LEWISTON – The Downeast Country Music Association will send seven entertainers to perform as part of the Festival de Joie Prelude. They will perform from 8:30 to 10 .m. Thursday, July 31, in the Courthouse Plaza.

Emceeing the show and performing a duet with Elizabeth Decker-Charles will be Bill Giasson of Lewiston. He is the 2002 association and Northeast Invitational Traditional Male Entertainer and Vocalist of the Year.

Giasson will also perform on Wednesday, July 30, as part of Just Joan’s Band. He has a history with the festival, performing as part of the Meservier Family in 1979 and 1981 when the festival was still called the Franco American Festival and was held in Kennedy Park. His grandmother was honored as the parade marshal in 1981.

Elizabeth Decker-Charles is a resident of Lisbon Falls. She is an accomplished musician, having studied at the Dean College of Fine Arts in Boston. The school is affiliated with the Berkeley School of Music. She has been a part of the association for seven years. She was the association and Northeast Invitational Traditional Female Vocalist, Traditional Female Entertainer and Traditional Gospel Entertainer of the Year for 2002. She is signed to a record label in Nashville.

Brian Wardwell, 8, of Limerick, recently won the Colgate Country Showdown in Houlton. He is eligible to compete for the New England title, and if he wins that in the nationals where he could ultimately win $100,000 and a recording contract.

Megan Burnell is a 15-year-old honor student from Standish who is active in school music and drama. She has won many awards.

Lori Woodsome of Limerick has won many awards in Maine, New England and Tennessee.

Angie Guilette of Portland and Pat McLellan of Buxton are the Lighthouse Jubilees. They sing country, gospel and 1950’s rock and roll. They have won awards as both a duet act and individually.

Steve Charron of Biddeford is better known to his fans as Stevie Cee. He and his wife, Debbie, have written many songs that have won songwriting awards. Steve’s album “Lucky in Love” (the title song was written by Debbie) was the DECMA Album of the Year in 2002.