North Texas State Fair News

February is here…you’ve been back in school for a few weeks, and now you’re counting down the days until graduation. Since you already have graduation and college on your mind now is the perfect time to apply for a $1000 scholarship.  Just fill out the applications for the North Texas State Fair Association and the Bob C. Powers Scholarships. EACH scholarship is $1000!

Applicants must be a graduating senior from a public, private, or home school within Denton County. You do not have to have a 4-H or Ag background for the Bob C. Powers Scholarship. You must be a high school senior and attending a college or junior college in the fall. Deadline is FRIDAY – JUNE 1. Applications MUST be POSTMARKED or turned into the Fair Office (2217 N. Carroll Blvd. Denton, TX 76201) by June 1.

The North Texas State Fair Associations had many very qualified applicants for the 2011 North Texas State Fair Association and Bob C. Powers Scholarships.  We are extremely proud to announce the recipients of this year’s Scholarship Programs.

Andrew Knight was awarded the Bob C. Powers Scholarship. Andrew graduated from Krum High School with a GPA of 4.4. He will be attending Texas A&M University to  major in Agricultural Communications and minor in Business. Andrew’s goal is to continue his education and obtain his MBA.

Elizabeth Solomon Morris was awarded the North Texas State Fair Association Scholarship. Elizabeth graduated from John H. Guyer Hig School in 2011. She will be attending Texas A&M through a program at Blinn Junior College. She is majoring in Biomedical Sciences. She hopes to pursue a career in medical rehabilitation therapy.

The North Texas State Fair Association, its Board of Directors, Members and Volunteers are extremely proud of Mr. Knight and Ms. Morris for their accomplishments in this organization and their communities.

A Texas Native, Granger Smith started off as a self taught musician and honed his craft with years on the road, apprenticing and recording in Nashville, and developing as a musician which took him on three tours to Iraq and Kuwait, entertaining our troops, as well as three performances at the Whitehouse. Such a worldly musician returned home to brand himself as a Texas artist. As a result, his music is heard in clubs, at football games at his alma mater, Texas A&M, even on the Space Shuttle at the astronauts’ request.

“If I can help someone get lost in the moment of a song long enough to forget the worries of the world, or long enough to remember what’s most important, then I’ve done my job.”

Smith’s output includes titles such as “Livin’ Like A Lonestar”, which features the top ten single “Colorblind”, “We Bleed Maroon”, adopted as the modern-day anthem for Texas A&M, “Don’t Listen to the Radio”–ironically given more airplay than any of his previously released albums, and “Gypsy Rain”.

Granger is an adept presence – on stage and through the speaker – and with his continued rise in popularity, he will soon be a household name in music. But Granger insists he will always keep pushin’ the pedal. “I think that, five years down the road, I’ll probably still be striving for something else that I’m not quite getting. I’m always looking towards the next step.”

Don’t miss Granger Smith August 26th on the Bud Light Stage at 6pm and 11pm.

While studying communications and political science at Texas Tech in Lubbock,  Josh Abbott and his Phi Delta Theta comrades frequently went to the Blue Light Live, a downtown club on Buddy Holly Avenue that’s been a linchpin for such hard-scrabble acts as Cross Canadian Ragweed, Wade Bowen and Golden Globe nominee Ryan Bingham.

During one Blue Light visit with a couple of friends around 2004, Abbott saw the Randy Rogers Band for the first time. He would never be the same.

“It was packed,” he remembers. “I watched them play and how they moved on the stage, how they sang their songs, and how they connected with the audience. I literally looked at my friend-and this is the story she tells to this day to her friends-and I said, ‘I think I can do that.’ She was like, ‘What are you talkin’ about ?’ I said, ‘I think I can be that guy on stage, singing and writing songs that people connect with. I think that I can do that.’ She was like, ‘Well, go do it.’ That night or the next day, I started writing country songs.”

After doing a few acoustic open-mic nights at the Blue Light, Abbott and three frat buddies formed a complete band and started playing the club, where they were greeted by a full house their first night.

Naturally, the early set lists were dominated by cover songs, but Abbott quickly realized any long-term success required that they establish their identity through original material.

