Grayson County Line

6:00 – 7:00 PM

Grayson County Line Band has their own sound. You can’t put them in a category because they play Texas Country to 60s Rock with a little 90s Alternative. Major influence for the band’s music are The Outlaws of Country down to CCR & the Eagles, Peter Dawson, Randy Rogers Band, & Captain Geech & the Shrimp Shack Shooters.

Dustin Perkins

7:15 – 8:15 PM 

The road has been long for Dustin Perkins and his music, and it's a road that he and his faithful hometown fans hope to only get longer. With a small town kid foundation, Dustin Perkins grew up being part of both his mother and Grandfather's musical influence and has entertained people with his passion for his unique sound of music with people all across North Texas and southern Oklahoma. With influences such as Chris knight, Ryan Adams, and Mike McClure, Dustin has captured the heart of fans far and wide with his unique Country/Rockabilly sound and ability to fill a bar with one hell of a crowd. Dustin has just released his first album; which has already proven to be a success and has already had some playtime on the air. Simply put, Dustin Perkins is a man that literally feels every chord he plays and lyric he sings, and will be seen more of in the near future. 

Merrol Ray
8:30 – 10:00 PM

Small towns and blue collars have given rise to more aspiring songwriters than space or time allows most of us to explore. But when it comes to sifting through the various offerings, what speaks to most fans is music that is honest, gut-wrenching, born of highs and lows revealing a real-world understanding.

      Merrol Ray is one of those Texas voices and personalities so flavored by his past that most folks have at least heard of him before they hear him sing. His name is synonymous with northeast Texas music - so much so that most everyone refers to him by both his first and last moniker. It's not just "Merrol" - it's Merrol Ray.
      As Texas clichés go about those born and bred here, Merrol is larger than life with a voice that bellows a soothing but captivating tone. "I used to go in where Merrol Ray used to work, and you could always hear him from anywhere in the store," says friend and fellow musician Wendy McNeal. His voice is unmistakable.
      That voice finds its inspiration in mainly rock and southern rock, a little punk and metal from his "awareness" teen years in
the early-to-mid 1980s, plus honest (did I use that word again?)Americana country. Merrol's "desert island" CD list includes
Zeppelin, Skynyrd, and Chris Knight.
      Having recorded or shared the stage with Dan Baird (Georgia Satellites), Shooter Jennings and Pure Prairie League to name a few, Merrol said the band he played with that rubbed off on him the most was Back Porch Mary. "They're just bad, man. You gotta see 'em live!"
       As founding member of the band "Miles from Nowhere" – winner of the 2006 Shiner (Beer) Records Rising Star Contest - Merrol Ray toured and found regional and state-wide recognition for his music. With Merrol, the band recorded in Nashville for Palo Duro Records and the song "Bloodline" saw elevation on the Texas Music Charts and was featured on a Stubb's BBQ compilation. The album made it to number 5 on the now defunct XM X-Country chart where "When I Get Mean" got lots of airtime.
      But like lots of stories from the road, creative differences within the band and a personal battle with illegal substances collided to force Merrol Ray to play a hand he didn't want to. Battling addiction most of his adult life and struggling to stay sober
meant a hard choice, so he left the band for a solo effort and some time to write and create his way.
      The scales of justice tattoo on his arm, with the intitials "N.A." for Narcotics Anonymous, are a constant reminder of his battle. But these days, Merrol's battle includes partners on his side: God, family and recovery.
      He says the creative freedom on his current solo project is great, and together with co-producer Chris Lancaster, (Treehouse Records in Paris, Texas), Merrol is expecting "heart and soul, blood, sweat and tears" to emanate from the upcoming "Stanley" release. "It's raw and exposed," Merrol said.
      The long road of creativity and recovery has taken some twists and turns, some unexpected, but Merrol Ray is upbeat about the current mileage.
      "I like me now and I figure maybe others will, too."

~ Allan Hubbard

 
John David Kent and the Dumb Angels
10:15 - ?????

John David Kent and the Dumb Angels are somewhere west of Hank Williams and east of the Rolling Stones; north of Kris Kristofferson, but south of Wilco. Somewhere in that wild, unruly country where people invent nonsense genre names like..."Alt Country",..."Tx Country"..."Southern Rock".

