MT. PLEASANT — The Midwest Old Threshers have announced this year's musical lineup consisting of four all-new acts.
“There have been 199 different acts at Midwest Old Threshers since… 1970,” said Midwest Old Threshers CEO Terry McWilliams. “This year you'll see 200, 201, 202 and 203, four brand new shows.”
As the announcement video played sweet memories of Old Threshers' past, the audience's cheers grew with each announcement of the next acts to grace the stage.
Thursday, August 31, Reunion will begin with Crystal Gayle.
According to Midwest Old Threshers, Gayle's 50-year career includes 68 singles, including “Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue” and “Talking in Your Sleep.”
Through her distinguished career, Gayle has earned her Grand Ole Opry and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Again, applause and cheers erupted in the Temple Theater as the video revealed on Friday, September 4, Easton Corbin will take the stage.
Many fans appreciate Corbin's traditional country sound that he brought to listeners on the songs “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll With It.”
Corbin's accolades include over 20 million streams on Spotify, two number one singles and numerous award nominations, including Academy of Country Music Awards.
Crowds will be treated to entertainment by Joe Nichols on Saturday 2nd September.
Nichols will offer a blend of traditional country sound with a modern twist. Midwest Old Threshers are described.
He has four Grammy nominations and two Country Music Awards.
McWilliams says he knows they made a good choice when he saw the crowd sing along to Nichols' music video for “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off” when the lineup was announced.
Dylan Scott will round out the entertainment on the KILJ Stage on Sunday 3rd September.
Scott is known for his songs “New Truck” and “Nobody” which have helped increase his online streams to 56 million.
“What do you think about this?” McWilliams asked the Alive After 5 attendees.
Screams, shouts and applause filled the room with approval.
“I'm really excited about entertainment,” McWilliams said. “This year, having four brand new ones is really exciting.”
He also took this opportunity to announce Harvest Parade Grand Marshals Bob and Peggy Gilchrist of Springville, Illinois.
“Bob and Peggy have been on our board for many years,” McWilliams said. “They're still in business and have tractors and locomotives.”
“It's just exciting to be able to honor these two for being a part of the Old Threshers for so many years,” he said.
McWilliams gave a brief overview of the upcoming season for the Old Threshers.
“We have people come back and help us do the event from all over the country and from all over the Midwest,” McWilliams said. “We have visitors from all over the world coming to the reunion.”
According to McWilliams, the Reunion receives visitors from England, Australia and all over the world.
“It's a bit of old Mt. Pleasant, and people know us all over the world,” he said with a smile.
“We're going to do it all over again like we always do,” McWilliams said. “We have all kinds of special events and things that we're going to be hosting this year. We organize birthday parties, we organize weddings.'
“We will be holding a private party this year on June 24 for Sinclair Tractor's 25th anniversary corporate party,” he continued. “It's a private party, but they estimate 10-15 thousand people.”
“We're going to do the swap meet, we're going to do all our great stuff,” McWilliams added. “We already have organized school trips for children.”
Excitement for the upcoming Midwest Old Threshers season filled the Temple Theater as smiling faces spoke in loud, enthusiastic tones about what's to come.
Tickets for Midwest Old Threshers are available at shop.oldthreshers.com or by calling (319) 385-8937
From now until May 31, guests can purchase multi-day admission to Reunion 2023 for $25. As of June 1st prices increase to $35.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
2022 Miss Sweet Sixteen Court volunteered for their Midwest Old Thresher's Alive After Five dinner. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
As in years past, Old Threshers announced the music lineup via a video at the Temple Theatre. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
The new executive vice president of Mt. Pleasant Chamber Rachel Lindeen attended the Midwest Old Threshers Alive After Five as her first Alive After Five at her location. (AnnaMarie Ward/The Union)
