Published: July 31, 2006 09:12 am      

Big names to perform at veterans celebration

RICHMOND — Among the military flyovers and special guest speakers, more than 20 musicians and bands will provide entertainment this weekend at the four-day Kentucky Veterans Welcome Home Celebration at Battlefield Park.

Country star Aaron Tippin, whose first single, “You’ve Got to Stand for Something,” cracked the top 10 in 1991 and allowed him to entertain the troops in the Persian Gulf with Bob Hope, will be Saturday’s headline performer.

Tippin, whose patriotic anthem, “Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly,” became a hit in the wake of 9/11, will hit the stage at 9 p.m.

Earlier in the day, popular country singer Janie Fricke will perform at 3:30 p.m., just prior to the 5 p.m. welcome and recognition of the veterans.

Fricke had six number one hits in the early 1980s, including “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Baby,” “It Ain’t Easy Bein’ Easy,” and “Tell Me a Lie.”

The big draw on Friday will be the honky-tonk styling of The Confederate Railroad, who have sold nearly 5 million albums with hits such as “Queen Of Memphis,” “Trashy Women,” and “Jesus And Mama.”

Named the Academy of Country Music’s Best New Group in 1993 and a multi-Grammy nominated band, The Confederate Railroad will conclude the night with their 9 p.m. concert.

Their current line-up includes vocalist/guitarist Danny Shirley, drummer Mark DuFresne, bassist Wayne Secrest, Gates Nichols on steel guitar and vocals, lead guitarist Jimmy Dormire and keyboardist/vocalist Cody McCarver.

“I think it’s going to be great,” Aaron Francis, stage manager/coordinator, said about the lineup. “There’s a lot of bluegrass and country, but there’s also a group of young guys from Berea called 12 Gauge that are high-school age and they have more of a southern rock feel to them.”

Fans also will be able to meet their favorite star at an autograph booth, he said.

“The big names have been very generous,” Francis said. “I’ve been e-mailing back and forth Aaron Tippin’s people and Confederate Railroad. Janie Fricke calls personally asking about her stage gear and things. So, they’ve really been user-friendly and not all big stars. It’s going to be a blast. I can’t wait.”

One local up-and-coming country musician also will have the opportunity to open up for Tippin on Saturday.

With his band Sugarcane, Tim Hellard, 35, of Berea, will perform at 7:30 p.m. The 1989 Madison Southern graduate is used to big crowds.

He has previously opened for Dierks Bentley, Blake Shelton, Jo Dee Messina, Billy Currington and other country stars.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “This is something I really wanted to do — anything to contribute. I headline a Sept. 11 benefit every year in Lexington. Anytime you have the opportunity to open up for somebody who is big and it’s for a good cause, I’m there every time.”

A music lover since he was a kid, Hellard started playing drums when he was 10, guitar at age 14 and he started singing at 20.

During the past year and a half, he has been making three trips a week to Nashville to play music and meet with publishing companies, record companies and music producers.

Hellard’s Web site — www.myspace.com/timhellard — has had 500 to 700 daily downloads of his music.

While the winner of the 2005 Battle of the Bands at Austin City Saloon in Lexington has not met Tippin yet, he has plans to pick him up to lift weights together when he gets in town.

“I’d love to write something with him,” Hellard said. “It’s exciting to be able to just hang out with him.”

Other musicians scheduled include: Thursday, Josh Logan, Jim Miller, 12 Gauge, John Russell, Basics and former Miss Kentucky and 2000 Miss American Heather French; Friday, Dan Brock, Nora Lee Gill, Bradlee Burtner, Sandy Creek Boys and the Hasty Street Band; Saturday, Nora Lee Gill, Liberty Zion, Brad Burchett, Journeymen, Brandy Norman and Scott Johnson; and Sunday, Madison Central Band.

For a complete schedule of events for the Kentucky Veterans Welcome Home Celebration, go to www.kentuckyveteranswelcomehome.com.

Bryan Marshall can be reached at bmarshall@richmondregister.com or 624-6691.