‘Takin’ Care Of Business’ – Bachman-Turner Overdrive (Bto) Reunites For New Tour – Date At Deadwood Mountain Grand
DEADWOOD, S.D. (10/30/23) – One of the biggest bands in rock-and-roll is reunited with one of the most prolific songwriters in history, Randy Bachman for a new tour in 2024. Bachman-Turner Overdrive, better known as BTO will be making a stop at Deadwood Mountain Grand on Friday, February 16th as part of their all new tour throughout 2024.
Founder Randy Bachman states, "After a very long time Bachman-Turner Overdrive/BTO is back on the rock and roll highway and kicking it into OVERDRIVE! Full tilt pedal to the metal rock and roll is back to melt your face and rock your soul.”
After many decades, selling tens of millions of records with multi-platinum and number 1 awards, Bachman-Turner Overdrive is back in gear! BTO is back with all the hits: "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet", “Takin' Care of Business", “Let It Ride", “Roll on Down the Highway", "Hey You", "Four Wheel Drive”, “Looking Out For #1”. PLUS other hits written by the architect of Canadian Rock, Randy Bachman: "American Woman", "These Eyes", “Undun”, No Time", "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature”.
BTO's origins began in 1970 when Randy, after co-writing such major Guess Who hits as "These Eyes," "No Time, “Undun," "Laughin’" and "American Woman." left the Winnipeg-based group. Backed by its high-powered stage performances, Bachman-Turner Overdrive was a nuclear reactor of fuzz-toned aggression churning out such pounding signature tunes as "Takin' Care Of Business," "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet." "Gimme Your Money Please," "Roll On Down The Highway," and "Let It Ride" that begged for a cranked-up car radio, and a steering wheel to hit for hours on end.
In his home country, Randy has received the Order of Canada, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, 11 JUNO awards, the SOCAN Lifetime Achievement Award, and is a double-inductee in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. In 2011 the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) presented Randy with its Global Impact Award, and he was inducted into the U.S. Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville in 2014.
After many decades, selling tens of millions of records with multi-platinum and number 1 awards, Bachman-Turner Overdrive is back in gear!
Tickets go on sale for Deadwood Mountain Grand Reward Members at 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 31st and to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday November 3rd. They will be available at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Box Office or at ticketmaster.com. Ticket buyers should note that TICKETMASTER is the only official ticket broker for Deadwood Mountain Grand. Beware of third party websites and offers. Both hotel reservations and ticket arrangements may be made by calling 877-907-GRAND.
For more information, visit www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com or call 605-559-1188. To open your free Grand Rewards Center membership and enjoy the benefits of purchasing advance tickets ahead of the general public, bring a photo ID to the Grand Rewards Center counter, located in the Deadwood Mountain Grand Resort Casino.
Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, a Holiday Inn Resort is the restored 1906 Homestake Mining Co. ore processing plant that overlooks Historic Deadwood, which features a 98-room luxury hotel, full service restaurants, 210 state-of-the-art casino games, high stakes gaming action including Dale’s Sportsbook Bar & Grill, a 3,000 person entertainment and event center and a multi-level parking garage.
Corey Kent, Jackson Dean Headline 9th Annual Red Dirt Music Festival At Deadwood Mountain Grand
DEADWOOD, SD. (10/16/23) – Now in its 9th year, the Deadwood Red Dirt Music Festival at Deadwood Mountain Grand has fast become one of the biggest music festivals in the upper mid-west. The event, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, January 12th and 13th will feature Corey Kent and Jackson Dean as headliners along with a roster of some of the best performers in Red Dirt music.
The event produced by Deadwood Mountain Grand, debuted in 2015 with nearly 5,000 fans attending two days of the best in music from the Red Dirt genre. Red Dirt is the color of soil found in Oklahoma and Texas. They are the homes of a music genre that spawned Outlaw Country legends like Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson and created a home grown movement of Americana, folk and alt-country sounds. Some define Red Dirt music as “country music with attitude”. Others say it’s a state of mind as much as it is a sound – a sound that successfully closes the gap between rock and country.
Regardless of definition, Red Dirt fans are loyal and have come in droves in previous years to Deadwood Mountain Grand. “We absolutely love this event,” said Susan Kightlinger, General Manager of Deadwood Mountain Grand. “The music is incredible, the fans come to party and the atmosphere is electric. Plus, it’s nice to bring 5,000 people to Deadwood in the middle of January.”
Headlining the festival on Friday night is the wildly popular Corey Kent. With the small-town charm of a boy from Bixby, OK, the big-city energy of Dallas, TX, and vocal prowess that rivals Nashville’s best – Corey Kent has been poised for a career in music from the beginning.
Growing up influenced by various genres and artists, Corey started his journey in music at an early age. Taking the stage at age 11 as the lead singer for a touring Western Swing band, Corey hit early career milestones opening for legendary acts like Roy Clark and The Oak Ridge Boys. A few years later, he would be booking gigs around his hometown of Bixby, OK and by 17 he made his way to Nashville.
In 2020, Corey released his From the West LP which garnered 3.5+ million aggregate streams and set the stage for his next chapter. His song “Gold” and fan favorite “Ain’t My Day” has nearly 15 million streams combined. In December of 2021, Corey released his sophomore album, ’21, to an overwhelmingly positive reception and landed on multiple playlists across the streaming platforms with his single “There’s Always Next Year.” Both albums were released via Combustion Music. On March 4, 2022, Corey released his smash hit single “Wild As Her” and shortly after signed his deal with Sony Music Nashville and their RCA Nashville Imprint.
A road warrior, Corey has been seen out on the road performing over 100 shows a year in 2021 alone. Along with headlining his own shows and playing the top music festivals across the country, Corey has been the supporting act for artists including Parker McCollum, Cody Johnson, Chase Rice, Eli Young, Josh Abbott, Flatland Cavalry, and Kolby Cooper. Corey also has major success writing songs for others including Kolby Cooper, Brandon Jenkins, Clark Green’s #1 hit “Hit You Where It Hurts” and more under his publishing deal with Combustion Music.
