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Old favorites, hot Texas acts take stage
With only two weeks left to go, county residents are gearing up for the 30th annual Colorado County Fair, Sept. 11-14, and its star-studded lineup of entertainers. All fair activities will take place at the Colorado County Agriculture Complex on Hwy. 71 North.
This year's lineup features well-known favorites such as John Conlee, Charlie Robison and Little Texas.
For those who enjoy the Texas music genre there will top entertainers such as the Bart Crow Band, Johns Guns and Fayetteville's own Southbound 955. Local Columbus residents Katelyn and Christopher Hobaugh will also share their artistic talents.
Thursday, Sept. 11
Thursday night's entertainment will begin with Johns Guns performing from 8 p.m.-12 a.m. Armed with an explosive country rock sound and high caliber lyrics, the boys of Johns Guns stand ready to shoot the boredom off of the rowdy fans of Texas music as well as any audiophile alike.
Formed in College Station and solidified on the banks of the Guadalupe River, this great band from Aggieland has raw potential if nothing else. With the release of their debut record "Buy Sell Trade" produced by Texas' Phil Pritchett, Johns Guns is poised for expanding their reach into newer regions of the Texas scene.
With songs penned by front man Nick Verzosa, guitarist and harmony vocalist BJ Wilson and bassist Shawn McGee, this album brings honest and heartfelt songwriting that gives each track the potential to carve a solid niche for this band in any of the critical Texas markets they perform in. The spirited melodies and insightful lyrics meld together with their tight musicianship to create a one of a kind sound. Supported by standout lead guitarist Robb Dies face melting guitar licks and the heart thumping beats created by drummer Brad Roberson, this record promises to be a mainstay in fans collections.
Friday, Sept. 12
The Bart Crow Band get things started at 8:30 p.m.
Charlie Robison will then take the stage at 10:30 p.m. Robison is a native Texan, who is known for saying what's on his mind and letting the chips fall where they may. Along the way, he's developed a reputation as brash and cocksure, a little ornery, a maverick within a country music industry that prefers artists who are easier to manage, package and promote.
Where his breakthrough with 1998's Life of the Party album spotlighted the more raucous and reckless side of Robison, and the 2000 "Right Man for the Job" single was pure swagger, Good Times is the work of a reflective artist, one whose music has more depth and range than ever. It's the music of the family man he's become, not the party boy he's been.
"A lot can change in a few years," explains Robison. "When I made my last studio record (Step Right Up in 2000), I was very much a newlywed, a little over a year being married, and we didn't have our son. Then you have a child and your marriage reaches a more mature state-it's still really great, but the honeymoon's over. You're talking about the future and being an adult."
His latest album, Dualtone shows the fatherly, more mature side of Robison.
When they're not in the midst of balancing dual musical careers, Charlie and his wife, the former Emily Erwin of the Dixie Chicks, are more concerned with baling hay, raising cattle and training quarter horses on their spread outside Bandera, where Robison's family has ranched for eight generations since the 1840s.
Bart Crow, which will open for Robison brings as much personality to the stage as he does music. In fact, it is hard to decide which side of Bart Crow is the most entertaining, his music side or his self deprecating comedic side, which garners as much belly laughs as his music garners rave reviews and major radio airplay. Born and raised along the outreaches of Dallas in Maypearl. Crow grew up like millions...passionately in love with music.
In 2005 he had his debut record release FINALLY, which made a profound impression on the industry, generating a firm expectation that the Bart Crow Band is destined to be one of the greats in Texas music.
Selling thousands of copies, taking rank as the best selling record on LonestarMusic.com for five straight months and recently nominated for Album of the Year at the My Texas Music Awards.
"FINALLY" has laid a long steady road towards stardom and it was "Wear My Ring" that put BCB on the map. The single rested in the Texas Music Chart's Top 15 for over 20 straight weeks and is still known today in current rotation as "the song that just won't go away."
On lead guitar is Paul Russell from Waxahachie, Drew Campbell on drums from San Marcos, Joseph Drew on bass from Canton and Hunter St. Marie also on lead guitar and slide from Galveston.
