Kick’n Up Kountry has selected the 2013 Campground decorating theme. There will be huge prizes awarded for the top 3 winners. The theme for this year is “Let’s Go Hunting to Kick’n Up Kountry”.  So gather up your hunting decorations and join in the fun!!  Kick’n Up Kountry is still allowing fish houses to camp in so if you don’t have a camper and still want to enter into the fun just come on over with your fish house and decorate it up.

1^st prize for this year’s contest is a Launch Trip for 6 people provided by Ballard’s Resort !

2^nd Prize is a 2 day/ 4 man sleeper  house provided by Zipple Bay Resort

3^rd Prize is 2 Electric Campsites for 2 nights and Launch trip for 6 people provided by Morris Point Resort

There will be other drawings for prizes all during the festival so be sure to register when you arrive.

Some of the prizes to be given away are as follows:

(3) Gift Certificates each for 1 day fish house for 4 people provided by Adrian’s Resort

2 Nights lodging and 1 day Guided Walleye Charter Fishing for 2 people provided by Border View Lodge

2 Nights lodging for 2 people provided by Cyrus Resort

2 Campsites for 2 people each w/2 Friday night Taco dinners provided by Ken-Mar-Ke Resort

More prizes will be provided by Bergan Travel of Thief River Falls and Foxy Roxy’s Diner of Lancaster

Jon’s Bar & Grill will be hosting the first Little Kicker Contest this year on Friday, April 12^th and those that do not qualify will have another chance to try over at the American Legion in Stephen on April 26^th. There are 3 age groups for the children to compete in: Preschool to 8years old, 9 to 13 years old, and 14 to 17 years old. A first, second, and third place winner will be selected in each age category. They will all move onto a Grand Final (date and location to be announced).

At the Grand Final, it will be determined who will sing on the big stage at Kick’n Up Kountry this year. This has been an exciting event each year giving children a chance to gain confidence in themselves and enjoy being a part of a huge event. All of the children that wish to compete in this year’s Little Kicker Contest should try to get their applications in to the Kick’n Up Kountry office as soon as possible. The application can be printed off of the web site or we will mail one to you.  For more information about all of the contests please feel free to call the office at 877-542-5687 or check the web site for more information regarding dates, and times of registration on our website.

Mattracks is bringing this great band to the Karlstad Eagles Club on Saturday, March 30^th.  Admission is free with music and dancing from 9pm- 1am. You won’t want to miss the fun and you will also get a chance to see the newly decorated Eagles Club.

Kick’n Up Kountry would like to invite you to afternoon of entertainment on Sunday, March 3^rd at 2:00 pm in the Lake Bronson School Gym.  Former winners and contestants of the Kick’n Up Kountry Karaoke Contest and the Little Kicker Contest will be performing.  Some of the entertainment will be: Jody Kirkeide  of Greenbush, Brandy Brydon of Hallock, Shane Olson and David Spilde of Halma, Courtney Gunsalus of Bemidji, Maxine Regalado and BreAnna Brazier from Karlstad. This will be a fun and entertaining afternoon to come out and support your local talent. There will be a $10 charge at the door. Everyone is welcome. For more information call the Kick’n Up Kountry office at 877-542-5687.

Kick’n Up Kountry is happy to announce the addition of more establishments coming on board to host the Kick’n Up Kountry Karaoke contest.  The festival is especially excited to be able to give more contestants a chance to compete for the huge prizes in the contest. The latest establishment to be added to the list of hosts is the Harvest Restaurant and Lounge in Argyle. They have scheduled their first night of competition for Sat. January 26^th, with registration at 8 pm and the contest will begin at 9 pm. Each week contestants compete for a three day General ticket to Kick’n Up Kountry music festival which has a value of $155. The 2^nd and 3^rd place winners each week are competing for a daily General Ticket which has a value of $65 each. The contest is held at each establishment for four weeks.

Once the local rounds of competition are completed, a semi final and a Grand Final competition are held to determine the top three winners of the karaoke contest. The first place winner of the Grand Final wins $500 and an autographed guitar which is autographed by all the artists gracing the stage at Kick’n Up Kountry in 2013. The 2^nd place winner will get $300 and an autographed guitar.  The 3^rd place winner will get $200 and an autographed guitar. All of the winners of the Grand Final will perform on the stage on June 13^th,at Kick’n Up Kountry.

The American Legion in Stephen, MN has also agreed to be a host with their dates yet to be announced. You may check out all of the locations of competition on the Kick’n Up Kountry here  or by phoning the office at 877-542-5687.

Don’t miss your chance to come out and get in the competition, or to just be there to cheer on your favorite contestant!

Kick’n Up Kountry has just added one more artist to the 2013 line up to complete the  10^th Anniversary event. Coming to grace the stage this year on Friday night the 14^th of June at 7 PM will be Collin Raye. Collin made his debut on the American Country Music scene in 1991 with the release of his debut album, “ All I Can Be,” which produced his first number one hit, “Love Me.”  “ All I Can Be” was the first of four consecutive albums released by Raye to achieve platinum certification in the US for sales of one million copies each. Between 2001 and 2007, he charted 30 singles on the US Country Charts. Some of his most popular hits are “ I think about You, One, Boy, One Girl, I Can still feel you, and That’s my Story.”

