Conrad's Bash Memories Page! Rundown of Past Bash.

On July 24th, 1992 Classic Rock station WJFM is transformed into WBCT, or B-93 for short and the format of the radio station is changed to Country Music. Within the first year B-93 is tops among radio listeners.

B93 Birthday Bash 1 (1993-Ionia) - July 24th, 1993

To celebrate B-93's first anniversary as a Country Music station a free listener appreciation party is planned at the Ionia Free Fair, featuring Sawyer Brown, Joe Diffie and Robert Ellis Orrall. An estimated 30,000 fans attended and Birthday Bash is born.

Lineup: Sawyer Brown, Joe Diffie, Robert Ellis Orrall and local favs Midnite Ryder

From Bobby Jo: Sawyer Brown needs to come back! I remember seeing them at Bash 1!! They are my all time favorite!!

B93 Birthday Bash 2 (1994-Allegan) - July 16th, 1994

Birthday Bash 2 is the first of eleven Bash's to be held in Allegan. An estimated 50,000 fans attend - most of who came to see a young artist by the name of Tim McGraw who hit it big that year with his first number one hit "Don't Take The Girl." McGraw's tour bus gets stuck in the mud backstage and B-93 staff members are forced to push it out - a dirty job, indeed. Others on the bill that day included Radney Foster, Victoria Shaw and headliner Diamond Rio.

Lineup: Tim Mcgraw, Radney Foster, John and Audry Wiggins, Victoria Shaw, and Diamond Rio

Christina's bash 2 memory:'

My favorite was bday bash 2. I was in 9th grade in high school and I was so excited I had went with my cousin and her friends and me and one of the girls made our way all the way to the front. That was the first time i saw Tim mcgraw, I was right in front of the stage, and he started to sing dont take the girl he was sitting in the chair and the look on his face when everyone started singing it was priceless he was so into that song the emotions. as he got up he walked by the stage as he was walking off and shaking peoples and hands and he kissed mine. ahhhh it was a great day.

 Been the biggest tim mgraw fan every since

B93 Birthday Bash 3 (1995-Allegan) - July 15th, 1995

Best remembered for its three digit temperatures - 105 degrees was the high for that day. Several hundred people become ill with heat stroke and exhaustion and many leave before headliner Mark Chesnutt wraps up the show. The temperature on the stage when Chesnutt goes on is 130 degrees.

Lineup: Mark Chesnutt, Lee Roy Parnell, Blackhawk, James House, Terri Raddigan

B93 Birthday Bash 4 (1996-Allegan) - July 13th, 1996

Biggest ever as far as entertainment is concerned - with more acts then ever before. Blackhawk is the headliner but Neal McCoy steals the show, climbing onto a Hi-Low forklift while performing and zooming up and down over the audience. John Berry begins his act performing in the middle of the huge crowd.

Lineup: Neal McCoy, Blackhawk, John Berry, Ty Herndon, Terri Clark and Mila Mason

B93 Birthday Bash 5 (1997-Allegan) - July 12th, 1997

Featured Deana Carter who is the hottest act in Country Music at that time. Crowds in excess of 60,000 come out early because Carter was the first artist to perform that year. Sawyer Brown, the group that performed at the inaugural B-93 Birthday Bash, is booked to help celebrate year #5.

Lineup: Sawyer Brown, Trisha Yearwood, Deana Carter, Kevin Sharp and David Kersh

B93 Birthday Bash 6 (1998-Allegan) - July 11th, 1998

The best weather we've had in the event's six years with temperatures topping at 82 degrees.

Lineup: Collin Raye, Neal McCoy, Steve Wariner, Ricochet, The Wilkinsons, Victoria Shaw,Trasher-Shiver and opener Mark Nessler

B93 Birthday Bash 7 (1999-Allegan) - June 19th, 1999

This year has come to be known simply as the "Alabama Year." The super group Alabama - which had just chalked up its 42nd number one hit earlier that year - headlined the B-93 Birthday Bash and record crowds came out to witness it all. Also on the bill was Aaron Tippin, Montgomery-Gentry, Lila McCann, SheDaisy, and Shane Minor. Birthday Bash 7 was the first year that we the event was held in June instead of July.

Lineup: Alabama, Aaron Tippin. Montgomery Gentry, Shedaisy, Lila McCann. Opener Shane Minor

From Shelly:Humm have seen so many good ones in the 15 bashes that I have been too.... I like Lost Trailers, and Alabama and then I really like the ones who come to bash when they are first out and they play bash before they are huge stars and you can say yo saw them back when...

