Nashville country artist Chris Janson sang his No. 1 Platinum single "Buy Me A Boat" when he performed at Lakes Jam two years ago.
Janson hopes his newly released single "Fix a Drink," released May 5, also will be a hit that he plans to sing to the Lakes Jam crowd this summer. Janson is the headliner for the first night of Lakes Jam, a three-day outdoor music fest which features a rock and roll and country night performing at 10 p.m. June 22 on the Brainerd International Raceway grounds, off Highway 371 north of Baxter.
Janson, who writes all his own music, is excited to come back to Lakes Jam.
"It was fun," Janson said in a telephone interview. "Most music festivals are fun, but not like this one ... You go into certain markets and at this point, thankfully because I have been fortunate to have been on the radio with some hits songs it makes it a little easier to go into certain markets and play because you have an audience you feel like is your audience. Lakes Jam fans are my kind of people. They know it and I know it."
Janson's new album is expected to be out in July, which will include "Fix a Drink." He plans to play some of the news songs at the music fest. The Missouri native said "Fix a Drink" is like "'Buy Me A Boat," in that it's a song men and women can relate to.
ADVERTISEMENT
"I wanted a song where people can throw their hands up in the air and forget their cares for 3-and-a-half minutes and have a good time while I am singing," Janson said. "I get a kick out of fixing drinks for people ... now whether that be a Mountain Dew or a beer or mixed drink, I don't know and don't care, it's really all about whatever people's preferences are. I thought with all of these words combined in that song it's going to hit that 9-5ers, the people who worked all week, getting off work on Friday and wanting to forget about life for awhile at a music festival."
Janson, who is with Warner Bros. Records/Warner Music Nashville, began his professional music career more than 10 years ago. The singer has written multiple top-charting hits including "Truck Yeah" and "That's How I'll Always Be" with Tim McGraw; "I Love This Life" with LoCash and more than 25 additional hit songs recorded by a long list of established artists.
Janson has been nominated for multiple awards and won Country Song of the Year for "Buy Me a Boat" at the iHeartRadio Music Awards. Janson is currently featured in the Country Music Hall of Fame as part of the American Country Music Gallery. He plays every instrument on stage, and is best known for his signature harmonica playing.
Janson has played multiple times at the Grand Ole Opry and made numerous television appearances including "The Tonight Show" starring Jimmy Fallon, "Late Night" with Seth Meyers, CONAN, The Today Show, ACM Awards and ACCA Awards.
Janson decided at a young age that he wanted to be a country star. He said his mother bought him a guitar and he learned how to play it. He said he's not sure if he could do any other profession. He listened to bands/musicians such as Randy Travis, Guns 'N' Roses and Muddy Waters and learned how to play more instruments, such as the banjo, drums, bass, piano and harmonica.
Janson moved to Nashville about 12 years ago. He said he slept and lived out of his car and played in honky tonk bars. He first broke onto the music scene when he landed a year-long, four-show-a-day gig at Tootsie's Orchid Lounge on Nashville's Lower Broadway.
After the success of "Buy Me a Boat," Janson said the best advice he received was to get some rest. Janson said he tries, but is busy and blessed with four children and a music career.
Janson won't get too much rest this summer as he is on the "15 In A 30 Tour" with Sam Hunt and Maren Morrison. He said the three musicians are a "great combination" and will offer the audience different sounds.
ADVERTISEMENT
If You Go:
• Lakes Jam 2017
• When: June 22-24
• Where: Brainerd International Raceway
• June 22: Dylan Jakobsen, 2 p.m.; 32 Below, 4 p.m.; Chris Hawkey, 6 p.m.; Locash, 8:30 p.m.; and Chris Janson, 10 p.m.
• June 23: Fabulous Armadillos, 4 p.m.; Buckcherry, 6 p.m.; Bret Michaels, 8 p.m.; and Skillet, 10 p.m. On the secondary stage will be Kat Perkins at 11:30 a.m.; Analog Drifters at noon.
• June 24: Maiden Dixie, 4 p.m.; Montgomery Gentry, 6 p.m.; Trace Adkins, 8 p.m.; and Jake Owen, 10 p.m. On the secondary stage will be Steele River Band, TBD.
• Go to www.lakesjam.com for more information/tickets.
ADVERTISEMENT
