Prarie rock

Corey has heard ZZ Top and he has played the stage. The only difference Saturday will be that he will share that stage with the rock & roll Hall of Famers.

With the Calf Fry taste starting to fade away, Corey Smith returns to Stillwater and the Tumbleweed.

The Georgia musician is trading the lengthy testicle festival lineup for a spot in the condensed and eclectic group of talented artists billed to play the Tumbleweed's Rockin' Tailgate this weekend.

Unlike the red dirt heavy tradition, the Tumbleweed's latest musical offering is true variety including Bo Phillips, Sawyer Brown, Smith and ZZ Top.

Jordan Woodruff, Tumbleweed assistant manager, said he expects just as much variety in the crowd there to see those acts.

"It is going to be a little bit different of an atmosphere," Woodruff said. "Its going to be older and younger crowd mixed in and it is a show that can appeal to a whole range of different people from your country music fans to rock music fans to music fans in general."

ZZ Top is set as the centerpiece to the musical mix.

"I think all your old and young crowd can relate to ZZ Top," Woodruff said.
"They are pioneers when it comes to a lot of music and a lot of their music has influenced today's Texas and red dirt music and contemporary music."

For the third time in less than a year, Smith will bring his unique brand of music to a Stillwater stage.

"It is country, its raw, its rootsy but its not stamped by Nashville," Smith said.
"There are so many music lovers out there, especially country music lovers. There is a whole lot of common ground between the music I make and the whole red dirt scene, so it is just a whole new frontier for us to spread out and to and so far it has worked out for us."

Smith said aside from having to shorten his set as the lead off to ZZ Top he won't be making any major adjustments.

"My songs are already written and I am who I am," Smith said.
"We just try to go out and have a good time, play some songs and hopefully have an impact on people."

Like College Fest and Calf Fry, the Rockin' Tailgate will take place at the Tumbleweed's outdoor arena.

"I think everybody that goes out to an outdoor show will leave with a memory," Woodruff said. "Most of the time when you go to festivals and things like that they will have the, ya know, first 50 yards blocked off. Well here you get the big name acts and if you show up early you can be right up in front the stage catching their guitar pics.

Box Info
Rockin' Tailgate
July 30: Bo Phillips, Sawyer Brown
July 31: Corey Smith, ZZ Top
Combo Ticket: $50
Friday Ticket $20 presale $25 at the door
Saturday Ticket $40 presale $55 at the door
Tickets can be purchased at tumbleweedusa.com