“If we play a bunch of covers, we’re gonna impress the crowd, but we’re not gonna impress the band,” he surmises. “I want other bands to be talking about us, so I just wrote a bunch of originals and we started practicing ‘em.”

Abbott wrote the bulk of the songs in April and May 2009, shortly after he’d gone through a rocky period in a relationship. It was personally difficult, but creatively inspiring, and the feelings he encountered during that period were central to She’s Like Texas, which he enlisted Eli Young Band associate Erik Herbst to co-produce the album in Denton.

The band quickly evolved. Fiddler Preston Wait-who trained at South Plains College in Levelland, where the alumni include Lee Ann Womack, Natalie Maines, songwriter-guitarist Jedd Hughes and Ricochet’s Heath Wright-was hired to play on the band’s first demo and soon joined the lineup permanently. When the original rhythm section dropped out, Wait brought in fellow South Plains students Daniel Almodova and Ed Villanueva, and JAB took on a more aggressive sound.

Abbott doesn’t just talk about his concepts; he invests in them. Known to finance many productions himself, he’s given away thousands EPs, and he’s been known to toss freebies-coozies, T-shirts, ball caps, etc.-into the crowd during his shows.

“The way I see it, it will come back,” Abbott says of his investments. “It might be in dollars, it might be in fans’ loyalty, it might just be that they remember you for giving them something for nothing. You may not be able to trace the way in which that comes back, but it will.”

With She’s Like Texas, it’s paid off in the form of a sturdy, emotional album that sets up the do-it-yourself Josh Abbott Band as the Lonestar State’s next authentic breakout. It might take years to analyze the depth of the sound, but it takes only minutes-maybe just seconds-to recognize the powerful uniqueness it adds to Texas music, and to the whole of country music. (from http://www.joshabbottband.com/band.htm)

Don’t miss them August 25th at 9:30pm on the Budweiser Stage.

Johnson County native & North Texas music vet Joey Green showcases his music like none before him. With heart-on-his sleeve, Joey creates music on his own terms. After two full band records and nine years of touring, The Joey Green Band feels at home, deep in the heart of North Texas. Their penchant for song selection and instrumental creativity help make this band a winner from the first hook. Cocky at times, of course. Full of Rock n Roll Swagger, you bet. Darkness and rage, why not. The Joey Green Band lays it down thick and their music takes off on a path all its own. The band offers it all with the bluesy, backwoods stomp of “Natchitoches Blues”, a personal ode to Joey’s father’s Cajun upbringing down in the swamps of Louisiana along with all-explosive playlists. One can only wonder how long it will be before radio finds out about these young, obscure, and highly talented artists.

Their songs already hav the critics and Fort Worth hipsters buzzing. One listen to their musical depth will have you unable to classify this sound, a definite nod to dynamic songwriting and rascally-rocking vocals, which grab you on and refuse to let go. Joey Green, a native of rural Joshua, Texas, has logged over 250,000 miles cris-crossing Texas and Oklahoma, releasing his own brand of Red Dirt country rock. Many country superstars come from the Johnson County hotbed, a fertile breeding ground for Texas’ talent.

Performing over 100 acoustic dates and over 100+ full band shows a year with this power-pop-meets-honky-tonk 4 piece band, Joey Green is quite possibly the best underground singer/songwriter in the state of Texas.

Don’t miss the Joey Green Band August 25th on the Bud Light Stage at 6pm and 11pm.

From the Yukon to Stillwater, Oklahoma, a 16-year old Cody Canada was searching for inspiration; a place to call home. What he found was a creative nirvana of musicians who were generating the music that would stay with him for the rest of his life.

“It was like the greatest place on earth, “ Cody recalls. “They were all playing this really, really good music, the kind of vibe found with the Allman Brothers and The Band. But what came out of this was really diverse. I didn’t even know what Red Dirt was until somebody told me. I got turned on to it all and it’s stayed with me ever since.”
The front man for Cross Canadian Ragweed, Cody successfully tapped into those influences on each of their nine albums. Four of these nine charted on Billboard’s Top 10 Country Albums, thousands of albums were sold and the band played to sell out crowds across the country helping to spread “red dirt” music.

