MEET THE PERFORMERS

CODY COOK AND THE BAYOU OUTLAWS

8:00 pm Karl Malone Auto Group Main St. Stage

Cody Cooke and the Bayou Outlaws are one of the few, authentic, electrifying home-grown Louisiana flavored country bands who put the “good time” back into live country music. Critics and fans alike are taking notice and welcoming the good ole’ sounds of songs reminiscent of Hank Williams (1, 2, and 3), Waylon Jennings, Jamey Johnson, Randy Travis and Merle Haggard. And, DJs and radio have embraced their sound and dubbed Cody and the Bayou Outlaws’ music as “much needed rough and rowdy country for the 21st century”.

Cody’s debut release, Gitcha’ Country On shot up the Billboard charts to # 7 on the Billboard Country Music Heat Seeker chart and was nominated for two Grammy awards. Their first single, “Buck Wild” climbed Nashville’s Music Row charts and is still played regularly on country music radio – it’s been added to 32 stations recently and is still continuing to gain momentum. “There’s no better feeling than knowing that folks all around are the country are requesting one of my songs,” Cody comments on his radio adds. His sophomore release, Sons of the South climbed to #1 on the Billboard’s Heat Seeker chart for the Southeast in weeks and has gained the band opening slots, allowing him to share the stage with some of country music’s best: David Allan Coe, Brantley Gilbert, Neal McCoy, Randy Rogers, Colt Ford, Travis Tritt, Kevin Fowler, Pat Green, Shooter Jennings, Randy Houser, Justin Moore, Whiskey Myers, Jason Boland and others. The band’s highly entertaining and energetic live shows has gotten them repeat invitations to play at legendary festivals such as Sturgis Bike Week, Lone Star Rally, Daytona Bike Week, Mud Nationals, Tuff Hedeman Rodeos, and others.

TREY GAUTHREAUX

6:45 pm Karl Malone Auto Group Main St. Stage

The Polynesian Coonass
It’s a miracle that Trey Gauthreaux can stand before an audience and sing at all. The six foot,  baby faced, cool, handsome, deep baritone singer that commands attention when he walks into a room almost never got the chamce to sing a note or strum a chord. Minutes following his birth in 1997 in Thibodaux Louisiana, Trey almost died and had to be rushed to what he jokingly calls “baby rehab.”   No laughing matter at the time, Trey was born to a seriously addicted mother and was addicted as well, so he spent his first weeks of life being weaned from the “Devil rock.” Upon surviving “baby rehab,” he continued to have to fight to gain a foothold in the world as his mother left him alone in his crib for three days when she seriously relapsed and headed out onto to the streets to feed her addiction. Thankfully he was rescued after a neighbor heard his incessant crying and came to check on him.
“I know I’m alive for a purpose, “ says Gauthreaux as he reflects upon his challenging entry into the world. “Being rescued not once, but twice was the hand of God.”
His mother was jailed for neglect, and no one in Thibodaux could determine who his mysterious father might be. He was taken in and adopted by the Gauthreaux family, who loved him as their own. Gauthreaux says he doesn’t reflect on the trauma of his first few months, because he has known “nothing but love and support” from his adopted family. “I don’t dwell on my relationship with my real mom because their love is all I remember from the time they took me in,” says Gauthreaux. “How lucky was I to be welcomed to their world.”
When he was 9, his folks gave him a guitar for Christmas, and soon after he saw Guns and Roses on you tube and decided he wanted to be Slash, compelling him to learn to play and sing “Sweet Child of Mine.”  As he continued progressing, his goal was to “rock out like Slash.”
After enduring back to back hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Gauthreaux’s moved to Ruston in Northern Louisiana to pick up their lives. The “fighter” inside Trey led him to excel in martial arts around ten, and earned a black belt by age 15 and reached  third degree at 21 and  began teaching martial arts, eventually owning and running his own dojo.
As he aged he began to wonder about his background, since he looked so different Than the Gauthreauxs, who were a long time French-Acadianan Prominent Cajun family, or “Coon Ass” as folks of the region called themselves. A DNA test did not reveal the identity of his father, but it did reveal to Trey that his DNA showed him to be overwhelmingly Polynesian, with a seasoning of Hispanic and Native American ancestry.  
“Everybody would ask me if I was Cajun because of my name, but they were confused by my look. Little kids even started calling me Moana,” says Gauthreaux. “So I found out I’m kind of like the gumbos we made in Acadiana, anything and everything is welcome in the pot.”
In his teens, Trey began playing music in church and school, even doing some theater and dance productions with a local dance company. 
“They needed a tall guy to lift up the dancers,” says Trey.
His musical direction began to turn as he realized he had been highly influenced and won over by his Mom’s 90’s country. He realized his deep baritone voice might be well-suited to sing country music. People seemed to really dig his singing when he sang the country songs his Mom knew. Four years ago he joined a cover band that “never really took off.” A chance off the cuff invitation to play a short solo at a benefit gig at Ruston’s legendary music venue Sundown Tavern led to him meet a manager of another local establishment that offered him a weekly solo gig. His smooth baritone and good looks led him to become a local and now regional favorite.   
In March 2020, in the days preceding the devastating tornado that wrecked Music City, Trey began recording an album produced by Monty Russell and James Cook of The Pegram Hippie Coalition in Nashville with a group of stellar musicians. His hopes of debuting it to the world were squashed as the Corona Virus dealt a devastating blow to the industry and shut down the studios. Always the “fighter,” he will return soon to the studio to complete the record.
“Although I was disappointed we couldn’t finish the record in 2020, the shutdown taught me patience, helped me get some things in my life on track, and helped me grow as a writer and performer,  he says. “But I’m determined and so much more prepared to take this music anywhere I can.”
In response to an audience member calling him “Hawaiian Stallion,” one night, music buddies jokingly have dubbed him “The Polynesian Coonass.” His ever-growing fan base is anxious for the debut record, and those in his circle all know that the “fighter” with a smooth God given baritone voice and handsome looks rescued from “baby rehab” and abandonment is still on earth so you can be inspired by his story and entertained by his gift. Thank God the neighbors checked on the cry.

