Gene Watson: UTV Fest - August 2008
Gene Watson has been a consistent touring act within the world of country
music since the very early days of his career in the 1970s.
In 2008, Gene Watson continued to tour & entertain his legion of fans.
Gene Watson & the Farewell Party Band made two special appearances at the
first UTV Country Music Festival which took place in Dungannon Park, Moy
Road, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland on Saturday 2 August & Sunday
3 August.
Saturday 2 August 2008 & Sunday 3 August 2008
UTV Stage
Clinton Gregory, Gene
Watson's Farewell Party Band fiddle player & guitarist was onstage between
4.25pm & 4.35pm; Gene Watson was then onstage between 4.35pm & 5.50pm.
Sunday 3 August 2008
Full Report from Sean Brady
'Gene Watson & The Farewell Party Band graced the stage
at the first UTV Country Festival in Dungannon Park, Moy Road in Dungannon,
Co. Tyrone, Northern Ireland on Saturday 2 August 2008 & Sunday 3 August
2008.
My wife Lisa & I had the pleasure of attending the UTV
Country Festival on Sunday 3 August 2008 & enjoyed a feast of country music
from Moore & Moore, Vernon Oxford, Stonewall Jackson,
Nanci Griffith and Ricky Skaggs &
Kentucky Thunder.
However, the artist we were really there to see & hear perform was Gene
Watson, a man who has stayed true to the heart of traditional country music
for the best part of forty years. Gene was outstanding & was easily the star
attraction at the festival.
The Farewell Party Band, with Corky Owens on steel guitar, Woody Woodruff on
lead guitar, Todd Hines on drums, Steve Nelson on piano & Staley Rogers on
bass guitar are a crack team of musicians & ably assisted fellow (FPB)
member Clinton
Gregory when they graced the stage between 4.25pm &
4.35pm.
When he delivered two classic Merle Haggard songs ('The bottle let me down'
& 'A place to fall apart'),
Clinton Gregory
proved that he needs to re-enter the recording studios soon in order to give
us a new album.
Following Clinton's all-too-brief showcase of songs, Gene Watson stepped
onstage to rapturous applause & effortlessly worked his way through his
wonderful brand of traditional country music in a set that began at 4.35pm &
continued through to 5.50pm.
It's true to say that traditional country music is safe
in Gene Watson's hands as exemplified by his strong set of tunes as
emphasised by the selection below:
Gene Watson Playlist
1 ‘Should I come home (or should I go crazy)’
2 ‘Where love begins’
3 ‘No trash in my trailer’
4 ‘Baby me baby’
5 ‘It’s not love but it’s not bad’
6 ‘This dream’s on me’
7 ‘Love in the hot afternoon’
8 ‘In a perfect world’
9 ‘Memories to burn’
10 ‘I don’t go around mirrors’
11 ‘Paper Rosie’
12 ‘Today I started loving you again’
13 ‘You gave me a mountain’
14 ‘I don’t need a thing at all’
15 ‘One and one and one’
16 ‘Fourteen carat mind’
17 ‘Farewell party’
18 ‘Pick the wildwood flower’ (encore)
Gene Watson UTV
Country Fest 2008 Gallery
Lisa & I had the pleasure of meeting, and having lunch
with, Gene Watson at his hotel on Monday 4 August 2008 between 11.30am &
1.20pm - you can read a special report here'.
As well as making two special appearances at the UTV Country Fest 2008, Gene
Watson & the Farewell Party Band also appeared at the following venues in
August 2008:
Monday 4 August 2008
Millennium Forum, Derry
Tuesday 5 August 2008
Tullyglass House Hotel, Ballymena, Co. Antrim
Gallery
UTV Country Fest, August 2008 - Promo
Poster 1 & Promo Poster 2
Please Note
If you would like to share your memories of Gene Watson & the Farewell
Party Band's appearances at the UTV Country Fest in August 2008, or share any photos, or any Gene
Watson-related photos, you are more than welcome to get in touch.
The Gene Watson Fan Site is proud of its association (since January 2006) with
Carrie Moore-Reed at
Third Coast
Talent in Nashville.
Carrie Moore-Reed's position at
Third Coast
Talent is that of Gene Watson's Booking Representative - it was in
January 2006 that Carrie Moore-Reed acknowledged the existence of the Gene Watson
Fan Site.
The Gene Watson Fan Site is proud of its firm commitment to bringing you the
Latest Tour Info for Gene Watson. All tour info is courtesy of Carrie
Moore-Reed at
Third Coast Talent in Nashville & Sarah Brosmer at
Lytle Management in Nashville, unless otherwise stated.