Fiddlin’ With Texas Western Swing — Bell County Expo Center To Showcase Fiddle & Western Swing Music Saturday

Bell County Expo Center To Showcase Fiddle & Western Swing Music Saturday

BELTON, Texas Fiddle and Western Swing music will be the rule of the day come March 17 at the Bell County Expo Center in Belton. A long list of professional entertainers will be the highlight of the afternoon show, dinner, and night of dancing.

With the doors opening at 11 a.m., the show will start at 11:45 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m., followed by a reserved-seating dinner at 5:30 p.m.

Then the chairs will be moved to make way for a big Western Swing dance which starts at 8 p.m. to 12 midnight. Meals and tables for the dance may be reserved until March 12.

This event is sponsored by the Texas Western Swing Heritage Association of Bell County, a non-profit organization composed of local and area volunteers, with Nan Ray as events chairman.

This year, the show will be dedicated to the memory of Mitz Ray, co-founder of the event. “The purpose for the event is to promote this ‘Texas Born’ music and assemble extremely talented musicians on our stage,” said Nan Ray. “There will be Grammy award winners, ‘Hall of Fame’ musicians, ‘World Champion’ fiddlers and recording artists performing, with people coming from all over Texas and surrounding states to hear the great music.”

Featured at the Showcase are six-times Texas State Champion and two-times World Champion fiddler Randy Elmore of Cleburne. who just completed an album with Willie Nelson.

Wes Westmoreland returns to the Showcase this year. Beginning at age 9, Westmoreland learned to play the fiddle from his grandfather. His professional music tenures have been with Box Car Willie, Red Steagall, and Moe Bandy. He was a member of Mel Tillis and the Statesiders for 13 years.

Two-time Grammy winner Ricky Turpin of New Braunfels will perform. He was World Series of Fiddling Champion and first runner-up at the Grand Nationals. He has played with Johnny Bush and The Banderleros, Asleep at the Wheel, and Rick Trevino.

Admission for the afternoon is $15.