Published: November 12, 2009 09:27 pm      

Newcomers joining veterans for country tribute show

A Night with Garth and Friends will be staged March 27

CUMBERLAND — A Night with Garth and Friends, the signature show for Tri-State Concert Association’s country music division, has been booked for the 2010 season.

Steve Fairchild, reprising his role as Garth Brooks, will return to the area with his show, which will be held on March 27 in the Allegany High School auditorium. The program will feature two veteran performers and five new ones.

Next year’s show also will feature the return of the tribute to Tim McGraw with Chad Givens as country icon McGraw. Givens brings his talent from the stages of Las Vegas’ tribute show at the Stratosphere Hotel and has the same looks and sounds as the chart-topping McGraw. McGraw is a perennial hit maker in current country music and Givens will perform many of this hits, past and present.

Coming to Cumberland for the first time will be Russ Hedrick as Charlie Daniels. Hedrick will bring the same phenomenal fiddle playing sounds as Daniels. Daniels is best known for such country hits as “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” and Hedrick will perform both solo and duets with the other performers. Hedrick also performs in Branson, Mo., Vegas and throughout other tribute venues across the United States.

Older country fans will enjoy the tribute to one of the greatest country duet couples, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn. Twitty, who passed away during the height of his career, will be performed by Brian McCullough. McCullough comes to the area from Branson and has performed Twitty’s country and rock ’n’ roll hits all across the country. Twitty’s hits include, “Hello Darlin’”, “Only Make Believe” and “Slow Hand.” Recording with Twitty for many years was Lynn, who will be performed by Vegas dance and singing artist, Nellie Norris. Norris is a chameleon in the entertainment industry and recreates many entertainers. Fans of Lynn will enjoy hearing “Coal Miner’s Daughter” among many of the hits from the great age of country music.

Also returning to the Cumberland show will be a special artist saluting the great music of Toby Keith and a few other surprise guests. As always, the show will also gets a great boost as Doug Brewin, last year’s Alan Jackson, returns to perform with the Late Nite Rodeo band.

Tickets are currently on sale with preferred seating, general seating and upper balcony seating available. Preferred seating in the first 11 rows is limited. Tickets can be purchased by calling the ticket center at (301) 759-0580 or by visiting TWR, 549 N. Centre St., during business hours. The show begins at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening an hour earlier. More information on the performers and seating is available on the Tri State Web site at www.tri-stateconcerts.com.