Public Information Division Anthony Wilson, Public Information Officer 72 W. College Ave. Office: 325.481.2727 Cell: 325.234.0014 [email protected]

For immediate release March 27, 2015

Watson headlines St. Mary’s Music Fest

“Proud country traditionalist” (New York Times) Aaron Watson — who recently made Billboard history as the first independent male artist to debut #1 on the Country albums chart with the release of “The Underdog” — will headline the 2nd Annual St. Mary’s Music Festival on Saturday, July 25, at the RiverStage.

An Abilene native, Watson’s “The Underdog” is more than just the title of the self-made country star’s 12th record; it’s his mission statement. Recorded with celebrated producer Keith Stegall (, , ), the album’s 14 tracks tell stories of the kind of unsung heroes who defy the odds through hard work and perseverance to reach their dreams.

Watson has been featured by NPR’s Morning Edition, The Guardian, Country Weekly, and The New York Times, who called him “a proud country traditionalist.” Rolling Stone magazine wrote, “He's the kind of country artist you’d take home to mama: a church- going family man whose songs are filled not with AutoTuned vocals and half-lit salutes to Jack Daniel’s, but fiddle solos and PG-rated lyrics that sing the praises of truck stop coffee, Frank Sinatra and marital bliss.”

Tickets go on sale Wednesday, April 1, for $15 at cosatx.us/tickets, by calling 325-658- 6464 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, or at one of the following outlets: • McNease Convention Center , 501 Rio Concho , 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays. • Blair’s Western Wear , 4230 Sherwood Way, 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Mondays- Saturdays. • Pinkie’s Liquor Store , 1415 S. Bryant Blvd., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays- Saturdays. • Barbed Wire and Roses , Sunset Mall, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays, noon-6 p.m. Sundays. • Goodfellow Air Force Base , Event Center Information, Tickets & Tours Office, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, noon-9 p.m. Saturdays, noon-8 p.m. Sundays.

Tickets at the gate will cost $20. Children 10 and younger will be admitted for free.

Gates to the Bill Aylor Sr. Memorial RiverStage, 18 E. Avenue A, will open at noon. Taking the stage at the following times will be: • 12:30 p.m. – Mario Flores. • 2:30 p.m. – Cacy Savala. • 4:30 p.m. – Judson Cole Band. • 6:30 p.m. – Elida Reyna y Avante. • 8:30 p.m. – Aaron Watson. • 10:30 p.m. – Michael Salgado. ###