Clark County band, Best of Springfield winner, opens for rising country star

Allison Road, founded more than a decade ago by Alli Sarven, performs country, classic rock, pop and original tunes around the Springfield region and won the Best of Springfield Best Band contest in 2022. The band opened for rising country star Lainey Wilson in Marysville on Monday, July 31, 2023.  CONTRIBUTED / MADDI FULK

Allison Road, founded more than a decade ago by Alli Sarven, performs country, classic rock, pop and original tunes around the Springfield region and won the Best of Springfield Best Band contest in 2022. The band opened for rising country star Lainey Wilson in Marysville on Monday, July 31, 2023. CONTRIBUTED / MADDI FULK

The winner of the Best Band in the Best of Springfield opened this week for a rising country music star.

Allison Road, fronted by Alli Sarven, opened for Lainey Wilson in Marysville on Sunday on the Rt 4 Farm Tour as part of Wilson’s first week of headlining large shows.

Allison Road won the 2022 Best of Springfield band contest and is known for playing a range of country, classic rock, pop and original tunes. Sarven is the lead vocalist and acoustic guitarist, and the rest of the band members — lead guitarist Parker Fulk, bass guitarist Brandon Rinker, drummer Spencer Garrett and Ryan Stevens on rhythm guitar — are from Clark County.

“Last night was an absolute dream come true,” a band social media post said.

The post said it was “the biggest show we have ever played and we hope to do it again and again, though with the support you guys give us, we don’t see how we won’t!”

WOW. Last night was an absolute dream come true, it’s taken us a full 24 hrs to really let it all sink in! There are so...

Posted by Allison Road on Monday, July 31, 2023

Wilson has exploded onto the national scene with Heart Like A Truck, Things A Man Outta Know and her latest release, Watermelon Moonshine.

Her music also was featured on the television show Yellowstone, where she landed a role on screen in season five as a local country music singer. She also is known for her hats and bellbottom pants.

Lainey Wilson poses with the awards for album of the year for "Bell Bottom Country", female artist of the year, music event of the year for "Wait in the Truck", and visual media of the year for "Wait in the Truck", in the press room at the 58th annual Academy of Country Music Awards on Thursday, May 11, 2023, at the Ford Center in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)

Credit: AP

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Credit: AP

Allison Road’s post said: “We are beyond grateful for the opportunity that we were given and worked so hard for- to open for the one and only Lainey Wilson! We want to say a huge thank you to everyone that came early, stood in the longest line we’ve ever seen, in the blazing heat, just to watch us!”

Allison Road is up for the Best of Springfield Best Band contest again this year.

>> BEST OF SPRINGFIELD: Vote now in 2023 contest

First headlining arena show ✔️ Now let's go do some more. Uncasville...thank y'all for a night I'll never forget. That was unreal. 📸: @powers_productions & @cece_dawson

Posted by Lainey Wilson on Saturday, July 29, 2023