On Friday night (June 9), we took a little trip back in time.   If you don’t think time travel is possible, I can sell you a ticket to a 1990’s country concert!  Make that a 1990’s, 2000’s, 2010’s country concert.  We saw Mark Chesnutt on stage at the Kentucky-Virginia District Fair.  His show was everything we love about country music.

Those of us who have been listening to country music for the past 50 or 60 years remember when it was just called ‘country’. No one had to use defining words like ‘country rock’ or ‘country pop’ or ‘country rap’.  It was just good country music.  And, when you listen to Mark Chesnutt, you quickly discover – it still is!  From his older music, which has become the favorite of many, to the newer songs on his latest album (“Tradition Lives”), the music is still country. And, Mark is still awesome. [If you missed our recent write-up about “Tradition Lives,” and Mark’s new single “Hot”, I hope you will click here to go back and read it.]

DSCN2370The audience was made up of young fans, older fans, and very loyal fans. Two fans we talked to traveled approximately 600 miles to this show.  When Mark sang, the audience sang.  It didn’t matter how old they were, they knew every word.  He started his show with ‘It’s A Little Too Late”, followed that with “Bubba Shot the Jukebox”, and  then gave us one of my favorites, “I just Wanted to Know”. He packed as much as possible into his show, and everyone enjoyed every note. There were smiles and cheers when he started crowd favorites like “I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing,” “Too Cold At Home,” and “Goin’ Through the Big D”.

Mark didn’t just sing – he joked with his musicians, talked to the audience, and gave us literally everything we went to Wise, Va., to see. He put a lot into his 90-minute show. People who were waiting for songs like “Blame it on Texas,” “Thank God for Believers” and “Talking to Hank” did not leave disappointed. 

He shared the stage with four very talented musicians, Delaney Jackson (lead guitar); Cary Stone (acoustic); Tim Patterson (bass); and Willie VanHook (fiddle).  It was a joy to watch these guys work together.  It’s obvious they’ve been doing it for a long time.   When you get a band on stage who look like they are having a great time doing what they do—you can be sure the audience is going to have a great time as well!

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Many of your up-and-coming country artists could learn a thing or two from Mark Chesnutt. This guy is awesome with his fans!  Not only did he do a meet and greet back stage for approximately 30 fans, but he also came out to the merch tent after the show to sign autographs and pose for pictures with fans. He was there to sing pictures, CDs, pose for pictures, shake hands – whatever you wanted, Mark was there for you.  There for his fans – something you just don’t see that much of anymore.  And, something I know fans look forward to and appreciate. Kudos to Mark for caring that much about his fans!

In addition to his website, visit his Facebook page, and remember to “Like” it while you are there.  He has a few other social media links listed on his website as well, so check those out as well.  You can order an autographed copy of “Tradition Lives” by clicking here. And, you can follow him on Twitter @MarkChesnutt.  If you aren’t already following Country’s Chatter on Twitter, we’d love to have you.  You will find us @countryschatter.

We’ll close this out with a few more pictures and a huge thank you to Mark Chesnutt, Delaney Jackson, Cary Stone, Tim Patterson and Willie VanHook for a great show.  And, a very special thank you to everyone at the Kentucky-Virginia District Fair in Wise, Va., for making the evening so special for us.

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countryNew ReleasesReviewCary Stone,Delaney Jackson,Hot,Kentucky-Virginia District Fair,Mark Chesnutt,Tim Patterson,Tradition Lives,Willie VanHook,Wise Va.
On Friday night (June 9), we took a little trip back in time.   If you don’t think time travel is possible, I can sell you a ticket to a 1990’s country concert!  Make that a 1990’s, 2000’s, 2010’s country concert.  We saw Mark Chesnutt on stage at the Kentucky-Virginia...