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Huge Crowds ring in Independence Day at 4th on Broadway |
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Monday, 06 July 2009 |
By Adam D. Young | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Sunday, July 05, 2009
The threat of evening thunderstorms on the South Plain didn't stop more than 20,000 people from celebrating Independence Day in Lubbock during the daylong 4th on Broadway celebration.
Known as the largest free festival in Texas, Saturday's entertainment included a street fair, parade, early settlers' luncheon and a closing concert and fireworks show.
Closing Concert and Fireworks Extravaganza
Before the sky lit up with fireworks of almost every color, dozens of musicians serenaded an audience of more than 20,000 Saturday evening at Mackenzie Park.
Lubbock artists David Gaschen and Richie McDonald were headliners on the concert's 60-foot stage, performing songs such as "Music of the Night" and "Walkin' in Memphis," respectively.
Gaschen, who rose to fame with the Broadway production of Phantom of the Opera, performed an amusing version of "Take Me Home Country Roads" with the lyrics rewritten for Lubbock.
Following Gaschen, Coronado High graduate McDonald came onstate. After opening with "God's Still In America," the former Lonestar lead singer performed eight more songs ... the final one, "Wrap Yourself In Me," a duet with Gaschen.
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Check out CMT Insider with Richie & DW |
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Sunday, 28 June 2009 |
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Richie helps light up Lubbock on the 4th of July |
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Saturday, 27 June 2009 |
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Celebrate our nation's independence with a parade, live music, food and most importantly fireworks at the 2009 4th on Broadway Festivals Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4.
The gates will open at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are
$10 and can be purchased at Select-A-Seat or at the gates.
Start celebrating early on July 4 at
the Wells Fargo Bank Street Fair on Broadway from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Save
your spot for the McDougal Companies Parade at 9 a.m., which will run
on Broadway from Ave. Q to University.
Richie
McDonald and David Gashen will light up the stage as fireworks light up
the sky at the Plains Capital Bank Evening Concert and Gandy's
Fireworks Extravaganza. The event kicks off at 7:30 p.m. at Mackenzie
Park. Other featured performers include Kenny Maines, The Cactus Kids,
The Lubbock Texas Rhythm Machine, The Lubbock Youth Symphony Orchestra
and many more.
Convenient parking is available for $5 at the
South Plains Fairgrounds, Canyon Lake Drive and Nutmeg Avenue. Premier
seating for the fireworks extravaganza is also available. Tickets are
$25 per person and include exclusive seating in front of the stage and
parking across the street. You can purchase tickets at Select-A-Seat or call for more information at (806) 749-2929.
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Saturday, 27 June 2009 |
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Touring
and songwriting make up the majority of musician Richie McDonald's
life. From town to town, McDonald must make time for the songwriting
side of his career. The former front man for Country band Lonestar made
a stop in Exeter as part of the KJUG free Summer
Concert Series at City Park, McDonald unveiled the songwriting
inspirations behind his biggest hits and his favorite works.
McDonald
graced the stage at Exeter with an acoustic guitar, a piano, and a
catalog of beloved music new, old and even one or two borrowed tunes.
"I
really love the acoustic shows," McDonald said before the concert. "It's up close and personal and I get to tell the story behind the
songs." McDonald opened his outdoor summer show by comparing Exeter to his home town of Lubbock, Texas.
"It's[Exeter's] kind of like the middle of nowhere. It reminds me of where I'm from in Texas," McDonald said.
The
show in Exeter was a change of pace for McDonald whose recent schedule
had him playing at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville the prior week
to a massive audience, then sent him to California where he played at
Buck Owen's Crystal Palace in Bakersfield in the afternoon on the same
day as his show in Exeter.
"I can do up to three shows a day. We
plan ahead to be productive," McDonald said of his touring schedule
that already has him booked through December of this year.
While
constantly on the road, McDonald seems to always be writing. Delivering
a sampling of songs from his upcoming record, it is clear what is
unfailingly on McDonald's mind as he tours across the U.S. His family.
