It’s hard to believe we’re getting close to the seventh edition of the Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival, but time flies when you’re having fun, right?

Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival, presented by Hyundai of Longview and produced by 101.5 KNUE and Radio Texas, LIVE! With Buddy Logan, has released its lineup for the 2020 event … and it’s a big one.

“The Limestone Kid” himself, Parker McCollum, will headline this year’s festival, which is Saturday, May 2, back on the brick streets of Downtown Tyler. He’ll be joined by Texas Country superstars Josh Abbott Band, who headlined the festival in 2014, along with Red Dirt legends Jason Boland and the Stragglers, Charley Crockett and East Texas native Chris Colston.

The festival made the announcement on Friday night at its second annual Lineup Reveal Party at True Vine Brewing Company in Tyler.

In 2020 the festival will feature a record 30 of Texas’ best and most celebrated barbecue joints that will showcase their smoked meats to attendees.

Participating restaurants include: Stanley’s Famous Pit BBQ (Tyler), Louie Mueller Barbecue (Taylor), The Slow Bone (Dallas), Black’s Barbecue (Lockhart, Austin, San Marcos, New Braunfels), Hutchins BBQ (McKinney, Frisco), Schmidt Family Barbecue (Bee Cave), Lockhart Smokehouse (Dallas, Plano), Kreuz Market (Lockhart), Joseph’s Riverport Bar-B-Q (Jefferson), Snow’s BBQ (Lexington), Opie’s Barbecue (Spicewood), Roegels Barbecue Co. (Houston), Meat Church (Waxahachie), Micklethwait Craft Meats (Austin), BBQ on the Brazos (Cresson), Brisket Love BBQ & Icehouse (Lindale), Zavala’s Barbecue (Grand Prairie), The Original Bodacious Bar-B-Q (Longview), Truth BBQ (Brenham, Houston), Miller’s Smokehouse (Belton), Tyler’s Barbeque (Amarillo), LeRoy and Lewis (Austin), Brotherton’s Black Iron Barbecue (Pflugerville), Evie Mae’s Barbecue (Wolfforth), Country Tavern (Kilgore), Pinkerton’s Barbecue (Houston), Stiles Switch BBQ & Brew (Austin), Feges BBQ (Houston), Tejas Chocolate & Barbecue (Houston), Dayne’s Craft Barbecue (Fort Worth), and Brett’s Backyard Bar-B-Que (Rockdale).

The festival has expanded its number of participating restaurants from 14 in its inaugural year (2014) to more than 30 in 2020.

“It is really something to see how much and how well this festival has grown in seven years,” said Chase Colston, festival promoter and Live Events Manager for 101.5 KNUE and Radio Texas, LIVE! “The incredible amount of support we have received from our fans, Downtown Tyler and countless local and national sponsors has made Red Dirt more than we could ever imagine. We can’t wait for another great time in Year 7.”

Parker McCollum, a Conroe (Texas) native based in Austin, has launched himself to incredible popularity not only in the Texas Music scene, but nationally as well. He released his debut album, The Limestone Kid, in 2015 to much fanfare and followed up with Probably Wrong in 2017. He signed with Universal Music Group in the Summer of 2019 and released his first single under the label, “Pretty Heart.” McCollum, known for hits such as “I Can’t Breathe,” “Hell of a Year,” and “Meet You in the Middle,” is also opening for Lindale native and country music superstar Miranda Lambert on three dates during her Wildcard Tour in February, along with Texas Country star (and two-time Red Dirt headliner) Randy Rogers Band.

Josh Abbott Band, who headlined Red Dirt its second year in 2014, is a mainstay in the Texas Country realm and remains one of its biggest stars. Known for hits such as “She’s Like Texas,” “Oh, Tonight,” and “Wasn’t That Drunk,” Josh Abbott Band released their latest EP, Catching Fire, last summer featuring the hit “Little More You.”

Jason Boland & The Stragglers are one of the longest-running bands in Texas/Red Dirt Music and are consistently considered among the top-tier in live performances and songwriting. Long heralded as legends in the scene, Jason Boland & The Stragglers broke out in 1999 with their much-celebrated album, Pearl Snaps, and have since released 10 more albums, both in the studio and live. The band is touring in 2020 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Pearl Snaps.

Charley Crockett, a distant relative of the legendary Davy Crockett, is one of the best at showcasing his ability to sing blues, country, and Americana. He went from busking in New Orleans, Dallas and New York City to eventually returning to Texas and becoming a celebrated artist across multiple genres. His 2018 album Lil G.L.’s Blue Bonanza, was his breakout record and since followed up with The Valley in 2019.

Lindale native Chris Colston is quickly making a name for himself in the Texas Music Scene, consistently headlining major venues while also supporting some of the biggest names in Texas and Red Dirt Music. His single, “Gone,” surpassed 1 million streams on Spotify in 2019. He recently released his latest single, “First Dirt Road,” in advance of his first full-length album that is due out in 2020.

Red Dirt BBQ & Music Festival has sold out in each of its six years of existence, including in a record three hours in 2019. More than 5,500 festival-goers are expected at 2020’s event. Tickets go on sale for this year’s festival at 10 a.m. CT Friday, Feb. 7, at http://reddirtbbqfest.com. VIP tickets are $125, general admission tickets – which include access to the barbecue and music portions of the festival – are $75, and concert-only tickets are $35.

The festival is also sponsored by Stonewater Roofing, The Mortgage House, Dr Pepper, Cavender’s, The Plato Group, 281 Lodging Group, Choctaw Casino in Grant, Oklahoma, and The Enright Group.

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