Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, and Kacey Musgraves announced as headliners for Rockin' River Music Festival 2017

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      In light of the culture war going on in the country that gave us country music, it’s admirable that this year’s Rockin’ River Music Festival in Merritt has done its best to cut across ideological lines. 

      The province’s biggest country showcase has just announced its lineup for 2017. Headliners for the four-day festival, taking place August 3-6 in Merritt, include two country giants whose core audiences aren’t often found on the same playing field, especially in America. 

      On the lefties side of the equation legendary outlaw—and fabled marijuana advocate—Willie Nelson is headed to the Rockin’ River Music Festival as one of the event’s marquee attractions. For those who like their country more on the good-ol’-boy side of the spectrum Toby Keith will also headline.

      Adored and loved by artists ranging from Snoop Dogg to Soundgarden, Nelson is famous for writing his own rules, the 83-year-old having penned some of country’s most iconic songs, including “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys”.

      He’s also one of America’s most prominent and progressive activists, speaking out over the years on everything from marijuana laws to the LGBT movement to the way that America treats its farmers.

      Keith has made plenty headlines over a fabled career that’s seen him scored over 20 number one hits. Perhaps most famously there was his fight with the Dixie Chicks in the ’00s after they announced that George W. Bush made them ashamed to be American. And while the singer officially considers himself an Independent (not to mention a lapsed Democrat), right-wingers and Republicans have embraced songs like “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American)”.

      Look for Keith to share a beer with Nelson at Rockin’ River Music Festival, but not the cheeba. (As Keith told True Country TV in 2009, he once got into the chronic with Nelson on the Red Headed Stranger’s tour bus. The resulting story went like this: “We burned one and I couldn’t even function. I mean it was like the most hard-core weed that I’d ever smoked, and I only hit it three of four times. And unlike Bill Clinton I did inhale.”)

      New-school rebel Kacey Musgraves will also be headed up to the B.C. Interior for Rockin’ River Music Festival. Her appearance is a major score as her Kacey Musgraves Country and Western Rhinestone Revue one of the hottest tickets of 2016, the show appealing equally to alt-country disciples, Nashville traditionalists, and Top 40 fans.

      Others on the bill include Vancouver’s genre-spanning Washboard Union, Grammy winners the Band Perry, and Alberta-spawned heavyweight Brett Kissel, whose album Pick Me Up took home country album of the year honours at the 2016 Juno Awards.

      This will be the second year that Rockin’ River Musical Festival sets up on the site of the former Merritt Mountain Music festival, which ran for 18 years before shutting down in 2012. Rockin’ River started out at the Mission Raceway Park but eventually outgrew the site as attendance grew.

      As with last year, the fest will offer fans camping sites along the Coldwater River. Early bird passes for Rockin’ River Music Festival, as well as camping spots, are now up for sale at www.rockinriverfest.com.

      Watch the site for additional announcements as more talent is added.

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