Saturday, Sept. 13
Saturday's live entertainment will begin with some local talent.
Katelyn Hobaugh, a senior at Columbus High School will take the stage with her brother, Chris, a freshmen at Texas A&M University in College Station. Katelyn has performed during the past year at the CHS talent show, the presentation of the Magnolia Belles during the Texas Live Oak Festival, the Columbus Chamber of Commerce July 4th Fireworks Display at Beason's Park, the Colorado County Fair Queens pageant and the Colorado County Fair on the main stage opening for Southbound 955 and Tracy Lawrence.
Next up is Southbound 955 from 8 p.m.-12 a.m. The Fayetteville based band is made up of a group of four teenagers trying to juggle their love of music along with their high school sports and academic activities. All four members have been influenced in music since an early age by their parents who have played (some are still playing) in bands.
The band consists of Aaron Keilers, guitar and vocals, Walter Krchnak, bass guitar, John Minarcik, guitar and vocals and Matthew Sodek, drums. Their music preference is Texas Country along with Traditional Country playing the tunes of Randy Rogers, Pat Green, Kevin Fowler, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Roger Creager, Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard.
Taking center stage Saturday night will be John Conlee. He is a lot like the songs of which he sings. He lives a domestic life with his wife Gale and three children, Rebecca, Jessica and Johnny. During the past two decades, John Conlee has achieved a level of success that he has sustained by simply being himself and by making records that the listening public can relate to.
John Conlee's success began in the late 70s. In March of 1978, the label released "Rose
Colored Glasses," a song Conlee wrote, which became a huge hit as well as his signature song. In January of 1979, the label re-released "Back Side of Thirty" which went on to become a number one record and the hits continued to roll.
The John Conlee hit list includes songs such as "Lady Lay Down," "Before My Time," "Friday Night Blues," "Miss Emily's Picture," "Busted," "I Don't Remember Loving You," "Common Man," "I'm Only In It For The Love," "In My Eyes," "As Long As I'm Rocking With You," "Years After You," "Domestic Life," "Mama's Rockin Chair," "Hit the Ground Runnin," and "Fellow Travelers." All of Conlee's hits have that unmistakable.
Overall, there have been 29 single releases throughout the years with 26 of them charting in the top 20 or better. Eight of those 26 have reached the coveted number one spot on the national country charts.
Little Texas will close out the stage Saturday night at 10:30 p.m. Little Texas was conceived in Nashville, Tenn. by a handful of guys in their early 20s who were willing to do just about anything to bring their brand of rockin' county to the forefront of the music industry.
Before hitting the big time, the band crisscrossed America for three long years, playing every bar and honky tonk from Myrtle Beach, S.C. to Los Angeles, Calif., all the while writing songs that were destined to change the sound of modern country, and perfecting a stage show that has been critically acclaimed worldwide.
Their first radio release, "Some Guys Have All The Love," became a top 10 hit, as did their next single, "First Time For Everything."
After the self-titled album, Little Texas, was released, Little Texas needed a break.
But now, Little Texas is back.
Now, the band's four original members: Porter Howell (lead vocals and lead guitar), Dwayne O'Brien (vocals and rhythm guitars), Duane Propes (bass and vocals) and Del Gray (drums), have rebuilt the franchise with a completely new sound, and with the release of a brand new album on their new label, Montage Records, they couldn't be happier to be back and bringing fans what they do best.
They have returned to the airwaves with a new album titled "Missing Years."
Entertainment will wrap up Sunday with the Three Man band performing from 1-4 p.m. and the Neil Ross Band performing from 4-7 p.m. in the local area.
Along with live entertainment, the fair also features a Cowboys Professional Rodeo Association rodeo, tractor pull contest, quilt exhibit, needlework, handicrafts, barbecue cook-off, carnival rides livestock exhibits and more.
Season passes which are sold prior by fair queens only are $20 or at the gate on Thursday for $25.
Gate prices are as follows: Thursday-Saturday, $10 and Sunday, $7. For children ages 6-12 tickets are $3 daily. Children under 5 are free. Gate tickets grant admission to all fairground activities, except carnival rides, including nightly performances at the entertainment pavilion.
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