TURKEY, TEXAS
51st Bob Wills Day events slated for April 27-29 TURKEY—Although it’s been billed as Bob Wills Day for more than half a century, the celebration of Western swing music that centers around the last Saturday in April in the late musician’s longtime home base of Turkey, Texas, has expanded to three days of official events and more than a week of fiddling and dancing and jam sessions.
The Texas Spur’s sister newspaper, The Caprock Courier, will publish a 20-page guide to these events and the history and culture surrounding them, on April 20 and 27.
In the meantime, here’s a summary of the official schedule: Thursday, April 27
• DANCE: BILLY MATA ANDTHETEXASTRADITION with special guestsThe South Plains CollegeWestern Swing Band. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.; tickets $30
Friday, April 28
• JAM SESSIONS AT THE BOB WILLS MUSEUM
• Film screening featuring THE BIRTH OF WESTERN SWING, 3 pm in the Gem Theater
• BOBWILLS'TEXAS PLAYBOYS UNDERTHE DIRECTION OF JASON ROBERTS versus JAKE HOOKER AND THE OUTSIDERS Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; tickets $30
Saturday, April 29
• PARADE 10 a.m., downtown, presented by Turkey Creek HDD
• CAR SHOW immediately following the parade downtown
• JAM SESSIONS * 11a.m. • 2 p.m. at the Bob Wills Museum - presented by the Texas Music Office
• MERCANTILE & TRADE SHOW – 10 a.m. at the Bob Wills Center
• BBQ COOK OFF all day in the City Park
• FIDDLERS CONTEST 11:30 a.m. at the Bob Wills Center, $10
• FREE OUTDOOR CONCERT 2:30 p.m. on the Football Field
• JODY NIX ANDTHETEXAS COWBOYS featuring Brennen Leigh; doors open at 6:00 p.m.; tickets $30
•THE MIDNIGHT.BREAKFAST at 11 p.m. in the BobWills Center Cafeteria, $10
—Bob Wills Day Facebook page; The Caprock Courier
GARZA
Parody televangelist show‘Thee Hallelujahs’on stage at RGT through April 15 POST—Rev. Joey Hallelujah is returning toThe Ragtown Gospel Theater in Post. Ten years ago, RGT introduced the televangelist, best known for his claim of traveling through time after crashing his private jet on the Greek Isle of Patmos, where he steadfastly maintains he came face-to-face with John the Apostle.
Area audiences may remember that hilarious and heartwarming story. Hallelujah is now coming out of retirement. Not only are Hallelujah and his family intent upon traversing the country with an old-fashioned city-to-city tent revival, they plan to share the entire experience in a reality TV show called “Thee Hallelujahs.”
Unlike traditional reality TV shows, episodes of “Thee Hallelujahs!” will be filmed before a live audience at Ragtown Gospel Theater in Post, Texas. The Coast to Coast Holy Ghost Revival Crusade goes through April 15. Shows are at 3:00 p.m. Saturdays. For reservations and information, call Robin at 877-RAGTOWN or visitwww.ragtown.com.
—Ragtown Gospel Theater Facebook page
NEARBY
Legend Gene Watson to appear at Coyote Store in Gail April 15 GAIL—Country music legend GeneWatson will will showcase his most recent album “Outside the Box,” which was released in Sept. 2022, at the Coyote Store in Gail on April 15. The album was ranked number four by Country Music People magazine’s editor on the Critics Choice list of 2022, stating Watson is“as good as ever.”Outside the Box features 12 tracks of Watson’s signature vocals with newly recorded songs as well as re-imagined hits across multiple genres, from Merle Haggard to Etta James.
Watson’s first single “If It’s That Easy” was released to radio in 1962 via Sun Valley Records. Since then, the ‘singer’s singer’has charted 75 titles including 23 Top 10 hits, six No. 1 country singles and five No. 1 gospel records.Watson continues to perform to sold-out crowds, singing in the same key as he did more than five decades ago and thrilling fans with his famous octave-jumping ending to“Farewell Party” night after night.
—Gene Watson website
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