Riley Gilbreath & Lone Star Blue Nominated For Texas Country Music Association’s Western Swing/Bluegrass Artist of the Year
By Judy Shields
Hollywood, California (The Hollywood Times) 09/22/2023
Riley Gilbreath & Lone Star Blue To Be Featured In New Book ‘Texas Bluegrass Legacies: Families and Mentors Through The Generations’
FORT WORTH, Texas – Riley Gilbreath & Lone Star Blue is excited to be nominated for Western Swing/Bluegrass Artist of the Year at the 2023 Texas Country Music Association Awards on November 12, live from Billy Bob’s Texas. The Texas Country Music Association recently revealed the Top 5 Finalists in 22 out of the 24 categories for the 2023 Texas Country Music Awards.
TCMA Spokesperson and Texas hitmaker, Brandon Rhyder, will assume the role of host for the awards ceremony. The event will include performances from Coffey Anderson, Ken Holloway, Chad Cooke Band, Jason Boland and the Stragglers, as well as Rhyder and more.
“I am very blessed and honored to have become a TCMA Nominee for 2023,” shares Gilbreath. “This is definitely an important milestone for me and my band. We are eager to see what the future holds for us and will continue to trust the plan that God has for us!”
The Hollywood Times had to opportunity to speak to Riley about his nomination, being part of a book, his career and facts about the band Lone Star Blue. He told me the band was named by his father. That’s cool. Enjoy our conversation:
While maintaining an active schedule, Riley Gilbreath & Lone Star Blue continue to tour, making frequent stops throughout Texas. They are being featured in the new book ‘Texas Bluegrass Legacies: Families and Mentors Through The Generations’ by Jeffrey Campbell and Braeden Paul, which will be available on July 24 on Amazon.com. Combining the traditional sounds of bluegrass and country music, with some gospel influences, Gilbreath has created a sound of his own while paying homage to his heroes such as Keith Whitley, Ricky Skaggs, Bill Monroe, Ralph Stanley, The Osborne Brothers, Harley Allen, and more!
Riley Gilbreath & Lone Star Blue’s Upcoming Tour Dates:
SEP 22 – Mira Vista Country Club / Fort Worth, Texas (with Lone Star Blue)
SEP 23 – Lakehouse / Fort Worth, Texas (duo)
SEP 24 – Private Event / Weatherford, Texas (with Lone Star Blue)
OCT 05 – San Angelo Auditorium / San Angelo, Texas (with Lone Star Blue)
OCT 06 – Big Bend Bluegrass Festival / Alpine, Texas (with Lone Star Blue)
OCT 12 – Lakehouse / Fort Worth, Texas (solo)
OCT 21 – Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival / Farmers Branch, Texas (with Lone Star Blue)
OCT 29 – LBC Lillian / Lillian, Texas (with Lone Star Blue)
NOV 04 – Circle J Cowboy Church / Texarkana, Ark. (with Lone Star Blue)
NOV 10 – Mansfield Steampunk Festival / Mansfield, Texas (with Lone Star Blue)
NOV 11 – Mansfield Steampunk Festival / Mansfield, Texas (with Lone Star Blue)
For more information on Riley Gilbreath & Lone Star Blue, visit their website or follow them on social media.
Facebook | Instagram | Website
About Riley Gilbreath:
Riley Gilbreath is a Bluegrass/ Country artist from Crowley, Texas. He began taking banjo lessons in 2016 at the age of 12 with a loaner banjo from the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation’s Play it Forward program. He joined his first band Cedar Junction at age 14 as their full-time banjo player. When his band leader, Dale Brawner passed away, Riley was asked to join Pocket Change Bluegrass Band with his dad, Danny. Riley was lead guitar/vocals. After two years, Riley decided to go out on his own and formed Riley Gilbreath & Lone Star Blue in early 2021. They have performed at the iconic Levitt Pavilion in Arlington, TX, The Bluegrass Heritage Festival and The Bloomin’ Bluegrass Festival in Farmers Branch, TX, Troy’s at Texas Live, Unity Square in Bartlesville, OK, and won the Next Big Twang on The Country Network. Riley has had the opportunity to open for Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, The Kody Norris Show, David Lee Murphy, and Kylie Frey. Gilbreath has also been nominated for Western Swing/Bluegrass Artist of the Year at the 2023 Texas Country Music Association Awards Show in Fort Worth, Texas.