Clear your calendar - great music, bull-riding, carnival riding, BBQ competing, and family fun and shopping are coming to town! 2015 Cotton Pickin' Fair kicks off on September 25th, and you're invited to take part in the festivities. Activities will be along the Courthouse Square, Covington Street, and Franklin Street in the beautiful setting of Historic Downtown Hillsboro. This is going to be epic!
Hillsboro has never seen the list of talented musicians come together for a single event possibly in our town's history. Many different music styles will be represented and everyone will have a great time! Come out Friday night for great music and a street dance.
For samples of performances by many of our performers, please visit https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMFm6KvjtsAUUiGy12DGEcCSA8v2-7gx2
Thieving Birds are a band from Fort Worth, Texas that was formed in September of 2010. These four friends combine Rock, Country, Roots and Blues to create a unique musical offering to their audience. The lyrics are thoughtful and strong being carried by the sultry and powerful voice of vocalist and guitarist Ace Crayton. The Rhythm section is filled out by the strong and solid drumming of Beau Brauer along with the precise Bass playing of Rody Molder. Lead Guitarist John Seidler weaves notes together to create a landscape of guitar work that will make you feel as if you’re moving across the terrain of their great state.
They released their debut, self-titled album on June 25th, 2011 and entertain and amuse audiences with their high- energy live sets. “All we want to do is play music together, to have that moment on stage when we’re all feeling the song, and to have the crowd share that moment with us… you can’t get that feeling anywhere else. That’s live music… that’s why we do it” says Crayton. You can get more information about Thieving Birds at thievingbirdsmusic.com.
Bri Bagwell is real country music, and what country music should strive to be. She is an independent artist without a record deal, and without management. Her popularity is derived 100% by word of mouth and her raw talent. This grass roots effort is rare these days; it speaks to her infectious music and appeal.
She fell in love with music at an early age, and started playing in a band with her older brothers while just a teenager growing up in New Mexico. A couple of weeks after turning 18, she moved to Austin, TX to study at UT and begin her music career in the live music capital of the world. Late nights, rowdy Texas crowds, and being alone on stage with just a guitar shaped her onstage charismatic charm. She learned to gain a crowd’s attention with her beautiful voice, singing songs she wrote herself.
Her first CD, “Banned from Santa Fe”, released June 2011, sold through several printings, and gained traction very quickly among music fans. Bri Bagwell was the only female artist on the Texas Music Chart for a few weeks with her single, also titled “Banned from Santa Fe" and her song "Whiskey" became her 1st top 15 hit and has passed 70,000 YouTube views on the single's video.
In 2013, Bri released her self-titled EP, which featured two brand new radio singles, “Hound Dog” and “Crazy”. Her latest radio release, “Crazy,” has been praised for its witty and relatable lyrics, and it continues to climb the Texas charts. When she’s not on tour, you can find Bri in Nashville, Tennessee, writing songs for Sony/ATV Publishing on Music Row.
In the internet age with music coming at you from every type of media, it is harder and harder for artists to get attention. Bri Bagwell is not only gaining attention, but she is also drumming up excitement; and, she does it all without a million-dollar budget.
For the past seven years, Mike and the Moonpies have been making a name for themselves as Austin Texas' premier honky tonk band. With the growing regional popularity of their 2012 release "The Hard Way," radio single of the same name, and a non-stop regional touring schedule, they have recently taken the entire Texas music scene by storm. The Moonpies have delivered some of the most memorable performances in recent years in venues like Gruene Hall and Luckenbach TX, and have gained a cult like following in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and throughout the midwest.
Mike and the Moonpies maintained a rotating cast of musicians, and a Monday night residency at the Hole in the Wall in Austin, from '08-'10 before solidifying the current lineup of Kyle Ponder, Preston Rhone, Zach Moulton, and Catlin Rutherford. In 2011, with the addition of John Carbone on piano, the Moonpies moved from Hole In The Wall to a new honky tonk in east Austin, The White Horse. Here, they would carve out their niche. While playing a blend of original material from their debut album 'The Real Country,' and covering songs by their Austin predecessors like Doug Sahm and Jerry Jeff Walker, the White Horse and the Moonpies built what would become one of the most notorious residencies in recent Austin music history. That same year, the band was also approached by Daytrotter.com with an offer to be a part of their annual touring concert event Barnstormer IV. This was the introduction of the Moonpies to the midwest and a national audience.
