New concert in St. Cloud will feature local top 10 ‘American Idol’ finalist

An outdoor festival for country and Southern rock music fans will make its debut appearance this weekend in St. Cloud. and some local celebrities will be headlining it.

Rising Thunder, presented by The Education Foundation of Osceola County, will take place beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday at Hastings Ranch in St. Cloud, located at 5452 Jones Road. It will kick off with the Battle of the Bands, featuring eight bands vying for the grand prize: a chance to perform at Country Thunder-Florida later this month.

Bands from Tennessee, Georgia, Texas and Florida will be represented.

After the battle concludes, two-time “American Idol” finalist Alyssa Raghu and Lake Nona native will take the stage.

Raghu was a top-eight finalist on “American Idol” in both 2018 and 2019, and was a favorite of judge Katy Perry. Raghu is the first contestant in “Idol” history to become a semifinalist twice in two separate years, and the only person to be a semifinalist in one year and finalist in another, according to Rising Thunder.

Read: ‘American Idol’ week 3 recap: ‘The new standard,’ ‘top 10 material’ introduced

Tickets for the show are $10 in advance online or by texting Battle20 to 41444, or $15 at the gate. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs or blanket, but no outside coolers or drinks are permitted. Pets are not permitted, either.

All proceeds will benefit the Education Foundation of Osceola County, a non-profit organization supporting education, teachers and children.

Watch “American Idol” Sundays at 8 p.m. on Ch. 9!

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