Supporting Kent on Friday night is regional favorite Ned LeDoux along with Braxton Keith.
One of the most incredible things about great music is that it has the ability to take the listener to a place they’d rather be. A compelling song can carry someone back in time to a treasured memory, or transport a person to a spectacular western prairie they’ve only visited in their dreams. Ned LeDoux’s music has that kind of power.
As a songwriter, he has a knack for bringing people, places and emotions vibrantly to life with his insightful lyrics, and warm, strong voice that makes him sound like a beloved friend you always want to hang out with. Those gifts are fully on display on LeDoux’s new album Buckskin.
“I’m writing my own story and if people take a liking to it, that’s wonderful,” says LeDoux. “As long as I’m writing from the heart, and writing about what I know, I can definitely listen back to it and be proud.”
On his third full-length album, LeDoux again delivers songs that transcend mere entertainment to celebrate a life that many aspire to, but few actually live. Like his father, LeDoux’s music is as expansive as the western sky he was raised under and celebrates the ranch lifestyle that is such an integral part of his heritage. There’s an authenticity to his songs that brings our nation’s beloved western culture to life, even for listener’s who’ve never ventured onto the Great Plains.
“I’m proud to carry on the tradition and a lot of songs that I write are going to relate with songs that my dad wrote and recorded because I lived the same life,” the young singer/songwriter says. “I was born and raised on a ranch, which my family still owns outside of Kaycee, Wyoming. That was my life and it’s reflected in the songs I write. I just think back to those days working on a ranch and hanging out with my granddad, who taught me how to drive a tractor, work cows and everything that is associated with ranching, but music has always been my dream.”
LeDoux began pursuing that dream at an early age, and even though he grew up in the shadow of his legendary father, he’s successfully carved his own path. “If I can be half the man he was I think I’ll be okay,” he says with an easygoing grin, “but when it comes to songwriting I’ve got to write my own story. I’ve played drums for years and got my first band when I was in junior high. I went on to play drums with my dad from 1998 until he passed away in 2005, and then I started doing solo gigs.”
LeDoux is well respected for his high-energy live shows that mix his western roots with the rock and roll influences he acquired in his youth. He routinely headlines his own shows as well as earning coveted opening slots for Toby Keith, Aaron Watson and Garth Brooks. “We opened for Garth at the 125th anniversary for Cheyenne frontier Days last July which was crazy,” he says. “When people are coming out to our shows and spending their hard-earned money on a ticket, I don’t want to leave them disappointed. We’re going to give you a show and leave you wanting more. I’m always out of breath and soaking wet when we’re done, but it’s so much fun!”
Kicking off the Friday night event is newcomer Braxton Keith. Keith calls San Antonio home, but the 20 something songwriter hasn't spent much time there in recent years. He leaves town nearly every weekend, driving his band—and his own tour bus toward the next show. "That bus is actually the only vehicle I own," he says. "I drive it everywhere I go."
Whether he's onstage or behind the wheel, Braxton doesn't just play country music. He lives it. Inspired by the traditional twang of storytellers like Marty Robbins and Merle Haggard, he writes songs that blend modern sounds with the best elements of old-school country. It's a balance of the contemporary and the classic, glued together by a proud Texas native who's learned to create autobiographical music about universal experiences. "These are songs about love, heartbreak, and drinking, which are things everybody knows about," he explains. "I'm not the only person to write songs about those things. But I'm the only person to do it my way."
Saturday night’s show will be headlined by fast-rising Country singer/songwriter Jackson Dean. He is quickly earning a reputation for his old school, gritty, lyric-driven, outlaw style of Country following a breakout year that landed him on Pandora’s Ten for 2023 (all genre), Spotify’s Hot Country Artists to Watch 2023, the CMT Listen Up class of 2023, CRS New Faces 2023, Amazon Music’s 2023 Breakthrough Artists to Watch: Country Class as well as a slew of other artist to watch lists.
Mature beyond his years, Jackson opted to move out to a cinderblock, concrete floor, one-room shack on the back of his grandfather’s property with no heat and no plumbing at just 18 years old. An adventurous and carefree spirit, the 22-year-old multi-instrumentalist, is also an old soul and skilled artisan whose pastimes include making leather goods, wood-burned art and disappearing into the woods to sleep under the stars.
Bringing that same sense of adventure and down home vibe to his songwriting, the “modern-day Country rambler” (Taste of Country) burst on the scene, showing people how real music can be with his atmospheric, musically-forward debut album Greenbroke (out now via Big Machine Records). The Maryland native’s single, “Don’t Come Lookin’” was the fastest debut to reach No. 1 in 2022 and cemented Jackson as the youngest solo male Country artist to reach the top of the charts with a debut.
Landing spots on the Billboard Hot 100, the soundtrack for Netflix’s The Ice Road and a John Dutton scene in Yellowstone. His sophomore single, “Fearless (The Echo)” is currently climbing the Country radio charts after being Most Added upon impact.
Following an early career of local performances in his hometown, Jackson has joined bills with superstar acts like Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Brantley Gilbert, Kane Brown, Jake Owen, Brooks & Dunn, Lee Brice, HARDY and Brothers Osborne and found himself on the bill for credible events like Austin City Limits and Stagecoach. The young talent just kicked off the Back to the Honky Tonk Tour with Blake Shelton and Carly Pearce and will join dates with Eric Church and Parker McCollum later this year.
