Country invades Brooklyn! Brooklyn, Michigan, that is.
The Faster Horses Festival takes over Michigan International Speedway this weekend with three days of country music and camping. The lineup includes such headliners as Tim McGraw, Keith Urban and Miranda Lambert, and with more than 30 performers the festival is sure to have
something for every country fan.
As a country girl at heart, or at least in my car, I was elated to have the chance to interview country star Kip Moore. It was a surprisingly genuine conversation. We discussed fame, music, selfies and his upcoming tour.
“Fame is not what drives me one bit,” Moore said. “What drives me is being great at what I do, and when you are great at what you do, you are going to get recognized for what you do … in your craft.”
Believe me, people have noticed.
Moore, 34, of Tifton, GA, will be touring for the first time starting in September as a headliner on CMT‘s “Up in Smoke” tour. He said he considers this “the biggest moment” in his career so far.
He is currently touring with Tim McGraw, the country superstar who also will be performing at Faster Horses. Moore said he tries his best to watch every McGraw every time he’s on stage, because “if you pay attention, you can gather your own advice” to be successful.
After hits like “Beer Money” and “Somethin’ Bout a Truck,” Moore recently released his new
single “Dirt Road.” He said it is about his Baptist upbringing and sitting in the pews at church on Sunday while the preacher would tell them that you have to live your life a certain way to get into heaven.
But all Moore is interested in is writing music and living his life to the fullest, and this new song
expresses that.
He is excited for his first experience at the Faster Horses Festival, playing some of his
new music and winning over some new fans. But away from the spotlight, Moore is “desperate to feel that normalcy … to hang out, play corn hole, and grill out” with fans. He can’t always do that, because “all that matters nowadays is the selfie.” The minute he gets out to meet fans, he’s surrounded by a mob of people with cell phones trying to take selfies with him. If he had a choice, he’d rather talk with fans than smile for selfies.
If you are planning on going to the Faster Horses Festival this weekend and you get a chance to meet Kip Moore, forget the selfie and take a moment to get to know this quickly rising star.
The Faster Horses Festival takes place at Michigan International Speedway July 18-20 in Brooklyn, MI. Tickets are $180 for the three-day festival, available at fasterhorses.com. Camping passes are also available.
