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FarmBorough Festival Brings Country Music To New York City

By Prin Dumas
Published on: 10:49 PST, Jun 28, 2015

FarmBorough, a three-day country music festival, brought country music to New York City for the first time on Randall Island. Headliners include Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan, and Brad Paisley with Bryan closing the festival on Sunday night.

Randall’s Island hosted country music fans from Friday through Sunday with a wide range of music performances, including headliners. Bentley spoke positively to reporters before his Friday night performance.

“I think they probably could have done this festival a long time ago.”

On Twitter, FarmBorough’s account has been promoting highlights and playfully using the hashtag, #NYCgoescountry, to share the event’s many acts. With recap videos on social media, concertgoers could share the fun in the rain with their favorite country music artists.

https://instagram.com/p/4fSGZKsWbQ/

While many may not associate New York City with avid country fans, Nielsen ratings indicate that New York recently had one of the largest country music market album sales in the country. Even Shania Twain is headlining Madison Square Garden, after several years of not singing, showing proof that country is alive and well in The Big Apple. However, the city’s only country radio station just began its successful run in 2013 as Nash 94.7 (WNSH).

Program director for Nash-FM, Brian Thomas, expressed his happiness about the festival being the first major country music event in New York City.

“For the longest time I have wanted to bring country to New York.”

Thomas also added that bringing major headliners, like Luke Bryan, Dierks Bentley, and Brad Paisley makes country music fans excited.

“It’s just great to see the passion. Every time we are out on location, we are at concerts, it’s great to see the passion from the listeners for us and for bringing country music to New York City,” Thomas explained.

Other country music acts taking hold of the FarmBorough stage are: Kip Moore, Randy Houser, Justin Moore, Dustin Lynch, Dwight Yoakam, Maddie & Tae, Jon Pardi, Cassadee Pope, The Cadillac Three, Raelynn, Joe Nichols, Dallas Smith, Charlie Worsham, Mickey Guyton, Brandy Clark, Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson, Canaan Smith, and many more country music favorites.

The FarmBorough country music festival on Randall Island in NYC is expected to draw over 40,000 fans.

While rain seemed to put a small damper on the weekend’s events, fans enjoyed act after act. Brad Paisley got stuck in the rain. Him and other acts, such as, Brandy Clark posted a tweet after her performance in the rain to thank loyal concert goers.

Country music has evolved over the years with mainstream appeal and crossover acts blending genres to appeal to broader audiences. Taking country into New York City feels like a logical next step.

[Photo courtesy of Nicola Fara Silver/Village Voice]

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