Moving on from the days of Cross Canadian Ragweed, Cody had emerged with a battalion of musicians and a new mission in mind. now known as Cody Canada and The Departed. “We kicked around several ideas for names,“ Canada said. “We’re all from different bands and we wanted something to sound like we came from different places. The Departed was right on the money.” Along with Canada and Plato, The Departed rounds out with Seth James on guitar (Seth James Band, Ray Wylie Hubbard), Steve Littleton on B3 organ and keys (Live Oak Decline, Stoney LaRue & the Arsenals, Medicine Show) and Dave Bowen on drums (Stoney LaRue, Bleu Edmondson, Dale Watson).
Having traveled in the same circles for years, The Departed’s members are familiar with each other’s personalities and styles of playing. This familiarity made their initial projects simple. Although The Departed is writing and will record original material, the band’s first priority was getting into the studio and cutting the Oklahoma tribute album that Cody had been wanting to do for years. The result is This Is Indian Land, The Departed’s debut album set for release this spring.

Cody Canada & The Departed is already making waves on the road. With the recording of an album behind them and a brand new year in front, the band has hit the road like only professionals know how to do. As excited as they are about their gigs, they are taking it all very seriously. “It’s funny because with Ragweed we got to a point where we didn’t have to practice. We were playing so many shows we could just get up there and do the tunes, right? Well now it’s a new band playing new songs so we’ve got to learn everything, get our game together and practice. It’s a whole lot of fun. I can’t sleep at night. It keeps me awake, not from worry but from excitement. We’re just ready to tear it up.”

You definitely don’t want to miss Cody Canada & The Departed on the Budweiser Stage August 24th.

The incomparable sound of Scotty Thurman and the Perfect Trouble Band ranges from slow, hold me close dance tunes to hard-core, red dirt Texas country, infused with rock ‘n’ roll. Each one of The Perfect Trouble Band members are definitely a key part of what makes their shows so great and unforgettable. Each one having their own individual stage presence, you can’t take your eyes off them. One can’t help but be in awe and immediately fall in love with their unique brand of music.
Scotty Thurman, of Gainesville Texas, grew up on outlaw country music and fell in love with it. He started singing in the army. Shy about singing in front of people, he was brought out of his shell when his friends put him on the spot at a local club. The crowd loved it and so did he. Shortly after he was out of the army, he had life changing brain surgery that left him partially paralyzed. He never stopped loving music and re-taught himself how to play guitar. His amazing voice and powerful songwriting stand out amongst all others, drawing the crowd into the feeling and emotion each song evokes.

Matt Beaver, of Muenster Texas, plays drums with the passion and energy of legends and with his fun-loving personality, you never get a chance to walk away. He started playing when he was 9 and would sit in his room obsessively playing to the radio until he was 16 years old. He then started playing drums with his friends and decided this is what he wanted to do. He has played with such bands as Only In Texxas and The Johnny Fred Band, before joining the Perfect Trouble Band. His music has been inspired by punk rock, alternative rock and Red Dirt Country.

Jason Eldred of Muenster Texas and originally from Nocona, Texas, takes his bass playing to a whole new level. With his perfect timing, he’s like a train barreling through, creating the perfect rhythm and backbone to every song. He has been playing for over 18 years now, with his wealth of knowledge and love of music starting at home, with his mother. Darrell Dodd, Tommy Alverson and Kevin Fowler are just a few of his favorites and influences.

Shawn Scheller, lead guitarist out of Bellevue Texas, taught himself and has been playing guitar now for over 20 years, in all genres of music. He’s played with the likes of the Bois D’Arcs, Uncle Rummy & Gobble Holler Symphony, just to mention a few. His infectious guitar riffs are unbelievable, with his rock roots infused into the unique sound this band has. You can’t help but take notice when he plays. Influences range from Van Halen to Robert Earl Keen to Waylon Jennings and just about everyone and everything in between.

Don’t miss Scotty Thurman & the Perfect Trouble Band on August 24, 2011.

Championed by music critics, and both traditional as well as alternative country music fans, Dale Watson has maintained his image as a traditional, old style honky tonk musician.

