PLANES, TUNES & BBQ is back on & rescheduled for Friday and Saturday, May 13th and 14th! The family friendly event features live music, a twilight airshow, seaplane competitions, BBQ, vendors, family fun zone and more!
Admission is FREE!
We will be kicking off the festivities Friday evening with live music, BBQ, and a variety of food and merchandise vendors. Headlining for his first show in Tavares will be the incredibly talented, true country, Nashville singer/songwriter DREW PARKER! Drew is a co-writer on Luke Combs’ debut platinum record “This One’s For You”, Jake Owen’s single “Homemade”, and Luke Combs’ “1,2 Many”. We will be kicking off the festivities Friday evening with live music, BBQ, and a variety of food and merchandise vendors. Headlining for his first show in Tavares will be the incredibly talented, true country, Nashville singer/songwriter DREW PARKER! Drew is a co-writer on Luke Combs’ debut platinum record “This One’s For You”, Jake Owen’s single “Homemade”, and Luke Combs’ “1,2 Many”. In his latest release, "Raised Up Right", Drew pays homage to the values instilled in him as a child. With one of the most potent, identifiable styles in the business, Drew Parker knows exactly what he’s about – and country fans already love it. Some just don’t know it yet. (Here's your chance to!) Opening for Drew for their debut Tavares performance will be the Crossfire Creek Band with their one-of-a-kind, unique flare on country music.
On Saturday, the savory smell of BBQ won’t be the only thing soaring through the air…the seaplanes will be arriving to participate in our Seaplane-A-Palooza flying competitions. You don’t want to miss the crowd favorite “melon bomb drop” contest! Following the contests and back by popular demand, will be one of Central Florida's hottest country bands, HAYFIRE! They are sure to get you moving and grooving to your country favorites! Immediately following Hayfire, when night falls and the stars come out, professional pilots Louis Horschel, Jerry “Jive” Kerby and Nate Hammond light up the sky with their jaw-dropping, action-packed routine full of loops, rolls with wing-mounted pyrotechnics as they dance across the sky! After the fireworks, move your eyes to the stage and enjoy a special performance by Nashville singer/songwriter KYLIE MORGAN! Kylie just released her brand-new song “Independent With You” in response to overwhelming fan demand on social media. Kylie was also named as one of VEVO’s 2021 DSCVR Artists to Watch. The only country artist to make the list, the program highlights 19 of the world’s top emerging artists poised to break out over the next year. Don’t miss this opportunity to sing along with Kylie to some of her hits like “I Only Date Cowboys”, “Cuss a Little” and “Break Things”.
SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, May 13th: 4pm – 9pm
• Live Music, BBQ, Food & Merch Vendors (4p – 9p)
o Crossfire Creek Band performs (4p-7p)
o Headliner: DREW PARKER (7:30p – 9:00pm)
SATURDAY, May 14th: 11am– 10pm
• BBQ, Food & Merch Vendors (11a-10p)
• Seaplane Contests (11:00am)
• Family Fun Zone in Tavares Square (interactive games for all ages, trackless train) (11am – 7pm)
• Live Music
o Hayfire performs
• Twilight Airshow & Fireworks (8:00pm)
o Headliner: KYLIE MORGAN: (8:45pm – 10:00pm)
WHERE: Wooton Park, Tavares
100 E. Ruby Street
Tavares, FL 32778
CONTACT: Cheri Moan
352-742-6176
Email: cmoan@tavares.org
FOR INFO:
www.tavares.org
Seating is limited / Bring a chair or blanket
Parking available in the parking garage @ 200 N. Sinclair Ave.
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Drew Parker Bio:
In Nashville’s famous songwriting community, the talent runs deep, and there’s no shortage of hopeful artists looking to find themselves a “lane.” But with one of the most potent, identifiable styles in the business, Drew Parker knows exactly what he’s about – and country fans already love it. Some just don’t know it yet. Now, after joining Warner Music Nashville to supercharge his artistic ambition, they’ll soon learn. “It all goes back to singing for me,” says the top-tier tunesmith. “If I didn’t chase my artistic dreams, it would be like a car without gasoline for me. That’s the fuel that keeps me going.” So far, you’d be forgiven for not knowing. A native of Covington, Georgia, schooled on ‘90s country giants like Ronnie Dunn, Travis Tritt, and Alan Jackson, Parker’s led a recent resurgence in organic country hits – they’ve just been for other artists.
Tracks like Luke Combs’ CMA Song of the Year nominee “Forever After All” and Jake Owen’s “Homemade” have established his signature style, using whip-smart lyricism and actual country instruments to pen quality-driven Number Ones – a new-school-meets-old-school vision that’s proven itself at each turn. But even though he’s made a mark, the stage calls out. … And those are just the songs he gave away. Like so many before him, Parker began his career in the church, with a traveling gospel choir who stopped in to entertain the congregation. They left behind a 12-year-old talent who’d been forever changed, and it wasn’t long before he followed their footsteps, traveling from church to church and honing a knack for message-driven connection.
