Last one to leave the Fair, please turn off the lights

  It’s Saturday night, Aug. 23. The carnival rides are being dismantled and loaded onto tractor trailers; all the animals have left the fair and are home sleeping in their own barns; the concession stands are closed, and you will have to wait until next year for another funnel cake; and we’ve seen our last concert for the 2008 Appalachian Fair… will the last person to leave the fair grounds, please turn off the lights.

Closing out the fair this year was the group Jypsi. An absolutely fantastic band, made up of siblings 17-26 – Scarlett, mandolin; Frank, guitar and vocals; Lillie Mae, lead vocals and fiddle; and Amber-Dawn, fiddle and vocals.

I’ve been telling all of my blog readers since June to go and check out Jypsi’s MySpace page. Listen to their music, and give this group a chance. Those of you who listened to that advice were at the fair tonight – enjoying a great show. Those of you who couldn’t make it missed something very special. But I have a feeling it won’t be long until you get a chance to see Jypsi again – in concert somewhere close to you.

The kids were even nice enough to play a song I requested, which was not on their play list for tonight’s show. Thanks guys. I just love “Stray Dogs and Alley Cats”.

Their promotional material says the kids are “amazing musicians with head-turning style” – the promotion material is right.

These guys signed autographs and posed for pictures before and after the show, and were nice enough to fit two radio interviews in between their sound check and their supper. I think we’ll be seeing a lot of Jypsi! And I’m glad.

I’ve had six very long days at the Fair, and I think it’s time to post some pictures from tonight’s great concert and call it a night.

    

       

That will do it for tonight I hope you all have a fantastic Sunday. I might take a day or two to rest up here before getting up a new post, but stay with me. I’ll be back real soon with more country news.

Thanks so much for reading. And thank you for all your e-mails and comments. I’ll get back to everyone as soon as I can.
Love you guys,
Country
country5@hotmail.com

Chris Young’s night at the Appalachian Fair

Anyone out there hearing voices tonight? I just heard an awesome voice – and it belongs to Chris Young, tonight’s headliner at the Appalachian Fair in Gray. His new single, “Voices,” is working it’s way up the country charts.

Any of you who don’t know why Chris Young won Nashville Star a few seasons ago, and any of you who didn’t know he has his second top 40 single, should have been at the fair tonight. When Chris stepped out on stage, everyone knew immediately who he is. what he’s done, and where he’s headed.

You really have to give that boy a huge round of applause. Not only did he put on a great show, he gave us our fourth consecutive night of “this is how a country singer should treat their fans”.

Even though Chris is leaving in the morning on his second annual Chris Young Country Cruise, he made time to sign autographs and pose for pictures with his fans after the show.

Now, it would have been one thing if he were hopping on a waiting private jet and flying to the port for departure, but the man was riding in the bus… I’m not going to try to guess how long it takes to drive from Gray, Tenn. to New Orleans, La., but I sure do hope he got a lot of sleep during that ride.

And, I’m sure he knows how much that extra time with the fans meant to all of them. It’s one thing to stand on stage and sing up a storm, it’s another to reach out and touch the people who came to watch your show. Thank you, Chris!

On stage with Chris tonight, we had  band members Shane Shelton, bass; Josh Carter, keyboard; Bo Hendrix, lead guitar; and Kevin Newberry, drums. They were all great, and they looked like the were having a great time, too!

One of the songs Chris sang tonight was done quite a few years ago by the late Keith Whitley, “Don’t Close Your Eyes”. I loved that song, and Chris certainly did a fantastic job with it.

Now, more photos from tonight’s show.

      

That’ll wrap things up for this post to Country’s Chatter. I have a few e-mails to send out to fans of their photos with Chris, then I’m going to get some sleep and get ready for Jypsi at tomorrow night’s fair. Hard to believe the Appalachian Fair is coming to a close tomorrow night. But we do have Washington County Fair, Tennessee Valley Fair, Fletcher, N.C., and a few others not too far from here before “fair season” comes to an end for 2008.

I’ve enjoyed meeting a lot of my readers at these concerts, and hope to see you guys again real soon. Please keep in touch. I love your e-mail. Hope you’ll tell your friends about my little “chatter” blog. And Chris, thanks – for a great show… Enjoy your cruise!
Country
country5@hotmail.com