Strong country lineup set to shine at Sierra View Music Fest

The Sierra View Music Fest goes full country this year.

The often-eclectic outdoor music festival in Oakdale brings in a slate of country music heavyweights and up-and-comers for the seventh annual event Aug. 28. Headlining will be country star Craig Morgan, joined by rising star Frankie Ballard, duo Love and Theft and newcomer McKenna Faith.

In years past, the event has attracted headliners from the Marshall Tucker Band and John Waite to Wynonna Judd, Night Ranger and Smash Mouth. Festival organizer Jim Brunk said he is pleased to bring in this year’s talent and has gotten good feedback.

“This is one heck of a lineup. It’s exciting that we have them,” Brunk said. “This is going to be by far the best show yet. It will be three to five hours of just absolutely great music. I think it’s really nice to be able to have a concert with this kind of talent right in our backyard.”

The festival is in memory of Brunk’s late wife, music teacher and singer Heidi Brunk, who died in 2008 after a water-slide accident. Some of the proceeds from the festival go toward a music scholarship for local students in her honor each year. Last year, it gave out $5,000.

The event attracts about 2,000 people each year to the 40-acre JH Ranch. This year, organizers have added a pit pass level to give fans even closer access to the stage. As in years past, there will be everything from lawn seating to VIP areas and RV camping.

Brunk said he picked headliner Morgan, who has had a slew of songs on the radio starting in the early 2000s, because he is an overall “great entertainer” and for his stand-up character. An Army veteran, Morgan frequently plays USO shows for American troops. His biggest hit was 2004’s “That’s What I Love About Sunday.”

Also on the bill is hot rising star Ballard. This summer, his single “Young & Crazy” has been burning up the Billboard Country Airplay chart, climbing to No. 3.

Since coming on the Nashville, Tenn., scene in 2007, Ballard has opened for music superstars including Taylor Swift, Kenny Chesney and Bob Seger. This summer, he has been on tour with Florida Georgia Line. Ballard said performing with such seasoned professionals has helped make him better.

“The thing I’ve always seen about these big headliners is the work ethic. I guess some people assume once you make it to the big-big leagues, you just breeze in and do the show and then go off to France or whatever. But these guys work so hard to make sure people are entertained,” Ballard said in a phone interview from the road in North Carolina.

“Young & Crazy” is Ballard’s third Top 5 country single. He topped the County Airplay chart with “Helluva Life” in 2013 and “Sunshine & Whiskey” in 2014. Ballard also is set to release new music soon. He recently recorded 14 new tracks, which he said showcase a “more mature” sound. Fans can expect the first single later this fall, with the album dropping in February.

Also playing will be the duo of Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson, known as Love and Theft. The pair’s hits include “Angel Eyes” and “Runaway.” Rounding out the bill is Ukiah native McKenna Faith, who was the No. 1-selling independent female country artist on iTunes in 2013.

Ballard said as a performer, a festival show like Sierra View offers up a different kind of crowd. But no matter the venue, he said his aim is to give everyone the best show possible.

“We play so many different kinds of shows, to be honest, and have for so long,” Ballard said. “One night I’m doing a club; the next night I’m with Florida Georgia Line; the next night a fair. So I am used to variety of shows, and I love it. Festivals in particular are cool because people are in the mood for music. They come and they camp. It’s a different mind-set, and that’s all good.”

This story was originally published August 19, 2015 at 11:18 AM with the headline "Strong country lineup set to shine at Sierra View Music Fest."