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Grandstand Entertainment
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
Grandstand opens at 6:30 pm and shows start at 8 p.m. Thursday-Sunday night at the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion.
All Grandstand Entertainment shows are FREE with the purchase of a Gate Admission to the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion. Seating is on a First Come, First Served basis.
Sunday's Show: The entire Grandstand will be Reserved Seating; however, seating on the track below the Grandstand will remain first come, first served.
Malpass Brothers - Thursday, Aug. 28
It was a transformative moment when two young brothers discovered their grandfather Malpass' LPs collection. Drawn like a moth to a flame, the classic-filled treasure trove from the golden era of traditional country music gathered little dust in the Malpass household. Chris and Taylor studied the brother-harmony bluegrass duos of Jim & Jesse, the Louvin and Wilburn Brothers and bathed in the sounds of Hank Williams, Lefty Frizzell, Charlie Pride, Merle Haggard. It was musical Manna to the boys-there was nothing in the marketplace that fed The Malpass Brothers' soul more than the music of this bygone era--and they would stay true to it.
Best known as modern-day troubadours who carry the torch for traditional country music, The Malpass Brothers began singing and playing together professionally at a very young age. Alongside their dad, Chris Malpass Sr., the siblings performed at churches all over the southeast, but they continued to hone their traditional sound by working alongside and amongst the legends.
While Taylor finished high school, Chris began honing his songwriting skills, and working with steel guitar legend, Don Helms- an original member of the Drifting Cowboys. A few years later, he found himself on Merle Haggard's bus, singing and performing for Merle on his 000 Martin guitar. Taylor, in the meantime, played lead guitar in a local band, and upon graduation, flew out to Redding, CA to join his brother as the opening act for Merle Haggard for the next seven years.
In 2011, Haggard produced The Malpass Brothers' debut album, Memory That Bad on Hag Records. The title track hit number 6 on the CMT Pure Country 12-Pack Countdown and remained in the charts for several weeks. In 2015, Bluegrass Hall of Fame inductee, Doyle Lawson picked up the gauntlet and produced their sophomore, self-titled album on Organic Records, and in 2017, The Malpass Brothers released a live album, Live at the Paramount, which captures the energy and excitement of their highly polished, traditional country music show.
However, their latest album, Lonely Street (released May 12, 2023), also produced by Lawson alongside Ben Isaacs (of the multi-Dove Award-winning/Grammy nominated group The Isaacs), may be their strongest project to date. Notably engineered by the late Grammy Award-winning Mark Capps under the oversight of Executive Producer and longstanding Malpass manager, Dan Mann, this 12-song album teems with brand new, traditional country music that sounds as if it were curated from a 50s/60s/70s smoke-filled, classic country jukebox. Chris Malpass wrote the majority of the songs, including co-writes by Dickey Lee, Shawn Camp, Conrad Fisher and Taylor Dunn. The album also includes cover nods like "Love Slips Away" by Merle Haggard and Jeannie Seely's "We Don't."
The Malpass Brothers are anything but a "throwback" cover group. Instead, they are the "real deal." Mentored and credentialed by the biggest legends of bluegrass and country music, the brother duo continues to deliver new, yet traditional music in modern times (complete with pearl-snap shirts, Manuel/Nudie suits, over-shaped cowboy hats, and pompadour coiffure, just to drive home the point). Their firm "traditionalism" has captured the attention of the industry and traditional country fans, leading to their worldwide notoriety.
The Malpass Brothers made their Grand Ole Opry debut in December of 2018 and have been asked to return to the hallowed circle well over a dozen times since. The brother duo has headlined international tours and festivals in Ireland, Switzerland, and in Scotland, and been featured on multiple national television shows including TBN's "The Huckabee Show" and RFD's "Country's Family Reunion" and "Larry's Country Diner"-and compilation of performances from the later was released earlier this year.
Alan Cooper - Friday, Aug. 29
A rising star with the spirit of a true entertainer, a penchant for outside-the-box thinking and a growing, self-built audience, Cooper Alan is an artist willing to take country music where others have never dreamed – and fans love him for it.
Whether it’s a deeply personal, step-by-step romantic saga, or an off-the-wall party anthem, Alan’s music is already some of country’s most fearless work, and he’s just getting started.
A native of Winston-Salem, NC, the independent artist has racked up more than 250 million streams, a massive digital presence with more than 15 million followers across all social media platforms, and a touring footprint that sold over 125,000 tickets to date.
It all stems from an ability to meet fans where they are – a creative renegade freely mixing musical styles, with boundless energy, sharp writing, and often, a sense of humor. But don’t be mistaken, there’s nothing gimmicky about it.
After releasing ‘Take Forever’, a 5 song EP telling the real-life story behind his wedding in the Fall of 2023, Alan was named as a 2024 Pandora Ten Artist To Watch and named to the Sirius XM and Pandora 2024 Future Five List. Soon after launching his single “Take Forever”, it climbed to number one on Sirius XM The Highway’s Hot 30 Weekend Countdown. With his latest singles “Jesus Saves”, “Suit and Tie (Sixteen Tons)”, “Wake Me Up (feat. Aloe Blacc), and “Plead The Fifth” Alan takes his first step into the next batch of music to come.
Coming off a sold out Australia headline tour at the end of 2024, he is launching his ‘To The Bar Tour’ hitting markets all across the United States in the Spring of 2025.
