The 32nd Heart of Texas Country Music Festival will run from March 19-27, in Brady, Texas, and will feature 15 shows and dances with over 30 traditional country music artists.
Country Music Entertainers being featured this year include Moe Bandy, Johnny Rodriguez, T.G. Sheppard, Darrell McCall, Tony Booth, Justin Trevino, Amber Digby, Tayla Lynn, Jeff Woolsey, Mary Lou Turner, Tommy Horton, Kelly Spinks and Miles of Texas, Norma Jean, Mona McCall, Kaye Tolson, Jake Hooker and the Outsiders, Jody Nix and the Texas Cowboys, Landon Dodd, Dottsy, Rance Norton, Dallas Wayne, Jeannie C. Riley, Bobby Flores, The Kenastons, Chuck Hancock, Heather Myles, Frankie Miller and Myra Rolen.
The Heart of Texas Country Music Festival grew from the Hillbilly Hits radio show featured on KNEL FM 95.3. During the last several years, the event has become a destination event for Traditional Country Music fans from across the country and many foreign areas as well. Last year, tickets were sold to fans from over 21 states as well as Switzerland, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, England, Australia and Sweden.
Tickets are on sale at www. heartoftexascountry.com or by phoning (325) 597-1895. The events will be staged at the Brady Civic Center, the Heart of Texas Events Center and the Heart of Texas Country Music Museum.
“The Heart of Texas Country Music Festival is a great time for fans of Traditional Country Music to gather and hear the music that they enjoy,” event organizer Tracy Pitcox said. “It is like a family reunion of sorts allowing the fans and the artists to gather and celebrate great music. It also helps out our local economy and allows many people to see our community that may never visit here for any other reason.”
March 19 (Friday), Brady Civic Center
8:00 p.m. - Johnny Bush Tribute Dance With Justin Trevino, Rance Norton, Tony Booth & More Featuring Former Members of Johnny Bush’s Bandolero Band $25
March 20 (Saturday), Brady Civic Center
10:00 a.m. - Tommy Horton At The Heart of Texas Country Music Museum (Donation)
2:00 p.m. - Heart of Texas Concert Featuring Moe Bandy, Darrell McCall, Norma Jean, Tony Booth, Myra Rolen, Mary Lou Turner, Mona McCall, Rance Norton, Landon Dodd Kaye Tolson & Frankie Miller $21
8:00 p.m. - Heart of Texas Dance Featuring Moe Bandy, Darrell McCall, Tony Booth, Heather Myles, Mary Lou Turner, Mona McCall, Rance Norton, Landon Dodd, Myra Rolen, Kaye Tolson & Frankie Miller $25
March 21 (Sunday), Heart of Texas Events Center
3:00 p.m. - Norma Jean’s Cowboy Church Show with Special Guests Mary Lou Turner, Kaye Tolson and Tommy Horton (Donation)
March 22 (Monday), Heart of Texas Events Center
7:00 p.m. - Kelly Spinks And Miles of Texas $15
March 23 (Tuesday), Heart of Texas Events Center
7:00 p.m. - The Justin Trevino Band $15
March 24 (Wednesday)
12:00 p.m. - Heart of Texas Steel Guitar Show at Heart of Texas Events Center (Free Admission)
7:00 p.m. - Jody Nix And The Texas Cowboys With Jeff Woolsey And The Dance Hall Kings at Brady Civic Center $20
March 25 (Thursday), Brady Civic Center
12:00 p.m. - Heart of Texas Jam Featuring The Kenastons (Free Admission)
8:00 p.m. - Jake Hooker & The Outsiders And Bobby Flores And The Yellow Rose Band $25
March 26 (Friday), Brady Civic Center
9:00 a.m. - Darrell McCall & Friends Golf Tournament Call (830) 570-7582
8:00 p.m. - T. G. Sheppard and the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame Band with Tony Booth $25
March 27 (Saturday), Brady Civic Center
10:00 a.m. - Tommy Horton & Chuck Hancock At The Heart of Texas Country Music Museum
11:30 a.m. - Jeannie C. Riley Meet & Greet At The Heart of Texas Country Music Museum
2:00 p.m. - Heart of Texas Concert Johnny Rodriguez, Darrell McCall, Tony Booth, Amber Digby, Norma Jean, Landon Dodd, Dottsy, Tayla Lynn & Chuck Hancock $21
8:00 p.m. - Heart of Texas Dance Featuring Johnny Rodriguez, Darrell McCall, Tony Booth, Amber Digby, Heather Myles, Landon Dodd, Tayla Lynn, Dottsy, Chuck Hancock $25
Brady hotel contact numbers include: Best Western (325) 597-3997, Holiday Inn Express (325) 597-1800, Sunset Inn (325) 597-0789 and the Gold Key Inn at (325) 597-2185. Please tell them that you are coming for the Country Music Festival as most have a special rate for those attending the functions. There are also a number of bed and breakfasts and hotel rooms available in Mason, Texas, which is a short 25 minutes away. For information on those, call the Mason Chamber at (325) 347- 5758. RV reservations at (325) 597-2152 and ask for Tina Keys.
The dances are all BYOB. The museum does have concessions at each event that includes setups, sodas, ice, popcorn, snacks and usually sandwiches. We also conduct silent auction events during the evening sessions that benefit our Heart of Texas Country Music Museum.
The Concho Valley Transit provides free shuttle service throughout Brady, as well as to all the functions that we have throughout the week. Just call them at (325) 245-3380 or (877) 947-8729 at least 30 minutes before you want to depart or make a scheduled arrangement.
The association, which boasts 1,000 members, promotes the Mason and Llano Country Opry shows at the Odeon and Lantex Theaters. The organization has sponsored many Country Music entertainers at those venues including Ray Price, Gene Watson, Kitty Wells, John Conlee, Freddie Hart, the Geezinslaws and Jean Shepard among others. The group also plans various trips to Branson and Nashville and operates Heart of Texas Records with projects currently by Tony Booth, Johnny Bush, Amber Digby, Landon Dodd, Dottsy, George Hamilton IV, Tommy Hooker, Georgette Jones, Dallas Wayne, Bobby Lewis, Bobby G. Rice, Mona McCall, Rance Norton, Kim Murray, Diane McCall, Joe Paul Nichols, Kaye Tolson, Guyanne McCall, Hank Thompson, Mary Lou Turner, Ferlin Husky, Don Wallace, Tayla Lynn, Country Jim Sloan, Chuck Hancock, Floyd Tillman, Justin Trevino, Frankie Miller, Darrell McCall, Pretty Miss Norma Jean and Curtis Potter.
The Heart of Texas Country Music Museum located in Brady, contains items from over 100 country music entertainers including Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, George Jones, Hank Thompson and even Jim Reeves’ 1956 tour bus.