2. DATE CHANGE!  26th Annual Downtown Hoedown to be held one week early…  May 9-11th at Hart Plaza in Detroit  Due to the ACM Awards Broadcast, scheduled for May 18th on CBS-TV  First time the Hoedown will be held on the second weekend of may instead of the third

3. What is the Hoedown?  A three-day music festival  Known as the “World’s Largest Free Country Music Concert”  Includes food, fun, dancing, mechanical bull rides, shopping and more  For the entire family

4. History of the Hoedown  Began in 1983  Started as a one-day event  First stars included Hank Williams Jr., Tanya Tucker, The Kendals, Brenda Lee and Mel Tillis  Evolved into a three-day festival

5. History of the Hoedown  Some stars who played at the Hoedown and made it big are: Reba McEntire Sawyer Brown Lee Greenwood Travis Tritt Toby Keith Cowboy Troy

6. History of the Hoedown  Some stars who played at the Hoedown and made it big are: JoDee Messina Lonestar Dixie Chicks Montgomery Gentry SheDaisy Miranda Lambert

7. History of the Hoedown  Some stars who played at the Hoedown and made it big are: Rascal Flatts LeAnn Rimes Gretchen Wilson Big & Rich Buddy Jewell Julie Roberts

8. Who plays the Hoedown?  Local bands come on first at around noon  Nashville Newcomers follow in the afternoon  Established artists headline in the evening

9. When and Where?  Hart Plaza, along Detroit’s beautiful riverfront bordering Windsor, Ontario  The second weekend in May  May 9 10 11, 2008  From noon to midnight

10. Hart Plaza

11. The Dodge Fountain

12. Shopping Booths

13. Memarie

14. Bucky Covington

15. Carolina Rain

16. Jason Michael Carroll

17. Ty Herndon

18. Emerson Drive

19. Dusty Drake

20. Danielle Peck

21. Bomshel

22. Darryl Worley

23. A Country Crowd

24. Friday, May 9, 2008  Josh Gracin*  Jewel  Lady Antebellum  Rissi Palmer  Phil Stacey  Carter’s Chord  Jason Michael Carroll Fiddlers ReStrung (Local) Sarah Lenore (Local) Jen Cass (Local) April Gibson (Local) Wolverine Dancers (Local) Luke Sayers (Local) Billy Brandt (Local) Skin and Bones (Local) Company of Strangers (Local) CC-Plus Dancers (Local) * = AmericaJR.com was the first to announce this artist was coming to the Hoedown

25. Saturday, May 10, 2008  Trisha Yearwood  Chris Cagle  Little Big Town  The Road Hammers  Lee Brice*  Fisher Stevenson*  Drew Davis Band*  Emily West * = AmericaJR.com was the first to announce this artist was coming to the Hoedown David Shelby (Local) David Huff (Local) The Forbes Brothers (Local) Redhill (Local) The Orbitsuns (Local) Danielle Car (Local) JoCaine (Local) The Wrenfields (Local) Bronk Brothers (Local) Desperado Dancers (Local) Maggie McCabe (Local) Trigger Darlow (Local) Stephen Clark (Local) Step In Line Dancers (Local)

26. Sunday, May 11, 2008  Gretchen Wilson  Billy Currington  Lonestar  Ashton Shepard  Jypsi*  Whiskey Falls*  Sarah Johns  Artie Dean Harris * = AmericaJR.com was the first to announce this artist was coming to the Hoedown Karen Newman (Local) Traci Kennedy (Local) Willie Nash (Local) Austin Scott (Local) Justine Blazer (Local) J3 - Jill, Janel & Jenny (Local) April Gibson (Local) Cliff Erickson (Local) Whitey Morgan (Local) Christie Howard (Local) Blackberry Creek Dancers (Local)

27. What to expect  The average high is 72° for May 10th  Mostly sunny  Bring sunglasses  Wear sunscreen  Prepare to drink lots of water  Camera

28. Hart Plaza Map

29. Complete Coverage

30. AmericaJR.com Sponsors Last Updated: October 23, 2015 Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Downtown Detroit 1020 Washington Blvd. Detroit, MI 48226 U.S.A. (313) 877-7000