Fact File: Frankie Ballard
He's playing Belfast on Saturday night - here's all your need to know
Last updated 19th Apr 2017
Frankie Ballard….Where’s he come from? Where’s he headed? The road to success can be a long, meandering bumpy trek with very little freewheeling along the way, but once you get over the top of that huge peak, the view can be breath taking!
Frankie Ballard was born on December 16th, 1982. He’s a keen baseball player, having played college baseball for Mott Community College and later, Western Michigan University.
In 2008 Ballard signed for Kenny Chesney’s “Next Big Star” competition, after winning this, he opened shows for Chesney on the Michigan leg of his tour.
His debut single “Tell Me You Get Lonely” entered the Hot Country Songs chart at number 59 in June 2010, climbing to number 33 in 2011. The same year he also appeared for the first time at the Grand Ole Opry
Since then he has had a string of number ones from “Helluva Life”, “Sunshine & Whiskey” and “Young & Crazy”.
More recently his latest three singles have failed to make a huge impact with the charts but as with country music, these things can take time to mature. “You’ll Accomp’ny Me” his latest single release is a cover of an iconic rock track by Bob Segar yet sounds unique with Ballard’s electric guitar solos and unique vocals. The single is lifted from Ballard’s third album “El Rio” which followed “Sunshine & Whisky” and his self titled debut album “Frankie Ballard”.
The Mandela Hall will be Ballard’s first date on the European leg of his tour, followed by Whelan’s in Dublin on April 23rd, then it’s over to England and on to mainland Europe.
As a country fan, I’m excited to hear what he has in store for us in Belfast. The last time I was in Mandela, I was listening to Rhett Atkins and Thomas Rhett, a concert that will be hard to beat, but I feel Frankie has it in him. He’s relatively new on the scene and still has a lot of potential. If the Opry felt the need to get him along for a night, then I’m sure we in little old Belfast will not be disappointed!
Why not come and see for yourself? Tickets are still available from all major outlets. Frankie Ballard will be performing in the Mandela Hall, Belfast on Saturday 22nd April 2017.