Priscilla Block - Saturday, Aug. 30
Country artist Priscilla Block draws listeners in with her unfiltered, relatable songwriting, and catchy melodies. Her honest and up front approach promotes self-love, empowerment, and acceptance through her own blend of country pop and southern rock, dubbed “the Block Party sound”.
Recognized by the ACMs with a nomination for New Female Artist of the Year and by CMT for Breakthrough Video of the Year as well as Collaborative Video of the Year, Priscilla has commandeered her place in country music with her rabid fan base and unmitigated honesty in songs.
Since the release of her fan-favorite track “Just About Over You,” the song peaked both the iTunes Country and All-Genre song charts, was named one of The New York Times Best Songs of 2020, reached Top 15 on country radio and garnered Priscilla her first RIAA Platinum Certification.
Within the last year, Priscilla also celebrated her first No. 1 on country radio with “You, Me, and Whiskey,” a Platinum-certified hit with country star Justin Moore. She’s now stepping into a new era with the release of some new music including her latest single “Good On You”, which impacted country radio this past April.
Jeff Foxworthy - Sunday, Aug. 31
Jeff Foxworthy is one of the most respected and successful comedians in the country. He is the largest selling comedy-recording artist in history, a multiple Grammy Award nominee and best selling author of more than 26 books. In 2014, he was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
Widely known for his redneck jokes, his act goes well beyond that to explore the humor in everyday family interactions and human nature, a style that has been compared to Mark Twain’s.
Jeff hosted the live auction show “What’s It Worth?” for A&E in the summer of 2020. He was one of the judges on the NBC comedy competition show “Bring The Funny,” which premiered July 9, 2019 and was one of summer’s hit shows. He has his own comedy channel “Jeff and Larry’s Comedy Roundup” on SIRIUSXM, which showcases the best in great American comedy. He has a comedy special “We’ve Been Thinking” which is currently available on Netflix. He released a game called “Relative Insanity” and another called “See What I Mean”, both which provide lots of family fun. In addition to all of this he continues his live performances across the country.
Jeff hosted the FOX television game show Are You Smarter Than A 5 th Grader for several seasons, including its return to primetime this past fall. He hosted three season of The American Bible Challenge for GSN, had an animated series Bounty Hunters on CMT, hosted the reality series The American Baking Competition for CBS Television Network and narrated the Lifetime reality show The Week the Women Left.
Jeff executive produced and starred in, Foxworthy’s Big Night Out. and the television series, Blue Collar TV, which he created for the WB network. Blue Collar TV came about due to the success of Blue Collar Comedy Tour, The Movie and the concert tour of the same name.
Blue Collar Comedy Tour Rides Again, the sequel to the first film has sold more than 3 million units since its release on December 7, 2004. It premiered on Comedy Central February 13, 2005 and was the 3rd most watched telecast ever leading the channel to its most watched day, weekend, and week in network history.
In March of 2006, the Blue Collar boys reunited to shoot Blue Collar Comedy Tour-One For The Road in Washington, DC at the Warner Theater. The movie had its world premiere on Comedy Central, June 4, 2006 and was one of the highest rated shows on Comedy Central for 2006. The soundtrack was released on June 6, 2006 and was nominated for a 2006 Grammy award. He also filmed a comedy special for CMT in 2012 with Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy titled Them Idiots Whirled Tour.
Jeff’s book The Redneck Dictionary was released on October 18, 2005. The book is based on the popular words of the south Jeff recounts in his stand up act. Due to their popularity, the redneck words became a regular sketch on Blue Collar TV. The book went as high as number 2 on the New York Times Bestseller List. The Redneck Dictionary II was released October 24, 2006 and was also a New York Times Bestseller. The Redneck Dictionary III was released in October of 2007. Jeff also released the New York Times Best Seller, How to Really Stink at Golf which shares his invaluable tips for a lifetime of horrible drives and putts. The follow up to that book“How to Really Stink at Work” was released in May of 2009.
Jeff also wrote a children’s book, Dirt On My Shirt, which has become a New York Times Best Seller. The book is collection of poems inspired by Jeff's family and friends. The poems are funny, witty, filled with sly humor, and always affectionate, capturing the very essence of being a kid. His second children’s book “Silly Street” was released on February 24, 2009. Jeff’s third children’s book “Hide!!!” was a New York Times Best Seller and won a 2011 Mom’s Choice Award for illustrated children’s books.
Jeff has voiced numerous characters in different animated films, including Handy Smurf in The Smurfs and Smurfs 2. He was the voice of Reggie the Rooster in the Warner Bros. film Racing Stripes, Lyle in the Disney movie Fox and The Hound II, Lindberg in the Aviators, and Charlie Horse in Hatched.
July 6, 2004 marked the release of Jeff’s final solo comedy cd titled Have Your Loved Ones Spayed or Neutered. The cd contains all new material. It debuted at number one on the Billboard Comedy Charts and was Jeff’s second highest selling album debut.
In April 1999, The Foxworthy Countdown, a weekly syndicated four-hour radio show, debuted featuring Jeff bringing fans the current Top 30 country hits as well as interviews with stars. The show ran for 10 years and was carried in over two hundred and twenty markets across the United States. Jeff received a CMA nomination in 2001 for Broadcast Personality of the Year.
Jeff also has an HBO special and two Showtime specials to his credit. Jeff has also been bestowed with a People’s Choice Award as “Favorite Male Newcomer” for The Jeff Foxworthy Show.
Jeff started his own outdoor company, Foxworthy Outdoors, which has a line products related to outdoor living. He has a line of You Might Be A Redneck If….calendars through Andrews McMeel Publishing, which has sold millions of copies.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
