Amarillo, TX, August 11, 2009-Country music prevails at this year’s 86th annual Texas Ford Dealer’s Tri-State Fair and Rodeo taking place September 18-26. Country music continues to grow in popularity and the Texas Ford Dealer’s Tri-State Fair and Rodeo continues to oblige fair and rodeo patrons.

List of performers and dates:

Honky Tonk Tailgate-Friday, September 25

Mark Wills, multi-platinum selling country music star with 8 top 10 hits including “Don’t Laugh At Me” and “Wish You Were Here.” “Don’t Laugh At Me” was nominated by the Country Music Association for Single, Song, and Video of the Year. Wills won the Academy of Country Music's award for Top New Male Vocalist.  In 2002, his single “19 Somethin’” spent six weeks at No. 1 and was Billboard’s top country hit of the year. Mark just recently released his latest album, Familiar Stranger, on Tenacity Records.

Mark is the host of GAC’s hit television series The Year.  He is also involved with the Children's Miracle Network, Taser Foundation, and has performed for our military overseas for the past five years. 

Jeff Bates, a native of Mississippi, signed with RCA Records in 2002.  The association yielded two critically acclaimed albums—Rainbow Man in 2003 and Leave The Light On in 2006—plus seven hit singles including  “The Love Song,” “Long, Slow Kisses,” and “One Second Chance.”  In 2008, Bates released his first album for Black River Music Group, the self-titled Jeff Bates.  As a songwriter, he has also enjoyed cuts by Montgomery Gentry, Tracy Lawrence, and most recently, on Jamey Johnson’s Grammy-nominated album.

Jeff Bates’ tumultuous life story has been bared honestly for the media and country music fans alike. Clearly, his music and live performances celebrate not only the second chance that he has personally experienced, but also the things that are most important to him: strong family ties, the love of a good woman, appreciation for the working man, and unfailing religious beliefs.

Trent Willmon first captured country music audiences with songs like “Beer Man,” “Dixie Rose Deluxe’s” and “Home Sweet Holiday Inn.”  His sophomore album, A Little More Livin’, produced his first Top 25 single, “On Again Tonight.”  Trent also helped cowrite Montgomery Gentry’s #1 hit “Back When I Knew It All.”  Willmon is now on fire with the release of his third album, Broken In. 

Trent has often been one to take advantage of any new opportunities to come his way.  The first as the host of CMT’s (Country Music Television) reality show competition, “America’s Top Cowboy.”  He is also starring as a lead role in the family friendly Western, Palo Pinto Gold.  Trent has recently published and released his own cookbook as well.  It is entitled, “The Beer Man Cookbook” and features over 150 recipes based on grilling and smoking.  He is also currently filming a live sold out concert DVD at Gilley’s in Dallas, TX. It will available for sale in April 2009.

Saturday, September 26

Heidi Newfield- Growing up on a horse farm in Healdsburg, CA, in the heart of Sonoma County wine country, Heidi’s talent was lovingly nurtured by her mother and father.  Every trail ride, every horse show and rodeo was set to a soundtrack of Ernest Tubb, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline and all the great traditionalists.  Later—to her mother’s dismay—Heidi’s two older sisters turned her on to the great rock bands of the 60’s and 70’s: The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and AC\DC.  Heidi also fell in love with traditional blues, and began playing the harmonica at an early age, attracted by what she calls “the most lonesome sound on the planet.” 

The diversity of the song selection is striking: from to the bleak melancholy of “Wreck You,” the sweaty desperation of “Can’t Let Go,” and the angry wail of “Nothin’ Burns Like A Memory,” Heidi reaches not just new heights as an artist, but new depths as well.  She gracefully leads us through the sweet, breathy yearning of “All I Wanna Do,” the simple hurt of “Love Her And Lose Me,” and the retro groove of “When Tears Fall Down.”  Closing with the “redneck-clever” anthem “Knocked Up,” the album whirls its way through a 360 degree tour of Heidi Newfield.

For more information contact the Texas Ford Dealer’s Tri-State Fair and Rodeo at (806) 376-7767, or visit the Web site at www.tristatefair.com.

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