KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – June 28, 2010 – Sea Ray Boats has released the final lineup of musical acts to perform at the AquaPalooza 2010 Signature Event, which is scheduled for Saturday, July 10, at The Reserve at Lake Travis near Austin, Texas. As announced previously, the event, hosted by Sea Ray and its local dealer Sail & Ski Center, will have Brad Paisley headlining in front of a crowd of thousands of concert-goers on boats.

The opening acts will begin at noon on Saturday and will continue until Paisley takes the stage at 5 p.m. Following is the list of performers in order of appearance:

AquaPalooza Battle of the Bands Winner – Sea Ray and Sail & Ski present the winner of the AquaPalooza Battle of the Bands. The winning act will be chosen on Friday, July 9, at The Reserve at Lake Travis by a panel of music industry veterans. The Battle of the Bands begins at noon and is open to all boaters that come by water; this is the perfect time for people to join the rafting grid for Saturday’s festivities. There will also be entertainment on land throughout the day on Friday, and music on the main stage until 7:30 p.m.

Matt Stillwell – In this age of American Idol and viral videos, Matt Stillwell has managed to build his following the old-fashioned way — one city, one club and one crowd at a time. With the release of his new album, Shine Deluxe, fans nationwide can experience the magic that this up-and-comer brings to bear every time he steps in front of a microphone. Stillwell’s first album, Shine, charted the single of the same name and saw serious radio play for the single “Rain.” He has performed at the Academy of Country Music Awards and is the host of Shine Fest, an annual two-day summer music festival in his beloved North Carolina. www.mattstillwell.net

Joanna Smith – She might have grown up on "Cherokee Rose Ranch," her family's working farm in the small southern Georgia town of Crestview Unincorporated, but Joanna Smith had Music City aspirations at an early age. As a child, she would sleep with a Playskool tape player listening to The Judds, Patty Loveless, Patsy Cline, Keith Whitley, KT Oslin and James Taylor. By 18, she had left behind a full scholarship at Auburn University to be the lead singer in an all-girl band in Nashville, only to be fired after the first week. Despite no industry connections in a new city Smith landed a gig at the legendary Toosie’s, where she still performs after nearly four years. That experience established her as a seasoned live performer and landed her a label deal with Columbia Nashville. Smith has just finished recording her first studio record, of which she wrote seven of the eight songs. www.myspace.com/joannasmith

Lee Brice – When Lee Brice entered the country music consciousness with the hit “She Ain’t Right” in 2007, his rugged sound spoke for a new generation of Nashville recording artists. As follow-up singles “Happy Endings” and “Love Like Crazy” have climbed the charts, Brice has continued to alter the landscape of country with images inspired by the Carolina backcountry where he was raised. Brice has also proven himself as a gifted songwriter, with cuts by Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton and Garth Brooks to his credit. His recently released album Pictures of Me alternately flows like a stream of memory and pounds like the tide along the Carolina shore. www.leebrice.com

Jerrod Niemann – Hot new recording artist Jerrod Niemann is a fresh voice on the country music airwaves, and the Kansas native is climbing the Top 10 with his groove-filled smash, “Lover, Lover,” from his Sea Gayle/Arista Nashville major label debut album, Judge Jerrod & The Hung Jury, releasing July 13. Refreshingly creative, the album’s 20 tracks weave eight personality-packed skits alongside a dozen songs, 10 of which were written or co-written by Niemann (who also co-wrote the Garth Brooks hit, “Good Ride Cowboy”). www.jerrodniemannofficial.com

Brad Paisley – Country music superstar and Grand Ole Opry member Brad Paisley is a consummate singer, songwriter, guitarist and entertainer, which has earned him three Grammy's, 13 Academy of Country Music Awards and 13 Country Music Association Awards. Paisley has released eight critically acclaimed studio albums and has accumulated sales of over 10 million units. His most recent album, American Saturday Night, was ranked as Time magazine's best album of 2009 in any genre of music. Paisley's current summertime hit, “Water,” is his 17th No. 1 single — the last 13 consecutive. Paisley's innovative and entertaining tours have consistently placed in the Top 5 in Pollstar for attendance, and his 2009 American Saturday Night tour played to nearly 1.2 million fans in eight months. His current tour is H2O World Tour and continues through the fall. bradpaisley.com


