Casey Barnes Wins Country Summer Music Festival Fender Contender Challenge

SANTA ROSA, Calif. - April 30, 2016 - PRLog -- Casey Barnes, who has had hits in Europe, written and recorded in America and appeared in a top-rated Australian television show, is the winner of the Country Summer Fender Contender Challenge.

Voted the fans' favorite, he will be first to perform at Country Summer, Northern California's biggest country music festival June 3-5 at Sonoma County Event Center at the Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Road.

Barnes is from Australia's Gold Coast and the second consecutive Aussie to win the competition. Last year, Jared Porter, from Queensland, took the top prize.

"I'm so excited I'm beside myself," Barnes said in an interview with Rob and Joss in the Morning on Froggy 92.2. "I've always wanted to play in a major music festival like this. It's an honor. We can't wait."

Barnes, who is bringing his whole band for the Country Summer performance, plans to play a mix of country, country blues and a bit of rock. "It's going to be a rocking show," he promised.

Australians got to know Barnes' story when he was a finalist on Australian Idol, but he had a career well before appearing on the show, having released three albums.

In addition to a string of chart-toppers, the last three years have seen many great achievements for him with shows in New York, Nashville and Los Angeles. Recognized as a force on the Australian music festival circuit, he has played Queensland's premier Caloundra Music Festival twice and many others.

Last year, he won the People's Choice Award at the Gold Coast Music Awards and followed it up with a win for Best Male Vocal for his single 'Hard Times' at the NCEIA Dolphin Music Awards.

Fresh from recording exciting new music at the legendary Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, Barnes is preparing for the release of his next album.

In addition to Barnes (http://www.caseybarnes.com.au/), June 3 Country Summer artists include Lady Antebellum, Craig Morgan, Chris Janson and Chase Bryant.

June 4 artists include The Band Perry, Kip Moore, Chase Rice, Kristian Bush of Sugarland and McKenna Faith. June 5 artists include Billy Currington, Josh Turner, Frankie Ballard and Old Dominion.

Between acts on the Chevy Silverado main stage, local country music groups will keep concert-goers entertained with performances on the Santa Rosa Stage. While country music artists are the main attraction, great festivals are more than great music.

Country Summer has become a destination country celebration with Western-themed attractions, great food and an array of libations. There's the Jack Daniel's Saloon, Bud Light for beer drinkers and Kendall-Jackson wines to suit every palate.

Gates open at noon, and music begins at 1:30 p.m. each day of the Country Summer festival.

General admission tickets are $79 per day. Three-day general admission passes are $209. Single-day reserved seats start from $99. Three-day reserved seats start from $279.

Country Summer tickets are on sale now. Visit www.countrysummer.com or call 800-514-3849 to order by phone.

Event sponsors include Fender, Chevrolet, Bud Light, Friedman's Home Improvement, Les Schwab Tire Centers, Kendall-Jackson, River Rock Casino, Jack Daniel's, Mary's Pizza Shack, American AgCredit, Montgomery Village, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Harris Ranch, Cattlemens, Creams, Papé Material Handling, Xfinity, Marines, Visit Santa Rosa, and Froggy 92.9.