Join us June 4th - June 6th!
Harlan County
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Welcomes you to the 71st Annual Poke Sallet Festival!
2026 Poke Sallet Festival Performers
Main Stage | Thursday Lineup | Friday Lineup | Saturday Lineup & Headliner |Bluegrass Stage| Gospel Stage Lineup
Thursday Lineup
ENTERTAINMENT LINEUP FOR THE 71ST ANNUAL POKE SALLET FESTIVAL, PRESENTED BY HARLAN COUNTY FISCAL COURT, SPONSORED BY FOOD CITY, APPALACHIAN WIRELESS, HEARTHSIDE BANK, 4TH GEN FUELS, AND HARLAN TOURISM
BICENTENNIAL STAGE
Thursday June 4, 2026 SPONSORED BY HARLAN ARH & FRONT PORCH MEDICAL
12:30-3:30-HEADLINER LOAD IN AND SOUND CHECK
3:30-4:20-OTHER STAGE SUPPORT LOAD IN & SOUND CHECK
4:30-5:00-OPENING CEREMONY BY APPALACHIAN CHALLENGE ACADEMY & SUNSHINE SCHOOL
5:00-6:15-POKE SALLET IDOL SEMI-FINALS ONE SONG EACH PER SEGMENT, 2 SEGMENTS)
SEGMENT 1: SEGMENT 2:
1. JANIE CAUDILL 1. MEGAN FUGATE
2. FAITH BURKHART 2. JAMIE CAUDILL
3. JENNIFER CALDWELL 3. KARL PERRY
4. PAUL WELCH 4. ALEXIS DEAN
5. ARLENA LYNCH 5. JENNIFER CALDWELL
6. HAILEY MADDEN 6. PAUL WELCH
7. KARL PERRY 7. FAITH BURKHART
8. ALEXIS DEAN 8. HAILEY MADDEN
9. MEGAN FUGATE 9. ARLENA LYNCH
6:15-6:45-BROOKLYN BURKHART
7:00-8:15-2ND SHIFT
8:30-10:00-RESURRECTION (JOURNEY TRIBUTE BAND)
Announcing Resurrection- A Journey Tribute at the 71st Annual Poke Sallet Festival on Thursday June 4th at 8:30 PM
Resurrection - A Journey Tribute, considered to be 'The Gold Standard' by which all Journey tributes are measured, faithfully recreates the experience of a 1980-era Journey concert. This dynamic and energetic band has featured some of Nashville's hottest musicians, many of whom have performed, written, or recorded with the biggest names in the music industry - including Journey and Steve Perry. Every show is a brilliant
reproduction of sights and sounds that captivate and transport audiences to the glorious age of arena rock. Resurrection - A Journey Tribute continues to garner worldwide attention and acclaim with high profile performances including, Royal Caribbean International cruises, Fraze Pavilion, AT&T Park: Home of the San Francisco Giants, US Cellular Field: Home of the Chicago White Sox, Hard Rock Casino and Hotel. Fans across the country, including Steve Perry and Journey purists, rave that Resurrection - A Journey Tribute is the ultimate Journey tribute experience!
Friday Lineup
Friday June 5th, 2026 (SPONSORED BY:HARLAN CHRISTIAN CHURCH & LOYALL CHURCH OF CHRIST)
10:00-12:00-LOAD IN & SOUND CHECK HEADLINER
12:00-1:15-BRADLEY HALCOMB
1:30-2:20-TBA
2:30-3:20-LACI DEATON
3:30-5:30-LOAD IN AND SOUND CHECK OPENING BANDS
5:30-6:15-CODY HOWARD
6:15-6:30-HARLAN COUNTY ROYALTY & POKE SALLET IDOL FINALISTS INTRODUCED
6:30-7:15-THE 99
7:30-8:15- HARLAN CHRISTIAN CHURCH PRAISE & WORSHIP TEAM
8:30-10:00-DANNY GOKEY
We’re kicking things off in a BIG way for
the 71st Annual Poke Sallet Festival…
Danny Gokey is coming to downtown
Harlan!
Join us Friday, June 5th at 8:30 PM as
this powerhouse vocalist takes the stage
and brings an unforgettable night of
music, energy, and inspiration.
From chart-topping hits to a voice that
has captured audiences across the
country, this is one show you do NOT
want to miss.
Mark your calendars, grab your
friends, and get ready to pack
downtown Harlan for an incredible
night at the 71st Poke Sallet Festival!
Danny Gokey Biography:
Three-time Grammy Nominee, KLOVE Male Vocalist of the Year and Dove Award winner, Danny Gokey became a favorite of millions as a Top 3 finalist on Season Eight of American Idol. Following Idol, Gokey celebrated a series of No. 1 album drops and chart-topping singles, including three that have garnered RIAA Gold Certifications. Along with the recent accomplishment of surpassing 1.2 billion career streams, Danny Gokey has cemented his place in the Christian music space with multi-week, multi-chart-topping runs in the United States, Canada, and now Latin markets with the releases of multiple Spanish singles and collaborations.
The desire to make a broader impact with his message of hope led to the founding of nonprofit organization ‘Better Than I Found It,’ which surpassed 1 Million lives impacted in 2025 through givebacks to help other organizations increase the impact they are making in their own communities. Danny and his wife Leyicet live outside Nashville, TN with their four beautiful children, Daniel, Victoria, Gabriel, and Emanuel. Together, they love to laugh and have fun, while also bringing different cultural perspectives to deep conversations of faith, encouraging a deeper walk with God for themselves and those around them!
