Free admission to Secret City Festival concerts this weekend
Oak Ridge’s Secret City Festival has cut all daytime festivities due to the ongoing resurgence of COVID-19. But with pandemic precautions in mind, the festival will host audience members for its concerts at less than half capacity with free admission 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Sept. 24 and 25, at A.K. Bissell Park in Oak Ridge.
Musical headliners this year include recently selected 2021 "Dancing with the Stars" contestant and country music singer, Jimmie Allen, with special guest Josh Kiser on Friday, Sept. 24, and Grammy-Award winning R&B band, All-4-One, with special guest The Jaystorm Project on Saturday, Sept. 25.
The free concerts will be first come, first serve to people wanting to attend with gates opening at 6 p.m. The field will be at half capacity to ensure ample room to space out. Any fans who previously purchased tickets will be reimbursed or given guaranteed access to the VIP section. Festival-goers can still plan to enjoy access to food trucks, a beer garden and fireworks.
Entertainers
Jimmie Allen was named New Male Artist of the Year at the 2021 Academy of Country Music Awards. According to a Secret City Festival news release, he made history as the first Black artist to launch a career with two consecutive No. 1 hits on country radio, including his debut single “Best Shot,” and his single “Make Me Want To."
Allen kicked off festivities at the105th running of the Indianapolis 500 this year, bringing what the Indianapolis Star newspaper described as a "soulful, soothing twang to his rendition of the 'The Star Spangled Banner.'"
Allen’s most recent single “This Is Us” features Noah Cyrus, daughter of performer Billy Ray Cyrus and sister to Miley Cyrus. The single has had 30 million streams to date. His project Bettie James, released in July 2020, is a collaboration EP featuring Brad Paisley, Charley Pride, Darius Rucker, Mickey Guyton, Nelly, Cyrus, The Oak Ridge Boys, Rita Wilson, Tauren Wells and Tim McGraw.
Allen is one of the celebrities competing on Season 30 of "Dancing with the Stars."
Saturday’s musical headliner is '90s R&B hit-making group All-4-One. Their No. 1 hit "I Swear" won a Grammy Award in 1995 for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal. They have been nominated for a total of three Grammys.
Opening act, The Jaystorm Project is from Knoxville. “A guitar full of Jimi Hendrix mixed with a healthy dose of pure bluesy funk, rock, & hip-hop," states a quote on the The Jaystorm Project's Facebook page.
