Lynyrd Skynyrd headlining Eastbound Hoedown festival in Avondale

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Lynyrd Skynyrd will headline the Eastbound Hoedown Summer Music Festival at Eastbound Park in Avondale on Aug. 21 and 22.

The band, best known for southern rock songs Sweet Home Alabama and Free Bird, will join nine other acts for the two-day event.

Other acts playing at the festival are Little Big Town, Dallas Smith, David Nail, Rodney Atkins, Lonestar, Blackjack Billy, Jess Mosaluke, Sundy Best and Rex Goudie.

Mike James, event director for the 65-acre Eastbound International Speedway & Concert Park, said the response to the lineup has been incredible.

"This is something that's been developing for many years and now it's a reality," James said.

James said the concert planners didn't want to hurt the Salmon Festival or other smaller festivals such as the Blueberry Festival by selecting a date too soon to other events.

"We carefully select our dates," said James. "It's one of the things that's very much on our minds when we plan these things."

"We've been starved for 20 years now to get these world class musicians, athletes here."

The Band Perry, The Road Hammers and Emerson Drive were the big country acts on the bill last year. 

Tickets for the concert and for on-site camping go on sale March 27 at noon.

Early bird tickets are $149.

Who's buying?

The Eastbound Hoedown is one of three major summer festivals in Newfoundland. The Salmon Festival, with headliner John Fogerty, and the Confederation Hill Music Festival with Rod Stewart take place July 11.

That's in addition to one sold out Journey concert at Mile One Centre at the beginning of August, with tickets for a second show going on sale Friday.

Despite the competition, Michael Sullivan with Memorial University's economics department said the shows should have good sales.

Sullivan said in the past 10 years alone, spending on recreation has increased by 24 per cent.

"It makes sense that there's more of a market for these kind of [concerts]," said Sullivan.

"We've been one of the fastest growing provinces in the past decade, largely due to the oil economy, and this has manifested in increased consumption."