Council approves Joe Diffie for Jam on Sloss Lake
As the Fourth of July approaches, for Franklin County that means one thing: it’s nearly time for Jam on Sloss Lake. Monday night, the Russellville City Council approved the headliner for this all-day event – Joe Diffie.
“He’s awesome. We talked with several different people, and he was the one we thought would bring out the biggest crowd,” said Councilman Gary Cummings, who heads up the planning for Jam on Sloss Lake every year. “I love Joe Diffie, and most people who like country music do.”
Diffie, on his website, is described as a “multi-platinum-selling artist (who) has never slowed down – writing, touring and recording a myriad of projects including his critically acclaimed 2010 bluegrass album ‘Homecoming,’ and his upcoming ‘Country Unplugged’ acoustic tour with fellow hit makers Mark Chesnutt and Lorrie Morgan.
“With chart-toppers like ‘Pickup Man,’ ‘Third Rock from the Sun’ and ‘John Deere Green’ and 13 albums and over 20 Top 10 singles to his credit, (Diffie) has little to prove at this point in his career, yet he still has a fire in his belly to make good country music,” his website details. “A renowned songwriter in his own right, Joe has hits for artists like Tim McGraw, Conway Twitty and Jo Dee Messina to his credit.”
Cummings said the Joseph Baldwin Band will front Diffie, and other local favorites like Purpose, Still Here, KGB, Southbound, Buford Parker and Jacob Green will take the Sloss Lake stage throughout the day for what Cummings hopes will be a record turnout.
“We would love to break the 20,000 mark,” said Cummings. Last year’s attendance for the massive fireworks show was about 11,000 – which “small” turnout Cummings blames largely on the rain. “Hopefully this year we’re not going to have any rain.”
The Fourth of July celebration begins first thing in the morning with the Cotton Flats Cruisers car show. There will be inflatables for the children and food available for sale. Music will start about 4 p.m. and continue until the fireworks show late in the evening.
“It’s just going to be a whole day of fun, like it is every year,” Cummings said.
