Kentucky Headhunters headline Arbyrd Cotton Pickin' Festival

This year's festival marks 10 years that Arbyrd has created a crowd-pleasing event for the small town of approximately 500 people.

Lonnie Gibson, a former Arbyrd mayor and festival chairman, is excited about the annual event featuring, "Some of the Bootheel's Best." Gibson said that when the festival began, Rickey Lee and Doug Phillips of the Kentucky Head Hunters were two of their first entertainers. "I always said that I wanted to bring them back for the 10th anniversary," said Gibson. "And we have them. In fact, all of the entertainers this year are from the Bootheel."

The Cotton Pickin' Festival is scheduled for September 12, 2015, and the concert will begin immediately following the parade. This year, Michael Gardner of Senath will open the show, and Gibson said that Gardner currently has a CD out. After Gardener, Trent Tomlinson will sing, presenting a full show. Tomlinson had recently been opening for a lot of big names. Tomlinson is best known for his song, "One Wing in the Fire."

The finale will be the Kentucky Headhunters who bring country rock, southern rock, and blues to the festival. Gibson said the Headhunters will have a full show for the those attending. He added that the Headhunters recently opened for Alabama to a crowd of about 30,000.

General admission tickets for the concert at the Arbyrd Cotton Pickin' Festival are $20, and $30 for the meet and greet with Trent Tomlinson and the Kentucky Headhunters.

Concert tickets can be purchased from Lonnie Gibson, Jr., at G.T. Ag in Arbyrd, or at Arbyrd City Hall.

The city of Arbyrd is looking for any and all participants for the parade, as well as vendors. In order to get into the parade line up or for more information, call 573-654-3834 or 870-240-5465.