B93 Birthday Bash 8 (2000-Allegan) - June 17th, 2000

Bash #8 featured Country Music's Female Vocalist of the Year Martina McBride as the headliner - the first time a woman has headlined the Bash. A brand new group called Rascal-Flatts made their West Michigan debut and the crowd loved them!

Lineup: Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts, Craig Morgan, Lonestar, Yankee Grey and opener Anita Cochran.

B93 Birthday Bash 9 (2001-Allegan) - June 30th, 2001

This was the final Birthday Bash held in the "Bowl" on the Allegan Fairgrounds

Lineup: Travis Tritt, Diamond Rio, Chris Cagle, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Trick Pony, Clark Family Experience and 3 of Hearts

B93 Birthday Bash 10 (2002-Allegan) - June 22nd, 2002

Year 10 was a year for big changes. The location of the Birthday Bash was moved from the "Bowl" to the infield of the Allegan Fair's half mile horse track - adding a tremendous amount of room - including 6,000 grandstand seats. Temperatures were a steamy 97 degrees that year. Lonestar became the first three time act to perform at the B-93 Birthday Bash and headlined the show. Charlie Daniels, Steve Holy, Steve Azar, Emerson Drive, Hometown News and Mark McGuinn also took the stage. Crews worked throughout the night to clean up the infield and prepare the grounds for the inaugural FOX Fest - a Classic Rock festival sponsored by sister station 101.3 The FOX.

Lineup: Lonestar, Charlie Daniels Band, Steve Holy, Emerson Drive, Steve Azar, Hometown News and Mark McGuinn

B93 Birthday Bash 11 (2003-Allegan) - June 21st, 2003

Featured Tanya Tucker as the headliner but because of a scheduling conflict, Tucker was forced to perform at 11 a.m. Temperatures were a delightful 75 degrees, and the buzz concerned who the "Surprise Guest" was going to be. The answer was Clay Walker, but the Country Music star almost didn't make it. Walker's bus broke down on the way to the Fairgrounds and he and his band had to hitch a ride with the Allegan Sheriff's Department.

Lineup: Phil Vasser, Tanya Tucker, Confederate Railroad, Blake Shelton, Joe Nichols, Anthony Smith and surprise guest Clay Walker

B93 Birthday Bash 12 (2004-Allegan) - June 19th, 2004

This event will be known for years as the biggest Bash ever thanks to the rising star power of Gretchen Wilson - who appeared on the "Tonight Show with Jay Leno" the night before the Birthday Bash and Big and Rich. "Nashville Star's" Buddy Jewell is a crowd favorite, along with Rachel Proctor and Craig Morgan. Montgomery-Gentry headlines the show. This is the last B-93 Birthday Bash in Allegan.

Lineup:  Montgomery Gentry, Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson, Buddy Jewel, Craig Morgan and Rachel Proctor

B93 Birthday Bash 13 (2005-Ionia)

B93 Birthday Bash 14 (2006-Ionia)

First 2 day B-93 Birthday Bash.
Local Favs Branded opened day one. Bomshel has never had what you call a ‘hit’ record..but they stole the hearts of everyone in the crowd..Including Buffy’s ‘tour de force’ The Devil went down to Georgia’ as she climbed the Bash’s stage scaffolding. Bomshel signed autographs for an unheard of 6 hours! Then Trent Thomlinson had the girls screaming. Jason Aldean was brand new with ‘Hicktown’ and rocked harder than any bash act I can remember. Trace Adkins capped day 1 with a stellar performance and a new song we hadn’t heard before ‘Ladies Love Country Boys’. Favorite quote ‘I wish somebody would shoot that airplane down’. (you HAD to be there)

Day 2
This was the first year of your ‘B-93 Open Air Church’ service that opened the Sunday Bash..absolutely wonderful. Eric Church seems appropriate next..followed by Jake Owen. During Jake’s set the famed B-93 ‘Dust-nado’ blew a tent 100 feet in the air near the crowd! We will probably post the video below soon. Little Big Town was great onstage and off as they walked around being very accessable/easy going. Jamie O’Neal and a rockin’ performance from Blake Shelton wrapped up the day!
 
Line ups:
Saturday: Branded, Bomshel, Megan Mullins, Trent Thomlinson, Jason Aldean, Billy Currington, Trace Adkins

Sunday: Eric Church, Jake Owen, Little Big Town, Jamie O’Neal, Blake Shelton

B93 Birthday Bash 15 (2007-Ionia)

Saturday: Bronk Brothers, Bucky Covington, Dierks Bentley, The Wreckers, Jason Michael Carroll (special guest Clint Black)

Sunday: Ashley Monroe, Emerson Drive, Josh Turner, Luke Bryan, Sara Evans, Bomshel, Whiskey Falls