Push Rod

11:00 – 11:45 AM

Life ain't always been easy for this North Texas countyfyed group of trouble makers. See before they were PUSHROD, they where known as inmates ..3445312, ..3446771, and ..4111329 at the infamous Huntsville State Penitentiary, located in beautiful Huntsville, Texas. See Mike and Dan where already in, serving a 4 year for aggravated assualt, and staging illegal "street races". It wasnt till' 6 months later that they meet Jimbo, who was in for bootlegging, and distribution of illegal motor parts, that the three actually meet for the first time. They where offically residence of cell block B, and were'nt going anywhere for awhile. While in Huntsville doin' time together the three became quick friends and vowed that when they got out they would start a band, not to become famous, but to tell the stories of their lives, and hardships, and on September 14th, 2004, Mike and Dan walked out of ol' HSP, and went to get their guitars. Jimbo on the other hand still had 3 months to go. So in the mean time, the brothers wrote over 70 songs using ideas and stories that the three had talked about while on the inside. Then on December 8th, 2004 Jimbo Mac, age 23 from Leonard, Texas, walked out of Huntsville State Penn, and into a waiting pick up truck that took him directlly to his drum kit and his fellow cell mates. The rest as they say is history.

2BarTown

12:00 – 12:45 PM

2Bartown... There is not a whole lot to say, well really more than a man wants to write. 4 guys doing the one thing they love and getting the chance to share that feeling with the world. The band "2BarTown" was put together in 2008 as more or less a few guys getting together playing a few nights a week, drinking some beer, and having a good time. In a matter of months the group started playing some local venues around North East Texas on the weekends anywhere they could get a gig. As time went by band members came and went and the group slowly evolved into the family that is now "2BarTown". Roaming from Dancehall to Jukejoint across the great state of Texas every Friday and Saturday night, just a few guys living to play and playing to live. Any thing else you would like to know just give us shout, I am sure we will see you somewhere down this old honkytonk road.

Jerry Audley

1:00 – 2:00 PM

Audley hit number one on the Texas chart with "Lucky Me, Lonely You" and he could do it again with a single release of "Muddy Water." One of the indicators that Audley is on his way to the top is the unique quality of his voice. When you listen, try to pin point exactly who he sounds like. You can't. Audley's voice is just slightly different than all the other stars making the airwaves today. That's going to be a huge asset in his career. Oh sure, he sounds almost like this one or that one, but after hearing him for a while, it becomes easy to recognize Audley as soon as you hear him. This is a characteristic of superstars.
      Audley writes or co-writes three of the dozen cuts on this faithfully country album. This album has all the attributes of a great debut offering and leaves us poised to receive the next album with open arms. Audley covers the Clark/White clever tongue-in-cheek novelty "If It Ain't One Thing" cementing one of Jerry's catch phrases, "If it ain't one thing, it's your mother." The Tommy Barnes cover, "I Just Want To Hold You," will become an anthem for young love when discovered by the masses. It will easily become a 'most dedicated' song on Texas radio if given the chance.
      Audley's rise to the top of the charts came on the back of "Lucky Me, Lonely You," originally recorded by Brooks and Dunn. The song would have been served well by fellow Texan, Buck Owens if he had ever recorded it. Jerry Audley has an underlying theme in this album that is subtle in nature, but powerful once recognized. Almost every cut is traditional in delivery, but arranged with every perceptible modern technological asset available. The performances are tight, perfectly mixed and mastered, and Audley's vocals are spot on. Co-produced by Audley and Paul Osborn, you'll want to remember this album when award season comes around. This disc is just the beginning for Jerry Audley.

Ed Burleson

2:15 – 3:15 PM

Burleson’s Texas bloodline goes back as far as his name: Bennett Edward Burleson IV. Born in 1969, he grew up in a music-loving family that moved frequently because of his dad’s sales career. They landed in Lewisville, where Ed joined his high school rodeo team — a choice that led directly to his music career. In college on a bronco-bucking scholarship, Burleson traded some riding tack for a guitar. After graduation, he moved to Dallas and joined the professional rodeo circuit, but got lassoed by a knee injury. Recovering gave him enough free time (or boredom) to get serious about music. He decided to leave the cowboy life to follow another kind of Texas tradition as a country singer/songwriter. Visiting Dallas’ Three Teardrops Tavern to hear his country heroes earned Burleson an invitation to do an open-stage set. The bar owner then offered him a regular Thursday night slot if he could assemble a band in four days. That band’s drummer, Richard Burleson, still performs with his son. Ed’s first recording was Live at Three Teardrops. His next, Comin’ Around, got him to the Broken Spoke, Austin’s real-deal dance hall. Sahm was there, and Ed gave him a CD, which Sahm loved so much, he wound up re-releasing as Perfect World. He also became Burleson’s manager, but two weeks after performing at Ed’s CD release party, Sahm was gone. Without him, the album floundered, and so did Ed’s career. But he didn’t give up. Laboring by day and playing as many nights as he could, Burleson built a strong fan base.

