George Strait to headline 2018 Bayou Country Superfest
Published 9:10 pm Tuesday, October 24, 2017
NEW ORLEANS — Country music great George Strait makes his only scheduled festival appearance of 2018 at the Bayou Country Superfest in New Orleans over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Organizers Tuesday said Strait, who has 60 No. 1 singles — the most of any country artist in history — will be joined by Chris Stapleton, Little Big Town, Kacey Musgraves and country trio Midland for the performance Sunday, May 27.
Tickets go on sale Nov. 2.
A free concert at Champions Square, next to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, will feature Randy Houser, Michael Ray and Runaway June on Saturday, May 26, and on Friday, May 25, the festival will coordinate “A Salute to America,” a free huge fireworks display across from Jackson Square on the Mississippi River.
Festival organizer Quint Davis said he is “beyond excited” about landing Strait for next year’s festival along with the others.
“We’ve got the ‘King of Country’ who retired a couple of years ago and hasn’t been out doing any concerts,” Davis said. “This is just incredible. We always have a festival with a great lineup, a huge collection of some of the greatest country artists. Little Big Town’s won every award you can think of. But this is a one-of-a-kind event, with Strait’s return, that’s expected to blow a hole all through America.”
Davis said Strait as a headliner will draw fans from all over the country, Canada and perhaps beyond.
“When he played the festival in 2014, we had folks from as far as Germany attending,” he said.
That year, Strait and Reba McEntire helped draw a record 135,000 fans to LSU’s stadium in Baton Rouge.
“A lot of things went into wanting and trying to get George Strait. At the end of the day, though it was up to him. So it’s special that he chose to do this,” Davis said. “We’re honored to have him. His appearance is part of the ongoing legacy of the Bayou Country Superfest. We’ve had some great times over the years with this festival, but this will be one of the milestones.”
Davis encouraged fans to get their tickets quickly, noting the show is an all-reserve seat event.