"
A few months ago, I was up in a Seattle hotel room and looked out my
window at the Puget Sound," McDonald said. "It was beautiful. Ferries
crossing. The sun setting. I sat down to write a song and felt kind of
like an artist painting a picture. I wrote The Only Thing Missing is
You.
The song will be featured on his upcoming album and
McDonald gave the audience a listen at the Exeter show of The Only
Thing Missing as well as his newest addition to the song list, Just
Because You Can't See Jesus.
Exeter was only the second
audience to hear McDonald's latest piece. He debuted the faith-based
song earlier in the day in Bakersfield.
"It's one song that has
a message. I'm eager to see the response. I use the crowd as a
barometer," McDonald said. "It's a song I wrote with Ron Harbin from
Bakersfield."
Harbin discovered the theme of the song after
passing a road sign that read, "Just Because You Can't See Jesus
Doesn't Mean He's Not Watching."
The song was a hit for the Exeter crowd perhaps proving the song was worth delaying the completion of McDonald's upcoming album.
"The
album was supposed to be done, then I co-wrote Just Because You Can't
See Jesus and wanted it on the album. I'm always writing," McDonald
said.
McDonald admits that California has been the source of
inspirations for past songs and is also the sight of some of his most
loyal fans.
"I wrote I'm Already There on the West Coast.
California has always been one of the biggest fan bases. Especially
this area. There are real people here. People living everyday lives.
The kind of people that listen to Country music," McDonald said.
McDonald
spent his entire stop in Exeter getting to better know these people,
these faithful fans. From his point of arrival at City Park, McDonald
visited with fans before the show, giving out autographs. He followed
with a meet and greet for the local sponsors and after the show stopped
in at the local A&W where he gave an impromptu performance in front
of the restaurant for a handful of fans from the concert. He posted his
mini-performance on the homepage of his website at www.richiemcdonald.com.
With
a quick introduction, McDonald started his show with a quick-paced
rendition of Walking in Memphis. He followed with current single Six-Foot TeddyBear. He then sang his personal favorite, I'm Already
There, dedicating it to all of the local military families.
He
also sang the Michael Martin Murphy song Tonight We Ride. The crowd
jumped to life singing along during Front Porch Looking In.
McDonald
went on to give the back story to other fan favorites Growing Old
and Mr. Mom. He also performed new songs Just Add Water and The
Only Thing Missing is You.
McDonald closed the show with
Lonestar's breakout hit Amazed. With a solo voice backed with the
audience humming along, the performance was the perfect ending to the
warm summer day. Perhaps Exeter's setting sunset, kind people and middle-of-no-where appeal will sneak its way into the back story of
one of McDonald's upcoming albums.
Richie McDonald is a
singer/songwriter who debuted on the country scene with his four-man
Texas band Lonestar in 1995. McDonald left the band in 2007 to launch
his solo career. He was the second performer on KJUG's Summer Concert
Series.
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Richie treats new friends to an impromptu after-show concert |
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Thursday, 18 June 2009 |
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After a recent show in Visalia, California, Richie ran into some of the listeners at the local A & W. The fun loving group approached Richie letting them know they had enjoyed his performance, but admitted they were late arriving and had missed some of their favorite songs. What happened next was a mini-impromptu "make-up" concert. The group joined Richie in singing the hits they missed and a few of their other favorites. Check out the video on the home-page.
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Rat Pack included in Wild Adventures concert line-up |
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Thursday, 18 June 2009 |
Wild Adventures has added the 'Country Rat Pack' to its concert line-up.
At 8 p.m., July 23, the Country Rat Pack performs. This show features three country stars: Tracy Bird, Tracy Lawrence, and former Lonestar member Richie McDonald. These stars will play acoustic versions of their country hits and tell stories from their lives.
While reserved seating is available for each show, festival seating for concerts is also included in the park's regular admission price, and Passports. More information: Call 219-7080; or visit wildadventures.com
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CMT Insider News Now June 26 - Richie McDonald