Warming up for Jackson is multi-talented rising star Tanner Usery. The Texas-born singer, songwriter, and guitarist pairs straight shooting storytelling with country grit, rock ‘n’ roll energy, and Americana eloquence. As such, he channels a classic spirit from a personal perspective. After piling up tens of millions of streams, packing hundreds of shows, and landing syncs on the likes of Yellowstone, he bares it all on a series of 2023 singles for Atlantic Records and much more to come.
“I let the songs be what they’re going to be, and I pride myself on that,” he notes. “Musically, it ranges from southern rock to country to Americana. When it comes to songwriting, I want to focus on what’s real – I don’t shy away from saying the hard things.”
After catching Wade Bowen and Brandon Rhyder in concert, his destiny crystallized in high school. “I remember saying to myself, ‘That’s what I want to do’,” he recalls. “That’s what led me to picking up a guitar.”
Inspired by everyone from George Strait, Tom Petty, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Rolling Stones to his favorite band Whiskey Myers, he wrote countless songs and cut his teeth at gigs anywhere with a stage.
In between holding down a job as a skip tracer, he carefully honed his signature style. Quitting his job in 2019, he unveiled the Medicine Man EP. “Come Back Down” generated 19.1 million Spotify streams followed by “Beautiful Lies” with 18 million Spotify streams. During 2021, he tirelessly gigged in between releasing the SÕL Sessions EP. “The Light” also notably soundtracked the finale of Yellowstone Season 4. Along the way, he cemented himself as an electrifying and energetic live presence with over 180 shows in 2022.
“When we’re on stage, our goal is to have the audience clinging to the edge of their seats,” he shares. “I get to play with a bunch of badasses, and I don’t take it for granted. We pounded the pavement and put at least 100K miles on the van in a year-and-a-half.”
Kicking off the Saturday night show will be Clayton Mullen. While still a senior at Texas Christian University, 22-year-old Clayton Mullen spends weekdays in the “classroom” and weekends cutting his teeth in Texas bars.
Clayton was raised with little ties to the music world. It wasn’t until college that he learned his first barre chord or even wrote his first song. His music career was able to jump-start due to opportunities raised by local artists such as the Josh Abbott Band, Corey Kent, Randall King, Carson Jeffrey, and Jacob Stelly.
In his first year, Clayton released 8 songs, including fan favorite “South of Forever”, which has topped 1 million on-demand streams. He is keeping his fans on their toes as he gets ready to launch a whole new set of songs in 2023.
Tickets for the Deadwood Red Dirt Music Festival go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, October 20th. They will be available at The Spotlight Box Office at Deadwood Mountain Grand – or at ticketmaster.com. Both hotel reservations and ticket arrangements may be made by calling 877-907-GRAND.
For more information, visit www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com or call 605-559-1188. To open your free Grand Rewards Center membership and enjoy the benefits of purchasing advance tickets ahead of the general public, bring a photo ID to the Grand Rewards Center counter, located in the Deadwood Mountain Grand Resort Casino.
Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, a Holiday Inn Resort is the restored 1906 Homestake Mining Co. ore processing plant that overlooks Historic Deadwood, which features a 98-room luxury hotel, full service restaurants, 210 state-of-the-art casino games, high stakes gaming action including Dale’s Sportsbook Bar & Grill, a 3,000 person entertainment and event center and a multi-level parking garage.
From ‘Bad English’ To ‘The Baby’s’ – John Waite “40 Years Of Missing You” Tour Comes To Deadwood Mountain Grand
DEADWOOD, S.D. (09/19/23) – One of the biggest hit makers from the 80’s and 90’s with bands ‘The Baby’s’ and ‘Bad English’, John Waite will be performing his catalogue of hits from his 40 year career as a solo artist on March 23rd at Deadwood Mountain Grand.
John Waite’s catalogue of hits features some of the most loved songs of the 80s and 90s – including the #1Worldwide hit ‘Missing You’, The Baby’s ‘Isn't It Time’ and the Bad English hit ‘When I See You Smile’. These songs rank amongst some of his biggest international hits and are still heard on radio today.
Others hits include ‘Tears’, ‘Change’ and ‘These Times Are Hard For Lovers’. ‘Every Step Of The Way’ and ‘If Anybody Had A Heart’ appeared on the soundtrack to the 1986 Demi Moore film About Last Night. ‘Deal for Life’, penned by Martin Page and Bernie Taupin, was featured in the Days Of Thunder soundtrack.
As a solo artist and as the lead singer of The Baby’s and Bad English, John Waite was a fixture of album-oriented rock radio stations during the '70s and '80s. John Waite had a talent for power ballads and driving arena rock, occasionally touching on new wave-styled power pop as well.
Tickets for the John Waite “40 Years of Missing You” tour go on sale for Deadwood Mountain Grand Reward Members at 10 a.m. Wednesday, September 20th and to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, September 22nd. They will be available at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Box Office or at ticketmaster.com. Ticket buyers should note that TICKETMASTER is the only official ticket broker for Deadwood Mountain Grand. Beware of third party websites and offers. Both hotel reservations and ticket arrangements may be made by calling 877-907-GRAND.
For more information, visit www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com or call 605-559-1188. To open your free Grand Rewards Center membership and enjoy the benefits of purchasing advance tickets ahead of the general public, bring a photo ID to the Grand Rewards Center counter, located in the Deadwood Mountain Grand Resort Casino.
Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, a Holiday Inn Resort is the restored 1906 Homestake Mining Co. ore processing plant that overlooks Historic Deadwood, which features a 98-room luxury hotel, full service restaurants, 210 state-of-the-art casino games, high stakes gaming action including Dale’s Sportsbook Bar & Grill, a 3,000 person entertainment and event center and a multi-level parking garage.
