The sun outlines balloon aloft in Rio Rancho. (Garrison Wells/Observer)

 

Music Fiesta™ will return to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta this year.

The event brings in Grammy-nominated, multi-Platinum country star, Cole Swindell who will headline the festival on Saturday, October 8.

This is sponsored by ExxonMobil.

Swindell has released his 12th career single “Never Say Never,” a duet with his friend, BBR Music Group’s rising star Lainey Wilson and has other hits including the number-one singles “Single Saturday Night,” “You Should Be Here” and “Break Up In The End.” The Georgia native has nine certified Platinum singles, a Platinum-certified debut album (Cole Swindell) and a Gold-certified sophomore album (You Should Be Here) and “Break Up In The End” was named the NSAI Song of the Year (2019). Other honors include being named the NSAI Songwriter/Artist of the Year (2016) and Music Row’s Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year during his debut (2015).

Also included in the Music Fiesta™ lineup is American Country Music New Female of the Year 2022 winner, Lainey Wilson.

Landing her first No. 1 with her PLATINUM Certified ACM Song of the Year “Things A Man Oughta Know,” nearly 10 years to the day after leaving her small farming community in a camper trailer to chase her dreams, she has won over legions of fans with her signature Bell Bottom Country sound and aesthetic, which blends traditional Country with a modern yet retro flare. Her current single, “Never Say Never” with Cole Swindell is Top 15 at Country Radio and continues to make a fervent climb up the charts.

The opening act will be the country band, Restless Road. Made up of three different but complementary voices, country band Restless Road is “one of the most intriguing and exciting acts of the year” (Wide Open Country). Praised by PeopleTaste of CountryBillboard, and more, the trio’s powerhouse harmonies and soul-baring lyrics put them on numerous 2021 “Ones to Watch” lists, as members Zach Beeken, Colton Pack, and Garrett Nichols continue to rack up millions of streams. As NBC’s Today Show host Hoda Kotb put it: “That harmony…you feel it in your soul.”

Tickets will go on sale April 1 at 9 a.m. For more information visit www.balloonfiesta.com.