Independent file photo The Fabulous Armadillos last performed at Sounds of Summer in 2023. They were announced as the headliner for this year’s concert.

MARSHALL — This year, a crowd favorite will be coming back to headline Marshall’s Sounds of Summer concert. On Friday night, Sounds of Summer organizers announced that the Fabulous Armadillos and Chris Hawkey will return to perform in August.

“We’re really excited. I know they’re excited too,” said Brock Klaith of the Sounds of Summer committee. “They had a great experience performing here in 2023.”

Two years ago, the Fabulous Armadillos generated a lot of excitement and drew a record-setting crowd to Sounds of Summer, Klaith said.

The St. Cloud-based group is known for playing themed shows covering a wide range of artists and musical genres. Lead singer Chris Hawkey has a background in both radio and music — in addition to performing with the Chris Hawkey Band and Rocket Club, he is also a radio co-host and producer for KFAN.

Earlier this year, Sounds of Summer also announced that country rock quintet Maiden Dixie will be opening for the festival headliners.

“I think we take pride in bringing in bigger bands,” Klaith said of this year’s concert lineup. Organizers also look for acts that will appeal to the different demographics that come together at Sounds of Summer. The goal is to have something for everybody to enjoy.

“At some point, you’re going to hear a song you know,” he said.

Klaith said Sounds of Summer has also been “very fortunate” to have strong community support that helps make the concerts and other festival events possible.

While organizers knew right away that the Fabulous Armadillos were a hit with the audience in Marshall, it’s hard to book a band two years in a row, Klaith said. But the Armadillos were able to return this summer. The Sounds of Summer festival will be Aug. 21-24 in Marshall, with the main concert on the evening of Aug. 23.

Organizers are also continuing to fill out the lineup of performers and plan events, Klaith said. Some of the events that have already unveiled include a performance by the White Keys band, and a “Battle of the Badges” softball game between the Marshall Fire Department and the Marshall Police and Lyon County Sheriff’s Departments.

Updates on this year’s festival can be found online, at both the Marshall Sounds of Summer Facebook page, and the Visit Marshall website at https://visitmarshallmn.com/sounds-of-summer/.