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Alyssa Raghu
Making its debut appearance, Rising Thunder, presented by The Education Foundation of Osceola County, will be an outdoor festival Sunday, March 8, for country and Southern rock music fans at Hastings Ranch in St. Cloud.
Attendees can enjoy great music, local barbecue and seafood, delicious refreshments and leisurely shopping.
Kicking off the entertainment is the Battle of the Bands, where eight bands are lined up to entertain the crowd all day long, while competing for the grand prize – a chance to perform at Country Thunder-Florida in March 2020. The Battle of the Band roster includes bands from Tennessee, Georgia, Texas and Florida.
After the Battle of the Bands, Rising Thunder will turn up the stage spotlight to welcome American Idol finalist Alyssa Raghu. Raghu, a 17-year-old singer/songwriter from Orlando, will wow the crowd with her soft yet powerful tone and breathtaking vocals.
Raghu recently took her talents to the stage for American Idol in 2018 and 2019. She was voted by America into the Top 8 and was a favorite of Katy Perry. Raghu was the first contestant in American Idol history to become a semifinalist twice in two separate years, as well as the only person to be a semifinalist in one year and a finalist in another.
Admission begins at 11 a.m., with tickets for the event costing $10 (in advanced) or $15 at the gate to purchase visit www.RisingThunderFL.com or Text the word "Battle20" to 41444.
Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chair or blanket. Not outside coolers or drinks and no pets are permitted.
All proceeds benefit the Education Foundation of Osceola County, a nonprofit organization supporting education, teachers and kids. The event is sponsored by OUC, Tavistock, Waste Connections, JORDAN, Tompkins Family Foundation, city of St. Cloud, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Jimmy Bears, Catfish Place, B&B Promotions and Hastings Ranch & Farm. For more information, visit www.RisingThuderFl.com or call 407-8704855.
