You didn’t have to look through “rose colored glasses” to see a great concert at Granbury Live this past Sunday. John Conlee was in town and he absolutely brought the house down with a nearly two-hour performance! Singing hit after hit, our audience could not help but sing along with John in what amounted to a tribute to his 40 years in show business. The intimacy of our theater and John’s jovial and gentle nature created a performance many will not soon forget. So now for the good news…John and I talked after the show and I am already in contact with his booking people to get him back here after the first of the year! I know some of you could not get tickets to the show because of it being sold out, so go to the web site and sign up for our emails so we can let you know when tickets go on sale or the next show. You don’t want to miss out the second time around, because I will bet the farm it is sold out again! Come join the fun we are having at the New Granbury Live!
Blog
CMA Female Vocalist of the Year Janie Fricke will be appearing at the New Granbury Live on June 2 at 7:30 pm. Some people may not know Janie also appeared in the original series of The Dukes of Hazzard in an episode called “Happy Birthday General Lee”. Janie was the only musical artist to ever appear in the series in a non-singing roll.
Car enthusiast Keith Montgomery from Cleburne has been a long-time fan of “The Dukes of Hazzard” and in 2008 built a replica of the famous General Lee automobile. The paint color’s code was provided to Keith by the Dukes of Hazzard head mechanic and was also provided the authentic decals. Since completing his “General Lee” the vehicle has appeared at the Dukes Fest at the Atlanta Motor Speedway where it made three honorary passes around the track. This past year the car was selected as “Bo’s Pic” for the best General Lee at John Schneider’s personal event in Holden, Louisiana. The car has been autographed by cast members Catherine Back (Daisy Duke), John Schneider (Bo) Tom Wopat (Luke), Sohney Shroyer (Deputy Enos Strait), Ben Jones (Cooter), Rick Hurst (Deputy Cletus Hogg) Byron Cherry (Coy Duke), James Best (Sheriff Roscoe P. Coaltrain), Don Pedro Colley (Sheriff Ed Little), and Lindsay Bloom (Mabel Hogg).
Mr. Montgomery will have his award winning General Lee vehicle at the New Granbury Live on Saturday starting at noon where it will be on display in the front of the theater.
At approximately 6 pm June 2, Janie Fricke will autograph the vehicle.
Tickets are still available for the Janie Fricke concert at 7:30pm. Purchase Tickets Now
Contact Sam Houston General Manager for more information or to reach Keith Montgomery
kishla@thenewgranburylive.com or 940-727-2145
Blog for May 20/18
At Granbury Live we regularly have performances of our Granbury Live Follies; usually about once a month. I think everyone in the show takes a great deal of pride in the performance we give our audience and it is certainly fun we have a different musical theme for each show; whether it be “Classic Country”, “Country Y2K”, or “Cruising with the Follies”. It is always a fun, fast paced, good time!
As the Executive Producer I take a great deal of pride in the ensemble we have brought together to make-up the Follies. Do you realize the experience and the level of talent we have in our shows? I know you may have heard them sing and play and said to yourself, “Wow, these folks are really good”, but do you really know how good?
Our Music Director Mark Gheen has just this last year played with the legendary Vegas performer, Wayne Newton, as well as the voice of Restless Heart Larry Stewart! Rocky Gribble, our guitarist, has played with the likes of Miranda Lambert, Ronnie Millsap, B.J Thomas, LeAnne Rimes, Hank Thompson and others as well as being a member of the West Texas Music Hall of Fame and the Grapevine Opry Hall of Fame!
Then of course we have vocalist Krista Bailey who has sung as a member of Vince Vance and the Valliant’s and opened for the likes of Harry Connick Jr., Neal McCoy, and Stevie Wonder! She has also sung background vocals with Bryan White, Gary P Nunn and countless others. DeAnna Wood has opened for the likes of Randy Travis and was the Female Vocalist of the Year at the Grapevine Opry three consecutive years! She also received the coveted Horizon Award along with fellow Follies Member Nicki Vassar!
Folks, our Follies shows are full of special talent and they present a show which would fit right in with any theater in Branson! It is music at its best, singing songs you love, backed by the best musicians in the business, in the most intimate venue in Texas. It just doesn’t get better then that! So, do yourself a favor and grab up a ticket to the next Follies show. You will learn what all the excitement is about and have the time of your life! But please be careful; you are likely to become addicted and be a Follies fan for life!
See you at the show!
Today, certain phrases in our daily conversations are way to overused. Commonly, we are inundated with the description of an event using the term “super”, “awesome”, and “fantastic”; so much so the words don’t seem to have much meaning. When was the last time you were truly in “awe” of something you experienced?
