Two music promoters have met with Clovis city leaders to pitch a plan to bring a country music festival to the heart of Clovis.
Lady Antebellum and Carrie Underwood may be two of the biggest names in country music and as soon as next year, they may be just two of the headliners who take the stage in Old Town Clovis.
Mark Blackney heads the Clovis Chamber 0f Commerce. He and other city leaders are working to bring a country western themed festival to the Clovis Rodeo grounds. He says A-list names have a loyal following who are ready to spend. "The demographics, and the geographics, the proximity from Clovis to Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento with the talent they propose this is going to draw quite a few tourists into the area."
According to the city of Clovis, every out-of-towner will drop about $90 bucks a day. That includes dollars spent for food, gas and a place to stay. And that's great news for small business owners.
Cora Shipley said, "I think it will be great for the whole area, if it comes to town if they can pull that off I think it will be fantastic."
The festival would be called the Big Hat Jam and is planned to happen at the same time as the town's Big Hat Days.
Clovis city councilman, Nathan Magsig is a supporter. He said, "Country music is fantastic music, I am married to a country music lover my wife who has been a fan of country music all her life, she was raised on it."
Magsig thinks the genre of music is a good fit for the city. "We have one of the largest rodeos in the nation it takes place in the old town area once a year so country music is very big and alive and well in the city of Clovis."
In about a month the city will have a better idea if the festival will actually happen. If all goes well, organizers hope to put on the show in April next year.
