Newton House Museum, 510 N Jackson Ave, El Dorado, AR 71730, US

MusicFest El Dorado was named Festival of the Year by the prestigious Arkansas Festival & Events Association. This awards is presented to a festival or other special celebration, which stands out among all the festivals in Arkansas. "It is a true honor to receive this award from the Arkansas Festival Association. A special thank you should be made to El Dorado Chemical (Title Sponsor), the EL Dorado A&P Commission and all of our wonderful sponsors. There support enabled us to provide a tremendous musical lineup and to market the event like never before. MusicFest is a true team effort and any recognition is a credit to our entire community." Uncle Kracker at MusicFest El Dorado Known to friends and family as Matt Shafer, Uncle Kracker was first known as the man behind the turntables in Kid Rock's Twisted Brown Trucker band. A 13-year-old Kracker first hooked up with the young man who would be Kid Rock back in 1987. The two met at a Clawson, MI nightspot called Daytona's, where Rock was spinning at an all-ages DJ competition. Kracker's debut album, "Double Wide, " was recorded at the back of the tour bus during Kid Rock's cross-country treks with Limp Bizkit and Metallica. Kid Rock and members of the Twisted Brown Trucker Band all paid visits to the makeshift studio in order to contribute. The easygoing first single, "Follow Me" dominated pop radio in 2000. In 2002, Kracker released the album, No Stranger to Shame, which boasted another radio hit, a cover of Dobie Gray's "Drift Away." After taking a more country-soul influence for No Stranger to Shame, he accepted an invitation to open a portion of Kenney Chesney's 2004 Guitars, Tiki Bars, & A Whole Lotta Love tour, and sings on the title track of Chesney's 2004 album, When the Sun Goes Down.