He’s been called the must successful rock singer of 2006, and his following has continued to grow in 2007 with the release of the hit single “Home.”

“American Idol” star Chris Daughtry was voted off the show in May 2006, but his star has only risen since then. His debut album was released under the band name Daughtry in November.

A month later, Bill Graening, longtime organizer of the annual Alive Festival, booked Daughtry for his new Blink Festival, which opens on Friday at the Clay’s Park Resort amphitheater.

Graening doesn’t believe in luck, but he can’t believe his luck in booking Daughtry when he did.

“People keep asking me, ‘Is he really gonna be there?’” he said. “We were very lucky to get him.”

Daughtry will be the headliner for the inaugural Blink Festival, which runs from 2-10 p.m. Friday and 2-11 p.m. Saturday at the Canal Fulton venue. Gates will open at noon and close at midnight both days.

Graening hopes to make Blink an annual event like the Alive Festival that he has been promoting for 20 years, but he is quick to add that Blink is not limited to contemporary Christian artists.

“The idea behind it was to do something that was different than what we do at Alive,” he said. “This is meant to be a hard-edged event with more variety.”

Among the other artists booked for Blink are MxPx, Red, Haste the Day, Thousand-Foot Krutch, 12 Stones, Pillar, Inhale Exhale, and Day of Fire.

Graening said all the acts will be “lyrically safe” despite their harder edge. No drinking or smoking will be permitted during the festival.

“This is meant to be safe, non-threatening, but harder, rock,” he said. “A lot of churches are bringing people because they know the bands are good.”

The name for the Blink Festival comes from the fact that it is only two days, “as in, you blink and it’s over,” Graening said. “It’s that last big festival before you go back to school. It’s that end-of-summer bash.”

In addition to the music, there will be food vendors, artist merchandise and special attractions at the festival, he said.

Tickets are available at the gate for Friday ($35), Saturday ($40) or both days ($60). They may be purchased in advance through Ticketmaster.

For more information or group sales, call 330-899-0023.