Classic country at Come and Take It

GONZALES — The entertainment lineup for the 2015 edition of Gonzales’ Come and Take It Celebration was announced Friday afternoon. Fans no doubt will be looking for love with rose-colored glasses once October hits.

Both nights of the annual event, scheduled for Oct. 2-4, feature headliners that have a combined 12 No. 1 country hits to their resume. Friday night’s show and dance features Johnny Lee while Saturday night welcomes John Conlee to town.

Festival entertainment chair Britney Jones Caka was pleased at the artists that are set to appear over three days and the work that will bring the talent to Confederate Square.

“This year’s lineup is comparable to last year’s in the sense that we are still working to find CATI’s niche,” Caka said. “We are continually building from the previous year in an attempt to grow and make a [better] celebration happen. We have bigger names this year but are still providing the fun, innovative, and varied lineup that I hope will become tradition.”

She continued that she was “super stoked” that the original “Urban Cowboy” Johnny Lee will be set to play his hits like “Looking for Love,” “Cherokee Fiddle” and “Hey Bartender.” She credits fellow entertainment committee member Neal Barfield as being instrumental in booking the act.

Also appearing on Friday night’s ticket will be La Distancia playing rancheras and cumbias and Bill Pekar and the Rainey Brothers playing the hits.

John Conlee, a member of the Grand Ole Opry since 1981, will no doubt bring out the fans accustomed to boot-scooting in dance halls and beer joints when vinyl records spun in the jukeboxes. His string of late 70s and early 80s hits include “Rose Colored Glasses,” “Backside of Thirty,” “Friday Night Blues” and “Common Man.”

Saturday’s lineup is more robust with sets by mariachi band Los Gavilanes, bluegrass group The Ledbetters, oldies from The Riptide Band, traditional dancing from the Come and Take It Square Dancers, a bit of Tejano from Max Castillo Y Grupo Lumbre, outlaw country with Jarrod Birmingham and headlined by Conlee.

And on Sunday, a CATI favorite returns with the polka sounds of the Shiner Hobo Band.

It appears that the entertainment committee has hit a little bit of every niche out there, save for punk rock, lounge music and death metal.

“We are working to grow our Celebration and bring in acts that not only our community love but that others will come check us out for as well,” Caka said.

The “others” that she mentioned is a big reason that CATI received a $20,000 grant from the city’s hotel/motel fund a couple of months ago. Committee heads petitioned the city for a bit more money to bring in higher caliber acts this year in the hopes that more fans from outside the area would give Gonzales a shot and stay for the weekend, thus invigorating the local economy.

“We are going bigger this year and couldn’t’ be any more excited about it than we are,” she said. “The increased talent should also draw more people down to the food booths, vendors and carnival. A total win for all the small organizations that take part in CATI.”

In addition to the music, the committee promised to bring more family entertainment to the square in the form of solo performers. Kids will be happy to know that Steve Hamilton, aka “Steve the Pretty Good” will rove around the fest grounds providing jokes and magic tricks for the youngsters and their parents alike. In addition, a stilt-walker, cowgirl juggler and balloon artist will be on hand for the weekend.

“Folks should come out for the great family atmosphere that CATI provides,” she said. “From the family entertainment being brought in this year to a great musical lineup to more activities, it’s going to be great!”