The Alabaster Arts Council is excited to announce Parmalee, Maddie and Tae, Five For Fighting and Eric Essix as headliners for Alabaster CityFest, Saturday, June 7, on the front lawn of Thompson High School in Alabaster. In addition to the headliners, the event will feature a regional music lineup and a host of other attractions, including vendors and food trucks. There is FREE admission to all music acts.
As the most-played group/band on country radio last year, Parmalee is one of country music’s most successful acts with five #1 singles, multiple platinum records, and over a billion streams. Comprised of brothers Matt and Scott Thomas (lead vocals /guitar and drums, respectively), Cousin Barry Knox (bass), and life-long friend Josh McSwain (guitar/keyboard), the North Carolina natives first topped the charts with “Carolina,” followed by their platinum certified No. 1 single with Blanco Brown, “Just the Way.” They followed with “Take My Name,” Billboard’s Most-Played Country Song of 2022. “Gonna Love” topped the country singles chart in December 2024. The band releases their new single, “Cowgirl,” from their forthcoming album, Fell In Love With A Cowgirl, on April 4.
Award-winning duo Maddie & Tae channel their unbreakable bond, honest songwriting and “some of the tightest harmonies on Music Row” into their music. Together as longtime friends and collaborators, Maddie Font and Taylor Kerr have been named one of Nashville Songwriter’s Hall of Fame’s “I Wish I Wrote That Song” award winners, and won Song of the Year in the Nashville Scene’s Country Critics Poll for “Girl in a Country Song.” Touring internationally, they racked up gold, platinum and multiplatinum certifications. They have just announced their fourth studio album, Love & Light, due out May 2 on Mercury Nashville. The 16-track album features previously released songs “Free Like,” “Sad Girl Summer,” “Heart They Didn’t Break,” and their latest tune, “Kissing Cowboys.”
In the two decades since his first major single, “Superman (It’s Not Easy),” hit the stratosphere, John Ondrasik—the songwriter and performer known as the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated, Five For Fighting—has both evolved and come back around full circle. Five For Fighting has released six studio LPs, including the platinum certified America Town and The Battle for Everything; and the top-10 charting Two Lights, along with an EP and live albums. Ondrasik has penned major hits, including the chart-topping “100 Years,” “The Riddle,” “Chances,” “World,” and “Easy Tonight,” which have earned over one billion streams and place him as a top-10 Adult Contemporary artist.
Eric Essix has released 28 full-length albums over a period of more than 32 years, maintaining a steady flow of new music that continues to push the boundaries of contemporary jazz. He has toured relentlessly with his own Eric Essix Group and with dozens of A-list artists as a sideman, constantly refining every aspect of his craft. Gospel music and jazz have influenced Eric’s musical sensibilities since childhood and throughout his career. He grew up in Birmingham, playing in quartet gospel groups for many years.
Alabaster CityFest will open at 9 AM. Local and regional music acts will continue throughout the afternoon, with the headliners beginning at approximately 5 PM. (Starting times for each act TBA, visit alabasterciyfest.com/schedule for updates).
KidsFest will return with rides and activities for the whole family, all day long. The Cruise-In Car Show returns as well. Vendors and food trucks will be on site throughout the event.