12th Annual Wild West Songwriters Festival Oct. 12-14
Featuring all-new regional songwriting contest with $2,500 cash prize
DEADWOOD, S.D. (08/16/23) – What do songs like “Kerosene” and “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” by Miranda Lambert, “Wild Angels” by Martina McBride, “She’s Country” by Jason Aldean, “International Harvester” by Craig Morgan, “Truck Yeah” by Tim McGraw and many more hits have in common? They were all written by songwriters that will be performing at the 12th annual Wild West Songwriter’s Festival October 12-14 in historic Deadwood, South Dakota.
New to this year’s event will be a regional songwriting competition where artists may submit an original song to be one of 15 chosen to participate in the ‘National Songwriting Rounds’ with world renowned songwriters as well as a grand prize of $2,500 cash. Artists may submit their entry at https://bit.ly/WWSF2023 by September 1st. The top 15 entries will be chosen by a panel of judges and will be notified by September 8th. Songwriters that aren’t chosen as part of the top 15 may still participate in local rounds throughout the weekend. If you were not chosen as one of the top 15 but would still like to participate, you can email jallen@dmgrand.com for details.
Dubbed one of the “best live music festivals for fans” and one of the “top ten songwriter’s festivals you don’t want to miss”, the three-day event (produced as a collaboration between the Deadwood Chamber & Visitors Bureau and local business leaders) will feature songwriters that have produced or co-written hits for artists such as Keith Urban, Miranda Lambert, Dierks Bentley, Reba McEntire, Linda Ronstadt, Faith Hill, Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks and many more.
The festival will feature three days of free “writer’s rounds” which will showcase songwriters who are excellent performers in their own right, singing the hits they have written and telling the story behind the music. These rounds are fan favorites most notably because they are able to listen to songs that have sold millions across the world in very intimate venues throughout the historic town of Deadwood.
Already slated to appear and perform are Danny Myrick, Megan Linville, Kent Blazy, Travis Howard, Dean Alexander, Matraca Berg and more. Writer’s rounds will begin Thursday night and continue through Saturday including many local and regional songwriter’s playing locations throughout historic Deadwood.
Friday evening will culminate with the local songwriter’s jam at a soon to be named location. Also scheduled for Saturday is a national Songwriter’s Showcase at Deadwood Mountain Grand beginning at 8:30pm featuring many of the national writers performing newly written material as well as old favorites.
For more information, email info@dmgrand.com. To enter the regional competition and submit an original song visit https://bit.ly/WWSF2023
Jay Leno Deadwood Mountain Grand Performance Postponed - New Date December 16.
New date December 16th
DEADWOOD, S.D. (08/14/23) – The performance by legendary comedian and television personality Jay Leno originally scheduled for Thursday, September 28th has been postponed and rescheduled for Saturday, December 16th at Deadwood Mountain Grand.
An official statement from Leno states, ‘Hey. It’s Jay Leno here. Looking forward to telling some jokes at Deadwood Mountain Grand, but something came up in September, so now I’ll be there on Dec 16. Hope to see you there’
If tickets were purchased for the show in September, they may be used for the new date. Refunds may be received through the respective ticket outlets they purchased from. If tickets were purchased through the Deadwood Mountain Grand Spotlight Store, please call 605-559-1188 for details of your refund.
They’re ‘Leaving Louisiana In The Broad Daylight’ - The Oak Ridge Boys Return To Deadwood Mountain Grand
DEADWOOD, S.D. (07/24/23) – Theirs is one of the most distinctive and recognizable sounds in the music industry. The four-part harmonies and upbeat songs of The Oak Ridge Boys have spawned dozens of Country hits and a Number One Pop smashes, earned them Grammy, Dove, CMA, and ACM awards and garnered a host of other industry and fan accolades. The group will make a return visit to Deadwood Mountain Grand for a Sunday, October 1st performance.
Every time they step before an audience, the Oaks bring four decades of charted singles, and 50 years of tradition, to a stage show widely acknowledged as among the most exciting anywhere. And each remains as enthusiastic about the process as they have ever been.
“When I go on stage, I get the same feeling I had the first time I sang with The Oak Ridge Boys,” says lead singer Duane Allen. “This is the only job I've ever wanted to have.” “Like everyone else in the group,” adds bass singer extraordinaire, Richard Sterban, “I was a fan of the Oaks before I became a member. I’m still a fan of the group today. Being in The Oak Ridge Boys is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.”
The two, along with tenor Joe Bonsall and baritone William Lee Golden, comprise one of Country's truly legendary acts. Their string of hits includes the Country-Pop chart-topper Elvira, as well as Bobbie Sue, Dream On, Thank God For Kids, American Made, I Guess It Never Hurts To Hurt Sometimes, Fancy Free, Gonna Take A Lot Of River and many others.
In 2009, they covered a White Stripes song, receiving accolades from Rock reviewers. In 2011, they rerecorded a thirtieth anniversary version of Elvira for a Cracker Barrel Old Country Store project. The group has scored 12 gold, three platinum, and one double platinum album—plus one double platinum single—and had more than a dozen national Number One singles and over 30 Top Ten hits.
The Oaks’ high-energy stage show remains the heart and soul of what they do, and they refine it several times a year, striving to keep it fresh well into the future. “We‘re not willing to rest on our laurels,” Golden says. “That gets boring. As a group, we do things constantly to challenge ourselves, to try to do something different or better than the last time we did it.”
“I feel like I can do what I do on stage just as good now as I could 20 years ago,” says Bonsall. “I plan to be rockin’ my tail off out there as long as I’m healthy. The people who come out, who bring their families to see us, deserve everything I’ve got.” “We’ve experienced a lot of longevity,” adds Sterban. “I think the reason is the love we have for what we do—the desire, the longing to actually get up there and do it. We love to sing together...to harmonize together. It’s what our lives are all about.”
Tickets go on sale for Deadwood Mountain Grand Reward Members at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 25th and to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, July 28th. They will be available at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Box Office – The Spotlight Store – or at ticketmaster.com. Ticket buyers should note that TICKETMASTER is the only official ticket broker for Deadwood Mountain Grand. Beware of third party websites and offers. Both hotel reservations and ticket arrangements may be made by calling 877-907-GRAND.
Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, a Holiday Inn Resort is the restored 1906 Homestake Mining Co. ore processing plant that overlooks Historic Deadwood, which features a 98-room luxury hotel, full service restaurants, 210 state-of-the-art casino games, high stakes gaming action including Dale’s Sportsbook Bar & Grill, a 3,000 person entertainment and event center and a multi-level parking garage.
“Rumor Has It” Clay Walker Returning To Deadwood Mountain Grand
DEADWOOD, S.D. (07/17/23) – Multi-Platinum country music artist Clay Walker will be bringing his brand of high energy country back to the Deadwood Mountain Grand Event Center on Friday, November 17.
There's more to the duality of Clay Walker's debut ‘Show Dog’ Nashville album ‘Texas To Tennessee’ than the title. Certainly, the realities of place are as central as this comeback album's name implies: Nashville busily working toward the next fresh hit; Texas moving at its inimitable and familiar pace. There's also a mix of songwriting and production approaches, evident and more nuanced relationships between the songs themselves, and the overarching presence of a naturally gifted vocalist who relentlessly pursues his own development as a singer.
But don't mistake those dualities for dichotomy –and certainly not polarity. In a storied career dotted with smash singles, platinum albums and countless honors and acclaim, maybe the connection between country's timeless themes and music-of-the-moment timeliness has been there all along. Many of the country fans behind the almost 20 million on-demand and video streams for his latest single "Need A Bar Sometimes" –who may also be among his 750,000 TikTok followers –are wholly unaware of Walker's history.
Discovered in a Beaumont area bar by noted producer and head of Giant Records James Stroud (Toby Keith, Tracy Lawrence, Tim McGraw, Kenny Rogers), Walker was in his early twenties when he started rattling off a string of smash hits. Among them, “Live Until I Die,” "Dreaming With My Eyes Open," “This Woman And This Man,” "Hypnotize The Moon," "Rumor Has It," “Then What,” "I Can't Sleep" and "She Won't Be Lonely Long." His self-titled debut album rocketed to platinum status, the first of four to cross the million-sold mark.
Racking up more than 30 charted singles and 11 No. 1’s wasn't without its struggles, however." Being born and raised in the Houston area, I thought of myself in the line of George Strait and Clint Black, but my first producer had other ideas," Walker says. "James Stroud pushed me more towards pop sounds I fought with. What he was saying, and I think he was right, was, 'Clay, you've got some gears to you that will excite people if you let it. 'I was young –23 –and didn't really settle with that. But now I'm in a sweet spot in music, in life, and I definitely feel the audience has swung around to appreciating music that makes those connections.
"Those links are obvious on Texas To Tennessee. ”Anything To Do With You" opens the album with smooth bore country that would feel right at home on any of Walker's four platinum CDs. Song two is the counterweight single, with its processed steel guitar lick, wistful pandemic-perfect theme and explosive streaming numbers. Production was handled in tandem by acclaimed multi-platinum producer Michael Knox (Jason Aldean) and chart-topping songwriter Jaron Boyer ("Somewhere On A Beach," "Hell Of Night," "Girl Like You").
Recording took place in Galveston and Nashville. "Jaron Boyer is the best songwriter I've ever written with," Walker says. "He's had a bunch of No. 1s and lots of album cuts. Plus, he's a phenomenal singer and track builder. The total package. As a writer, his phrasing and melodies are just insane."
While Boyer is second only to Walker himself on writing credits, the duo of songs at the heart of the album finds Walker working with the formerly married songwriting powerhouse of Jennifer Hanson and Mark Nesler. "Cowboy Loves A Woman" embodies the "Texas" in the album title. It's sequel, the title track, narrates Walker's journey. Together, they are the most direct encapsulation of his core as an artist and as a man.
"Catching Up With An Ol' Memory" is perhaps the album's singular moment. The exception that stands astride both worlds with its fresh sonic bed, echoes of heroes past and an airy, vocals-up mix. "The studio can be intimidating for artists because we don't do this all the time," Walker says. "I'm sure this is part of producers doing their job in being cheerleaders, but when I was singing 'Memory,' Michael Knox got on the talk-back mic with the band and goes, 'We got us a real singer, boys. I think this might be the album take. 'That was nice to hear. And then for him to show the respect for that vocal in how it was mixed with vocals at the forefront and all that space around it... Singing well is important to me. Having integrity in my vocal cords, continuing to take voice lessons and working on having what I'm going to call free tone –hey, if you're not trying to get better you never will."
"Cowboy" is inarguably the album's "Texas" anchor. "It reminds me of what made country music great," Walker says. "Not that it's the greatest country song. Don't misunderstand. Nor am I the best singer in country music. I have never and would never claim those things. But I might be in a place where I can connect the value in a song that sounds like 'Need A Bar' and one like 'Cowboy.' And vocally, I'm at my best right now. There's an ease in my voice –particularly on 'Cowboy'–that just makes sense. I sang it through a couple times and we were done. I didn't have to press. We just had it."
Walker is quick to point fingers. "Throughout my career, there have been key people who helped me put albums together, find or write good songs and get them out to fans," he says. "But I saw something with this album I've not experienced: what it takes to make a championship happen. The songs are your deep-threat wide receivers. The full support of your record label is the offensive line. Michael and Jaron–these guys ran through walls for me. Everyone has done their part and it's impressive. You can have talent, be famous or have a few hits, but you can't win the Super Bowl without champions around you. Man, I've got 'em”.
