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Huge crowd on the way for Sunfest

When Keith Urban’s name was announced at Sunfest 2014, a huge cheer went up from the crowd.
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Megastar Keith Urban is the headline performer at Sunfest this year.

When Keith Urban’s name was announced at Sunfest 2014, a huge cheer went up from the crowd.

Now it’s time to see him, at 9:50 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, as Sunfest 2015 rolls into Duncan with its best lineup of talent yet.

The festival, which draws thousands of people to the Cowichan Valley for the long weekend, opens Thursday night and runs until Sunday evening, with everyone from Lee Brice and Joe Nichols, to Thomas Rhett.

But the headliner sure to draw the biggest crowd is country superstar Urban.

A string of great country albums was followed by Urban finally debuting at the top of the all-genre charts.

The song We Were Us, featuring Miranda Lambert, gave Urban a streak of five consecutive No. 1 songs dating back to 2011’s Without You.

Since 2001, when the Country Music Association honoured Urban with its Horizon Award, designating him a talented artist with a bright future, he’s made an astounding impact on the entertainment industry.

An American Idol judge, a four-time Grammy award winner, he’s also won a People’s Choice American Music Award and been nominated for a Golden Globe.

He’s won a string of Academy of Country Music Awards, has a stack of platinum and multi-platinum albums and in 2012 he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

His world wide reputation has led to collaboration with The Rolling Stones, John Mayer, Steven Tyler, John Fogerty, Alicia Keys, Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift, Vince Gill and Eric Church.

In other words, the guy’s a megastar.

Don’t miss him or any of the other talented Sunfest performers. There are still some tickets left for the Valley’s biggest music festival. Check out sunfestconcerts.com for more information.

Opening act from B.C.

Opening for Keith Urban is...Madeline Merlo. That’s some career milestone for a girl from Maple Ridge.

B.C.-based Merlo signed to RGK Management and Open Road Recordings in February 2013, a dream come true for the then 20-year-old singer/songwriter.

When her first single Sinking Like A Stone hit iTunes worldwide it just took off.

A local buzz about her was massively amplified when the song got radio rotation as well.

She was originally inspired by Shania Twain and from her first high school shows, she’s continued to hone her vocal chops by performing in musical theatre productions and taking every opportunity she could to further her skills as a performer, recording artist and songwriter.

Watch for her at 7:50 p.m. Saturday night.