“AquaPalooza has become synonymous with great music and great times on the water,” said Rob Noyes, vice president of marketing for Sea Ray. “We’re very excited to have a performer of Brad Paisley’s caliber headlining this year’s Signature Event, along with a great supporting cast of new and rising country music stars.”
Lake Travis is located in the beautiful Texas hill country, a short drive from both Austin and San Antonio. “We’re proud to have been chosen to host the Signature Event. It’s a great opportunity to show the world what Lake Travis has to offer,” said Buzz Watkins, co-owner of Sail & Ski, which has locations in Austin, Lakeway and San Antonio, and was recently ranked the No. 1 dealer in North America by Boating Industry magazine.

Lake Travis is a gem among Texas lakes, with approximately 19,000 acres of crystal clear water and 250 miles of shoreline with countless unspoiled coves and creeks to explore. The lake offers 15 marinas and 11 public boat ramps, as well as numerous powerboat, houseboat and PWC rental facilities. The Signature Event will be held at Mile Marker 22 at The Reserve at Lake Travis, a new waterfront resort between the Pace Bend and Point Venture areas of the lake. The Reserve encompasses one of the nicest and most pristine points of land on Lake Travis, which will be perfect for an on-water event of this magnitude, Watkins explained. When completed, The Reserve’s facilities will include a world-class marina restaurant and equestrian center, making it one of the premier home and boating resort areas in the Southwest.

“This is a free event where your boat is your ticket,” said Noyes. “There will be no land access to the Signature Event.” Sea Ray and Sail & Ski encourage anyone planning to attend the Signature Event to register, as this allows them to plan a great event and send out the most up-to-date information and instructions. Please note that registration does not guarantee a spot on the rafting line. The rafting line will be available on a first-come basis beginning at 7 a.m. on Friday, July 9. Once at the location, attendees will be able to enjoy on-site refreshments as well as land-based activities for the whole family.

Mark your calendars now for the most anticipated on-water boating bash of the summer. For more information and to register, please visit www.aquapalooza.com.


ABOUT SEA RAY
Founded in 1959, Sea Ray is the world’s largest manufacturer of superior quality pleasure boats.
Sea Ray is headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., and operates as part of the Boat Group division of Brunswick Corporation. With more than 40 models ranging from 17 to 61 feet, Sea Ray makes a boat for every lifestyle — each built with a unique commitment to quality, craftsmanship, and excellence throughout. Additional information about Sea Ray is available at www.searay.com.


ABOUT BRUNSWICK
Headquartered in Lake Forest, Ill., Brunswick Corporation endeavors to instill Genuine Ingenuityä in all its leading consumer brands, including Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Attwood marine parts and accessories; Land 'N' Sea, Kellogg Marine, Diversified Marine and Benrock parts and accessories distributors; Arvor, Bayliner, Bermuda, Boston Whaler, Cabo Yachts, Crestliner, Cypress Cay, Harris, Hatteras, Lowe, Lund, Meridian, Ornvik, Princecraft, Quicksilver, Rayglass, Sea Ray, Sealine, Triton, Trophy, Uttern and Valiant boats; Life Fitness and Hammer Strength fitness equipment; Brunswick bowling centers, equipment and consumer products; Brunswick billiards tables and foosball tables. For more information, visit www.brunswick.com.

ABOUT SAIL & SKI
Founded in 1969, the Sail & Ski Center has developed into the “Standard of Excellence” in boat dealers. As an authorized dealership for Sea Ray boats, Nautiques by Correct Craft, Boston Whaler, South Bay pontoon boats, and Kawasaki Jet Skis, Sail & Ski’s boat brands are of the finest quality and best-selling in central and south Texas. The dealership’s pro shop features the top selection of the most recent water skis, Ronix wakeboards, Hyperlite Wakeboards, Liquid Force Wakeboards, tubes and summer clothing for all of its customers’ summer boating needs. For additional information, you can visit the Sail & Ski Center at any of its three Texas locations: Austin, San Antonio and Lakeway, or online at www.sailandski.com.

