The Big D Opry at Gilley’s slated for June 3

by PegNews wire

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The family-friendly recurring concert series will celebrate country music past and present.

DALLAS — The Big D Opry will feature top major and independent label country, bluegrass, and gospel artists from the great State of Texas and beyond. This is the event for great vocalists and great songwriting. The next concert will be Thursday, June 3, 2010, at Gilley’s (1135 S Lamar); doors are at 6:15 p.m., and the show is at 7:30 p.m. More than a dozen top artists will perform including Buddy Jewell, John Arthur Martinez, Star De Azlan, The King Bucks, Jolie Holliday, Aubree-Anna, Brittnee Lee, Erica Nicole, Paul Eason, Shane Mathews, and the 2009 Next Big D Opry Star Talent Contest Winner Jenna Paulette. The event will be hosted by Jolie Holliday and Luke Barr. After the show and until 11:30 p.m., Big D Opry guests can stick around for artist meet and greets, dancing, open mic, karaoke, and autograph signings.

Buddy Jewell (Lepanto, Ark.) burst onto the country music scene in 2003 when he won the coveted title of USA Network’s first ever Nashville Star. A true crowd favorite from the premiere episode to the finale, TV audiences and critics alike fell in love with Jewell’s gentility, enthusiasm, and true musical passion. Buddy’s self-titled debut album on Columbia Records was certified gold, and garnered two back-to-back top five hits with “Sweet Southern Comfort” and “Help Pour Out the Rain (Lacey’s Song.)” Jewell debuted at #1 on the Top Country Album charts, and was recognized by the ACM, CMA, and CMT Awards with multiple nominations.

John Arthur Martinez (Austin) finished in second place on the first season of the USA Network talent show Nashville Star. In 2004, Martinez released a studio album for Dualtone Records, which produced one single on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart. By the time John Arthur graduated from Southwest Texas State University, where he was voted most talented Hispanic and nominated best dancer, he was playing three engagements a week. This has grown to an average of five nights a week including openings for Diamond Rio, Reuben Ramos, The Texas Tornados, Robert Earl Keen, Tish Hinojosa, Emmylou Harris, Holly Dunn, John Prine, Hal Ketchum, Gary P. Nunn, Johnny Gimble, and Floyd Tillman. Recent highlights include an invitation to open the prestigious songwriter showcase of the Ben Crenshaw, Darrell Royal, Willie Nelson Golf Tournament, which included Whitey Shafer, Alex Harvey, Allen Shamblin, Jim Ed Brown, Sonny Throckmorton, Pat Green, and Doug Supernaw. With the current release of John Arthur Martinez' Stand Your Ground, the fruits of his labors are blossoming -- ready for the harvest.

Star De Azlan (San Marcos, Texas) is a Curb recording artist and the first Hispanic female country artist to be signed to a major international recording label. You’ll see her face featured on Curb’s NASCAR racecar on the hood at Texas Motor Speedway. Star got her start at the Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos where George Strait was discovered and most of his band members played for her. She is currently on a radio tour with Tommy Foote, George Strait’s tour manager, and he said, “She’s the real deal.” Her current single “Like A Rose,” which she wrote, can be heard on Texas radio. Raised within a culinary family in San Antonio, she is also the host of the cooking show “Mex It Up.” Star, who sings in five languages received rave reviews and was compared in Edith Piaf at July 2009 Country Fest in France with Jo Dee Messina where she performed before 20,000 people. Star’s booking agent Jorge Pinos and publicist Sandy Friedman of Rogers & Cowan both worked with Selena before her untimely death. They feel she is destined for superstardom. Since her last appearance at the Big D Opry, Star performed two consecutive sold out shows at Billy Bob’s in Paris, France as well as Nashville performances.

Jolie Holliday (Dallas) Jolie’s new album is the follow up to her tremendously successful debut “A Real Good Day” which garnered the Dallas native a number of awards and thrust her to the height of international superstardom with it entering the European charts at 1. She also received the Young Talent of the Year award at the German CMA Awards as well as Female Vocalist of the Year and Album of the Year at the CMA Indie Awards. Jolie continues to treat fans to her amazing live performances. With hand clapping, foot stomping, get-up-out-of-your-seat and dance shows that include a medley of her own hits, as well as timeless country favorites, Jolie’s electrifying concerts remain a top priority for this truly gifted performer. Jolie can also be seen in concert regularly at Chevrolet and NASCAR sponsored events such as the State Fair of Texas, Daytona 500, Brickyard 400, Allstate 400, and Indianapolis 500.