In 2012, the band self released 'The Hard Way.' A 10 song original album that showcased the tightness and maturity the band had developed over the past year of playing 4-5 nights a week. The following year would prove to be an eventful one for Mike and the band. In February of 2013, Mike Harmeier and his new fiance would find themselves stranded on the Carnival Triumph cruise ship stuck in the gulf of Mexico. This brought on some local news and radio attention and sparked new interest in the band. At the same time, the Moonpies started to open for larger acts in the Texas music scene and were gaining praise from bands like Eleven Hundred Springs, and Hayes Carll.
While on a run with Austin icon Ramsay Midwood through Tennessee, the Moonpies reached out to Nashville/Austin based booking agency Red 11 Music. After seeing the band live, Red 11 decided to help the Moonpies spread their music to a wider audience. Since then, Mike and the Moonpies have maintained a rigorous touring schedule supporting acts like Jason Boland and the Stragglers, Turnpike Troubadours, and the legendary Johnny Lee, as well as headlining iconic venues like Luckenbach TX, The Broken Spoke, John T. Floore Country Store, Oklahoma City's famous Wormy Dog Saloon and most recently the world's largest honky tonk, Billy Bob's Texas. For the past year, they have been making a film documenting their lifestyle as a regional touring band, and writing and recording a full length album both to be released in 2015.
This September another huge milestone was achieved. Thanks again to their friend Sean Moellor at Daytrotter.com, the band was given the opportunity to release a 12" vinyl split with the country music legend, superstar and idol George Strait. The vinyl, released in limited edition by Daytrotter and Wolfgang's Vault, features 4 songs recorded live in studio by the Moonpies on side B, while side A consists of four previously unreleased live cuts from Strait recorded from '82-'84. The vinyl is still currently available for order at Daytrotter.com.
With tales of their on and off stage antics, genuine songwriting, and dedication to playing real country music spreading like wildfire, The Moonpies are on the path to becoming a household name in Texas music and beyond.
When Dallas-based blues sensations Mike Morgan and The Crawl first arrived on the blues scene ten years ago, word-of-mouth about their blistering Texas blues spread like wildfire. A decade later, they rank among the blues touring circuits' greatest success stories.
Since forming in the late 1980s, The Crawl's fiery, unforgettable live performances and Morgan's searing guitar playing have earned them rave reviews from critics and a devoted audience worldwide. As displayed on their highly acclaimed albums for Black Top Records, the band's innovative blend of hard-driving Texas blues, sweet Southern soul and aggressive roots rock has placed them at the forefront of the contemporary blues scene.
Now, Mike Morgan and The Crawl revisit the rough-and-tumble Texas roadhouse sound of their roots on their new Black Top recording, I Like The Way You Work It. I Like The Way You Work It is Mike Morgan and The Crawl's most straightforward blues album yet. Produced by Morgan and Black Top founder Hammond Scott, the album showcases Morgan's incendiary, gutbucket guitar riffs and Lee McBee's Little Waiter-style harp and raspy, soul-drenched vocals. I Like The Way You Work It contains fourteen original songs, eleven of which were written by Morgan. In addition to the rock-solid backing of Crawl bassist Johnny Bradley, the album also features a supporting cast of the Crawl's favorite musicians, including Cannonball record artist Shawn Pittman, bassist Willie Campbell (The Fabulous Thunderbirds), drummer Richard Innes .
