By Kristy Tallman
Of The New Era
2024 proves to be an exciting year for the Sweet Home Jamboree with a star-studded entertainment lineup. During the 12 Days of Announcements the Jamboree hosts yearly, they have announced some of this year’s coming lineup.
“It’s a great time to really give back to our JamFans and community during the ‘downtime’ of the festival and help promote our amazing partners with holiday offers they have going on,” Festival Director Robert Shamek said. “It’s been one of our best years yet, reaching so many of our fans and being able to give away over $15,500 in tickets, pit passes, camping and sponsor gifts. This year we also were able to include a guitar signed by the 2023 lineup, and 18 meet and greets for 2024 artists that you can’t buy. It’s really a once in a lifetime kind of opportunity that we get to share during the holiday season.”
During the 12 Days of Announcements, the “JamFans” were also treated to some great prizes. This year’s giveaways consisted of a STIHL chainsaw from Linn Benton Tractor, $500 Coastal Farm & Ranch shopping spree, an ultimate camping package, an ultimate Jamboree package that includes an autographed guitar from 2023 Oregon Jamboree, camping, tickets, pit passes, and meet & greets to an artist of their choice (at the discretion of the artists).
The Oregon Jamboree is one of the northwest’s premier country music festivals held annually in Sweet Home. This year’s event will be held Aug. 2-4, 2024. The festival is a grand event for the Sweet Home community as it draws attendees from all over the United States and has hosted international visitors as well. Over 900 festival volunteers contribute their efforts to ensure a safe and fun experience for all.
Since 1992, the Oregon Jamboree has put on 29 Jamborees (1998 & 2020 were off years) and had more than 6,500 volunteers.
The Oregon Jamboree is the fundraising mechanism created to support the non-profit organization Sweet Home Economic Development Group (SHEDG). All proceeds generated by the festival are distributed back into the community for economic development purposes.
“This year we have been able to book a lot of artists that are not only new to the Oregon Jamboree but also to the northwest,” Shamek said. “Koe Wetzel, Pecos & The Rooftops, Runaway June are all talented and unique artists that our JamFans have been routinely asking for that we can’t wait to bring to Sweet Home. We also have the classic country represented with headliner Gary Allan and superstar country artist Cole Swindell who has been rocking the charts this past year.
“As most people know, we are dedicated to giving back to our local talent and we are excited to bring in local superstars that are making waves nationally, like the 2023 Tractor Supply Emerging Artist Hailey Verhaalen, who was mentored this whole year by our 2023 headliner Ashley McBryde, and Jacquie Roar, who was a finalist on Season 24 of NBC’s ‘The Voice’ that just wrapped up.”
This year’s line up announced thus far will include: Cole Swindell, Neal McCoy, Gary Allan, Ashland Craft, Runaway June, Hailey Verhaalen, Pecos and the Rooftops, and Koe Wetzel. Others are expected to be announced on New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day and later in the year.
Colden Rainey Swindell (Headliner) is an American country music singer and songwriter. He has written singles for Craig Campbell, Thomas Rhett, Scotty McCreery and Luke Bryan, and has released four albums for Warner Bros. Records Nashville. He has released 13 singles, eight of which have reached number one on the Hot Country Songs and/or Country Airplay charts. Three more singles have reached the Top 10. Over the years, the Georgia native has been touring with acts like Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean, penned several hit songs, and released nine singles – seven of which have charted within the Top 5. Swindell’s hit titles include “Chillin,” “It Ain’t Worth the Whiskey” and “Hope You Get Lonely Tonight.”
Neal McCoy is an American country music singer who has released 10 studio albums and 34 singles. He is known for his energetic live shows and his hit songs such as “If I was A Drinkin’ Man,” “You Gotta Love That” and *For A Change.” Although he first charted on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 1988, he did not reach the top 40 for the first time until 1992’s “Where Forever Begins,” which peaked at number 40. McCoy broke through two years later with the back-to-back number one singles “No Doubt About It” and “Wink” from his platinum-certified album “No Doubt About It.” Although he has not topped the country charts since, his commercial success continued into the mid- to late-1990s with two more platinum albums and a gold album, as well as six more top 10 hits. A ninth top 10 hit, the number 10 “Billy’s Got His Beer Goggles On,” came in 2005 from his self-released “That’s Life.”
Gary Allan Herzberg (Headliner) is a country music singer with a distinctive voice and style. He has released 10 studio albums and scored 26 singles on the Billboard country charts.
He grew up in a musical family and started playing in honky-tonks with his father when he was 13. He also learned to play guitar and write songs.
Decca Records signed him in 1996. His debut album and single, “Her Man,” were both hits and gold-certified. Since then, he has achieved success with albums such as “Smoke Rings in the Dark,” “See If I Care,” “Tough All Over,” and “Ruthless.” He has also won several awards and nominations, including ACM, CMA and Grammy nods.
Ashland Craft is a rising country artist who first gained attention during her run on Season 13 of NBC’s “The Voice.” She finished in the Top 10 on the reality singing competition series and impressed judges with her blind audition performance of “You Are My Sunshine.” She later showcased her exceptional range and gritty vocals on covers like Tanya Tucker’s “Delta Dawn” and Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” while competing on Team Miley Cyrus.
