Tuesday morning on KOXE, the Boys and Girls Club of Brown County announced its musical act for the May 7 Barn Dance, as Jason Boland and the Stragglers will take the stage at the 3 Springs Ranch near Zephyr.
“We’re excited Jason Boland,” Brown County Boys and Girls Club Board Member Tim Espinoza said. “He’s a little earlier Texas Country entertainment and it just adds to the list of great entertainers we’ve had each year. But the music is just part of it. We have a live and silent auction and a great meal at a beautiful venue.”
The band, which is its current incarnation consists of Jason Boland, Grant Tracy, Nick Worley, Jake Lynn, AJ Slaughter, began in 1998 and has produced 10 studio albums, two live albums and two music videos. The most recent album for Jason Boland and the Stragglers, “The Light Saw Me,” was released Dec. 3, 2021.
According to thestragglers.com website, “For the past 20 years, Jason Boland and the Stragglers have dazzled audiences all over as one of the leading ambassadors of the Oklahoma and Texas music movement. Millions of fans cheering him on, over 500,000 records sold independently and 10 albums later, Boland is a career musician whose legacy continues to grow. From his early days touring in cramped vans and playing in front of tiny bar crowds to the packed venues he performs in today, Boland’s uncompromising approach has grown his profile dramatically, especially in the past handful of years. Add to that the legions of musicians who are influenced by Boland, and his impact on the scene is undeniable.”
Regarding ticket sales for the event, Katherine Palmer, chief executive officer of the Boys and Girls Club of Brown County, said, “We’re following the pattern from last year. We’re not doing individual tickets, we’re doing table sales. We’re reaching out to our sponsors and last year’s table owners and then we’ll open public sales for any remaining tables.”
Espinoza thanked the community for its support of the Barn Dance and the Boys and Girls Club.
“It all starts with our sponsorships and underwriters and I can’t say enough about the businesses and individuals and families that get behind us for this event,” Espinoza said. “It’s all about the Boys and Girls Club. It’s our signature event and it’s our only fundraiser for the year.”
Palmer also spoke of new activity that will begin at the Boys and Girls Club on Tuesday, March 15.
“We have a new leadership team in place and a lot of big goals for this year, and we’re starting up a Teen Night the week after Spring Break,” Palmer said. “We’ll have free food, door prizes including a $100 Visa gift card, open gym, an open game room of activities. It’s open to 7th through 12th graders from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and I hope this becomes a monthly, or more often activity for middle school and high school students in the area.”