Music a big part of peanut festival

Music has been a part of the National Peanut Festival since its early days — before there was carnival when it was just musicians playing for a street dance.

This year’s fair offers musical entertainment throughout the week in a variety of genres. Concerts are free with fair admission. Special seating is available for $10 not including the cost of fair admission on a first come, first serve basis and $20 including fair admission for reserved seats. For information, contact the peanut festival office at 793-4323.

Here’s a rundown of music and performers as outlined in National Peanut Festival press releases:

Sunday, Nov. 2
Son Country Gospel Concert, 5 p.m., amphitheater. This family-friendly concert will feature Dothan’s Crosscreek Junction Band and Opry Show as well as Christian-country performers The Springs, a youth band from Enterprise, duo Robert and James, and Danny Ray Harris.

Monday, Nov. 3
Choral Festival, Dothan Opera House, 9 a.m. Festival continues on Tuesday and Wednesday at 9 a.m.

Tuesday, Nov. 4
Colby O’Donis, 7 p.m., amphitheater. This 19-year-old entertainer has already had a song featured in a Stuart Little movie soundtrack. His debut album is a mix of R&B, pop and hip-hop sounds on songs like “What You Got,” “Sophisticated Bad Girl” and “Don’t Turn Back.”

Wednesday, Nov. 5
Jimmy Wayne, 7:30 p.m., amphitheater; opening by the Wiregrass Idol competition winner, 7 p.m.

Wayne made it to No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Singles chart with “Stay Gone” and is known for tunes like “I Love You This Much” and “You Are.” He even received an award from the Salvation Army for his song “Paper Angels,” which focused attention on abused and abducted children. His autobiographical song, “Kerosene Kid,” continues to shine light on disadvantaged youth.

Thursday, Nov. 6
Brantley Gilbert, 7 p.m., amphitheater; Bucky Covington, 7:30 p.m., amphitheater.

Gilbert will perform his country and Southern rock music as the opening act for Covington, a finalist on the fifth season of American Idol. Gilbert’s first full-length album, “A Modern Day Prodigal Son,” features songs like “G.R.I.T.S.,” “Whenever We’re Alone” and “Dirt Road Anthem.”

Covington released his self-titled debut CD last year, opening at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. His career was energized when he came in eighth on American Idol after trying out with his twin brother. He’s been touring with the American Idols Live tour as well as the GAC Country Music Christmas Tour.

Friday, Nov. 7
Danny and the Tanks, 9 p.m., amphitheater; Corey Smith, 9:30 p.m., amphitheater.

Neither Corey Smith nor Danny and the Tanks are strangers to the peanut festival. Both performed during the 2007 festival.

The Tanks are Dothan natives Daniel Allen, Brett Smith, Ross Beasley and Jeremy Patterson, who formed the band while attending Auburn University. They continue to play their rock brand of music influenced by classic and Southern rock on college campuses with songs like “Smile” and “Ms. What’s Her Name.”

Smith developed an Internet following as a do-it-yourself musician. This unsigned artist has a popular MySpace page and is currently touring around the Southeast performing music from his fourth CD, “Hard-Headed Fool.” Smith grew up near Athens, Ga., and taught social studies at a suburban Atlanta high school before entering a song-writing competition that led to his first album, “Undertones.”