Whew!
It's been a while since we've chatted. Sorry about that.
The festival is going to be awesome. Seriously.
There's a couple of new developments that we're happy to announce.
First of all, the festival has entered into a partnership with the Texas Department of Agriculture's Go Texan program.
Go Texan and the festival share a common mission -- the promote the marketing, success and production of things manufactured, grown or made in the State of Texas.
The festival will feature the Go Texan Pavilion inside the Real Texas Marketplace at the festival -- featuring Go Texan members promoting and selling their products.
It is also the 10th anniversary of the Go Texan program and it seems only fitting that the TDA has selected the Real Texas Festival -- which celebrates all things Texan all of the time -- to help commemorate the anniversary of the program.
In addition, we received confirmation this week that the U.S. Army will be bringing the Silver Wings demonstration parachute team to the festival.
There will be a few jumps where army skydivers will descend upon the event -- always a nice visual attraction and simply gives the festival another little something that sets it apart from the herd.
Details are still being put together on the schedule for the drops, but we envision one of them occurring right as the festival opens on Friday evening -- perhaps before the first act takes the main stage on Friday night. Army skydivers can drop into the center of the venue and plant a big Texas flag in the field to officially kick off the 2009 Real Texas Festival.
It should be really, really cool.
Also, the U.S. Army will sponsor the 2009 Battle of the Bands event, where 8 high school "garage" bands will crank it up in hopes of being named the champion.
We still have some spots open so please get your entries in. It's $500 to the winner and a chance to meet festival headliners Los Lonely Boys.
Also, the U.S. Army will present the Best Front Man or Front Person award ... which will go to the lead singer of one of the bands. It will be a people's choice award so fans of the bands can plan on voting for their favorite front man at the U.S. Army adventure van location at the festival, or they may be able to vote pre-event by logging onto realtexasfestival.com and clicking on the Battle of the Bands link.
Stay tuned.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Grammy ties
It's Grammy time again.
I've been a big fan of the Grammys for a long time now -- particularly when I have a rooting interest.
This year, the rooting interest is James Otto.
James Otto is a Real Texas Festival artist and has been nominated for the Grammy for Best Male Country Performance for the song, "Just Got Started Lovin' You."
It's been a great year for James and that song. The song was the top played single on country radio this summer and I believe it helped earn James a nomination as Best New Artist for the Country Music Association.
He didn't win. Lady Antebellum took that honor as that group went the way of Sugarland and Little Big Town before it -- they seemingly went from little known to mega star in the matter of about three months.
Interesting thing about public opinion, isn't it? Some of these groups have been together for decades in some instances. But they just need that one song or record to crack open the door. It can be a Grammy nomination, a collaboration, a record label signing, or it can just flat out come down to being in the right place at the right time.
All of a sudden, boom! The big time comes calling.
It would be really cool for James Otto to win the Grammy ... it could mean that there are three Grammy-winning or Grammy-nominated artists performing at the festival. James Otto, Los Lonely Boys and Jay Perez.
It wont' be easy for James as the competition is pretty fierce. He's up against Trace Adkins for "You're Gonna Miss This," Jamey Johnson for "In Color," Brad Paisley for "Letter to Me" and George Strait for "Troubadour."
That's some pretty elite company folks.
My call is Strait. I think "Troubadour" may prove to be one of the seminal Country albums of the decade.
But the good thing about the Grammys is that the winner isn't chosen by popular vote or though mass marketing or album sales. The base criteria for the award is "excellence and achievement in the recording arts."
It's the purest award show out there because, quite frankly, anyone can win a Grammy.
Case in point? Little Art Greenhaw Records and Mesquite record producer Art Greenhaw received Grammy nominations in the Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel category. He even won the Grammy a few years back.
He won despite the fact he was a small, independent record producer -- defeating the likes of EMI, Sony, Daywind and other big players in the Gospel recording field.
Sure, the Grammys have had their head-scratching moments. Nobody will forget the inaugural Grammy for Best Heavy Metal Performance went to Jethro Tull's "Crest of Knave." I believe Tull beat out Metallica and Judas Priest that year -- two of the most significant metal acts of all time.
However, "Steel Monkey" and "Farm on the Freeway" were killer tunes. Still, it wasn't a metal album by a long shot.
So, James Otto has a chance to win the Grammy for Best Male Country Performance. Come on down in April to Mesquite and check out James' work, as well as the work of all the other artists on the bill -- including the recently signed Paula Nelson (daughter of Willie ... woo hoo!!!)
I've been a big fan of the Grammys for a long time now -- particularly when I have a rooting interest.
This year, the rooting interest is James Otto.
James Otto is a Real Texas Festival artist and has been nominated for the Grammy for Best Male Country Performance for the song, "Just Got Started Lovin' You."
It's been a great year for James and that song. The song was the top played single on country radio this summer and I believe it helped earn James a nomination as Best New Artist for the Country Music Association.
He didn't win. Lady Antebellum took that honor as that group went the way of Sugarland and Little Big Town before it -- they seemingly went from little known to mega star in the matter of about three months.
Interesting thing about public opinion, isn't it? Some of these groups have been together for decades in some instances. But they just need that one song or record to crack open the door. It can be a Grammy nomination, a collaboration, a record label signing, or it can just flat out come down to being in the right place at the right time.
