2009 Verizon Wireless BamaJam Brings More than 200,000 Music Enthusiasts

by Country Crossroads - BamaJam, Ron Gilley Development

Posted on October 12, 2009

In June 2008, Ronnie Gilley Properties of Enterprise, Ala., created and hosted the Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music Festival. The three day country music event was held in a peanut field outside Enterprise with a goal to bring legendary and top-named country music acts to an area of the state that seldom sees this type of entertainment and to raise money to rebuild Enterprise High School that was destroyed by a tornado in 2007.

The festival was successful, to say the least. Even with a star-studded lineup including George Jones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tracy Lawrence, Hank Williams Jr., Trace Adkins, Miranda Lambert Randy Owen, ZZ Top and more, expectations for the event were modest as officials were prepared for around 30,000 patrons across three days. When the gates closed on the third day, the grounds had held nearly 100,000 fans - at last count. The success of the festival made national and international headlines as Southeast Alabama saw visitors from more than 35 states and several countries.

BamaJam has since taken off and reached a milestone in June 2009 with the second annual Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music Festival. With headliners Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift, Brooks & Dunn, Jason Aldean, Kid Rock and The Black Crowes, the festival found its way into the record books by surpassing Woodstock as the largest music event in American history. More than 200,000 music enthusiasts gathered once again in the peanut field outside Enterprise to see country music's hottest performers, this time drawing fans from 47 states and six countries.

The event has become an annual attraction with preparations underway to host the festival on June 3, 4 and 5 in 2010. The peanut field that recently held the largest music gathering in American history is being transformed into a premier, annual music destination with state-of-the-art RV areas, an upgraded amphitheatre with stadium seating and sky boxes, full-service campsites, a clubhouse and a nine-hole, par-three golf course that will be open to the public year-round.

BamaJam has also become a fixture in the global music world. In May 2009, the BamaJam creators, along with legendary country music producer James Stroud and CMA executives, worked with officials of the Peoples Republic of China to create and host a version of BamaJam (BamaJam - China) in the Province of Hunan, furthering the festival's international fame.

The wheels have been set in motion for BamaJam to be a lasting event in country music entertainment. Acts for the 2010 Verizon Wireless BamaJam Music Festival are lining up with Kenny Chesney as the headliner. Jake Owen and Blackberry Smoke are also scheduled to perform, with more artists to be announced soon.

The event is guaranteed to be an unforgettable music experience.

For information regarding location, tickets, artist lineups and more, please visit www.bamajammusicfestival.com.