Gstaad, Switzerland (Gstaad Festival Official Website) - The Gstaad Festival, Switzerland, the most prestigious event in Europe, announced the return of multi-platinum country music star Clay Walker. Walker, who has scored 31 chart singles, 4 platinum albums, 2 gold albums, will be releasing a new single and album on Asylum/Curb Records in the coming months. Clay will co-headline during the
September 8 & 9 event with Irish pop superstar Ronan Keating. KEATING also makes a return to Gstaad after a special appearance two years ago with
LeAnn Rimes to sing their duet - a number 1 all over Europe. Keating has sold 25 million albums OUTSIDE THE USA -as yet an untapped market for him. His number one hits in England and
Europe (not released in the USA) include 'When You Say Nothing At All' and 'I Hope you Dance.' He wrote 'The Last Goodbye, 'covered by Brooks and Dunn and a number one for them in the States. Rhett Akins and the Cornell Hurd Band from Austin will also perform on the bill.
Past performers who have graced the stage of the GSTAAD FESTIVAL include; Dwight Yoakam, Emmylou Harris, Buck Owens, Loretta Lynn , Trisha Yearwood, Travis Tritt, Collin Raye, Conway Twitty, Tanya Tucker, Rhonda Vincent, Billy Ray Cyrus, Tammy Wynette and George Jones, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lyle Lovett, Ricky Van Shelton, The Mavericks, Wynonna, JoDee Messina, Asleep at the Wheel, David Ball, Sara Evans, Kathy Mattea, LeeAnn Womack, Ricky Skaggs, Allison Moorer, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, LeAnn Rimes, Tracy Lawrence, Terri Clark, Joe Diffie, Mark Chesnutt, Wynonna, Joe Nichols, Lorrie Morgan and Chely Wright to name a few.
Marcel Bach, promoter of the festival states: 'Many of the above names have made their European debuts at our event which makes it very special for us and all of them have gone on to big careers afterwards. It's a good feeling when you know you have helped an artist's international career and given them a wonderful first experience of Europe. Also, we have had some of the greatest legends in the business perform at the festival which is such a great honour for us.'
Walker-Cunningham concurs: 'We have had so many 'firsts' and because of our stellar line-ups, press people from seven European countries come to the festival each year. We also have national Swiss radio and television covering the event ...... Swiss TV can be seen in other neighboring European countries, so the artists are actually performing in front of millions of people.'
Marcel Bach, has twice been honored with the International Promoter of the Year Award from the Country Music Association and native Brit, Trisha Walker-Cunningham, President of Trisha Walker International has produced and represented the Gstaad Festival since its inception and is the first recipient of the 'Jo Walker Meador International Achievement Award from the CMA.
'I am so proud to have worked with Marcel Bach and his wonderful team in Gstaad for years and to being part of making the festival into what it is today - an event described by the Nashville music industry as the 'Crown Jewel of European Events.'