ABOUT THE RESERVE AT LAKE TRAVIS
Encompassing 300 lush acres of rolling hill country and featuring 3.5 miles of pristine shoreline along the south shore of Lake Travis, The Reserve at Lake Travis is the ultimate in Texas luxury living. Located on Thurman Bend Road, The Reserve features large, one to five-acre home sites that are carefully designed to take full advantage of expansive vistas and water frontage. Complete resort amenities include a comprehensive equestrian center, private lake club, full service marina with 250 covered boat slips, swim center featuring a lazy river and water park, and more. The Reserve was designed by Hal Jones Development, a real estate development firm based in Austin that focuses primarily on Texas coastal and hill country properties. Visit www.reserveatlaketravis.com for more information.


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Joe Nichols is in such a good mood these days he almost glows.

The smooth baritone — called the heir to guys like George Strait and Merle Haggard — is back on top with a No. 1 single, "Gimmie That Girl." Already blessed with leading-man good looks, he's fit and chiseled thanks to a healthy lifestyle and regular workouts, and he and his wife are thinking about expanding the family from two to three.

Nichols knows all that hard, difficult work he did in alcohol rehabilitation has paid off.

Life is good right now.

"I think I appreciate it more, too," Nichols said in a recent interview. "(I feel) the humility that came along with treatment — not humiliation — humility that came along with that. And gratitude. It trickles into what I'm feeling today."

Nichols' rehab in October 2007 — just a month after getting married and two after releasing an album — was a risky move. He faced a lot of personal questions. Did he really care about his career anymore? Did he want to put in the work? And he wondered if anyone would care if he tried to pick up where he left off.

The success of "Gimmie That Girl" offers a resounding answer to the latter question. The single from album "Old Things New" is No. 1 on the country charts, his first since 2005's "Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off."

"Learning how to relive life again on life's terms sure doesn't do much for your confidence," Nichols, 33, said. "You have to kind of walk in faith that the next step is going to be just a little bit better than the last step. So little by little, it's been a long journey just to get here and I think we've got a long ways to go, but it certainly is a big huge step toward OK."

"Old Things New" is a notable in a career that started at top speed eight years ago and began to fade, a fate that's befallen a great number of good looking guys with dynamite voices who get muscled out by the next country heartthrob.

Fletcher Foster, the former general manager of Universal South, which merged with Show Dog recently, watched as Nichols' career began to "soften." He didn't seem into what he was doing. And the fans could feel it. His lifestyle choices began to undercut every part of his career.

"As we all know it's such a competitive business, if there's a crack in the armor everyone will go after it, and there were some cracks sometimes," Foster said. "... He was spending time on extracurricular activities instead of being focused and being up the next morning to make a call and do the business things that needed to be done."

The Arkansas-born Nichols got also got married, but his new wife quickly diagnosed a problem. Heather Nichols met her husband when they were both a year out of high school and had kept in touch with him from a distance for a decade. But the man she married was nothing like the Joe Nichols she knew before saying, "I do."

"The person he was then was a very empty guy," she said.

Heather had "the talk" with Nichols. She wanted him to get better for his own good. And if he wasn't willing to, she wasn't going to sit around and watch him kill himself.

Her husband is now the man she thought she married. He's outgoing and funny. He's comfortable with himself. He goes to meetings and has his faith.

"I think addiction hides the person you are and makes you this soulless, I can say, person," she said. "And now it's like his light is back on and he shares himself with everyone. Everyone sees that light and he draws you in."

Foster thinks you can hear it on "Old Things New." Nichols was focused and engaged during recording. He picked the right kind of material and he delivered when it was time to step up. "Gimmie That Girl," a bouncy song that salutes the woman who's "beautiful without a trace of makeup on," shows just how good Nichols can be.

"I think this was a magical record," Foster said of "Gimmie That Girl.""I think it had a very universal message for young girls, young guys."

Fans embraced the song, and Nichols' return. And he thinks that might clear the path for another No. 1 with his second single, "The Shape I'm In."

