Emerson Drive heads a benefit ‘Stampede’
Country band Emerson Drive headlines a new American Cancer Society local benefit event, the Stateline Stampede Cattle Baron’s Ball, on Saturday, Oct. 5, in Texarkana.
The fundraiser, which starts at 7 p.m. at Bandana Ranch and has a theme of “Boots, Bangles & Bandanas,” also includes Texas band Dagnabbit. Sam Shupak performs during a 6 p.m. VIP party.
“This is American Cancer Society’s signature event, which is a cattle baron’s ball. This is new for the Texarkana area,” said Christal Prince, community manager of income development for American Cancer Society here.
“The proceeds go to the American Cancer Society,” Prince said. Their mission is to find a cure for cancer and hopefully, within the next five years, have three out of three survivors.
The VIP reception and party includes premium beverages, a meet-and-greet with Emerson Drive and heavy hors d’oeuvres. Baron’s tickets allow access to the VIP event.
All tickets include dinner, beverages and live performances from Emerson Drive and Dagnabbit. Gourmet cowboy cuisine will be served by Eddie Deen & Co. Catering.
There also will be a silent auction, a live auction, a bid board, games and prizes and a bar. Western attire is encouraged for this night of fun. One item auctioned at the VIP party will be a serenade by Emerson Drive.
“There’s a lot going on that night. There’s food. There’s live entertainment. We have midway games. We have gaming tables, which of course is done in the tradition of donations and prizes to be won,” Prince said.
Hors d’oeuvres to be served at the VIP party include chicken-fried lobster, while the main meal includes smoked chicken, pulled-pork tacos, St. Louis-style ribs, skinless loaded mashed potatoes and much more, Prince said.
Grammy-nominated Emerson Drive originally hails from Canada, having first signed with DreamWorks Records Nashville a dozen years ago.
“Moments” became their first chart-topping hit, following their Top 5 hits “I Should Be Sleeping” and “Fall Into Me.”
Since its inception, Emerson Drive has won or been nominated for numerous awards and toured with top country artists such as Shania Twain and Toby Keith.
Their latest album is “Roll,” which was released last year on Open Road Recordings and includes the singles “She’s My Kind of Crazy” and “Let it Roll.”
“We wanted to bring someone that has current music,” Prince said.
She says Shupak is an upand-coming country artist from Lufkin, Texas.
“He is a beautiful singer, but he plays the acoustic guitar and is just out of this world,”
(Outlaw Tickets are $150; Baron’s Tickets are $225. Tickets are all-inclusive and are available at Cavender’s Boot City and Baskins Western & Work Wear. They’re also available at State Line Stampede TXK. org. Bandana Ranch is on Farm to Market Road 1397 in Texarkana, Texas; see the Website for a map to the ranch. For more information, call 903278-9680.) Prince said. “I’ve heard him several times and thought it was a must for our event.”
Dagnabbit is a dance band from Longview, Texas. They will perform before Emerson Drive.
“Even though we are out of the middle of the beautiful hay meadow, we will have a beautiful dance floor for dancing to Dagnabbit,” Prince said. “Then at 10 p.m., Emerson Drive is our headline entertainer.”
Co-chairs for the event are Linda and Mike Lilly and Allison and Kyle Deshotels. Prince said receiving approval from American Cancer Society actually took two years.
They hope to make this an annual event.
“Of course, the one thing that we’re noted for in this area is a community that’s very supportive of our nonprofits, so we were excited and very pleased because actually we’ve been awarded a Cattle Baron’s Ball,” Prince said.