Although her time on the show was cut short, Craft has continued her path to stardom by putting forth both hard work and dedication. In 2019, she moved to Nashville from her hometown of Piedmont, SC, and began releasing music independently. Her efforts caught the attention of various music industry professionals and, in April 2020, she signed a deal with Big Loud Records. Hit Songs Craft is known for are “Make it Past Georgia,” “Highway Like Me” and “Your Momma Still Does.”
Runaway June, proclaimed by Billboard as the “Next Hot Trend in Country Music” and likened to The Chicks for a new generation, is comprised of Stevie Woodward, Natalie Stovall and Jennifer Wayne. The trio’s “inescapable talent” (AXS.com) is multiplied by their seamlessly rich, organic harmonies and fiery, western-rooted bluegrass sound. The “next women of country” (CMT) have earned praise from Billboard, Rolling Stone Country, The Huffington Post, Paste, People and more. They’ve made numerous national TV appearances including TODAY, GMA and CMA Country Christmas, and have been nominated for ACM Awards and CMT Awards.
Due to their electrifying live show, Runaway June has performed at Stagecoach, C2C Country to Country, and on some of the biggest tours in country music, opening for superstars like Garth Brooks, Luke Bryan, Alan Jackson and Carrie Underwood. Honored as a coveted “new face” at the 2020 Country Radio Seminar, the BBR Music Group / Wheelhouse Records trio’s Top 5 single “Buy My Own Drinks” was the highest charting song by a female group since The Chicks in 2003. Their debut album Blue Roses (2019) received critical acclaim and was included on Rolling Stone’s and Paste Magazine’s best albums of the year lists. Most recently on tour with Luke Bryan’s 2021 Proud to Be Right Here tour, the award-nominated trio’s bright, rootsy new EP, Backstory, is out now.
Hailey Verhaalen is an American singer and songwriter from Oregon City, Ore. She found solace in the storytelling and raw emotions that country music embodies, and drew inspiration from iconic country artists such as Dolly Parton, Miranda Lambert and Reba. In 2016, Verhaalen made the bold decision to move to Nashville, the heart of country music, to pursue her dreams. Immersed in the rich musical culture of the city, she embraced every opportunity to collaborate with talented songwriters, musicians and producers. This collaborative spirit allowed her to refine her sound and develop her unique musical identity.
In May of 2023, Verhaalen was hand-picked to be a part of Tractor Supply’s prestigious Emerging Artist Program out of nearly 1,000 applicants. This incredible opportunity came when she caught the attention of country music star Ashley McBryde, who selected Verhaalen to mentor in the program. She had the opportunity to sing on the Grand Ole Opry stage for the first time in early October alongside Lainey Wilson, Lauren Alaina and three other TSC Emerging Artists chosen to be in the 2023 program.
Verhaalen’s most recent single, “House Always Wins,” celebrates the joys of a night in with a loved one over the chaos of a night on the town. The song landed her in the prestigious Tractor Supply Emerging Artist Program. It was recorded at the world famous Blackbird Studios in Nashville.
Verhaalen remains committed to staying true to her Oregon roots while embracing the opportunities that Nashville has to offer. With the support of Tractor Supply’s Emerging Artist Program and the guidance of industry professionals like Ashley McBryde and Lainey Wilson, Verhaalen is well on her way to becoming a force to be reckoned with in the country music world.
Pecos & The Rooftops might have been raised on everything from hard rock and blues to grunge and nu-metal, but somehow the country music that they’d grown up surrounded by seemed to seep into their songwriting too.
Named in part for the rooftop they often hung out on, the band got its start in 2019 when four original members met attending college in Lubbock. It’s a West Texas creative oasis known mostly for its alt-country scene and for being the original home of Buddy Holly and Waylon Jennings, and, more recently, Wade Bowen and William Clark Green.
Making the music they like has already racked up nearly 400 million global streams and earned the band a Platinum certification, and in June they released their most concise collection to date. Songs Pecos & The Rooftops are most commonly known for are “This Damn Song,” “5 a.m.,” and “Wouldn’t Have to Miss You.”
Koe Wetzel is an American singer and songwriter. He has been described as a blend of rock and country, outlaw country, and fusing country and grunge. Wetzel formed ‘Koe Wetzel and Konvicts’ and self-released an EP and one full-length album.
Wetzel was born in Pittsburg, TX. One of his names was a reference to outlaw country singer-songwriter David Allan Coe. His mother was a touring country singer and his father worked in construction. Wetzel performed on stage for the first time at age 6. Later, he was a linebacker at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX, where he decided to pursue a career as a musician instead.
Wetzel’s music is usually described as fusing genres, especially rock and country while he has been rumored to personally refer to his blend of music as “Hillbilly Punk-Rock”. In his youth, Wetzel was exposed to country, hip-hop, rap and grunge including the music of Nirvana. In an interview for American Songwriter, Wetzel described his album Harold Saul High as “‘90s country meets early 2000s punk rock with early ’90s grunge and hip-hop music in the background.” His lyrics often deal with mature subject matter and are known for containing explicit language.
Wetzel’s top songs folks may know are “Sundy or Mundy,” “Creeps” and “April Showers.”
The Jamboree offers a full festival atmosphere in the main venue and a more intimate concert experience on the second stage. In addition to featured headline entertainment, the event hosts RV and tent camping, merchandise vendors, food booths, beer and wine gardens, and a variety of other attractions.