Dancin' Cowboys

The Bellamy Brothers, Howard, left, and David, right, will be the featured act at Arbyrd's Cotton Pickin' Festival hosted on September 12 in the Arbyrd City Park. The band will take the stage at 8 p.m., following an opening performance by local band, Jaded. Photos provided

ARBYRD, Mo. -- The Bellamy Brothers will be headlining the fourth annual Cotton Pickin' Festival on September 12, following the opening band, Jaded, of Kennett, performing at 6:30 p.m. The Bellamy Brothers will take the stage at 8 p.m.

The Bellamy Brothers have been a large part of country music for more than 30 years, according to their biography. The brothers, Howard and David, developed their own sound and scored the biggest hit of their career in 1976 with "Let Your Love Flow," the biography noted.

Local band Jaded, from left, Matt Jackson, Daren Cunningham, Nathan Creed, Joey Privett, and Matt Poole, will be opening for the Bellamy Brothers during the Cotton Pickin' Festival in Arbyrd on September 12. Jaded will take the stage at 6:30 p.m., for an hour set to lead into the Bellamy Brothers taking the stage at 8 p.m.

The brothers produced over a dozen number one hits in the following years and several top ten hits including, "If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)," "Sugar Daddy," Dancin' Cowboys," "Do You Love As Good As You Look," "Redneck Girl," "When I'm Away From You," "I Need More Of You," "Old Hippie," "Kids of the Baby Boom," "Too Much Is Not Enough," "Crazy From the Heart," "Santa Fe," and "I Could Be Persuaded."

The Bellamy Brothers started their own record label in 1992, Bellamy Brothers Records, and produced six independent albums in the '90's and several more for exclusive release in Europe, according to the biography. The brothers have also acquired a record number of nominations , 18, at the CMA and ACM Awards in the Duo category.

Recently, "Let Your Love Flow" received the BMI Five Million Performance Award and was ranked no. 68 on their Top 100 Songs of the Century. The biography also noted that the no. one song "Let Your Love Flow," reached the Top 20 on the UK Country charts 34 years after it was first released.

The band consists of Howard and David Bellamy, along with Waldemar Dentz, who has been with the band since 1983, playing the bass guitar and harmonica and also working as the band's road manager; Larry Rolens, who has been with the band since May 26, 2005, playing the steel guitar; Frank Swiech, who has been with the band since February of 2003, playing the keyboard; Randy Hiebert, who has been with the band since 1993, playing lead guitar; and Pasi Lappikangus, who has been with the band since January, 2009, playing the drums.

The Bellamy Brothers have recently released a volume one of an Anthology Record with previously released material and brand new material. Among the brand new material is a duo with the Bacon Brothers, consisting of actor and musician, Kevin Bacon, and brother, American singer-songwriter, Michael Bacon. The new song is named "Guilty of the Crime," and the video features actress Shannen Doherty, of Beverly Hills 90210.

"Guilty of the Crime," debuted on the Billboard chart in the top 100 and has climbed to currently sit in the Top 40.

Local band, Jaded, consisting of Matthew Poole, Matt Jackson, Nathan Creed, Daren Cunningham, and Joey Privett, all of Kennett, will be opening for the Bellamy Brothers.

"We are real excited about opening for the Bellamy Brothers because they are pretty much a musical legend," Poole said. "This is a real cool opportunity to share the stage with them."

Jaded has previously played at the Delta Fair, Little River Festival, and was a part of the Kennett Educational Foundation Concert.

Poole noted that the band will be looking to play approximately an hour set of cover songs consisting of '70's and '80's Pop music.

"We just hope there is a big crowd for the Bellamy Brothers, because the concert is for a good cause with all the proceeds going towards work on the city park," Poole said.

Tickets for the concert are $15 per ticket and can be purchased at Senath State Bank, Senath State Bank Mid-County Branch, Progressive Farm Services, and Arbyrd City Hall.

All proceeds of the event will be used to renovate the Arbyrd City Park with a new basketball court, which will be lit up in the evening, new benches, new swings, and other items, according to Mayor Lonnie Gibson, Jr.

Gibson noted that all individuals attending should bring their own chair and that 10 to 12 vendors will be on hand to serve barbecue, homemade ice cream, and other foods and drinks.

The concert will follow the Poker Run beginning at 10 a.m., and ending at 1 p.m., and the Arbyrd Parade beginning at 3:30 p.m.

The Poker Run costs $30 for the first hand and $10 for the second hand and includes a meal, tickets to the Bellamy Brothers, and all other events with a feature prize of $500, according to Gibson.

The music will begin with Steel Whiskey and Cody Noel, which will lead into the performance by Jaded, Gibson noted.

Parade entries can contact Alice Gibson for more information at (870) 240-3217 or Lonnie Gibson, Jr., at (870) 240-5465. Individuals may also contact the Arbyrd City Hall at (573) 654-3834.

Information for tickets concerning the Poker Run can be received by contacting Lonnie Gibson, Jr., at (870) 240-5465, David Kellums at (870) 450-0400, Larry Russell at (870) 240- 3061, NEA Signs and Banners at (870) 239-3305, or the City of Arbyrd at (573) 654-3834.