The Spirit is alive and flowing around the hottest, most ravved about conjunto BARAJA dE ORO...THE BADDEST CONJUNTO BAND IN THE LAND. We are here to stay. As hard as we work and sweat our hearts and souls into our music we see the reflections of approval on the faces of our following fans. That's what makes it worth the while. For those who need an introduction let me describe to you what happens when BARAJA dE ORO grabs a hold of a stage anywhere. People who have never experienced us hold their breath. Our regulars smile and hearts start pounding as they feel the energy grow, as they know what BARAJA DE ORO is capable of. We are well rehearsed, we are dressed to kill, and we are armed and dangerous with our bajo, bass, drums, accordion and vocals. The room is filled with soul, spirit of Conjunto music. There is a stage to be filled with conjuntos finest. Chris Rivera – Drummer- who supplies BDO's heart beat –Jonathan Ramos –BASS- who solid Bass playing skills set the solid pace, -Bajo Sexto & Guitar which fills in the dance loop- and Mario Barajas and Betty Barajas-Vocalist's of El Conjunto BARAJA dE ORO, Betty Barajas who is strong in experience and sweet in sound does an un-believable segunda for the lead vocals. HOHNER ACCORDION ENDORSEE-Multi-talented the one and only Mario Barajas BDO's Accordionista and Lead vocals, from the age of 14yrs old he played and recorded with some of the Best Entertainers in the tejano music industry. He is a strong leader, a great role model. He is a great Music Producer and Music Composer. We continue to be part of the Tejano/Conjunto younger circle of Talent where we continue to Strive Forward and Work very Hard in making a big difference in our Genre of music BDO is making a Respected name by all.
The Fifties and Sixties might be a thing of the past, but the pop and rock music that was so much a part of the American culture then remains popular today with people of all age groups. Not only do Baby Boomers continue to rock out to this music that they grew up hearing, but younger people have also come to enjoy the sounds of classic rock and roll. And the band that has been synonymous with 50’s and 60’s music in Central Texas is THE MORTICIANS!
The Morticians songlist reads like a Who’s Who of that incredible era in music. With performances of songs by such great artists as the Beatles, Credence Clearwater Revival, Roy Orbison, the Kinks, Elvis Presley, the Eagles, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Linda Ronstadt, the Righteous Brothers, Van Morrison, Santana, Buddy Holly, the Rolling Stones, as well as many other “One-Hit Wonder” groups, it’s hard to sit still when THE MORTICIANS take the stage!!
JLD, or known in Hillsboro where he grew up as Justin Derington, has been known for his rap career performing in many notable places including recently at the SXSW event in Austin, Texas. However, Justin is making a bit of a shift in his music these days and Hillsboro will be the first place to get to sample his new mix of country, beach, and reggae music.
If you have attended many special events in the Hillsboro area in the last few years, then chances are good that you have been blessed by the talented voice of Meagan Vaughn. Just prior to the Cotton Pickin' Fair, Meagan will be releasing her first CD and she will bring her country talent to the CPF stage.
Bullriding will be the most prominent event with Mutton Bustin' and a Mutton Scramble for the youngsters. This will be a rodeo style event you will not want to miss. It will be held on the Brookshires parking lot at the corner of S Covington and Gould St.
ENTRY FEES: FREE!!! ($0.00)
ADDED MONEY: $2,000
ENTRY OPENS: SEPTEMBER 21ST, 8AM – 10PM
972-897-6678
STOCK CONTRACTOR:
DOUBLE R RODEO
CK REID
NOTE: WE ARE ONLY TAKING THE FIRST 25 BULL RIDERS THAT CALL IN!
The top BBQ cookers in Texas will be descending upon Hillsboro as part of the Cotton Pickin' Fair. Cookers meeting will be Friday night and the competition will be held on Saturday, September 26th.
For more information on rules, visit http://ibcabbq.org/ibca-rules/.
To download a BBQ Cooker application, visit http://www.hillsborotx.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2015-BBQ-Cooker-Entry-Form.pdf
This year, our Farmers Market, Arts & Crafts Vendors, and Food Vendors will be located around the courthouse square. If you like the music being played on the stage, there will be vendor booths along Covington Street near the stage selling the artists' music and merchandise.
Anyone interested in becoming a vendor at this year's Fair can download the application at http://www.hillsborotx.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/2015-CPF-Vendor-Application.pdf.
Between the Stage and Vendors and the BBQ Cookers we will have a New Car, Truck, and Tractor show along E Franklin Street. Several area dealerships will be present and some will be offering test drives as well as opportunities to speak with a salesperson and purchase your next vehicle.
In addition, Bossier RAM will be offering all eligible test drivers an opportunity to be entered into a national sweepstakes drawing to win $45,000 toward any RAM vehicle the winner chooses. Bossier will also be giving away a FREE YETI COOLER every hour on the hour between 11am and 5pm on Saturday drawn from names of those that have taken a test drive.