Born and raised in the South, Watson wrote his first song at age 12 and made his first recording at age 14. He spent his first professional years playing at local clubs and honky tonks before migrating to California’s alternative country scene. After a couple of singles, “One Tear at a Time” and “You Pour It On”, plus contributions to compilation projects, Watson found work writing in Nashville.

After experiencing the world of commercial country music, Dale Watson decided he prefered the more progressive scene of Austin, Texas. Here he played with The Lone Stars and released his debut album, Cheatin’ Heart Attack bringing immense vitality to a traditional vintage sound.

Watson is featured as a writer and performer in several movie sound tracks. He has had a few acting jobs and is featured in the lead role in the forthcoming Austin Angel.

Dale Watson is a member of the Austin Music Hall of Fame and continues to play locally and produce albums. His most recent releases are The Little Darlin’ Sessions and The Truckin’ Sessions vol 2.

Don’t miss his performance August 23, 2011 on the Budweiser Stage.

Brian Burns

Brian Burns has, for many years, been regarded as one of Texas top performing songwriters, his work having been covered by a number of legendary artists. But over the past few years, Brian has emerged as one of his state’s most powerful and engaging performers. His songs explore both the poignant and the humorous sides of humanity, drawing out the things weve all felt and wish we could have said. The warmth, wit, and eclecticism of his performances captivate audiences night after night.

Brian grew up in Central Texas listening to the western ballads of Marty Robbins and the progressive country music of Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings. Early on, he developed an appreciation for musical depth, along with a knack for the story. Brians Texas roots remained an integral force in his life and work. Music is not a choice I made, I believe the choice made me.

Tommy Alverson

Texas Country music veteran, Tommy Alverson has been making music for decades, yet his popularity is still growing. He has the Lone Star state of mind, and sound. The Fort Worth Weekly declares, “If there is such a thing as Cowtown country music’s elder statesman, he’s it.”

Alverson has been hanging around with great Texas songwriters since his high school days. He has won more Country Music awards and played with more well know names that we could start to mention here. Many acquaintances go back to the beginnings of their music careers. You might call him a late bloomer, career-wise, as he was well into his 50’s when he really began to get recognition. It was in 1999, with the release of Me on the Jukebox, that Alverson was able to quit his 30 year gig at Miller Brewing Company and focus solely on his brand of country song with clever twists on favorite subjects.

Although Alverson is indeed “Country to the Bone” (title of his most recent release), he says he would rather be known as an “all over the map” artist than simply a traditional country performer, sporting musical influences that span a wide range of time and geography. Alverson recently traveled to France to perform at Country Rendez-Vous, one of Europe’s largest country music festivals. Elder statesman or ambassador, Tommy Alverson is a true Texas classic.

Don’t miss Brian Burns, Tommy Alverson & Brian Houser on August 23, 2011. Brian Houser is also performing August 22, 2011. His bio is located on the blog post for the August 22nd performers.

Pauline Reese is an Alt-Country angel, steadfast and masterful with a voice called “top-notch” by those in the know. She is the first woman to be named Entertainer of the Year by the Texas Music Association. Her voice is powerful and majestic as she glides flawlessly through her stellar line-up of tunes.

Pauline defines her own style treating her voice as an instrument, putting forth tones as stately and true as the Lone Star State. Her style cannot be stereotyped by a single label or confined by a single genre. She embraces styles ranging from traditional country to Americana to pop sounds of mainstream radio, melding all these into a sound able to reign in national attention. She is vigorous and unwavering, hard-working and strong-willed with an infectious smile, a genuine master of a truly unique sound.

Touring relentlessly through Texas and the surrounding states, Pauline lives the life of a free spirit, a non-conformist with the mojo she inherited from her grandfather, a traveling competitor on the rodeo circuit who played guitar and banjo on the side. She is positive, confident and fearless, running the gauntlet of life experiences and transforming herself at every twist and turn, keeping her sense of self intact and her musical dreams in sight, overcoming hardships and expressing them through song.

Reese is backed up by High Country, one of the best bands in Texas music, a crew of country loving rock musicians who know how to turn the heat up on a honky-tonk song. Couple that with one of the best vocalists in the state and you have a lineup you don’t want to miss.

Make sure to be there for her performance on August 22, 2011 on the Budweiser Stage.