Cross Canadian Ragweed brutha!

I understand the special event world is pretty well summed up by Janet Jackson.

"What have you done for me lately."

The 2009 Real. Texas. Festival. was just so outstanding. Los Lonely Boys was the most significant headliner the event had signed to date. And, they were absolutely fabulous. In fact, all of our headliners were great ... Kevin Fowler, Los Lonely Boys and Jay Perez.

But the Real. Texas. Festival. can't afford to become complacent. As organizers, we have to continually find ways to get better. After all, we're only four years old heading into 2010. We don't have a long enough track record to get comfortable.

We must continue to make a splash.

Well, let me take this opportunity to say if I may: Mission Accomplished.

The festival will be headlined on Saturday by the 800 lb. gorilla of the Texas Red Dirt music scene.

Cross Canadian Ragweed.

How's that for a splash? Excuse me while I jump in the pool -- CANNON BALL!!!!

The City of Mesquite -- the executive producer of the Real. Texas. Festival. -- is thrilled with the confirmation of CCR as it's headliner.

CCR is the kind of act that helps us define what the festival is and what we hope it can be.

Cross Canadian Ragweed has staked its career on the fact that it takes it's music -- music that simply grabs you by the throat -- straight to the people.

CCR reeks of genuine Texas attitude -- it's a swagger that isn't found anywhere else in the United States. You don't find this kind of swagger in California, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma, Kansas, Louisiana ... anywhere. It's only found in Texas.

And that's what the Real. Texas. Festival. wants to accomplish ... it wants thousands and thousands of people to assemble on the grounds surrounding the Mesquite Championship Rodeo and celebrate Texas and what it means to be a Texan.

It's an attitude that causes many Texas residents to proclaim, "I wasn't born in Texas, but I got here as soon as I could."

Cross Canadian Ragweed is a huge signing for the festival.

They'll hit the stage at 9:30 p.m. on Saturday and will no doubt unleash a barrage of hits such as "Alabama," "Long Way Home," "Fighting For," "Carney Man" and the somewhat controversial "In Oklahoma."

You won't want to miss this thing ... Kevin Fowler headlining the festival on Friday night with Cross Canadian Ragweed headlining on Saturday.

And, that's just two of the acts signed on. There will be many other acts that will be announced in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned.