Chasing Dixie to appear at Bourbon County Fair July 16

FORT SCOTT, Kan. -- An up-and-coming country music group will be the featured entertainment act during the Bourbon County Fair, which starts July 12.

Chasing Dixie, a three-member, all-female country group that formed last year, is scheduled to perform a concert at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 16, at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus, 2108 S. Horton St.

The fine arts center is located across Horton Street from the Bourbon County Fairgrounds, where most fair events will take place.

David Foster, the associate secretary for the Bourbon County Fair Board, said the board is pleased that the new fine arts center is available this year for the band to perform since entertainment acts in previous years at the fair did not draw big crowds mainly due to weather, uncomfortable seats at the fair grandstand, and other factors.

"We are pleased to have this new venue as an option because we can bring in a show regardless of weather and allow people a comfortable, air conditioned seat to enjoy a nice show," Foster said. "It hadn't ever worked very well in the past due to the extreme heat and humidity that hindered participation in an outside event at the grandstand. This year we hope to have a good turnout so that we will be able to continue bringing in high quality entertainment in the future."

Chasing Dixie, which consists of Alaina Whitaker, Erin James, and Andrea Young, is a band that is new to country music, but the trio does have experience working in the music industry. Whitaker, the group's lead singer, was a top 20 finalist on the seventh season of the popular "American Idol" television show. Young and James have also enjoyed success and have already been referred to as performance veterans in Nashville, Tenn., Foster said.

Young and James both play a variety of string instruments and also sing backing vocals.

The band has opened for Brooks and Dunn, and have also played at the Buffalo Run Casino in Miami, Okla., with Rascal Flatts. They will perform as the opening act for country artist Keith Anderson during his 2009 summer tour.

The trio is currently working on their debut album and will perform several quality original songs during their local concert, Foster added.

"After seeing them perform, I'm now confident that the fair board made a good choice in selecting Chasing Dixie for our entertainment act," he said. "They've got too many qualities for people not to find something that they can enjoy. They bring it all, from instrumental perfection to blending of vocal harmony to an attractive innocence coupled with an animated performance.

"I encourage everyone to take advantage of the inexpensive ticket prices so they can be treated with a true up-and-coming country act."

Doors to the July 16 show will open at 7 p.m. Reserved seating tickets are currently available for $15, and advance general admission tickets are available for $10. Advance ticket sales will end at 5 p.m. July 15. General admission tickets will cost $12 if purchased the day of the show.

Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall St., calling the chamber at (620) 223-3566, through the chamber's Web site, www.fortscott.com, or through the Bourbon County Fair Web site, www.bourboncountyfair.com.

For more information on Chasing Dixie, visit the band's Web site at www.myspace.com/chasingdixie.