All of a sudden, boom! The big time comes calling.
It would be really cool for James Otto to win the Grammy ... it could mean that there are three Grammy-winning or Grammy-nominated artists performing at the festival. James Otto, Los Lonely Boys and Jay Perez.
It wont' be easy for James as the competition is pretty fierce. He's up against Trace Adkins for "You're Gonna Miss This," Jamey Johnson for "In Color," Brad Paisley for "Letter to Me" and George Strait for "Troubadour."
That's some pretty elite company folks.
My call is Strait. I think "Troubadour" may prove to be one of the seminal Country albums of the decade.
But the good thing about the Grammys is that the winner isn't chosen by popular vote or though mass marketing or album sales. The base criteria for the award is "excellence and achievement in the recording arts."
It's the purest award show out there because, quite frankly, anyone can win a Grammy.
Case in point? Little Art Greenhaw Records and Mesquite record producer Art Greenhaw received Grammy nominations in the Best Southern, Country or Bluegrass Gospel category. He even won the Grammy a few years back.
He won despite the fact he was a small, independent record producer -- defeating the likes of EMI, Sony, Daywind and other big players in the Gospel recording field.
Sure, the Grammys have had their head-scratching moments. Nobody will forget the inaugural Grammy for Best Heavy Metal Performance went to Jethro Tull's "Crest of Knave." I believe Tull beat out Metallica and Judas Priest that year -- two of the most significant metal acts of all time.
However, "Steel Monkey" and "Farm on the Freeway" were killer tunes. Still, it wasn't a metal album by a long shot.
So, James Otto has a chance to win the Grammy for Best Male Country Performance. Come on down in April to Mesquite and check out James' work, as well as the work of all the other artists on the bill -- including the recently signed Paula Nelson (daughter of Willie ... woo hoo!!!)
Monday, January 5, 2009
Welcome to the Real Texas Festival Blog
I know what you're thinking.
Here's another spare blog in the vast ocean of blogspace touting some dude's incessant ramblings on his particular cause or event.
OK ... ya got me. That's exactly what it is.
That being said, welcome to the official blog of the Real Texas Festival.
The festival enters its third year in 2009 -- April 24-26 at Rodeo Center in Mesquite, Texas -- and quite simply, celebrates all things Texan all the time.
All performers on three stages in our concert series are from the state of Texas or have ties to the state of Texas.
Who's playing?
The world famous Mesquite Championship Rodeo takes a center stage position at our festival and the festival admission price includes admission into the rodeo.
Yeah, but who's playing?
It will be probably one of the greatest smelling festivals out there as we host the Taste of Mesquite Barbecue Competition sanctioned by the Lone Star Barbecue Society.
OK ... Who's. Play-ing.?
We have a huge carnival and kid's attractions and we are a great family value.
HEY DOOFUS!!!! WHO'S PLAYING!!!!
Glad you asked. This line up could be one of the strongest one out there on the local festival and event scene.
It will be headlined by multi-platinum and Grammy winning recording artists Los Lonely Boys. That's right ... Los Lonely Boys. They play on Saturday night.
Friday will be anchored by Kevin Fowler and Sunday will feature "The Voice" of Tejano, Jay Perez.
Our concert line up also includes Jolie Holliday, James Otto, Bart Crow Band, Johnny Cooper, Los Rhythm Kings, Eleven 21, Railhead and more.
We'll keep you updated here on all news and events -- including ticket promotions and how to otherwise get into the festival for free.
Check out www.realtexasfestival.com to see what we're all about.
Peace.
Here's another spare blog in the vast ocean of blogspace touting some dude's incessant ramblings on his particular cause or event.
OK ... ya got me. That's exactly what it is.
That being said, welcome to the official blog of the Real Texas Festival.
The festival enters its third year in 2009 -- April 24-26 at Rodeo Center in Mesquite, Texas -- and quite simply, celebrates all things Texan all the time.
All performers on three stages in our concert series are from the state of Texas or have ties to the state of Texas.
Who's playing?
The world famous Mesquite Championship Rodeo takes a center stage position at our festival and the festival admission price includes admission into the rodeo.
Yeah, but who's playing?
It will be probably one of the greatest smelling festivals out there as we host the Taste of Mesquite Barbecue Competition sanctioned by the Lone Star Barbecue Society.
OK ... Who's. Play-ing.?
We have a huge carnival and kid's attractions and we are a great family value.
HEY DOOFUS!!!! WHO'S PLAYING!!!!
Glad you asked. This line up could be one of the strongest one out there on the local festival and event scene.
It will be headlined by multi-platinum and Grammy winning recording artists Los Lonely Boys. That's right ... Los Lonely Boys. They play on Saturday night.
Friday will be anchored by Kevin Fowler and Sunday will feature "The Voice" of Tejano, Jay Perez.
Our concert line up also includes Jolie Holliday, James Otto, Bart Crow Band, Johnny Cooper, Los Rhythm Kings, Eleven 21, Railhead and more.
We'll keep you updated here on all news and events -- including ticket promotions and how to otherwise get into the festival for free.
Check out www.realtexasfestival.com to see what we're all about.
Peace.
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