Headliners for this weekend’s Speed Street concerts
Circle K and Kangaroo Speed Street presented by Coca-Cola is a Charlotte staple, having been around for 22 years. This year the festival, set for May 26-28, is pushing things into high gear with some much-appreciated updates.
Thanks to fan feedback, JHE Production, the producer of the event, has booked major acts for the headlining performances of this year’s event.
“The fans asked for a higher quality and more current artists, and we heard them loud and clear,” said Jay Howard, president of JHE Production.
So which high-quality, current stars will be hitting Circle K and Kangaroo Speed Street presented by Coca-Cola this year? Only some of the biggest names in country music: The Band Perry and Chris Young, along with Montgomery Gentry and Kellie Pickler.
Here’s a crash course for the uninitiated:
This Grammy award-winning sibling trio has multiple gold and platinum singles to its name. The band’s debut album featured the sextuple platinum song “If I Die Young” and the platinum song “All Your Life.” Hits from its second album include “Better Dig Two” and “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely.” Currently working on its third studio album, The Band Perry will bring its blend of country, rock and pop music to the Coca-Cola stage.
Chris Young rose to fame after winning Nashville Star in 2006. He went on to earn two gold albums and seven number-one singles in the last decade. His hits include “Getting You Home,” “The Man I Want To Be” and “I’m Comin’ Over.”
Montgomery Gentry kicks the whole party off on Friday, May 27 on the Coca-Cola stage. The iconic music duo is known for chart-topping country anthems. The group has three platinum albums, a gold album, and five number-one singles. Sing along with “My Town” and “Where I Come From.”
Albemarle native Kellie Pickler will open the series on Saturday night, taking the stage before The Band Perry. She has released four albums in her career. Her newest album features “The Woman I Am,” “Bonnie and Clyde,” “Little Bit Gypsy” and “No Cure For Crazy.”
This year the headliner concert area will be gated. According to Howard, “Controlling access to the main stage allows us to manage capacity while delivering a quality guest experience.” Tickets to the concerts are only $15 per night and the gates open at 6 p.m. All other Circle K and Kangaroo Speed Street presented by Coca-Cola activities and concerts remain free including Thursday night’s acts featuring Sol Fusion and The Voltage Brothers. Friday’s lineup includes Chris Young and Montgomery Gentry, and Saturday will feature The Band Perry with opener Kellie Pickler. Tickets can be purchased online.
This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 12:00 PM.