Toyota Texas Bass Classic Announces Concert Lineup

Montgomery Gentry joins Blake Shelton, Tracy Lawrence & Jeff Allen October 2-3

Lake Conroe, Texas – Hit country music group Montgomery Gentry will headline two days of concerts at the Toyota Texas Bass Classic with a performance on Sunday, October 3. Evan Williams Bourbon will present Saturday, October 2, including performances by Academy of Country Music Award winner Blake Shelton and Tracy Lawrence. Emerging country artist Jeff Allen will open for Montgomery Gentry on Sunday.

The concerts, along with other ticketed activities for fans of all ages, will take place October 2 and 3 at the Lone Star Convention & Expo Center in Conroe, Texas. Ticketed events include tournament weigh-ins, interactive expo areas, fireworks shows and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Adventures Area. The concerts and other events are happening in conjunction with the Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC), held October 1-3 on Lake Conroe. The TTBC is an independent bass fishing world championship and benefits the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and its youth outdoor recreation programs.

“We are bringing a great mix of established country music legends and rising talents to the area at an affordable, family-friendly price,” said Tournament Director Lenny Francoeur. “We have continued our kids admitted free policy from last year and are making tickets available at all H-E-B stores in Texas.”

Tickets are now on sale at the tournament website, www.toyotatexasbassclassic.com, and by phone at 1-866-907-0143. Beginning July 2, tickets will be on sale at all H-E-B store locations throughout Texas. Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the gate and are available for Saturday and Sunday individually. The daily tickets include grounds admission to the TTBC for that particular day and admission to all concerts during that day. The ticket is also valid for tournament weigh-ins and interactive exhibits. Kids 17 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult. All active military, police, fire and EMS personnel are free with correct identification.

Music Director Greg Frey of 100.3 KILT-FM, the official radio partner of the TTBC, added, “The TTBC has proven that it brings unparalleled entertainment value to the Houston metro area and I believe that it has hit a homerun with this year’s concert lineup.”

Montgomery Gentry, made up of Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry, has risen to the top of country music over the past decade. Now in their 11th year on the national stage, the duo has released more than 25 charted singles, including No. 1 hits “If You Ever Stop Loving Me,” “Something To Be Proud Of,”

“Lucky Man,” “Roll With Me,” and “Back When I Knew It All.” Montgomery Gentry has released seven albums, including their platinum-certified 1999 debut, Tattoos & Scars, which earned the group tremendous acclaim. Montgomery Gentry was named the Country Music Association’s Duo of the Year in 2000, and received that year’s American Music Award for Favorite New Artist – Country, the Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Vocal Group or Duo, and was named the 2008 Radio and Records and Billboard #1 Duo. Montgomery Gentry will release their eighth studio album titled Gravel Road this fall.

Recognized as one of country music’s finest singers and with live shows renowned as some of music’s most enjoyable, Shelton recently earned an Academy of Country Music Award and CMT Award when “Hillbilly Bone,” a duet with longtime friend Trace Adkins, was named the 2010 Vocal Event of the Year and Collaborative Video of the Year. Shelton burst on to the country music scene with his debut single, “Austin,” in 2001. The song became a five-week No. 1 single and helped set the stage for a tremendously successful career. Each of Shelton’s first three albums, Blake Shelton, The Dreamer and Blake Shelton’s Barn and Grill went gold, and each produced a chart-topping single. His fourth album, Pure BS, also went gold and produced a back-to-back No. 1 single, "Home.” Shelton’s fifth album, Starting Fires, produced "She Wouldn't Be Gone," yet another multiple-week No. 1 single, and solidified Blake's reputation as a vocalist. Overall, Shelton has released 17 charted singles, including six No. 1 hits.

Lawrence, who hit the national stage in 1991, holds one of modern country’s most impressive legacies. Known for classics like “Sticks and Stones,” “Alibis,” “Texas Tornado,” “Time Marches On,” “Lessons Learned,” and “Paint Me A Birmingham,” Lawrence has produced 16 No. 1 singles and at least 20 top 10 singles during his career. Four of Lawrence’s albums have reached platinum status, including 1993’s Alibis and 1996’s Time Marches On, which received multi-platinum distinctions. The Time Marches On album and title song combined to receive 11 nominations from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association.

Allen, a native of Canton, Texas, has emerged as a unique talent in the music industry. He possesses an eclectic sound that seamlessly incorporates aspects of Texas honky-tonk, rocking country guitars and a little southern soul. Allen wrote or co-wrote eight of the 11 songs on his debut album, Raised on Gettin’ By. The title track, “Raised on Gettin’ By,” reached No. 8 on the Texas Music Chart and his second single, “She Drives Me To Drink,” climbed to No. 14 on the Texas Chart.

The Toyota Texas Bass Classic tournament functions are operated by the Professional Anglers Association with technical assistance and support from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Inland Fisheries Division. Title sponsor for the event is Toyota. Corporate partners are City of Conroe, Evinrude, Spaw Maxwell and Evan Williams Bourbon. Corporate partnership opportunities are available for 2010. For additional information, visit www.toyotatexasbassclassic.com or call 1-866-907-0143.