Rogers headlines summer concert series

The Burnet Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Summer Concert Series will return next month with one of the truly heavy hitters of country music — the Randy Rogers Band.

The band will bring their high-octane, dynamic sound to Haley Nelson Park, 100 Garden Trails Road, Burnet, on Saturday, July 31. Tickets are now on sale at burnet512.com for $30 for general admission for adults, $20 for ages 6-11 and children 5 and under admitted free with an adult. There is a $5 fee for bringing in coolers into the park.

Gates will open at 6 p.m. with William Beckmann opening the show from 7:15 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. The headliners, the Randy Rogers Band, will take the stage from 9:15 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.

While some bands may come and go, the Randy Rogers Band bills itself as a “unique brotherhood fueled by a shared passion for making great music and a strong commitment to each other for more than 17 years.”

That bond is apparent on their latest album, Hellbent, which is buoyed by the same fearless spirit and sense of camaraderie that has made them one of country’s most compelling bands.

“Just like any other relationship, you have to pick your battles and have respect for each other,” Rogers says. “None of us know how to do anything else. This is our livelihood. It’s how we take care of our families. Years ago when we were really struggling and wondering how we were going to make it, there were some deep and emotional conversations that we all had with each other about if this is really what we all wanted and the decision was made a long time ago. The answer was yes then and the answer is still yes now. It’s something we all believe in. This is our life’s work

“Creatively we all bring something different to the table and you can hear it in the records,” Rogers added. “You can hear people’s personalities in the records.”

Their musical chemistry has taken the Randy Rogers Band beyond the competitive music scene in their native Texas to build a national fan base with sold out shows across the country. The band has become skilled at capturing that live energy and passion on their albums and Hellbent is a perfect example.

In recording Hellbent, the Randy Rogers Band worked with producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, The Oak Ridge Boys, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell) and recorded at the legendary RCA Studio A. “A large part of the country really enjoys the records that he’s made over the last 10 years and obviously I was paying attention to that,” Rogers says.

“I was noticing the albums I was listening to, and they were produced by him, so I called him up and asked if we could meet for lunch. I’d never worked with him before, so it was a very exciting going into RCA and meeting him and the team. We’re very thankful for that opportunity and getting to record in Studio A. So many people whether it be Dolly Parton or George Strait have recorded in that room, so it was a bit of hallowed ground. It was a little overwhelming as well. There’s pictures all over the walls there of people who recorded. It’s amazing.”

Recording Hellbent is just the latest chapter in the Randy Rogers Band’s thriving career. In addition to being a gifted vocalist, insightful songwriter and talented musician, the band’s founding member is also well known in music industry circles for his business savvy. He graduated from college with a degree in PR and is one of those rare musicians who has great executive skills too.

Rogers is co-owner of several Texas venues including Cheatham Street Warehouse in San Marcos, Texas, where George Strait began building a fan base in his early career. Rogers is also a partner in Big Blind Management with Robin Schoepf and steers the careers of Red Shahan and Parker McCollum.

Rogers is also a big fan of collaboration and has partnered with friend Wade Bowen on the infectious Hold My Beer projects and joined forces with Lone Star legend Robert Earl Keen as the Stryker Brothers. He recently joined Lyle Lovett, Willie Nelson and Jerry Jeff Walker to sing on Michael Martin Murphey’s Austinology album.