Kingsport Fun Fest’s 2026 Night of Rock delivered exactly what fans hoped for and then some. With Switchfoot opening the evening and Daughtry closing, J. Fred Johnson Stadium became the centerpiece of one of Fun Fest’s biggest nights of the year.
Switchfoot took the stage at 7 p.m. as fans continued to pour into the stadium. The band’s energy matched the crowd from start to finish, with frontman Jon Foreman taking things to another level. Mid-set, he climbed the stadium scaffolding to take in the view before telling the audience it was “the greatest backyard BBQ” he’d ever been to. As if that wasn’t enough, Foreman jumped off the stage, made his way through the VIP section, climbed into the bleachers with fans, and sprinted back to the stage just in time to finish the song without missing a beat. Even during “Remember This,” members of the Dobyns-Bennett High School marching band joined them onstage.
As Switchfoot wrapped up, and dark clouds began rolling over the stadium. The approaching weather did little to dampen the excitement, while anticipation only grew as the lights dropped and Daughtry prepared to take the stage.
Within moments, the opening notes of “Divided” echoed across J. Fred Johnson Stadium. CO₂ cannons erupted, lights flashed across the crowd, and it became immediately clear this wasn’t going to be a laidback park concert. Without slowing down, the band launched into “The Bottom,” with fans singing every word. The combination of the band’s stage production and Chris Daughtry’s commanding vocals made it obvious why they were the perfect headliner for Kingsport Fun Fest.
Later in the set, Daughtry sang Journey’s “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” and Chris climbed onto the speaker barricades, leaned into the crowd, shook hands with fans, and sang face to face with those packed against the front rail.
Upcoming Tour Dates
July 25 – Chillicothe, IL – River & Rails Fest
August 8 – Monroe, MI – Monroe County Fair (with Mammoth)
August 9 – Oshkosh, WI – XRoads41 Rock Detour (with Breaking Benjamin & Memphis May Fire)
August 21 – Escanaba, MI – Upper Peninsula State Fair
September 10 – McHenry, IL – McHenry Music Festival (with Shinedown & Sevendust)
September 16 – Spokane Valley, WA – Spokane County Interstate Fairgrounds
September 30 – Rancho Mirage, CA – The Show at Agua Caliente Casino
October 3 – Valley Center, CA – Harrah’s Resort SoCal
October 17 – Atlantic City, NJ – Ovation Hall (20 Years Unplugged Tour)
October 20 – Huntington, NY – The Paramount (20 Years Unplugged Tour)
October 21 – Englewood, NJ – Bergen Performing Arts Center (20 Years Unplugged Tour)
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