jacob flores

1:30 pm Karl Malone Auto Group Main St. Stage

Former American Idol contestant, Jacob Flores, is an award-winning, one-man band. His music features live looping and an extremely diverse repertoire of both American and Latin-American styles. With the release of his breakthrough album titled ‘Cupid,’ Flores is solidifying his position as a stunning icon in the genres of Pop, R&B and Soul. 

"I've got to say that I've never heard another artist from Arkansas that sounds quite like Jacob Flores...the word that came to mind in describing his music is it's just....sexy." - Arkansas Roots, KASU 91.9 FM  

Flores first broke into the music scene while attending Henderson State University, where he entered the school's singing competition, Henderson Idol, and was quickly crowned 2013 Henderson Idol. He then went on to audition and advance through preliminary rounds of NBC's The Voice as well as Fox Network’s American Idol: Season 14. Flores has been featured as a support act alongside internationally recognized recording artists: La Sonora Dinamita, Los Traileros del Norte, and Banda Carnaval. He was selected to perform at the 381st National Guard Birthday Gala in Washington, D.C. Flores was voted the "Sentinel-Record Reader's Choice Best Local Performer" three years in-a-row (2019-2021). As a follow-up to his debut album, "No Borders" (Blue Rock Artist Ranch & Recording Studio, 2015), Flores recently released his second studio album, "Cupid" (Sound Emporium Studios, Nashville, TN, 2021). With this release, Flores is psyched and ready to soar to new heights, establishing his position as the new face of Classic Soul and Contemporary Pop music. For more information, visit: www.jacobfloresmusic.com

militia

5:00 pm Karl Malone Auto Group Main St. Stage

North Louisiana's Rock Trio MILITIA. Brian Flynn -bass, Rusty White -guitar & lead vocals, Jamie Dixon - drums & vocals..

soulpranos

3:15 pm Karl Malone Auto Group Main St. Stage

Formed in 2017, The Soulpranos are a funk-rock band out of El Dorado, AR.  Dedicated to bringing steady grooves and familiar covers, their dynamic sound and thumping bass are sure to get you moving.  You can regularly catch The Soulpranos late nights on the square and performing at private events.  Lead vocalist Shawn Lovett is backed by Michael Young, also on drums, with Justin Bray on guitar and Jon Bourn on bass. 

tunesmith

2:45 pm Mac’s Tree Service Jefferson St. Side Stage

A special mix of country, chill tunes, and classic rock favorites, Tunesmith brings a perfect blend of soulful sounds and harmonizing brilliance. With music from the Eagles, James Taylor, America and Neil Diamond, and others, you're sure to have an evening of songs you'll remember and a good time you'll never forget. 

brody mckinney

6:15 pm Mac’s Tree Service Jefferson St. Side Stage

erick meadows

4:30 pm Mac’s Tree Service Jefferson St. Side Stage

Erick L. Meadows is a South Arkansas native of Camden, Arkansas. He discovered his talent of singing at the age of 5 in his childhood church choir. Erick Meadows has been a law enforcement officer for 19 years, and currently serves as a Patrol Lieutenant with the Union County Sheriff’s Office. He had been dubbed as the “Singing Policeman” due to his soulful voice that he often uses to sing his heartfelt rendition of the National Anthem, and Amazing Grace. Erick And his wife, Chasity, have 4 daughters and reside in El Dorado, AR.

carmelo brown & mason halstead

1:00 pm Mac’s Tree Service Jefferson St. Side Stage

Carmelo is a senior at Eldorado High School. He is in many clubs at EHS and some community organizations. His passion in life is to be a Broadway Actor. He loves the stage and being on it makes him feel ALIVE. Whenever he's not on the stage, he is playing tennis for the Wildcats or helping the community in some way. Carmelo is also an exceptional student. He lives life to the fullest, he's always happy, and he never gives up! He started singing when he was 5 years old in his living room with a karaoke machine. Every time he sang his mom would record him and post him on any social media platforms to gain publicity and get his talent out in the world. When that happened, he started getting invited to sing at churches, community events and other activities. Carmelo excels at everything he does and puts his all into what he is doing. He is thankful for every opportunity he gets to perform.