For me, this past Saturday night was such a moment. Gary P Nunn has been thrilling Texas audiences for nearly fifty years and he certainly did not fail to deliver in his performance at the New Granbury Live. His six-piece band was dialed in and the intimate setting of GBL allowed the audience to really experience and feel the “true sound” of Mr. Nunn. Lots of people have seen Gary P. perform at a bar or a honky tonk, (including myself) and that is a memorable and unique, but to have him in the intimate confines of Granbury Live without the interference and distractions of bar noises, the experience was far from common; it was AWESOME!
I took a lot of pride in Gary P telling the audience how much he loved our venue and what terrific service the staff had provided him while he was here. Legends who have performed in literally hundreds of venues don’t ordinarily make such a statement to the audience. Nice of him to say so and it did make me feel like we are moving in the right direction at GBL.
For those of you who were at Granbury Live Saturday night, you know exactly what I mean. If you were not there, you flat missed something special. Starting this morning I am working to bring Gary P. back to Granbury Live. Keep your eyes peeled because you want to get a ticket to the next show before they are all gone. To miss Gary P twice…well that may be a Texas sized mistake!
Michael Hix burns the house down with the Motown Meltdown!
I always love when my buddy Michael Hix comes to the New Granbury Live to perform a show. First, I love being able to spend a little time with my friend and catch up on all the exciting things he is working on and hear about the places where he is performing. I think what I enjoy most is seeing the look on the faces of the audience when they have just witnessed one of Michael’s shows! They are so excited and happy, and at the same time they seem exhausted from watching one of the great showmen in the industry go through his act! I have people stop me repeatedly and ask “How old is Michael” because they cannot believe anyone over the age of 16 could possibly make the moves and keep up the energy level he does! I have others say, “Can you imagine being his elementary school teacher? I bet he wore the teachers out!”
Truly, there will never be another Michael Hix. His show is nothing but fun, fun, fun and non-stop energy! I cannot imagine how anybody could see Michael perform and not believe they got their monies worth. This past Saturday he performed brilliantly in two shows, and importantly, took the time to meet with his fans after the show for as long as they wanted; allowing them to see the personal side of Michael. You see, as good a performer as Michael is, he is even a better person! For my money, that is what really makes Michael Hix the special talent he is.
Remember, Michael will be back at the New Granbury Live on August 4 and again on October 20th. Two shows on each date and tickets will go on sale for both dates in the next two weeks. Get your tickets and come and join in the fun. Michael is don’t miss entertainment!
See you are the shows!
It is always fun to perform in one of Granbury Live Follies shows! First, it brings to Granbury Live a tremendous group of musicians and vocalists which are such a pleasure to watch, and for me personally, such a pleasure to work with. I hope some of you take a second and go to the Follies page here on the website and read the bios of our performers; Very impressive and I believe you will find their performances even more exciting.
This past weekend GBL presented a Follies show entitled “Country Duets”. The production included songs from the great pairings in country music like George Jones and Tammy Wynette, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, Kenny Rodgers and Dolly Parton, Brooks and Dunn, the Judds and a few others thrown in for good measure! As a historian it was interesting for me to hear how the style of music has changed over the past 50 years in country music, but also the way duets were performed. (The Judds sound/style is nothing like Conway and Loretta!) Many customers tell me they really enjoy the historical video clips and sound bites we include in the show as it gives them some insight into the person behind the voice of the songs. It was great fun pulling the show together and even more so, presenting it to our audience.
How did it go? Well the crowd Saturday night gave the cast a standing ovation and seemed thrilled with the songs we presented and the manner in which we did it. Always satisfying to know our patrons had a good time and felt like they got their money’s worth.
I hope you come and see one of the Follies shows soon! Our next show is June 9th and the show will be all about “Cruisin”; meaning those great songs from the 60’s and 70’s like the Beach Boys, Beatles, Jan and Dean, Motown, and others which were playing on the radio as you drove around town. Get your ticket and come see a great show and bring back some memories that are sure to make your heart smile.
See at the show!
This past Saturday, the incomparable Michael Hix was at Granbury Live performing a show called “Lets Go to Vegas”. Sadly, I was out of town on other business for Michael’s performance, but when I got back in town and went to breakfast Monday morning at my favorite diner (#Pam’s), before I could even sit down two of my breakfast crew regulars told me they had been to Michael’s show and had the time of their lives!
They kept saying repeatedly, “Where does he get that much energy…I was exhausted just watching him!” They also commented on his originality as demonstrated in the comedy skit where he plays the “dummy” to his drummer, Josh Rogers, who plays a ventriloquist. Well I am here to tell you Michael is not dummy, in fact, he is a comedy and musical genius, but he and Josh brought the house to their knees in laughter.