AceHigh

3:30 – 4:30 PM

You can’t label them. With likely the broadest cover list you have ever heard, AceHigh has been delivering a wide variety of fan favorites for years now. Lately, they have continued to reach for new areas in their music, and their fan base is reaching new limits. In the last year, AceHigh, comprised of Mark Rattan, Charlie Jones, Ben Vincent, Sam Noth, and John Apodaca, has really taken off around North Texas and clubs, corporations, small businesses, and individuals are lining them up for their venues. After 20 years of playing the local clubs in North Texas, all the members of AceHigh went their separate ways except lead singer, Mark Rattan. Playing locally during those years, he picked up a knack for keeping dancers on the floor and playing songs that were sure to please the crowd. Gradually, as members left and new ones came on board, the face of the group started to change and the versatility began to show. Charlie Jones joined the group as a drummer, but later took his natural position as lead guitarist. He had toured the Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico circuit with Breakheart Pass and Reno Bound where he gained the majority of his versatility on the road. His vast song list is matched by none, and he is often asked to play songs from many different artists. Ben Vincent brought with him the steel, fiddle, and electric guitar and broadened the possibilities even further. Ben had traveled extensively with The Wild Red Horse Band, and spent several years backing up The Burrito Brothers at places like Disney World and The Grand Ole’ Opry. Sam Noth brought a different spin to things with his bluegrass background on the bass. He started very young with The Meadow Lake Boys, and he later played fiddle for Wade White. Charlie, Ben, and Sam all played for Robert Joe Vandigriff and appeared in several episodes of Walker, Texas Ranger. With all the members basically learning the “old school” way (by ear), John Apodaca brings his UNT Bachelor of Arts degree in drums & percussion to the table, polishing out the five-piece group’s sound to what it is today. Vocally, Mark and Charlie lead the charge with songs from every gender you can imagine. Ben and Sam both provide strong harmonies and also sing their own versions of favorites that you are sure to know. Their set lists stretch from George Strait and Allen Jackson to Lynyrd Skynyrd and Steve Miller. They can cover Bob Wills Texas Swing, and then jump to Buddy Holly and Elvis. They also cover Texas Music songs from Jack Ingram and Stoney Larue, while playing both CCRs...Creedance and Ragweed. At different times, this group of musicians has opened up shows for Garth Brooks, Tanya Tucker, Hank Williams Jr., Hank Thompson, Asleep at the Wheel, Gary Stewart, Lee Greenwood, Ricochet, Ricky Lynn Gregg, and many others. They are a favorite at Company Parties, Corporate Functions, Wedding Receptions, and any other event where live music is required.

Ida Road Band

4:45 – 6:00 PM 

If you think the Ida Road Band sounds small town, there is a reason for that. Simply put, they are. Not only do most of the members of the band live in or around the small town of Tom Bean now, it is where they grew up and where their roots are. While James and Mark both grew up in Tom Bean they both did have their stints away from the town. After high school James decided to play football at Ranger Junior College, but after deciding that wasn't exactly for him, he let the west Texas wind blow him out to San Angelo. While in San Angelo James took up work as a ranch hand and would eventually meet his future wife Heather. It was through Heather, James would meet Chris and a lifelong friendship would begin. Chris grew up in the hill country of Austin and his taste in music would definitely reflect that. After high school Chris to moved to San Angelo and went to school there for a period of time. While attending Angelo State, Chris met his wife, Kim, whose best friend, Heather, was James's future wife. After high school Mark decided to join the US Army. It is true that while operating as a Combat Engineer for the Army Mark was "stuck" in Hawaii with the 25th Infantry Division, it was still a long way from home. It is here that Mark really gained an appreciation for "Texas Country". It was his own brand of music that he and other people from his area could identify with. There are many of nights when a guitar and a song about a waitress named Sherry kept the homesickness at bay. After moving back home and settling into the rigors of life, it wasn't long before Mark was taking that same guitar to James's house. With someone as passionate about music as Cliff, it doesn't take long for others to catch on. Working in the flooring industry in the Dallas area it was inevitable that Chris and James would not only work with Cliff but would come to find out his love for all kinds of music. He was after all born in Nashville, but to his credit, he didn't stay long. Being an army brat, Cliff would move from town to town. He settled in Dallas and met his wife Tina and they now hail from Sachse.

Kevin Deal
6:15 – 7:45 PM 

Deal, a Lone Star State stone contractor who put his musical dreams on the back-burner for more than a decade while he busted tail 24-7 to keep his growing family sheltered and fed, has drawn yet another stellar batch of hard-scrabble country tunes from his blue collar experiences for RAW DEAL – Deal’s first live CD.

Raw Deal, includes two brand new heart-felt singles, Hard Times and I’ve Got To Believe. Deal just keeps getting’ better and better.

Much like a blues-ier Steve Earle, he’s managed to incorporate the lessons of the classic C&W masters with a driving rock sensibility to come up with his fifth straight set of majestic, to-the-bone musical treats.