The evening at Jon’s Bar and Grill will begin with the Karaoke contest with registration at 8 PM and the contest will begin at 9 PM.  The first place winner of the contest will receive a three day General ticket to the festival and the second and third place winners will each receive a daily General ticket to the festival.

Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy the evening!

For more information you may call the office @ 877-542-5687

Get ready for the contest to begin for Kick’n up Kountry’s 2013 Karaoke! The first host site of the season will be at Jon’s Bar and Grill in Halma MN, on Friday, Nov. 9^th.  Registration is at 8 pm, with the contest starting at 9 pm.

Kick’n Up Kountry has proved to reveal great talent in our area over the past years’ contests and this year is certain to be another promising year. There are once again great prizes included in the winner’s packets, so please come out and add to the fun and entertainment for the evening.

Other confirmed hosts for the contest are the Karlstad Eagles and Stephen Legion; more hosts are expected to be added soon. If your business is interested in becoming a host for this year’s events, please contact the Kick’n Up Kountry office at: 1- 877-542-5687.

For updates on added hosts, dates and times, you may check out Kick’n Up Kountry’s Karaoke page online.

VIP camping is available with full hook ups of water and electricity for $35. Primitive camping is available for $25 and Primitive with electricity (no water hookups) is $30.

For further information or to book your campsite, please call the Kick’n Up Kountry office toll free at: 1-877-542-5687

The Great Outdoors is a Country, Country/Rock band based in Fargo, ND. The band features Ramon Gonzalez on vocals, fiddle, and keyboards, and Bill Eastep on vocals and lead guitar. Keeping the bottom for The Great Outdoors is Roy Webb on bass and vocals, along with Eric Mills banging on the drums. 

The Great Outdoors has performed with many national touring acts such as Neal McCoy, Josh Gracin, Little Texas, Billy Dean, Steve Holy, and Texas Country artist Casey Donahue Band. The band is a regular at The Academy of Country Music’s 2012 Nightclub of the Year Nominee, The Grizzly Rose in Denver, CO.

The Great Outdoors’ focus is on danceable Country music, Southern Rock, and get your body moving 80′s Rock N Roll, along with some soulful Rhythm and Blues. The band loves it when the crowd gets going on the dance floor and strives to keep them there. Overall, a night with The Great Outdoors is sure to be an entertaining evening.

The Wayne Renn Band has traveled all over the country making music. From huge
night clubs near Baltimore to sold out concerts in Las Vegas, from Cheyenne Wy to
the Nashville Tennessee State Fair, the Wayne Renn Band has been there.

The Wayne Renn Band has always been innovative and entertaining, and performed a number of times at Kickin’ Up Kountry.

Great vocals, great song list, great music videos, and rockin fiddle and guitar…you WILL be entertained.

This year The Renn Band has added new players including three female vocalists!

The Band:

Laura Bush: She spent a few years in Hollywood, and was an extra in Movies including “BIG” starring Tom Hanks,
and TV shows including General Hospital and L.A. Law. She sings, plays piano and adds a great set of songs.

Elle Kay: Elle Kay is new on the scene, coming from the great state of Wyoming, Elle has done modeling and
passed the first two auditions on “The Voice” then decided it would take too much time from the bands she is working with.
She has recorded a Rock Album, Country Music and also performs in a Retro band. She has been traveling with the Wayne Renn Band
playing bigger shows for the past year. We are lucky to have her on board and you will love her. She sings some Carrie Underwood and Band Perry Music.

Lyla Renn: Yes this is Wayne Renn’s daughter. She’s a chip off the old block and recording her own solo album of
wonderful original songs to be completed winter 2012. She also sings like Blondie, Alison Krause and does a mean Black Velvet.
She is an excellent bass player, and has loged many hours as a session player, recording for numerous area artists.

Jon Olson: Jon has brought a world of energy to the Wayne Renn Band, and has been involved in a lot of the behind the scenes work with this band and others. Jon is a wonderful studio drummer and has played on lots of different artists recordings. Jon also sings some
great Rock N Roll songs.

Winner of the Custom Mattracks equipped ’02 Chevy Geo ZR2 donated by Mattracks was Chuck Chaplinski from Middle River, MN

Pictured left to right is Glen Brazier, CEO of Mattracks, Kevin Lindgren, Karlstad Eagles Club, Chuck Chaplinski , Lucky winner, and Ardell Larson, CEO of Kick’n Up Kountry.

The vehicle was raffled and all proceeds went towards the Hopes, Dreams & Smiles fund.

Kick’n Up Kountry has set the date for the Grand Finals of the Karaoke contest. This contest will be held at the Karlstad Eagles Club this Friday night, June 1^st. There will be 5 contestants that are competing for the 3 final prizes of money and autographed guitars. They will also have the privilege of singing on the stage on Thursday night, June 14th before the Ozark Jubilee from Branson, Missouri takes the stage.

Registration for the contest will begin at 8 pm with the contest beginning at 9 pm. There will also be prizes for the audience so don’t miss this fun and entertaining evening!