Teamwork is also at the core of Walker's battle against Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Diagnosed in 1996, he has become a passionate advocate and fundraiser for others with the disease through his Band Against MS. Among his efforts are the annual Clay Walker Charity Classic at Pebble Beach. The golf event highlights the highly active way Walker has approached MS, continuing to perform and raise a growing family while showing no signs of slowing. "It's very gratifying to be at a point in my life where I can offer something in its fullness," he continues. "I've never quite had that before. I was pegged as a neo-traditionalist early on, but I don't think I fit that mold. For a lot of reasons –maybe the pendulum of music is in the perfect spot –but today's music and my style have hit center on this album."
Tickets go on sale for Deadwood Mountain Grand Reward Members at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 18 and to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, July 21. They will be available at The Spotlight Box Office, 605-559-1188 – or at ticketmaster.com. Both hotel reservations and ticket arrangements may be made by calling 877-907-GRAND. Please note Ticketmaster and The Company Store Box Office are the only official ticket outlets for Deadwood Mountain Grand shows. Beware of third party ticket brokers.
For more information, visit www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com or call 605-559-0386. To open your free Grand Rewards Center membership and enjoy the benefits of purchasing advance tickets ahead of the general public, bring a photo ID to the Grand Rewards Center counter, located in the Deadwood Mountain Grand Resort Casino.
Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, a Holiday Inn Resort is the restored 1906 Homestake Mining Co. ore processing plant that overlooks Historic Deadwood, which features a 98-room luxury hotel, full service restaurants, 210 state-of-the-art casino games, high stakes gaming action including Dale’s Sportsbook Bar & Grill, a 3,000 person entertainment and event center and a multi-level parking garage.
It Aint No ‘Pretty Little Lie’ – Back By Popular Demand - Blackberry Smoke To Play Deadwood Mountain Grand
DEADWOOD, S.D. (06/16/23) – Fans were left wanting more the last time they played Deadwood Mountain Grand and Blackberry Smoke are poised to do it again when the band returns to the DMG Event Center for a performance on Friday, September 8th.
Throughout their career, Blackberry Smoke -- vocalist/lead guitarist Charlie Starr, guitarist/vocalist Paul Jackson, bassist/vocalist Richard Turner, drummer Brit Turner, and keyboardist Brandon Still --has embodied Georgia's rich musical legacy, honoring the people, places and sounds of their home state.
As the band celebrates their 20th anniversary this year, their reverence for Georgia has only deepened. On their latest album, “You Hear Georgia”, the follow-up to 2018's critically acclaimed “Find a Light”, Blackberry Smoke is further celebrating these roots with 10 new songs that feel like Georgia, accented by the addition of Grammy-winning producer and fellow Georgia-native, Dave Cobb (Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile). "Dave and I had spoken for the last few years about making a record," Starr says. "Finally, it worked out, our schedule and his schedule, and we said, yes --let's make a record."
Blackberry Smoke worked quickly, spending just 10 days at Nashville's famed RCA Studio A, Cobb's home base since 2016. The band recorded live on the floor, giving “You Hear Georgia” a crisp, outgoing feel. Like other Blackberry Smoke efforts, this album leans into well-crafted Southern rock driven by jagged guitar riffs and rich instrumentation, as the band layers on rollicking piano ("Live It Down"), funky grooves ("Hey Delilah"), and introspective acoustic sounds (the stripped-down, folk-leaning "Old Enough to Know")."He's a very laid-back guy with excellent ideas, but he's very enthusiastic about making music, and he's right in there with you having a ball," Starr says. "He's a calming presence and so knowledgeable musically, and he knows how to get what he wants in the studio. I don't know if we could have made a record in 10 days with everyone, and that definitely speaks to Dave's ability."
Working with Cobb was the right move, as his approach brought warmth and looseness to the proceedings, while his easygoing demeanor and songwriting background allowed him to provide perceptive insights into this particular batch of Blackberry Smoke songs.
In fact, the producer encouraged Blackberry Smoke to pursue the title track after hearing Starr noodling on the idea in the studio. "He heard me play it, just the riff, and I sang a little bit of a verse and he said, 'What's that? What's that?'" Starr says. "I said, 'It's just something that's not finished yet.' And he said, 'Well, finish it, because we want to record that too.' So I went back to the hotel room and finished it, and there we go."
"You Hear Georgia" features a narrator who's underestimated because of outward appearances and misguided stereotypes, which is a theme of Starr's lyrics this time around, particularly as it relates to the band's Southern roots. "Lyrically, the song is about the South being misunderstood. It's obviously a rough and tumble world, and there's a lot of bad people. But there's a lot of good people too. It started with the idea of how people might have a preconceived opinion of you because of a thick Southern accent, then expanded into the reality of how some people just seem to have such a hard time getting along, thanks to political or religious views, or simply what part of the country you come from."
In that spirit, Starr found collaborating valuable as “You Hear Georgia's” songs came together. Jamey Johnson ended up lending gruff and tender vocals to the pedal steel-augmented "Lonesome For a Livin'" after he and Starr started reminiscing about a previous collaboration, their 2009 cover of the Willie Nelson-penned "Yesterday's Wine." "We were talking after a show, and he said, 'Hey, let's do something else,'" Starr says. "I said, 'I have this song, it's really a honky-tonk song. And he said, 'Send it to me,' and I did, and he dug it." And so he came down to the studio and just killed it. He has a voice like no other."
Starr also co-wrote most of the album's songs with friends, including current Lynyrd Skynyrd member Rickey Medlocke ("Old Scarecrow") and Gov't Mule's Warren Haynes ("All Rise Again"), as well as two frequent collaborators, Four Horsemen guitarist Dave Lizmi, and ex-Buckcherry member Keith Nelson. "That's just an enjoyable thing to do sometimes," Starr says of co-writing with pals. "It's like, 'Okay, let's just knock heads together and see what we come up with.' And sometimes it's magical."
