perform in different compositions but they stay true to themselves. On stage, this band has a good time together and they are very passionate about their music. No matter what composition they play in: Good times are guaranteed with Antoinette & The Bluebonnets!
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G. Thomas & Friends (Norway)
G.THOMAS has been a fulltime professional countryartist since 1982 and will celebrate his 38th year
in countrymusic this year. 4 new songs for the the streaming market was released in 2018. His
coming album will be his 12th solo album. His most wellknow album and title song ¨Jesus in a leather Jacket¨ came out in 1996 and put G.Thomas amoung the top countrynames in Norway.
His last solo album was released in May 2014 and the title song Hey Hey Hey Good morning, has
received alot of airplay on radioes. All songs on the album are written by G.Thomas himself and
some co-writers. The album is about G.Thomass life , on and off the road. With his 38 years as a professional countryartists, G.Thomas is today, among a few, the most experienced artist in his genre in Norway. He is still very busy touring with his road band and playing festivals, clubs and bars all over scandinavia and Europe.
G.THOMAS is know as a true ¨outlaw¨ country artist, with his roots in traditional country
music. He records when he`s got songs on his mind or written new songs. He works all year
round on the road with the different music projects. Also tours with other artists also.
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Lucy & HangOver (Czech Republic)
HangOver was originally a trio of handsome men who played any hit acoustically. In 2022, they met Lucy when they wanted to learn more about getting a job on the ships. Word got around, once they played together just for fun and then everyone realized that this group must work together, because it’s just awesome!
Together they perform as Lucy & HangOver from 2023. They have the goal of giving people joy and incredible energy. Each member went through a number of bands and performed in a lot of projects in the Czech Republic and abroad, which are recognized and very successful.
Lucy & Hangover focuses on modern Country/Pop/Folk/Rock/ genres. With their distinctive and unmistakable style, they play their own original songs as well as covers of well-known songs.
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Shota Adamashvili & Electric Cowboyz (Sakartwelo/Poland)
Shota Adamashvili is pioneer of country music in the Republic of Georgia. Since 2009 Georgian country boy has played many venues, TV show and international festivals. He has never been to the United States but during COVID times he got a chance to performed online at Texas Sounds International Country Music Awards 2021 and won two awards: Virtual Rising Star Of The Year and Producer’s Choice. In 2023 Shota won another special award called “Without Borders” granted by a Polish country music forum countrymusic.pl for his flawless performance at “Czyste Country” festival in Wolsztyn, Poland.
Since 2022 Shota has released one EP “A Lot More To Say” and a few singles. He keeps touring around Europe and growing his fanbase.
Electric Cowboys is a Polish country band based in Poland. They started collaborating with Shota in 2022 and performed at two of the best Polish country festivals “Czyste Country” and “Piknik Country Mragowo”.
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CODA (Poland)
CODA means the ending of a musical piece, but also someone functioning on the border of the world of silence and sounds.
For us, CODA is a new music project created by musicians who have played in various projects so far and who are united by passion and the desire to do something new. Also CODA is a mix of different musical tastes, sometimes similar and sometimes very distant, from which we draw inspiration and create something original with hope that our audience will like it – but we leave it to your judgment.
Our debut album CODA, was released last summer and consist of 13 brand new songs written by CODA members, both in Polish and English.
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Lonstar (Poland)
In 2023 Michael Lonstar celebrated the 45th anniversary of his artistic activity. Singer, guitarist, composer and producer, cult figure and driving force of country & folk music and original songs in Poland. The first Pole to perform on prestigious stages and concerts in Nashville.
Founding member of the Country Music Association (1982) and its president for one term. Ideator and co-producer of festivals: Piknik Country in Mrągowo (since 1983), Country Top in Warsaw (1996-1997), “Czyste Country” Festival in Wolsztyn (from 2010 to this day).
He willingly shares his knowledge, experience and cultural horizons with young people: while working as a lecturer at the Social Academy of Sciences in Warsaw and during author’s meetings with high school students. In recognition of his contributions to the promotion of tourist values and the historical and cultural heritage of the Wolsztyn Land, in June 2023 he was awarded by the City Council in Wolsztyn.
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Appaloosa (Lithuania)
Gus Hale – the founder of the band Appaloosa came to live to Visaginas from the United Kingdom where he lived and worked in the entertainment industry for 35 years – until his retirement. Here in the youth space „Taškas“ he met his new young friends. The aquaintance turned into friendship and they started performing together. Despite the language barrier music united them and Appalloosa was founded.
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Deficitai (Lithuania)
The first Lithuanian Country band DEFICITAI (Arvydas Pocius, Aldona Stankutė – Marčiulaitienė, Ričardas Mikalajūnas ir Vytautas Babravičius – Simas) is comming to the festival with a noble mission – pro memoria – in memory of deceased members of the band Aidas Karpavičius and Artūras Šliažas to honour their wish to be with festival participants and enjoy country music at the Visagino Country Music festival one last time.
In the picture: the band Deficitai (Arvydas Pocius, Artūras Šliažas, Aldona Stankutė – Marčiulaitienė, Vytautas Babravičius – Simas, Aidas Karpavičius, Arvydas Mikalauskas) at the 5th Visagino Country Music Festival. August 16th 1979.
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VIRGIS STAKENAS (Lithuania)
A star in the Nida Walk of Fame
Order for merit to Lithaunia – a cavalier of the Knight‘s Cross
Performer in Visaginas for 30 years
3 in 1: voice-guitar-harp/kazoo
Singer-songwriter
A signatory of the festival and the author of the event’s anthem
Works for selfies in the name of „Country Father“.
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Ciongs (Lithuania)
The group of adult country dances with the name “Ciongs” in Samogitian was established in 2009. It has been led by choreographer Vilma Slivskienė since the beginning.
Collective in 2011 Visagino participated in the XVIII international country music festival “Visagino country”. In 2014 Appeared at the international festival-competition “Lithuanian Open 2014” in Trakai. In 2015 – at the republican dance competition “Dance cup 2015” held in Panevėžys, where he won first place in the adult group. Since 2016, it has been organizing the country dance and music festival “Country spring” every year.
“Ciongs” actively participates in celebrations, contests, festivals of Mažeikiai city and district.
