Wednesday, July 1, 2009 9:38 PM CDT
Country's Heidi Newfield brings 'Johnny and June' to Red, White & Blue Days
By ROB STROUD, Staff Writer
rstroud@jg-tc.com
CHARLESTON — A hectic tour schedule that crisscrosses the United States is a way of life for country star Heidi Newfield.
For instance, Newfield will sandwich her concert at 8 p.m. Friday at Red, White & Blue Days at Morton Park in Charleston between a show tonight in Tennessee and one Saturday in West Virginia.
“I love the challenge. I love the crazy schedule. I love being on the road. You either have it in your blood or you don’t,” Newfield said.
The performer has been touring steadily to promote her debut solo album, “What Am I Waiting For.” The album’s August release followed Newfield’s decision to leave the country trio Trick Pony and take on the challenge of establishing a solo career.
Validation as a solo artist has come in a lot of little signs, Newfield said. One of the biggest signs was getting nominated for five honors at this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards, she said. She was among the most-nominated artists at the April 5 show.
Newfield, who grew up on a horse farm in Northern California, said she was honored to be nominated by colleagues in the country music industry as her solo career was just getting out of the gate.
“I really got a lot of good feedback from my peers about the record,” Newfield said.
Although she did not get to take any ACM trophies home, Newfield said she was thrilled to give her first performance at a major awards show. She sang her hit, “Johnny and June,” within the dramatic setting of a burning ring of fire that paid tribute to the song’s namesakes, Johnny and June Carter Cash.
“We wanted the fire to look really big and hot and scary,” Newfield said, adding the pyrotechnics were hot but not nearly as scary as they looked.
Beyond being nominated for awards, Newfield said the number one thing is to connect with music fans. Fan support led to “What Am I Waiting For” debuting at No. 2 on the country album chart and its singles “Johnny and June” and “Cry Cry (‘Til the Sun Shines)” becoming hits, she said.
Newfield also has connected with fans via her MySpace site, adding online social networking opportunities had not come into their prime yet when she left Trick Pony in 2006. She keeps her fans updated on major events in her career as well as mundane events, such as getting her nails done or going out for coffee.
“It’s just a really great way to reach out to people,” Newfield said. “It lets them know you are just a normal person.”
Her chihuahua, Cash, also has an online presence at the singer’s Web site, www.heidinewfield.com. Newfield said the little dog is well loved by her and her band and travels on the tour bus with them.
“He is my little road warrior,” Newfield said. “He kind of makes it feel a little more like home.”
The touring road will take Newfield to the outdoor stage at Morton Park for Red, White & Blue Days, where entry is free and fans are known to stake out their lawn chairs hours in advance of a concert.
Her concerts feature a mixture of the high-energy performing she learned as the lead singer with Trick Pony and the emotional high notes she has hit as a solo artist. Newfield said she likes to take her audience up and then bring them back down.
“The show rocks. That is what is so cool. It’s really a dynamic show,” Newfield said. “Bring the lawn chairs out and pack the place. We will rock the place together.”
Contact Rob Stroud at rstroud@jg-tc.com or 238-6861.
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