Fender Contender winner opens Country Summer, NorCal's biggest country music festival June 5-7 in Santa Rosa, Calif. and wins $5,000 grand prize.

SANTA ROSA, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES, March 11, 2015 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Producers of Country Summer, Northern California's biggest country music festival June 5-7 at Sonoma County Event Center, today announced the Fender Contender Challenge, a worldwide talent competition to open the show on June 5.

In partnership with the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturer, the Fender Contender Challenge is a great opportunity for the fans' favorite country music act to open the show and make it big on the Montgomery Village Stage, Country Summer's main stage.

Is your country music act ready for a big break? The challenge is open to all country music acts over age 18. Submissions, including a recorded performance no longer than 5 minutes in length, must be received no later than March 31, 2015. Visit www.countrysummer.com for the entry form and guidelines.

The Country Summer judging panel will select the Top 10 qualifiers. From April 2 through April 15, 2015, the public will be invited to vote for their favorite band narrowing the Top 10 to the Final 4. A second round of voting will be from April 16 through April 29, 2015 to select the grand prize winner. The winner will be announced on May 1, 2015.

In addition to recognition as a Country Summer superstar opening the show, the grand prize winner will receive $5,000.

"We encourage aspiring country music acts from around the globe to participate," Country Summer Executive Producer Alan Jacoby, said. "With the help of our fans who will determine the winner, we're looking to discover country music's next big break-out star.”

To date, Country Summer presented by Lithia RAM of Santa Rosa, has announced 13 of 14 entertainers. Country Summer 2015 headliners include Jake Owen on June 5, The Band Perry on June 6 and Brantley Gilbert on June 7.

In addition to the headliners, the June 5 lineup includes Gary Allan, Chris Young and Parmalee; June 6 includes Lee Brice, Jerrod Niemann, Frankie Ballard and The Swon Brothers; and June 7 includes Trace Adkins, Easton Corbin and Cassadee Pope.

Daily tickets start from $69 for general admission, $99 for reserved seats. A limited number of discount three-day packages are available.

To purchase tickets, visit www.countrysummer.com or call 800.514.3849 to order by phone.

Event sponsors include Lithia RAM of Santa Rosa, Bud Light, Montgomery Village, Les Schwab Tire Centers of Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, Leese-Fitch Wines, Jack Daniel's, River Rock Casino, Fender, Creams, the City of Santa Rosa, American AgCredit, Santa Rosa Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Froggy 92.9.

About Fender
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is one of the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors, whose portfolio of brands includes Fender®, Squier®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, EVH® and Charvel®, among others. For more information, visit www.fender.com.

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