The songs Starr wrote with Haynes, Lizmi and Nelson came together in the early stages of 2020's pandemic-driven lockdown. But save for "All Rise Again" --a surging highlight with a trademark Haynes blues-jam solo and an optimistic vibe --these lyrics aren't explicitly about the disorienting experience of the lockdown. "There were so many musicians stuck in their living room," Starr explains. "Those songs were born out of that necessity to create and make new music. You've gotta be moving forward." Unsurprisingly, many of “You Hear Georgia's” songs describe characters that are restless and prone to seeking out a change of scenery, in hopes of finding a place where they belong. Against cinematic backdrops with vivid details, it's easy to empathize with these protagonists as they share pearls of wisdom ("Don't ever trust a grown man with a nickname") and exhibit deep self-awareness ("Anywhere's better than staying here, with the ghosts running thru his mind") along the way.
The hard-touring Blackberry Smoke knows a little something about hitting the road in order to find a place to belong. Over the years, the band's toured with ZZ Top, Zac Brown Band, and Eric Church, while the group's last four full-lengths reached the top 10 of the Billboard country charts, with two of these albums (2015's “Holding All The Roses” and 2016's “Like An Arrow”) landing at No. 1. ”You Hear Georgia” reinforces that the band members have come so far together because they also can rely on one another for support and creative direction, no matter what the circumstances.
"Having played music together for so long, it does become a sort of a telepathic thing, where we all are nodding our head at the same time, like, 'A-ha, I know what this feels like,' or what it should feel and sound like," Starr says. "That's what makes it so enjoyable to be in a band: to play with the same dudes decade after decade," he adds. "Because when you land on something that works to you, you don't want to stop. You want to keep doing it."
Tickets for Blackberry Smoke go on sale for Deadwood Mountain Grand Reward Members at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 22nd and to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, June 23rd. They will be available at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Box Office or at ticketmaster.com. Ticket buyers should note that TICKETMASTER is the only official ticket broker for Deadwood Mountain Grand. Beware of third party websites and offers. Both hotel reservations and ticket arrangements may be made by calling 877-907-GRAND.
For more information, visit www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com or call 605-559-1188. To open your free Grand Rewards Center membership and enjoy the benefits of purchasing advance tickets ahead of the general public, bring a photo ID to the Grand Rewards Center counter, located in the Deadwood Mountain Grand Resort Casino.
Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, a Holiday Inn Resort is the restored 1906 Homestake Mining Co. ore processing plant that overlooks Historic Deadwood, which features a 98-room luxury hotel, full service restaurants, 210 state-of-the-art casino games, high stakes gaming action including Dale’s Sportsbook Bar & Grill, a 3,000 person entertainment and event center and a multi-level parking garage.
Do The ‘Watermelon Crawl’ - To See Tracy Byrd At Deadwood Mountain Grand On July 16
DEADWOOD, S.D. (03/21/22) – From hits like ‘Lifestyles of the Not so Rich and Famous’, ‘Holdin’ Heaven’, ‘Watermelon Crawl, ‘The Keeper of the Star’s’ and many more, Tracy Byrd has cemented himself as a true country legend. He’ll be bringing his high energy live show to the Deadwood Mountain Grand stage on Sunday, July 16th.
Tracy Byrd became a household name on the Country Music Scene in 1993 when his third single, called "Holdin' Heaven", off of his MCA Records, self-titled debut album, hit #1 on the Billboard Country Charts. The Album also included the remake hit of Johnny Paycheck's "Someone to Give my Love to" cementing Byrd as a Traditional Country Troubadour!! The Debut Album went on to be certified Gold, an award signifying sales in excess of 500,000 copies.
Byrd's second project, "No Ordinary Man", kept building on the momentum the first album created. The first radio single from it called "Lifestyle's of the Not so Rich and Famous" reached #4, followed by another top five hit, "The First Step", then with the release of the smash, chart topping hit "Watermelon Crawl" the second album crossed the half million sales mark and certified Gold.
The release of the 4th and last single on this project moved Byrd to the top of both the Billboard Album and Singles charts. The song was called "The Keeper of the Star's" and it shot to #1 on the singles charts and pushed the album to Double Platinum Status, which certifies sales of over 2 Million Copies. "The Keeper of the Star's" won Academy of Country Music's "Song of the Year" award in 1995. A Keeper Year for Tracy Byrd for sure.
His third studio Album, "Love Lesson" is one of Tracy's favorites. It included the title track, which was another top five hit single for Byrd, included were the top 15 singles, "Walking to Jerusalem" and "Heaven in My Woman's Eyes", Byrd's personal favorite. A 4th top 15 single was released called "4 to 1 in Atlanta" which Byrd performed Live on the David Letterman Show. The "Love Lesson's" album also reached sales of 500,000 copies certifying Gold.
"Big Love" became Byrd's fourth studio album with its release in the fall of 1996. It spawned two more top five singles with the release of the title track and "Don't Take Her She's All I've Got". The Videos of both of these songs reached the top of CMT's Video Chart's and also earned Byrd his first TNN Television Special titled "Tracy Byrd's Big Love" on which Byrd invited guest's Johnny Paycheck, Mark Chesnutt, and Asleep at the Wheel. The Album "Big Love" became Tracy's fourth consecutive studio album to be Certified Gold. Tracy said that this meant more to him than anything because he knew fans weren't just listening to his hit songs on the radio, they were laying down their hard earned money to own a copy of their own and that was flattering.
At this point in his career, Tracy Byrd, was looking for a change in labels, but still was under contract with MCA Records who were preparing a release of "Keepers: Greatest Hits" containing all the hit's from Byrd's catalog of songs. The album quickly earned another Gold Record award for Byrd but he was trying to persuade MCA to let him out of his contract so he could pursue a different direction. MCA finally allowed Byrd out of his contract and he quickly signed with RCA Records and got to work on a new project, "It's About Time", that would be released in November of 1999 and would reach the top 10 quickly with the single "Put Your Hand In Mine" Byrd has said that this album is the most traditional album he ever released and therefore his favorite.