Aubree-Anna (Dallas) has written and copyrighted more than 100 songs. She has performed all over the Dallas-Fort Worth area including the first-ever Cowboys Alumni Association Gala, for the Dallas Cowboys, and for the fourth consecutive year she performed at the State Fair of Texas on the Main Chevrolet Stage. Her performances have followed headliners such as Grammy Award Winners Boys II Men. Aubree-Anna has been featured in many publications, including The Dallas Morning News, Addison Magazine, Turtle Creek News, and most notably she was celebrated as a Singer and Entertainer on the August 2009 Cover and Feature Inside Article of D Magazine's "The Best of Big D" 2009.

The King Bucks (Dallas) forge a unique alliance between traditional country, boogie, rockabilly, and soul. This fearless blend transcends mere country and propels the band into a hitherto unexplored realm of progressive honky tonk. Their sound appeals to die hard purists as well as those unfamiliar with the revered legacy of country music’s early masters. The King Bucks have been the subject of numerous articles in Dallas Observer, The Dallas Morning News, D Magazine and Quick, as well as receiving nominations for best country act by both Quick and Observer in 2008. In 2009, The King Bucks won the Quick DFW award for best live act, as well as Dallas Observer Music Award for best country/roots act.

Erica Nicole (Atlanta, Ga.) sang in school plays, choirs, and was even a member of The Young Singers of Callanwolde. From a very early age, she would imagine she was on stage singing her heart out to audiences everywhere. Erica Nicole has been in the studio, working on her album with producer Michael Lloyd (Dirty Dancing, Angel Eyes), recording a music video, and performing across the United States at SXSW, the famous Gilley’s, and other hot spots from Atlanta to Dallas to Los Angeles. Now she is looking forward to soon releasing her album and embarking on a USO tour this summer.

Brittnee Lee (Royse City/Denton) is a teen sensation from Garland who has performed nationwide and won several notable talent competitions including the USA World Showcase in Las Vegas. She is the first high school student ever to be inducted on the wall of honor at Richland Junior College and graduated from high school at 18 with her diploma and associate’s degree. She has performed at the Garland Opry and the State Fair to large audiences. Her new CD Purpose shows off her versatility as a singer and maturity as a songwriter with “The Perfect Catch” and “Don’t Drink and Drive.” Her songs have been chosen as the anthem for many charitable organizations. Britnee is a now proud to be studying and growing as an artist at the University of North Texas.

Paul Eason Band (Austin) performs everything from Red Dirt to Americana to Texas Shuffle. He also made his international debut in July of 2009 at CountryFest in Paris, France with Star De Azlan. He has had multiple singles in the top 10 on the Texas Music Chart including “One More Dance” which topped at #3. His last album Keeping It ‘Tween the Lines’ title track charted at #13. A graduate of Houston’s High School for the Performing Arts like Beyoncé Knowles, Paul wanted to stay in Texas to explore his love of Robert Earl Keen, Lyle Lovett, and Pat Green so he accepted a jazz scholarship to Texas State. He is currently touring with his band to support his current album “The Mountains of Nuevo Leon.” Paul’s band features fiddle player Paul Brunner and steel guitar player Glenn Shankle who has played with Neal McCoy and Cory Morrow.

Shane Mathews (San Augustine, TX) is a true traditional country artist who had been performing since his freshmen year of college. He was nominated at the Academy of Western Artists for best male vocalist in 2006. Shane had performed alongside with Linda Davis, Charlie Walker, Gene Watson, Ray Price, and many other legendary artists. He is currently working hard to bring back the traditional country music that had somehow been forgotten.

Jenna Paulette (Dallas) has performed at the Big D Opry opening for artists Ty Herndon, Joey+Rory, Bryan White, High Valley, The Tejas Brothers, and others. While at the Big D Opry, she won the upcoming country artist competition in October 2009 and the championship competition against other Big D Opry talent competition winners in February 2010. She was presented her award by Mark Phillips, Program Director for 99.5 FM The Wolf. Jenna writes her own music and prefers contemporary country with a hint of bluegrass.

Tickets are on sale now from $15 for adults in advance; $18 at the door/$10 children under 12, online or by phone at www.bigdopry.com or www.atexasstyle.com (877-496-3931) and at the door at Gilley’s Dallas. Seniors and military receive a dollar off their tickets. Concessions, holiday gifts, and commemorative merchandise and CDs will be available at the show. Self-parking is available on-site for $5, preferred parking is $8.

Source: Big D Opry

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