Foreigner lead singer Lou Gramm, Percy Sledge to perform at next week’s NIBROC Festival

Organizers for the 2010 NIBROC Festival in Corbin have released the remainder of the musical entertainment schedule for this year’s event, and it promises to be another rockin’ week downtown.

According to Southern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Bruce Carpenter, Lou Gramm, lead singer of Foreigner, has signed on to be the headliner for Friday night of the festival. NIBROC will be held Aug. 11-14. On Thursday, R&B legend Percy Sledge will perform on the main stage.

Gramm is best known for his stint with mega-band Foreigner, in which he was lead singer, off and on, from when it was formed in 1976 until 2003. He is considered the definitive voice of the band and sang on nearly all of the groups bestselling hits including "Double Vision," "Ready or Not," "Just Between You and Me," "Cold as Ice," "Heartache," "Waiting for a Girl Like You," "Feels Like the First Time," "and "I Want to Know What Love Is."

"Lou Gramm is a legend in rock music and I am so pleased that we were able to find a way for him to come to the NIBROC Festival this year," Carpenter said Tuesday. "Many of the songs Gramm sings are played very often on the radio today, so it should be a show that just about everyone can identify with."

Aside from Foreigner, Gramm has had a productive solo career during which he produced three albums and four singles which broke into the Top 100 on the US sales charts. His 1987 song "Midnight Blue" topped out at No. 5. "Just Between You and Me" was another bestseller at No. 6.

He also performed with another group, Shadow King, and most recently his own Lou Gramm Band.

Performing opening night of NIBROC this year, Sledge makes a triumphant return to Corbin with his "blue-collar" brand of soul music.

A pioneer in rhythm and blues music, Sledge is perhaps best known for his iconic hit song "When a Man Loves a Woman," originally a No. 1 hit in the U.S. when it was released in 1966, but has enjoyed continued success with radio play and use in commercials. He is also well known for hits "Warm and Tender Love," "Take Time to Know Her," "It Tears Me Up," and "Love Me Tender."

"I think Percy Sledge is a great way to start off NIBROC because he is just the embodiment of American music. He’s a hard working performer that common everyday people can identify with," Carpenter said. "He came to NIBROC about five years ago and was very popular. He’s as dynamic as ever so we thought it would be a good idea to bring him back."

Closing out the festival Saturday will be pop/rock legends Three Dog Night. Americana singer-songwriter Paul Thorne will be the opening act.

All headliners are scheduled to take the main stage at 9:30 p.m. the night of their performances. Opening acts will play at 7:30 p.m.

All NIBROC concerts are free and open to the public.