All that adds up to a very big smile for the singer these days. And that glow.

"It's been kind of a bumpy ride between here and the last No. 1 we had so it makes it a little bit more extra special this time around," Nichols said. "It's a very meaningful journey."

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Associated Press writer Caitlin R. King contributed to this report.

Brad Paisley's H2O Tour is all wet. Really, really wet.

Paisley is one of hundreds of Nashville's top stars, working musicians and tour support company owners who lost what will likely be millions of dollars in gear due the historic floods in Music City. Paisley was poised to start rehearsals for the water-themed tour when record rains inundated the area.

His staging and props are under water, most of his guitars, amps and equipment are destroyed — though his favorite guitar was spared — and he's scrambling to find replacements and suitable rehearsal space with the first stop on the tour at Virginia Beach, Va., just two weeks away.

"I sent a Tweet the other day that basically told people that when they come to the show just know that what you're seeing has been fully tested under water," Paisley joked in a phone interview Wednesday with The Associated Press. "You're talking about total cred. This is the H2O Tour. This isn't posers acting like we know about it. We've done it, buddy."

Paisley is one of an estimated 1,000 musicians and business owners who house gear at Soundcheck Nashville, a storage rental hub in an industrial park down by the Cumberland River. Owner Ben Jumper said the 160,000 square feet of space he rents out is all flooded and the losses will be in the tens of millions. The storage facility is full of classroom-sized "lockers" used to store gear.

Keith Urban lost his gear. Friends say Vince Gill may have lost most of his entire guitar collection, including irreplaceable vintage pieces with historic value. A tractor-trailer full of LeAnn Rimes' road gear is also probably under 3 1/2 to 8 feet of water, her guitarist Ryan Wariner said.

Musicians — like most Tennessee residents — had little warning the deadly storms that swept the state would be so violent. It mostly affected outlying areas around Tennessee's capital city, initially sparing some of the nation's most important music landmarks.

All that water eventually flowed into the Cumberland River, though, and it caught everyone by surprise when it flooded downtown and northeast Nashville, two important areas for musicians. Along with Soundcheck, the Grand Ole Opry House has flood damage and several music-themed businesses downtown took water as did the mechanical room at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Wariner is trying to be optimistic, but there's not a lot of reason for hope.

"Everything that I use but two guitars is in there — pedals, amps, speakers, mics, front house consoles, everything was in there," said Wariner, son of Grammy-winning country artist Steve Wariner.

All Scott Scovill could do by Tuesday night was laugh about his losses. The owner of MooTV, a video production company that supplies those large video screens and other high-tech gear for large concert tours, was taking a philosophical approach, considering dozens of people were killed in the floods and thousands of homes were damaged.

"Compared to losing someone you care about or your home, all of this can be replaced," he said.

He was stunned when he heard floodwaters were several feet deep and wasn't waiting around for someone to tell him it was OK to go look.

"I snuck in," Scovill said. "I went around to an area where the police weren't watching and I called a friend who had a dinghy."

What he saw shocking. There was 8 feet of water in his warehouse. He figures everything is a loss since motherboards and high-def screens don't take kindly to water.

"All my competitors are calling to help," Scovill said. "I took them up on it. I said I need an LED screen this weekend and they said come get it."

Jumper couldn't stay away either. What he saw moved him to tears.

"I was overwhelmed and my heart broke," he said. "It's a huge loss for the Nashville music entertainment industry and nationally because of all the national talent that operates in Nashville and out of our facilities."

Paisley is deadset on starting his tour on time. He said the fans deserve it and the logistics of a postponement would actually be harder than grinding through a quick recovery.

"My guitar tech is spending like a broker on the stock exchange floor," Paisley said.

Much of the tour staging is made from aluminum and will need to be dried off and cleaned up with just a little plywood and carpet to be replaced. And luckily the "brain" of his video production gear was not at Soundcheck.

But the locker that stored all of his guitars and personal equipment has been flooded, though.

"Things like this make you really take stock in what you're given. And this is going to mean so much more than some normal tour that we're embarking on," Paisley said.