Large crowds are expected to come out for two country bands playing at this year’s Smithfield Ham & Yam Festival. “The Farm” will be in concert Friday, May 3 and Casey James of American Idol Fame will play on Saturday, May 4 at the Stevens Sausage Pavilion at the Neuse River Amphitheatre during the 2013 Ham & Yam Festival.
In its 29th year, the Ham & Yam Festival continues the new schedule of events with a free concert on Friday night and a full day of activities on Saturday with Casey James closing out the festival beginning at 8:30pm. Craft, commercial, and informational vendors will take to the streets on Saturday, May 4, along with entertainment on two stages, and fun activities for the entire family. Circle C Farm will again bring the Hogway Speedway back to the annual festival with its racing potbelly pigs, ducks and other barnyard animals.
Casey James, contestant on the ninth season of American Idol, will perform Saturday, May 4.
“The Farm” is an American country music trio consisting of Nick Hoffman, Damien Horne and Krista Marie. The trio has released the single "Home Sweet Home", which has charted on Hot Country Songs. Horne is a former member of John Rich's songwriting group MuzikMafia, while Marie is a former solo artist for Broken Bow Records and Hoffman plays fiddle in Kenny Chesney's road band.
Casey James, singer /songwriter and guitarist from Fort Worth, Texas, placed third on the ninth season of American Idol. During the finale of American Idol, he performed a duet of "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" with Bret Michaels. USA Today music critic Brian Mansfield suggested that James was "the best guitar player the show [American Idol] has seen." James' self-titled debut CD was released in March 2012 with three top singles, "Let's Don't Call It a Night", "Crying on a Suitcase", and "The Good Life".
“The Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation and the Ham & Yam Festival is always working to make sure the festival stays fresh and innovative for attendees,” states Chris Johnson, Executive Director of the Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation.
“With the generous corporate sponsorship provided by Stevens Sausage, we are absolutely elated to have signed Casey James to perform at the 2013 festival,” continues Johnson. "With two free concerts, the festival promises to be one of the largest attended events in Johnston County history, so come early.”
The Ham & Yam Festival is organized by the non-profit, Downtown Smithfield Development Corporation. For more information about the 2012 Ham & Yam Festival, call the Downtown Development office at (919) 934-0887 or visit www.hamandyam.com on the web.
