Nash Bash — a free, one-day annual country music festival happening Thursday at the Farmers Market — is only in its third year, but organizer Deanna Relyea noted that for many, it’s already become part of the fabric of summer in Ann Arbor.

“It’s really established itself as something people are talking about and asking me about,” said Relyea. “We don’t mean for it to be a major, overblown festival. It’s just a thing of quality … with an intimate feel.”

Ann Arbor native Whit Hill, who now lives in Nashville, will perform with her band the Postcards this year, but she was also instrumental in lining up this year’s two headliners: married couple Angaleena Presley and Sean Locke.

Angaleena Presley performs "Good Christian Girl":

“I scour Nashville to find some under-the-radar artist/writer who really needs to be seen and appreciated by Ann Arbor,” Hill wrote in an e-mail.

Locke scored a songwriting hit when his song “Barbed Wire and Roses” became a breakthrough single for Pinmonkey, and his work has also been recorded by Gary Allan, Bruce Robison, Kieran Kane, and The Gibson Brothers. Presley, meanwhile, has written career-defining hits for winners of the Best New Artist category at the Australian CMA Awards in ’07 and ’08.

A group performing at this year’s bash (in addition to Whit Hill and the Postcards) is the Detroit-based acoustic trio Jennie And The Sure Shots. Metro Times writer Megan O’Neal described the group’s sound as “old-school swinging Western, country, and backwoods Americana.” Matt Boylan will also perform.

As in the past, Nash Bash will have barbecue and drinks available for sale, served by the Aut Bar, and a garage-style event called Trunk-a-palooza, which happens on Thursdays throughout the summer at the market. (Patrons sell items from the trunks of their cars.)

But a new addition to this year’s Bash involves performances by local singers/songwriters in nearby businesses and outdoors (Sculpture Plaza, the Kerrytown courtyard, Sweetwaters Café) throughout the day; an informal workshop with the headliners on Wednesday, from 7-8 p.m., at the Shaut Gallery in Braun Court; and a children’s event at 1 p.m. Thursday.

Supported this year by grants from MCACA, the Arts Alliance and the DDA, Nash Bash’s seeds were planted when, three years ago, Relyea called Hill with an idea.

“I was trying to think of events that would bring people to our neighborhood and be something different than the usual,” said Relyea. “Everybody can have a jazz festival, … but there isn’t really anything quite like this.”

Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at jennmckee@annarbor.com.

PREVIEW

Nash Bash 2009
What: Outdoor festival that features performances, as well as barbecue and Trunk-a-palooza (where people sell items from the trunks of their cars).
Who: Up-and-coming country music singers/songwriters.
Where: Ann Arbor Farmers Market, Detroit St. at Fifth Ave.
When: Thursday, August 20, 5-8:30 p.m. (Related special events: free songwriter workshop with headliners Sean Locke and Angaleena Pressly on Wednesday, August 19, from 7-8 p.m. at the ShAUT Cabaret and Gallery, 315 Braun Ct. Thursday events include a free children's concert featuring Gemini at the Kerrytown Court Yard at 1 p.m.; Lisa Pappas will perform at Sculptor Park at 2 p.m.; singer/songwriter Bill Bynum will play outside Sweetwaters Cafe at 4 p.m.; and after Nash Bash concludes at 8:30 p.m., a festival afterglow in Braun Court will offer more music in an open-mic atmosphere.)
How much: Free.
Info: See the calendar on Kerrytown’s web site.