Photo Credit: Louder Than Life
Organizers for Louisville’s four-day rock festival Louder Than Life have announced Oliver Anthony has been added to the lineup.
The 31-year-old Virginian’s viral hit “Rich Men North of Richmond” has struck a chord with many. Despite saying he turned down an $8 million record deal and didn’t want to perform in stadiums, the singer is making the most of his newfound fame with several upcoming appearances.
“Oliver Anthony is a blazing force consuming the music world like wildfire, and we’re beyond excited to announce that he’s been added to the Louder Than Life 2023 lineup,” the announcement on social media reads. “You can catch him on Thursday and Friday (Sept. 21-22) at Kroger Big Bourbon Bar.”
The singer—real name Christopher Anthony Lunsford—has several upcoming appearances ahead of Louder Than Life, too. On September 8-9 he’ll be performing at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Alton, Virginia. The following Thursday (September 14) he’s performing at the Poppy Mountain Music Festival in Morehead, Kentucky. After his appearance at Louder Than Life, he’ll appear at Alley Fest (Oct. 6) in Paintsville, Kentucky and the Big River Outdoors Campground (Oct. 7) in Mineral Point, Missouri.
Oliver Anthony is keeping it local, attending music festivals across the Southeastern United States. It’s one of the poorest areas in the country, with an estimated 40% of America’s rural poor living somewhere within the region between 2014-2018. While Louder Than Life is a rock festival, Oliver Anthony’s anthem speaks to many who recognize the struggle he speaks of within his lyrics.
Oliver Anthony himself has tried to steer clear of political pundits on both sides of the aisle, either condemning or embracing the song. When the GOP discussed the song during its recent debates, the singer said it was funny to see. “I wrote that song about those people,” he told NPR. “I do hate to see that song being weaponized.”