Check out our incredible lineup of musical talent for this year's Festival, led by the incomparable Leon Russell. Back by popular demand is the 95Country Sunday, featuring Rhett Akins!
Click on Schedules Page for dates and times, and Click Here for a Map showing the location of the Fairgrounds.
For more info, click on the photo or name of the artist.
Formed in 1987 while Kevin Griffin and the original members were still attending LSU, BTE has been a favorite all over Louisiana and the South. 10 albums and several band member changes later, BTE is Better Than Ever with a new CD entitled "Paper Empire and along with it a new single, "Absolutely Still, which can be purchased on iTunes.
BTE fans know their many previous hits like Good, which reached No.1 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart in 1995, King of New Orleans, Desperately Wanting, A Lifetime, and many more.
Longtime drummer Travis McNabb left in Feb. 2009 in an amicable split. Replacing him is New Orleans-based drummer Michael Jerome, formerly of Pleasure Club.
Leon Russell is a music legend. His 50-year music career has affected not only his legion of listeners, but an untold number of other artists. Leon's songs have been covered by Joe Cocker, Willie Nelson, Edgar Winter, Eric Clapton, Ike & Tina Turner, Ray Charles, and an unnameable host of others. Jimmy Buffet's Back to the Island," Leon wrote it. Jumpin' Jack Flash by the Rolling Stones, written by Leon Russell. George Benson's This Masquerade, - guess who. Playing piano by the age of 4 and playing in Tulsa nightclubs at age 14, Leon moved to L.A. soon after and became one of the most sought after session musicians in Hollywood. He went on to build his own studio and produced such greats as Joe Cocker, Eric Clapton, and Steve Winwood. Leon organized and led the band behind Joe Cocker for the famous Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour of 1971. Billboard Magazine named him the top concert attraction for 1973, by which time his first solo album, Leon Russell and the Shelter People had hit gold and his second album, Carney, with its best-selling single Tight Rope topped the charts.
Watch Leon Russell sing "Song For You" on YouTube
Rhett Akins is our featured act and closer for 95Country Sunday. This talented singer/songwriter has just released a collection of songs, People Like Me, that reflects the life he leads on-stage and off. Akins moved to Nashville in 1992 and landed a songwriting deal with Sony Tree Publishing. Meanwhile, one of his demos caught the attention of Decca Records, who signed the artist in 1994. Well-known for hits like That Ain't My Truck, She Said Yes, and the No. 1 Don't Get Me Started, Rhett also wrote songs that have been recorded recently by Brooks & Dunn, Chris Cagle, Trent Wilmon, and many more. He's spent the past five years performing more than 100 dates a year on the Honky Tonk Tailgate Tour with pals David Ball, Daryl Singletary, Jeff Carson, and Wade Hayes.
Paula Nelson, daughter of Willie, grew up with her daddy's way with a song and her aunt Bobbie's skill on piano, playing since the age of 7. Texas Monthly describes her bluesy, supple vocal style as "torchy." Her newest album, "Lucky 13", features 10 rootsy originals and three covers, including "Angel from Montgomery." Father Willie and brother, Luke contribute to the album.
"Most of my songs came from a relationship that's going either really good or really bad," she quips. "If it weren't for relationships, I'd have no songs at all!" As for the music itself, you'll find gutsy Southern Rock strains in Fire Below, her soft side in string-backed ballads like Day to Day Love, and moody jazz in the seductive Overboard.
From the time Brint Anderson led his first band, The Shades, he's had a strong love for the Blues. Brint learned the music of the blues greats, incorporating their sound into each musical progression in his life. In the seventies he formed Blue John, with the fabulous Cassandra Wilson on vocals. In Austin, Brint developed a funky, syncopated style with Coup de Ville, who fronted for Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Neville Brothers and Dr. John. Coupe became a backup band for venerated artists like Stanley Clark, John Lee Hooker, and many more.
Brint has released a number of CD's, including '95's Homage to Elmore, 97's I Knew This Would Happen, 2000's Notes From Clarksdale, a live acoustic Blues recording from Hopson Farm, and now a new one named Brint Anderson - Solo.
Hear Dallas from Brint's newest CD
Formed by Cody Dickinson of the North Mississippi Allstars, Hill Country Revue also features Chris Chew, another NMA alumnus, Kirk Smithhart, Ed "Hot" Cleveland and Dixie Dan Coburn. The band's debut album, "Make a Move," was released by Razor and Tie Records in May of this year.
Smithhart was awarded the Albert King award for Best Guitarist by the Blues Foundation when he was only 19. Coburn formed Dixie Hustler in 2001 and was produced by Aaron Julison of Kid Rock fame. Cleveland has recorded and toured with Olanda Draper, Shalamar, and Howard Hewitt, among others
See Hill Country Revue on YouTube
There's no official definition for the term "kingbilly," but it has been used to describe elder members of hillbilly society and billy goats. KingBilly, like the goat, is known by its behavior and attitude. While the goat doesn't rest until it has reached the highest point in the area, the KingBilly boys are determined to produce the best music possible, not settling until they reach the top.
Their mix of rock, country, and bluegrass gives them the chance to show off their incredible musical skills. And like their unique brand of music, they're finding a new path to success built on friendship and musical innovation.
Rachel, Todd, Chad, Brian, and Mitch Vette, collectively known as The Vettes, are all sister and brothers, with Mitch being adopted into the family at a young age. In keeping with Rachel's vision, the band is heavily influenced by '80s stalwarts A-ha, A Flock of Seagulls, Depeche Mode and Duran Duran. Their first stab at recorded music was a sarcastic spoof of celebrity culture called, "Give Em What They Want." The tune was so popular that a New Orleans' Top 40 put them on regular rotation, and MTV licensed it for use during their programming. They've played live at Baton Rouge's Varsity Theatre and Spanish Moon, New York City's College Music Journal Music Marathon and Film Festival, Voodoo Fest, and New Orleans' House of Blues.
New Orleans quintet Country Fried brings a new outlook to an old genre, helping to revive acoustic outlaw country. The band started playing gigs in neighborhood bars around New Orleans before hitting the stages for shows at the N. O. Jazz and Heritage Festival, House of Blues, and Tipitina's. They have opened for Junior Brown, Shooter Jennings, The Gourds, and others in Texas, Colorado, and throughout the Southeast. You'll hear the legendary music of Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings as well as country fried versions of the band's rock originals.
This is one of the most wildly successful musical groups in the Miss-Lou, and if you're hearing Easy Eddie for the first time you'll soon know why.
Originating in 1985, Easy Eddie has performed all across the southeastern U.S. at concerts, festivals, conventions, and parties of all kinds. They have opened for the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis, The Edgar Winter Group, Bad Company, Leon Russell, and others. Starting out as an oldies band, today's group covers a wide range of music that appeals to a big audience. Band members Glen McGlothin, Gary Caldwell, Jimmy Wheeler, Jerry Williams, and Steve Cagle keep things moving during their performances, with little talk time and lots of music and energy.