HEMPSTEAD, Texas – Before Ella Langley became a country megastar, music fans in Waller County, Texas, experienced her brand of entertainment.
The same could be said for Cody Johnson and other big names, and that theme is continuing during this year’s concert series for the Waller County Fair and Rodeo, a 10-day exposition that runs from Sept. 24-Oct. 3 at the Waller County Fairgrounds in Hempstead.
“We’ve had some artists that have just taken off since they first came to Waller County,” said Michelle Gaston, chairwoman for the fair’s entertainment committee. “They’ve got to get their start somewhere, and this is a great place to do it. Last year we had Josh Weathers, and he became the Texas Country Music Artist of the Year.”
Weathers will return to Hempstead but as part of the fair’s kickoff dinner and dance Friday, Sept. 11. Cole Annoot will open, and Weathers will take the stage to add his flair to the evening.
“It’s just something that’s a little formal for our fair, and we’re excited to have Josh and Cole be part of it,” Gaston said.
Once the fair begins, the exposition will kick off with the first concert in the series Saturday, Sept. 26. Tyce Delk, a Red Dirt Country artist from New Mexico, will be the headliner, with Mae Estes stepping on stage as the opener.
“We heard her and booked her right away,” Gaston said. “We really enjoyed every minute of her concert, and her voice is just truly amazing.
“Tyce is really interesting to watch and listen to, and I’m really excited to see what he’s going to do. We’re going to open our first Saturday with two up-and-coming artists, and we’re excited to see the crowds that’s going to bring us.”
The fair will reach into its bag of tricks for Thursday, Oct. 1. Gaston and her crew have tabbed Tracy Byrd to close the evening, bringing a taste of 1990s country to the stage. Byrd was a household name in the early three decades ago with hits like “Watermelon Crawl,” “The Keeper of the Stars,” I’m from the Country” and “Ten Rounds with Jose Cuervo.”
“There’s nothing you can say about Tracy Byrd that everybody doesn’t already know,” she said. “He’s very popular, and we’re glad to have him back.”
Kicking off that evening’s performance will be the band Rockland Road, a six-member family that plays together. The father, Paul Martin, was the lead singer for Exile, while mom, Amy, is the daughter of the Oak Ridge Boys’ Duane Allen. They play alongside their four children.
“We heard them in concert, and my committee just jumped on and said, ‘We’ve got to have them,’ ” Gaston said.
The Logan Ryan Band will bring some Texas Red Dirt country to the stage for the Friday, Oct. 2, concert series. Gaston said she expects a high-energy show with Ryan’s flair.
“He plays all around the local honky tonks, so we’re really excited to bring him to our fair,” she said. “I got way more reaction on him than I thought I was going to get. People were so excited when we announced he was going to be there. He’s definitely going to be one of our most popular.”
Opener Payton Howie is another female voice adding her own stylings to the concert series.
The biggest nugget might just be 15-year-old Brylie Renee, who will open the final night, Saturday, Oct. 3.
“She is the youngest lady to take ever take the stage at the Waller County Fair,” Gaston said. “She’s already had the honor of playing at the Gruene Hall, which is the oldest stage in Texas. Besides Gruene Hall, this will probably be one of her biggest concerts. She’s super excited, super energetic, and we’re really honored to give her this opportunity because we believe in her.”
Tyler Halverson’s show will close down this year’s exposition. He’s had a hit with “Beer Garden Baby,” which he performed with Parker McCollum, and “Anybody but You.”
“I’ve seen him in concert at a couple festivals and fairs, and we are excited to have him coming,” she said. “We’re very happy with our decisions this year. We’re still a small fair, and we can only accommodate so many, so we went out and found good, up-and-coming talent, and we’re putting them on our stage first.”
It’s been a formula for success, and this year offers shining moments for the artists and fair-goers alike.