When he was a kid, Deal’s family bounced around a bit, but they finally managed to settle down in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for the long haul in 1975. Along the way, Kevin was steeped in the classic country music canon by his father.
*[“He loved country music--still does,” says Deal. “And I love my dad, but he’s probably not the best singer in the whole world. Still, he’d sing along to every song on the radio. Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, George Jones--I listened to a lot of country music growin’ up.”

Upon graduating from high school in 1980, Kevin caught on mixing mortar for a brick crew. The band sputtered on for awhile, but when he met and married Kim – and they started a family – the Strat went into the closet, the harps went into a drawer, and Deal dove headfirst into his own fledgling stone contracting company.

The dream was officially on hold, but the songs just kept on a-coming. The Deal family grew to include five kids, and when the business became a working thing by the early ’90s, Kevin began playing again.

He started out playing harmonica in country cover bands, and then hooked up with Dallas bluesman Johnny Peebles. His harp playing led to a soulful connection with Curly “Barefoot” Miller in Dallas’ West End.

“I’d drive him around, and he’d take me to these bars where we’d sit in with the house band and pass the hat,” Deal recalls fondly. “I got to experience that culture, and it was a lot of fun. I even won a talent show one night at The House Of Jock. Still have the trophy.”

Kevin played with Texas honky-tonker Ed Burleson for about four years, then caught on with Mark David Manders, who not only brought Deal onto his Blind Nello Records label, but introduced him to legendary producer/multi-instrumentalist Lloyd Maines.

With Maines at the studio board (and pickin’ just about every stringed thing around), Kevin Deal has reeled off an unbroken string of pillar-to-post killers: 1998’s LOVIN’ SHOOTIN’ CRYIN’ & DYIN’ (13 weeks on the Gavin Americana chart), 1999’s HONKY TONKS’N’CHURCHES (Top Ten Gavin Americana), 2001’s KISS ON THE BREEZE (Top Five on the Album Network when O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? was hogging #1), The Lawless (Top Ten on the AMA Chart) and now, the brand-spanking-new RAW DEAL-KEVIN DEAL BAND LIVE.

In their wake, he’s garnered critical acclaim from Performing Songwriter, The Washington Post, CMJ, Country Music Magazine, Country Standard Time, NO DEPRESSION, USAToday, Playboy (Dave Marsh) and Music Row (Robert K. Oermann).

Deal may have capped that ol’ songwriting well years ago, but – incredibly – truly big-league tunes in the grand ‘Texas troubadour tradition’ have just been gushing out ever since he tapped back into it.
 
Pear Ratz
8:00 – 9:30 PM

 The Pear Ratz are from the Texas Coastal Bend, but do not let that fool you into thinking they have any "Margarita" mix in their sound. Only hard driving, Texas Southern Rock will be found! The Ratz have a high energy, in-your-face show that is causing their already large fan base to spread across Texas and other parts of the U.S., as well as Internationally. Catch a Pear Ratz show and be ready to party as they will rock all night with their unique sound.  Be prepared for mostly original songs; however, an occasional classic is slipped in the list for good measure. Songs like John Lennon's "Imagine", to Robert Earl Keen's "Dreadful Selfish Crime" are included in the mix. Give the Ratz a chance to rock, and they will show you the way it's suppose to be done.

With the release of their 2007 sophomore album, Holier Than Thou, it is extremely evident this band will stop at nothing to make a name for itself in the Texas Music Scene.  The first single from the new album, “Holier-Than-Thou” proved that these guys will not hesitate to take on a fresh country-rockin’ sound, with a Ratz Rock touch.  This, “play what you play the way you play it” attitude has landed them gigs with Reckless Kelly to manning a stage at Robert Earl’s Texas Uprising and headlining the now infamous annual Ratzfest.  Hailing from the George West, Texas area, it hasn't taken long for this Texas band to reach and exceed the outermost boundaries of the Lone Star State and beyond.

Jarrod Birmingham
9:45 - ????

      Jarrod Birmingham’s CD, “No Apologies,” spawned a 1 single and earned the country music outlaw a top ten spot in the Best Of Texas Top 30 songs of the year.

      He has been compared to Waylon Jennings and Hank Williams, Jr. and producer Eric Paul described the country traditionalist as “the first real singer of the 21st century.” Humbled by the accolades, Birmingham attributes his pure and gritty musical style to his true grit life style.

      “I believe that country music should reflect the common people,” says Birmingham. “That’s pretty much my mission statement, to stay grounded in the knowledge that I‘m a blue collar individual, a country boy. There are a lot of people out there like me, and I’d like to be their voice.”

      This South Texas native is no manufactured “hat act.” Birmingham is a REAL cowboy. A former professional bullrider who has enough pins, plates and screws in his body to make it difficult to pass an airport scanner, Birmingham’s music is steeped in stark realism.

      “I never really quit riding bulls,” he laughs. “The music just sort of took over. But, what you see is what you get when you deal with me, and that is how I want to come across through my music.”