May 6

The lineups for two of the big upcoming live music events are now out. Top acts for the 35th Annual Hope Watermelon Festival are country: headliner Chuck Wicks and the opening act for him, Little Texas. They’ll play on Saturday, Aug. 13. Wicks appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” and his song “Stealing Cinderella” went to number five on the country chart. Little Texas has been around since the late ’80s and their number one hit was “My Love.” Tickets go on sale June 3.

Over at Music City Texas Theater is the T-Bone Walker Blues Fest on June 17 and 18 with blues musicians across the generations on tap to perform. David “Honeyboy” Edwards is returning; this Delta blues guitarist is a living blues legend and shouldn’t be missed. Others in the lineup for the two-day festival are Buddy Flett, Omar Sharriff, Matt Schofield, Robin & the Bluebirds, Ezra Charles Band, Bobbie Oliver & Jam City Revue, DieDra & the Ruff Pro Band, The Peterson Brothers Band, The Alan Fox Band, Mathew Davidson Band, Bill Lynch and the MidWestern Icons, and the Pleasant Hill Quilting Group. Each year this festival is one of the best music events around the Texarkana area, rich in quality musicians and great personalities.

- Aaron Brand

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Jul 26

Texarkana has some big names rolling through the area in the next couple months, judging by acts associated with three of the largest, most-anticipated upcoming festivals: Hope Watermelon Festival, Four States Fair & Rodeo, and Quadrangle Festival. Popular country act Joe Nichols headlines the Hope Watermelon Festival on August 14. He came through town earlier this year and, at the time, said he’d be playing more in this area; it looks like he’s making good on that plan. Curb Records artist Lee Brice, the South Carolina-born singer of the hit “Love Like Crazy,” opens the 66th Annual Four States Fair & Rodeo on Sept. 17. And then on Oct. 1 the Quadrangle Festival kicks off two nights of downtown street dances with alternative country favorites The Gourds and singer and songwriting legend Ray Wylie Hubbard. We’ll be discussing all of these acts in upcoming Accent page stories.

- Aaron Brand

The Gourds are seen here in this submitted promo photo by Andy Goodwin.

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May 28

When I interviewed country music performer Joe Nichols in April, he said he aims to play more often in this region. At the time, he was about to play at Shooters Sports Bar with his latest album, the fall 2009 release “Old Things New,” along for the songs. The Arkansas native is true to his word and he’ll soon be back in this area. The Hope-Hempstead Chamber of Commerce announced Nichols as the headline act for the 34th Annual Watermelon Festival. The concert takes place August 14. Tickets go on sale June 4, a week from today. (The Jason Helms Band and Watermelon Idol Contest winner will open for him.) For more info, check out Hopemelonfest.com.

- Aaron Brand

Popularity: 2% [?]

Aug 3

Yes, it’s true and it exists. Just when I thought I could not possibly make another entry about Hope Watermelon Festival, well, along comes this news bit: Watermelon Idol is the talent competition for the festival with the preliminary competition at 6 p.m. on Thursday at Fair Park Coliseum with the finals at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Sponsored by the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope, this is the fourth annual running. Local, talented folks in the area are encouraged to apply, and winners get both cash and a chance to play before Tracy Byrd. For more info and an application form, check out the UACCH.edu Website and click on “Watermelon Idol.”

- Aaron Brand

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Jul 22

Summer is a natural time to celebrate that delicious, succulent treat known as the watermelon. Naples, Texas, continues its own longstanding tradition of holding a watermelon festival on Friday and Saturday. And Hope is famous for its melon party, this year to be held August 6 through 8. For the first time in 16 years, the Hope Watermelon Festival will have a big musical headliner in the form of country music performer Tracy Byrd, He’ll play at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 8, at Legion Field in Fair Park. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with musical acts the Night Hawk Band and the Jason Helms Band opening for Byrd starting at 6 p.m.. The winner of the “Watermelon Idol” contest will also do a few numbers before the southeast Texas-based Byrd gets on stage. I talked with Byrd on Tuesday and he’s a pretty down-to-earth guy. He’s played around here a number of times and says he’ll bring a full band in for the Hope performance. Of course, it’s probably a safe bet he’ll perform “Watermelon Crawl.” Check out the Hope Watermelon Festival Website to see the many places you can get concert tickets; also, you can buy them online at UACCH’s Website. Byrd concert ticket prices: $12 in advance, $15 at the door; kids are $6. 

- Aaron Brand

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