I am told the most poignant moment in the show was when Michael brought a young girl up on the stage and asked her to sing with him, and when he asked for her favorite song, she said “Jesus Loves Me”. Well Michael never missed a beat and he and the young lady were soon joined by the crowd in for a very special Granbury Live moment.
When I got to my office there was an email from Michael, telling me he was sorry we didn’t get to see each other at his show, telling me how great the audience was and how terrific my staff had treated him. You see my friend Michael is just as nice a guy as he is a talented guy. He and his wife Ginny make a great team and I am pleased they are my friend, and part of the mix here at the New Granbury Live.
Michael will be back May 5 th for two shows: one at 2 and one at 7pm. If you missed his performance this past weekend, get tickets for his new show, “Motown Madness” and have one of the best times you can have anywhere, at any price. The best part will be your opportunity to watch a one of the really “good guys” is show business!
When a show comes together, there is an electricity in the room and an excitement which is almost palpable! Such was the case this past Saturday night as Holly Tucker joined the Granbury Live Follies to present “Classic Country”. The Texas CMA Female Vocalist of the Year did not disappoint, as she sang songs across the country music landscape, and ended with a crowd-pleasing rendition of “How Great Thou Art”.
Joining Holly and the rest of the amazing Granbury Live Follies crew was Andrew Sevener and Wisper Cox; Andrew being the Champion of our recently concluded Texas Spotlight competition and Wisper being a finalist. Both young talents knocked it out of the park and there were a great many people in attendance who commented they anticipated seeing those young performers on the national music scene someday!
Have you ever been to one of our Follies show? If you haven’t you missed a great one this past Saturday. Our next Follies show is March 24th and is called “The Times They Are A Changing” and will feature some of the best songs from Rock and Roll from 1964 to 1974. So if you like the Beatles, the Beach Boys, Motown, the California sound, and all the other music which may this time of change so memorable, you won’t want to miss it!
It has been many years ago, but I had the privilege of seeing Hal Halbrook perform his award-winning play, “Mark Twain Tonight!”. Mr. Halbrook has performed the show for over fifty years and still manages to “pack em in” the theater! This was also the first one-man plays which I had ever witnessed. “Truly remarkable” were the only words I could muster, as Mark Twain literally came alive before my eyes. I could feel his wit, sense his eye for observation, and could touch the sting of his barbed tongue as he humorously made comment after comment on life, love, politics and the world. Having been named after the iconic Texas figure, my next thought was: “Sam Houston’s story is a whole lot more interesting and exciting than anything Mark Twain could say!”, and so I pledged to one day write a one man show about General Sam and perform it before the great citizens of Texas.
On Feb 16, March 11, April 20 and April 22 I will be performing “The Lion of Texas-An Evening with Sam Houston” at Granbury Live. I believe our theater is the perfect venue for this show. I have performed the show at many places; Stage West in Ft Worth, MCL Grand in Lewisville, the Municipal Auditorium in Greenville, in Plano, Paris, Sherman and many other towns throughout Texas, but I am not sure I have been in a theater which is better suited for the production than Granbury Live. This intimate setting will truly allow me to bring the personality and character of General Sam to life before the audience. The production is humorous, insightful, and with sound and visual effects, it becomes very powerful and dramatic.
This show has been very well received by the critics and by the audiences. They leave feeling inspired about who they are and where they came from as a people. With so many people moving into our state every month, I have found new Texans are particularly found of the show and are often shocked by the true story of General Sam and the birth of Texas. I have frequently heard from audiences, “Now I know why these Texans are so proud!”
Take a look at the schedule and get a ticket for one of these performances. I do not think you will be disappointed. There is no greater story than the story of Texas and of Sam Houston. I also think there isn’t a better venue to tell the story than Granbury Live! If you are a Texan you will love it, and if you are not, we will all feel sorry for you! You wont be disappointed!
When I was a young man in college, I went to the oilfields of Oklahoma during the summer for work. Having been raised in the city I was not much of a Country music fan, but each day as we rode in a pickup from one worksite to the next, Country music was on the radio. One sound which really captured my attention was a young guy named Johnny Rodriquez. Who would have thought forty years later Johnny and I would both be at Granbury Live and I would have the pleasure of introducing him to an overflow, sold out crowd!
He gave a masterful performance and the audience loved it. As I spoke with people after the show, it was so interesting how for many of them the Johnny Rodriquez concert had been their first visit to Granbury Live. They were blown away by the sound, the intimacy and the entire aura of the theater! I got repeated comments about our wonderful hospitality and how folks had never been to a venue which seemed more intimate or got you closer to the performer! They loved the sound and the feel of the theater and said they couldn’t wait to see some of the upcoming acts like Doug Stone, Gene Watson, the Bellamy Brothers, and Moe Bandy!
If you get the chance, come to the New Granbury Live and experience the “most intimate venue in Texas”! It is an experience unlike any other