Aaah Haaa! Western swing, that high-spirits, big-dancing merger of jazz, country and blues, continues to rule as the official music of Texas. In these parts Western swing legend Bob Wills is still the king. We’ve got the Western swing mecca for all of North Texas to enjoy. The inaugural Bob Wills Fiddle Festival & Contest transforms historic downtown Greenville, Texas into Western swing central for three toe-tapping days, from October 31 to November 2. We have star power. “Dinner With Bob Wills” starring Jason Roberts and Leon Rausch at the multi-million-dollar refurbished Texan Theater is served Friday, October 31 at 7 p.m. Tickets for “Dinner with Bob Wills” are $150 each and are available via The Texan Theater website attexantheater.x10host/Index.htm. The Texan Theater is located at 2712 Lee St. in downtown Greenville. Western swing super group The Time Jumpers, featuring Vince Gill, Kenny Sears, Ranger Doug Green and Larry Franklin, perform Saturday, November 1, at 7:30 p.m. at the Greenville Municipal Auditorium. Tickets for The Time Jumpers range from $30 to $50 and are available online at ShowtimeAtTheGMA and at the GMA, 2821 Washington Street. For more information, call (903) 457-2994 or visit ShowtimeAtTheGMA. We have the prestigious fiddle contest, an all-ages event that’s free for the entire family. Currently our youngest registered competitor is 9 years old, and our most mature fiddler is 66. We have contestants coming in from eight states to vie for more than $8500 in cash prizes. They compete in seven divisions, including the first-ever Bob Wills division. We have respected judges from Texas, Canada and Washington. We have award-winning, master-fiddling husband and wife team Sherry and Joey McKenzie as the fiddle contest directors. The fiddle contest stretches through the entire three days of the festival. For times and venues, visit BobWillsFiddleFest. We have free jamming. The Fiddlers Kick-Off Jam Party is Friday, October 31, from 5-11 p.m., at Landon Winery & Bistro, 2508 Lee St. in downtown Greenville. Catch Kristyn Harris and Brook Wallace from 12-12:40 p.m. Saturday, November 1, at the Courtyard between Texan Theater and the Corner Street Pub. Stay for a passionate, informative panel discussion about the making of Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys’ “For the Last Time” album featuring Bob Wills biographer Dr. Charles R. Townsend, Texas Playboys vocalist Leon Rausch and Western swing fiddler and bandleader Jody Nix from 12:45-1:25 p.m. Saturday, November 1. Nix and the Texas Cowboys perform Saturday immediately following the panel discussion from 1:30-3:30 p.m. That night, starting at 9 p.m., enjoy the smooth swinging sounds of San Antonio’s Bobby Flores & The Yellow Rose Band during a Courtyard Dance sponsored by Greenville’s L-3 Communications. The Bob Wills Fiddle Festival & Contest is graciously sponsored by Fritz Industries. We hope to see you there! -By Mario Tarradell
Posted on: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 18:51:25 +0000
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