The 2018 Rockdale Fair is less than a month away and the headliners this year have a decidedly Texas twang.
Saturday night (Oct. 20) headliner Pat Green hails from Lubbock and Mark Chesnutt, who will be on stage Friday, Oct. 19, is a Beaumont native.
Michael Salgado, the Thursday, Oct. 18 headliner, is a San Antonio resident.
And the opening bands? Kenny Orts, who opens for Chesnutt, is from the Brenham area, and Green’s opening act, The Emotions, have been entertaining Texans for 38 years.
IT’S CLOSE—The Fair’s opening weekend is even closer, Oct. 13, with the traditional Miss Rockdale Fair Queen and Children’s Pageants in the high school auditorium.
Contestants are signing up now and entry blanks can be found on pages 6A and 4B of this week’s Reporter.
And, of course, all the familiar favorites will be back for the 43rd annual edition at Fair Park, including nightly rodeos, barbecue cookoff, livestock competition and sales, arts and crafts and much more.
GREEN—The Oct. 20 headliner was a student at Texas Tech when he began performing and was beginning to build a following when he caught the eye of Willie Nelson.
Green appeared at one of Nelson’s Fourth of July picnics and that launched a career which has included 15 singles appearing on the Billboard Top 20 Country Hits chart.
His “Wave on Wave” album, featuring the hit single of that name, went gold.
Green’s newest single “Friday’s Coming” was released earlier this year.
An avid Texas Rangers baseball fan, Green’s “Dancehall Dreams” has been informally adopted as the team’s victory song.
CHESNUTT—You might say Chesnutt is the “poster boy” for honky-tonk influence in country music.
After all, one of his biggest hits is titled “Bubba Shot the Jukebox.”
That doesn’t mean his musical range is limited. Chesnutt has had 14 number one hits, 23 top 10 singles, five gold and four platinum albums.
Other hits have included “It’s a Little Too Late” and “Where You Are.”
His cover of rock band Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want To Miss a Thing” even jumped from the country charts into the Billboard Hot 100.
SALGADO—The Oct. 17 headliner is a legend in Tejano/Norteño music.
Salgado is a two-time winner at the Latin Grammys and is an accomplished singer and accordionist.
His single “Sin Ella,” from his album “En Conserta” was a major hit.
Salgado’s other singles have included “Cruz de Madera” and “Palomita Blanca.”
OPENERS—Orts is a Rockdale favorite and will be making his fourth appearance at a Rockdale Fair.
Orts got his start playing dance halls in the Brenham-Bellville-Giddings area and that kind of venue has become a passion for him.
Orts says his mission it “to keep Texas dance halls alive.”
The Emotions have been around 38 years, with an ever-changing cast which has included many musicians who have gone on to enjoy success on their own.
They perform all over Texas at fairs, cookoffs, business functions, dance halls and even high school proms.
Salgado goes on stage at the park pavilion at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 18.
On Oct. 19, Orts plays at 8:30 p.m., followed by Chesnutt at 10:30.
The Fair’s final event Oct. 20 begins with The Emotions at 8 p.m. and Green takes the stage at 11.
TICKETS—Go to www.rockdalefairandrodeo.com for more information.
A three-day season pass is $25 for adults and $15 for children and senior citizens.
Season pass pre-sale ends Oct. 17. Daily admission is $20 for adults and $10 for children and senior citizens.
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