Then one fateful night in Rome, Georgia, not more than six years ago, Parker was slated to open for a guy named Luke Combs. But before they took the stage – in front of a whopping 60 people – the two singers struck a friendship, finding common ground in their favorite tunes. Combs suggested Parker come to Nashville to write songs, and when Parker moved to Music City for good nine months later, a hit-making brotherhood was established. He still saw himself as a singer first, Parker says, but his writing busted open the door on a new country era.
With an undeniable skill for twisting familiar phrases, conversational co-writes like Jake Owen’s “Homemade” became his first Number One in 2020, while others like “1,2 Many,” (featuring Brooks & Dunn), “Forever After All,” “Nothing Like You” and “Lonely One” helped define the historic start to Combs’ career, most recently adding Combs’ 2021 CMA Awards-performed track “Doin’ This” to his songwriting credits. It’s that same wordplay that drives Parker’s solo work, too, and it’s all steeped in his love of the ‘90s.
“There was something going on in the ‘90s that I gravitated to. It was very emotional, and it makes you feel something,” he explains. “I want to be part of a revitalization of the country music I grew up on, and I want to write those hooks that dig a knife into you and then turn.”
Never abandoning his dreams, Parker dropped a stand-alone single in 2016 (“Slow Down Small Town”), a deeply personal song he says is still one of his best. A four-song collection followed in 2018, and then in 2020, Parker reached a creative high-water mark: The While You’re Gone EP – seven twangy, energy-filled lyrical masterstrokes that were too “him” for anyone else to sing.
“It was definitely important for me to be able to plant my foot down and say ‘Listen, this is who I am. This is what I want to sound like,’” he explains. “I wanted it to put an identity on who Drew Parker is as an artist, and I’m super proud that I feel like we did that.”
With a deceptively dynamic vocal – as raspy and rowdy as it is inviting, and proud of its easy Southern drawl – each track showed off another aspect of this gospel-singer-turned-hit-maker … and even though the project was released independently, tastemakers took notice.
SiriusXM took one listen to the project’s stunning title track and got it spinning regularly as a Highway Find,” leading Parker to recognition as a Future Five for 2021 and ultimately driving the song to No.1 on The Highway. Co-written with Jameson Rodgers, it showed off everything that makes Parker stand out, from his powerhouse vocal to that unteachable Shakespearean spark – the ability to make people laugh while they cry. “I love those nostalgic songs, back when they told break-up stories but they kinda had two meanings,” he says. “To me ‘While You’re Gone’ is kind of funny, but it’s also a sad breakup song. It’s about this guy who’s literally waiting for this girl to come back, and deep down he knows she’s not, but he’s just gonna wait forever.” The clever power ballad has become Parker’s first single at country radio, where he was the most-added new artist upon impact. Currently climbing up the charts, the song charted on Billboard’s Country Airplay chart after just two weeks, making Parker one of the fastest debut artists to hit the Billboard chart in 2021. The rising artist got to take his new single to the legendary Grand Ole Opry circle last fall for his Opry debut, receiving a standing ovation.
The rest of the EP features just as much double-entendre intrigue. Tracks like “Hell Yeah Say When I’m In,” sound complicated, but actually celebrate the simple things that make a country boy tick, doing so in upbeat, fiddle-rocking style. “Party In the Back” delivers a twang-happy tribute to the most iconic hairstyle of the ‘90s – as well as Parker’s easy-going personality. And with the project closer, “House Band,” the singer-songwriter strips his thoughtful work down to its bones, an acoustic tribute to the deafening silence of a broken heart. It’s the first true look at an artist who’s already developed a sound and style all his own, but it won’t be the last, as there’s much more in Parker’s tank. The newest song on While You’re Gone is already three years old, he says – meaning there’s also three years of new, unrecorded music waiting in the wings. But for now, the Georgia native is excited to have this batch of work out in the world. And his original dreams are coming true. In true Drew Parker’s double meaning, the tank is gassed up, and he’s finally ready to roll … both literally and metaphorically. Now six years in Music City, his hard work and dedication are starting to show with several major milestones in his budding career. From scoring two No.1s as a songwriter to signing his record deal, to his Grand Ole Opry debut, opening on major tours for artists such as Luke Combs and Jameson Rodgers, and receiving his first-ever CMA Awards nomination, the Georgia native has plenty to celebrate as he continues to put in the time and effort to achieve his dreams. “For me, this is where the rubber meets the road,” he says. “It’s like ‘Alright now’s the time to work,’ but at the same time, it’s also like the hard work I’ve put in is paying off. Let’s not stop now, let’s not slow down. I’m excited to see where we can go.”