Find out more at DannyGokey.com or on his social media channels.
Saturday Lineup
Saturday June 6th, 2026 (SPONSORED BY: DOWNTOWN HARLAN BUSINESSES, KENTUCKY MINE SUPPLY & WASTE CONNECTIONS)
11:00-11:50- PINE MOUNTAIN GRASS
12:00-12:50-CROSS COUNTRY BLUEGRASS
1:00-3:00-LOAD IN & SOUND CHECK HEADLINER
3:00-4:00-LOAD IN & SOUND CHECK OTHER BANDS
4:00-6:00-APPALACHIAN MOUNTAIN WRESTLING (AMW)
6:00-6:50-LARRY WAYNE & HEARTBREAK STATION
7:00-7:50-POKE SALLET IDOL FINALS (THREE SONGS EACH PER FINALIST OPENED BY 2024 POKE SALLET IDOL CHAMPION AVA SIZEMORE)
8:00-8:50-SOLACE & SUNDRY
9:00-11:00-LANCO
The mountains are getting loud on Saturday night at the 71st Annual Poke Sallet Festival as country hitmakers LANCO take the stage in Downtown Harlan!
Known for their arena ready sound mixed with heartfelt storytelling, LANCO has become one of country music’s most recognizable bands with massive hits like “Greatest Love Story” and “Born to Love You.” From platinum selling records to sharing stages with artists like Luke Combs, Miranda Lambert, Kane Brown, and Dierks Bentley, LANCO has carved out a sound that blends country, rock, Americana, and raw authenticity into an unforgettable live show
Now, they’re bringing that energy to the mountains of Harlan County for one incredible Saturday night at Poke Sallet Festival! Join us in downtown Harlan on Saturday, June 6th at 9PM!
About LANCO:
Formed nearly a decade ago, LANCO has cemented itself as one of country music’s most dynamic acts. Their debut album, Hallelujah Nights, landed at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and featured the 2X Platinum hit “Greatest Love Story” and the Platinum-certified “Born to Love You.” Their discography also includes EPs Lessons Learned, Honky Tonk Hippies, and Run, Run Baby. With their upcoming sophomore album, We’re Gonna Make It (Riser House Records), LANCO continues to evolve with a fresh and authentic sound. The band has been nominated for multiple awards, including Country Music Association, American Music Awards, iHeart Radio Music Awards, and Academy of Country Music Awards, where they won New Duo/Group of the Year. Their upcoming headline trek, the We’re Gonna Make It Tour, kicks off in Minneapolis, MN in February 2025. In addition to headlining their own dates, LANCO has shared the stage with Miranda Lambert, Luke Combs, Dierks Bentley, and Kane Brown.
Bluegrass Stage
Our Bluegrass Stage has moved to Saturday Morning on the Main Stage
Gospel Stage Lineup
SATURDAY JUNE 6TH, 2026
GOSPEL STAGE: (HARLAN CENTER PLAZA)
SPONSORED BY: TO BE ANNOUNCED
12:00-12:45-COMMON GROUND
1:00-2:45-JEFF & SHERI EASTER (HEADLINER)
3:00-3:45-STANLEY BLEVINS
4:00-4:45-TIM GOSHEN & THE BELIEVERS
5:00-5:45-DERIC JEFFERS
6:00-6:45-LAWANA BLEVINS MUSIC
Join the Poke Sallet Festival Gospel Stage on Saturday June 6th from 12PM-6:45PM and experience the incredible talent of Jeff and Sheri Easter as the headliner for the Gospel Stage!
Jeff & Sheri Easter
After thirty-nine years of music and marriage, Jeff and Sheri continue to encourage hearts while setting a standard of excellence in the field of southern and country/bluegrass gospel music. Jeff and Sheri have a dynamic sound/stage presence with unbelievable family harmonies and an authentic ability to communicate a message of hope.
For Jeff and Sheri, gospel music is genetically programmed into their DNA. As members of acclaimed musical families—Jeff's father is one of the Easter Brothers, and Sheri's mother is a member of the Lewis Family—they grew up surrounded by the sound of people praising God through their musical gifts.
In August of 1984, both were at the Albert E. Brumley Sundown to Sunup Gospel Singing in Arkansas. Jeff, who was playing bass for the Singing Americans at the time, took the opportunity to reintroduce himself to Sheri's mother, Polly; they had met on a previous occasion. Polly introduced Jeff to Sheri, and the two were married ten months later.
Jeff and Sheri have been nominated for numerous Dove Awards and won nine. They've also received multiple Grammy nominations, and Sheri has been named Singing News Favorite Alto eleven times and the Singing News Female Vocalist four times, in addition she has claimed 22 multi-genre industry voted female vocalist awards. Jeff and Sheri's wall of awards also includes three Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music Association Awards, two International Country Gospel Music Association Awards, nine Voice Awards for Christian Country Group, four Hearts Aflame Awards, and three Cash Box awards. They also have participated in the Gaither Homecoming video series since 1993, which have sold over 20 million units.
Apart from their frequent appearances on the Gaither Homecoming tour and videos, Jeff and Sheri have a heavy touring schedule of their own. "When we perform, we want people to leave a little different than when they came in," Sheri explains. "We want them to have a great time smiling, laughing, crying, and healing. We want them to know God loves them and that He is in control."
