MOUNT VERNON — Preston Cooper brought his country-rock sound home Saturday night as headliner at the Mount Vernon Music & Arts Festival.
The 22-year-old Fredericktown native returned to Knox County to share new music with the community where his professional journey began.
The Main Stage set kicked off with a performance by Six One Five Collective, an all-American four-person band out of Nashville. The group performed a series of new songs, old songs and even those they had a hand in writing, such as “Brothers of the Highway.”
Six One Five warmed up the crowd and set the stage for Cooper’s anticipated performance. Hundreds of fans covered Public Square in wait.
Scott Jones, whose kids grew up with Cooper, was among those in the crowd.
“(Seeing the crowd) is surreal because Preston’s just Preston to me … He’s such a good man. He’s a man of honor and integrity. We’re all so proud of him,” Jones said.
Ahead of Cooper’s performance, Mayor Matt Starr welcomed the crowd and took a moment to thank the MVMAF volunteers.
“There is so much quiet work going on in the background that you never, ever witness. But it is the tireless efforts of the volunteers of this group,” Starr said.
As a fan of Cooper, Starr shared the crowd’s excitement for the headliner.
“I can’t think of a better opportunity for America’s 250th than to bring back a local, hometown artist to the stage in Mount Vernon,” Starr said.
Below are Alexandra Hopkins’ and Cheryl Splain’s photos of the events.