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KYLIE MORGAN bio:
The Oklahoma native starting writing songs at the age of 12 and gained national attention from music producers and television executives after releasing her music independently. This early success led Kylie to begin making regular trips to Nashville, crafting her voice and polishing her songwriting. When she turned 19, she made the decision to call Music City home. Recognizing Kylie’s unique talent, the SMACKSongs team signed her to their roster under the guidance of GRAMMY Award-winning songwriters, Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne. To give fans a glimpse into her upbringing and passion to pursue music, Kylie returned to her hometown of Newcastle, OK to film her “Hometown Heartland” series. An avid yoga enthusiast, Kylie has earned her official Yoga Alliance Certification and participates in yoga daily. While stuck at home and unable to tour, Kylie created the #namasteathome series where fans can participate in short yoga flows/light workouts. Kylie was previously selected as one of three artists for the CMA KixStart program and was named as one of VEVO’s 2021 DSCVR Artists to Watch. The only country artist to make the list, the program highlights 19 of the world’s top emerging artists poised to break out over the next year. As part of the program, Kylie recorded acoustic performances of “Shoulda” as well as “Cuss A Little”. Kylie has been named to several Artists to Watch lists including CMT, SiriusXM On The Horizon, Taste of Country and Pandora. Kylie has previously toured with artists including Dan + Shay, Little Big Town, Maren Morris, Kip Moore Gavin DeGraw, Brett Eldredge and Billy Currington. Kylie released her debut EP Love, Kylie June 11. Kylie co-wrote all six songs on her new EP and was produced by Shane McAnally and Ben Johnson.
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Hayfire bio:
HAYFIRE has played all over the great state of Florida. We have been on stage with some of the biggest names in Country Music. We are known for our superb vocals and upbeat energy that gets any crowd going. Our trio of singers are upfront and blend well together for great harmonies with a modern, southern-tinged sound that is instantly familiar and fun. HAYFIRE is the HOTTEST country band in Florida, with nearly 100 years combined experience in ALL areas of the entertainment industry. We have one of the most current set lists around, playing hits from artists like Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan, Sugarland, and Miranda Lambert. Not to worry though, we still play some of the classics! We even play some top 40, Classic Rock and Oldies.
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Crossfire Creek Band bio:
A 5-pc New Country/Top 40 Country band based out of Tampa/Clearwater, FL.
This band’s live performance is a definite MUST-SEE! Their high-energy one of a kind performance features true-to-the-original cover versions of today's New Country from Luke Combs, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Kane Brown, LOCASH, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker, Jon Pardi, Brothers Osborne and much more. As fresh new country hits take to the radio air waves, Crossfire Creek brings them straight to your ears for your listening pleasure! Their growth in the Central Florida area has been phenomenal and their notoriety across the region continues to grow by the week! If you find yourself to be the kind who likes to sit back and watch, enjoying great performances, power house singers and excellent musicianship - or if you're the kind who has to get their feet moving to the beat and would rather dance the night away, this phenomenal group has something for everyone!
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Twilight Airshow Pilot - Jerry “Jive” Kerby bio:
Aircraft: RV-8A
Jerry "Jive" Kerby is a retired US Air Force fighter pilot having flown the F-15C Eagle and F-4 Phantom during his 23-year active duty military career. He currently flies the T-28 Trojan, T-33 Shooting Star, L-39 Albatross, and Wild Blue...the RV-8A that wants to be a fighter jet.
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Twilight Airshow Pilot - Nathan K. Hammond bio:
Nathan was born into the airshow world, his first flight at 2 weeks old on his mother’s lap. Raised in up-state New York, the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum was his childhood playground and a major influence from day one. Fascinated by the thrill and excitement at the weekly airshows, Nathan’s approach to safely demonstrate aircraft for the crowd’s entertainment was developed.
Soloing as a teenager, Nathan now has over 7,000 hours of experience as an Airshow, Corporate, and Factory Demonstration Pilot as well as holding an aircraft mechanics license. Following the family legacy that began at the Aerodrome, Nathan continues to fly’s the museum’s collection of early pioneer and World War I aircraft. He has truly flown everything from Jenny’s to Jets!
25 years ago, Nathan established, what would become, a deep-rooted involvement with a deHaviland Chipmunk, then known as the Pepsi SkyDancer. Flown at airshows by Steve Oliver and used to skywrite by Suzanne Oliver; SkyDancer thrilled over 45 million airshow fans. Enamored with the aircraft’s graceful appearance and love of aerobatics, Nathan joined the crew, quickly advancing as lead ferry pilot and team crew chief at airshows across North America.
After years of coaching and mentoring; the closely held and highly guarded art of Skywriting was passed onto Nathan. His first message was a true test, written overtop 100,000 NASCAR fans and broadcast on live TV. From that moment, a new legacy was born. Nathan’s skywriting has received recognition on National TV and major news outlets for his work at Airshows, festivals, and sporting events.
In 2016, with a well-established airshow career, Nathan took full control of SkyDancer and re-named the ship GhostWriter, in reference to his skywriting persona; visible
message and seldom seen scribe. Today, Nathan flies GhostWriter in an action packed routine full of loops, rolls and verticals, held tightly in front of the crowd. When night falls and the stars come out, he lights up the sky with 200lbs of wing mounted pyrotechnics, as he dances across the sky.