Next came "The Truth About Men", which first released the title track which was a comedic look at what Men are really like, it was a team effort with Tracy's buddies Blake Shelton, Andy Griggs, and Troy and Eddie of Montgomery Gentry lending their talents to the song and the video. This Album also released the top five smash "The Drinkin' Bone" which became a crowd favorite sing along song.
Tracy Byrd crossed into the new Millennium with the release of his Album "10 Rounds" It took off on the release of a duet with his longtime hometown buddy and hero Mark Chesnutt. The song was called "A Good Way to get on my Bad Side" and was a milestone for Byrd to finally get to record with his good friend. Then came the release of the party song of the year, "10 Rounds with Jose Cuervo" which shot to the top of the Billboard Charts to notch Byrd's third #1 single. He also hit the top 10 with his Spanish guitar flared "Just Let Me be in Love".
Byrd was then moved to BNA Records, the sister label of RCA, and they released his second greatest hits project, another feat that not many artists experience, two Greatest hits projects! It debuted in the top five of the album charts and became Byrd's sixth Gold Album, and sent him to over 6 Million Records Sold!
Byrd then left the major label and released an album on his own, appropriately titled, "Different Things" Although this project was not commercially successful, it garnered Byrd his highest Critical acclaim of his career with Billboard magazine choosing it as one of their Top 10 Country Albums of the Year!
Through all of these years Byrd became a promoter favorite on the road, performing over 4000 exciting shows across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Australia from 1992 until 2009! He then say's he needed a break to take care of himself and his most precious thing, his family, wife Michelle, daughter Evee, and sons Logan and Jared, who had taken a backseat to his career for years. He did not perform from 2010-2013, but in 2014 he got back to the music with a new band, a new found sobriety and love of the thing he enjoys so much. Say's Byrd, "These day's my life has great balance, with my music being a part of it, not all of it. I can honestly say I have never enjoyed it more!!"
Byrd went back in the studio in June of 2016 and started work on his first project in 10 years. Recorded completely in Tyler, Texas at Rosewood Studios, that album is appropriately titled, ‘All American Texan’, which is exactly what he is and has always been. This album features 8 tracks written by Byrd, a fact he is very proud of.
The album was released in October of 2016 and has been very well received by his fans and critics alike.
Tickets for Tracy Byrd go on sale for Deadwood Mountain Grand Reward Members at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 23rd and to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, May 26th. They will be available at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Box Office or at ticketmaster.com. Ticket buyers should note that TICKETMASTER is the only official ticket broker for Deadwood Mountain Grand. Beware of third party websites and offers. Both hotel reservations and ticket arrangements may be made by calling 877-907-GRAND.
For more information, visit www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com or call 605-559-1188. To open your free Grand Rewards Center membership and enjoy the benefits of purchasing advance tickets ahead of the general public, bring a photo ID to the Grand Rewards Center counter, located in the Deadwood Mountain Grand Resort Casino.
Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, a Holiday Inn Resort is the restored 1906 Homestake Mining Co. ore processing plant that overlooks Historic Deadwood, which features a 98-room luxury hotel, full service restaurants, 210 state-of-the-art casino games, high stakes gaming action including Dale’s Sportsbook Bar & Grill, a 3,000 person entertainment and event center and a multi-level parking garage.
They’ll Be ‘Right Here’ – Rock Legends, Staind To Play Deadwood Mountain Grand
DEADWOOD, S.D. (05/16/23) – One of the biggest rock bands of the 2000’s will be making a stop in historic Deadwood when Staind plays the Deadwood Mountain Grand Event Center on Thursday, September 14th.
Staind is comprised of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Aaron Lewis, lead guitarist Mike Mushok, bassist and backing vocalist Johnny April, and drummer Sal Giancarelli.
The band was formed in 1995 in their hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts. Over the course of their career, the band has released seven studio albums and eight Top 10 singles, selling over 15 million albums worldwide.
‘Break The Cycle’, released in 2001 and RIAA certified 5x platinum, featured the smash single, “It’s Been Awhile,” one of the most played songs in modern rock radio history, spending 20 weeks at Number 1. In 2019 after a five-year hiatus, Staind reunited for some unforgettable festival performances, and a hometown reunion show at Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, CT where their upcoming album, ‘Live: It’s Been Awhile’ was recorded.
Some of Staind biggest hits include “Right Here”, "So Far Away”, “Something to Remind You”, “Fade”, “Outside”, “Mudshovel”, “Schizophrenic Conversations”, “Believe” and “Price to Play” just to name a few.
Tickets for Staind go on sale for Deadwood Mountain Grand Reward Members at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 18th and to the general public at 10 a.m. Friday, May 19th. They will be available at the Deadwood Mountain Grand Box Office or at ticketmaster.com. Ticket buyers should note that TICKETMASTER is the only official ticket broker for Deadwood Mountain Grand. Beware of third party websites and offers. Both hotel reservations and ticket arrangements may be made by calling 877-907-GRAND.
For more information, visit www.deadwoodmountaingrand.com or call 605-559-1188. To open your free Grand Rewards Center membership and enjoy the benefits of purchasing advance tickets ahead of the general public, bring a photo ID to the Grand Rewards Center counter, located in the Deadwood Mountain Grand Resort Casino.
Deadwood Mountain Grand Hotel, a Holiday Inn Resort is the restored 1906 Homestake Mining Co. ore processing plant that overlooks Historic Deadwood, which features a 98-room luxury hotel, full service restaurants, 210 state-of-the-art casino games, high stakes gaming action including Dale’s Sportsbook Bar & Grill, a 3,000 person entertainment and event center and a multi-level parking garage.
