Press Release / Art & Entertainment / Jared Porter Wins Country Summer Fender Contender Challenge

Jared Porter Wins Country Summer Fender Contender Challenge

SANTA ROSA, Calif. -- Jared Porter, a California born artist who moved to Australia at age 15, is the winner of the Fender Contender Challenge.

Voted the fans’ favorite, he will be first to perform at Country Summer, Northern California’s biggest country music festival June 5-7 at Sonoma County Event Center. He also wins the $5,000 grand prize.

More than 400,000 votes were cast to determine the Fender Contender Challenge four finalists and ultimate grand prize winner.

Porter was surprised to hear he is the winner on Froggy 92.9 this morning. "Wow man. This is great news. This is so cool!” he said on the Rob and Joss Morning Show, calling in from Queensland Australia.

Porter was the 35th Australian Star Maker winner in 2014. Since winning that award, he has performed at the CMA World GlobaLive Concert in Nashville, toured with Australia’s biggest names in country and recorded "East to West," his debut album.

He recently signed an international co-publishing agreement as a songwriter with Dog Whistle Music Australia and Dan Hodge Music Nashville. "Deep End," the first single, climbed the official radio airplay charts to Number 3. "Pieces," the second single, a duet with Kaylee Bell, went one further reaching Number 2.

Currently on tour in Australia, Porter looks forward to venturing back to the Unites States to make it big on the Country Summer stage.

In addition to Porter, Country Summer presented by Lithia RAM of Santa Rosa, features 13 entertainers. Country Summer 2015 headliners include Jake Owen on June 5, The Band Perry on June 6 and Brantley Gilbert on June 7.

The June 5 lineup also includes Gary Allan, Chris Young and Parmalee; June 6 also includes Lee Brice, Jerrod Niemann, Frankie Ballard and The Swon Brothers; and June 7 also includes Trace Adkins, Easton Corbin and Cassadee Pope.

Daily tickets start from $69 for general admission, $99 for reserved seats. A limited number of discount three-day packages are available. To purchase tickets, visit www.countrysummer.com or call 800.514.3849 to order by phone.

Event sponsors include Lithia RAM of Santa Rosa, Friedman’s Home Improvement, Bud Light, Montgomery Village, Les Schwab Tire Centers of Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, Leese-Fitch Wines, Jack Daniel’s, River Rock Casino, Fender, American AgCredit, Cattlemens, Xfinity, Creams, Papé Material Handling, U.S. Marines, Harris Ranch, the City of Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Convention & Visitors Bureau and Froggy 92.9.

See Jared Porter’s Fender Contender Challenge winning video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41WnimHQQbg.

Visit Jared Porter’s website at http://www.jaredportermusic.com/.

About Fender
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) is one of the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors, whose portfolio of brands includes Fender®, Squier®, Gretsch®, Jackson®, EVH® and Charvel®, among others. For more information, visit www.fender.com.