Doors at 3p
Clay Hollis at 4p
Susan Hickman at 6p
Aaron Watson at 8p
Aaron Watson is a man forever looking to the horizon. Where other artists might rest on their
laurels, he consistently presses onward to the next frontier, cutting through lazy industry wisdom
in favor of success won on his own terms. He is the first independent male country artist ever to debut an album at No. 1 on the Billboard Country chart, a feat recognized in the Country Music Hall of Fame. He has earned a litany of prestigious awards, hundreds of millions of streams on his music, shared the stage with country music legends Willie Nelson and Alan Jackson, and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for multiple charities. This next chapter of his trailblazing career sees him deep in the weeds on two projects: the first, an album of covers dedicated to his daughter; the second, a 2024-slated album of originals that promises to be his most daring and audacious release to date. “My goal is to put out the best country album in all of country music in 2024,” he says simply, “It sounds crazy, but then pretty much everything I’ve done sounded crazy until I did it.”
Watson hails from Amarillo in West Texas and began writing songs whilst still in high school. He began performing in college, eventually forming a band and developing a loyal following.
Despite being approached by major labels, Watson chose the road less traveled and released
his work independently. This turned out to be the right call when his album “Real Good Time”
charted in the top ten nationwide on Country Billboard. An unheard of feat at the time. With the
taste of success fresh on his lips, Watson pushed onward and created “Underdog” which
became the first Country album released independently to chart at number one. “People told us that it had never been done. It was impossible. I don’t put so much stock in that word anymore.”
Success built upon success with Watson’s follow up albums. However, 2020 heralded a slow
down for the artist by way of the COVID-19 pandemic and an unexpected vocal cord surgery.
“That time out reminded me what a blessing this is. To get to do what I love, sing the songs that I write and have people sing them along with me.” Watson was keen to get back to his fans, and to make them feel like a part of the family more than ever before.
“Me and my thirteen year old daughter Jolee Kate had been talking a lot about music,
particularly female singers who write their own stuff. I wanted her to understand the power that
comes with owning your own voice.” Out of those conversations came Cover Girl, a collection of covers of mold-breaking female country singers performed by Aaron, with his daughter joining him on vocals for one track. “I had no plans for the rest of the world to hear it, but the more people I told, the more people loved it. So we’re doing it as a full release, I’m so excited!”
Aaron Watson is nothing if not audacious, and his promise to fans that his next album of
originals will be the best Country album of 2024 stands firm. By his own admission, the songs
are, by-and-large, completed, yet Watson continues to push himself to make them better. "I love every second of what I get to do, but if making music is a marathon (and it is), I want to collapse to the ground the second after I cross the finish line. Nothing left to give." Aaron Watson is a man constantly reaffirming his dedication to the craft of songwriting, and it is this commitment to quality and treating his fans with respect that has proved him, time and again, to be the living North Star for country music’s free and indomitable spirit.
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Determination and passion are the brushstrokes that color the canvas of country artist Susan Hickman's life, infusing her music with a vibrancy that fans unmistakably recognize. While many cultivate these qualities with maturity, they are inherent in Hickman's ethereal essence.
Susan began singing and crafting songs from the moment she could articulate thoughts, she learned the art of singing harmonies from her mother, who used hymns as the basis for teaching material. Utilizing her baby sister as a sounding board for her creative expressions, there was always a song in the Hickman house no matter what the occasion. At the tender age of five, she began her musical journey with the piano, later adding violin to her repertoire a few years later. As she entered her twenty’s in the familiar confines of her family home in Atascocita, Texas, she embarked on the challenge of teaching herself guitar, an instrument Susan says “picked her” “I eventually experienced an consistent connection with songwriting, finding a means to express myself through the guitar, it was all finally coming together and making sense, I just needed the right tools for the job.” Hickman possesses a unique ability to weave her voice seamlessly with the instruments that surround her, crafting melodies that are truly "Louder Than Words."
At the age of twelve, armed with little more than church singing experience, Hickman scoured the Yellow Pages for talent agencies in Houston, setting the stage for a journey that would take her across the world to pursue her dreams. Reflecting on those early years, Hickman acknowledges her mother as a saint, enduring long business trips, radio tours and sitting through shows in honky-tonks during the early morning hours.
In 2010, Susan Hickman was recognized as CMA Close Up's "Who New To Watch In 2010" and has since mastered the art of live performances. Her energy, can-do attitude, and magnetic music have allowed her to captivate audiences alongside renowned acts such as Gary Allan, Miranda Lambert, Jo Dee Messina, Shenandoah, Easton Corbin, Dean Dillon, Robert Earl Keen, Daryle Singletary and hundreds more! Though 2010 marked a pivotal year for Hickman, it also brought challenges as she faced two surgeries due to the toll of her grueling rehearsal schedule. Undeterred, this performance powerhouse pressed on, building a devoted following in the U.S. and Europe. Susan continued to entertain audiences at prestigious events like Nashville's CMA Music Festival, The Country Music Messe in Berlin Germany and France's 23rd Annual Country Rendez-Vous Festival, earning her the title of Texas CMA Female Vocalist of The Year in 2015 and notably she’s one of only 3 official artists of the 6666 Grit & Glory brand; built on the essence of the Four Sixes Ranch, it's 150 years of heritage built on the Texas cowboy lifestyle, attitude, & beliefs - Honesty, Integrity, Excellence, and Courage.
Susan's last two critically acclaimed albums, the self-titled "Susan Hickman" and "Louder than Words Vol 1," garnered attention from top outlets such as Country Weekly, American Songwriter, Country Music People Magazine and Dreamwest. Notably, her single "Hell Still Ain’t Frozen Over" earned praise from Robert K. Oermann at Music Row Magazine, describing her as "quite a vocalist" with a delivery as "sure and true as an arrow." Hickman's determination has always prevailed, showcasing resilience and earning her accolades on both sides of the Atlantic.
As Hickman reflects on her adventurous lifestyle, she unveils a quest for self-discovery, skillfully navigating the intricate balance of remaining authentic to her values while carving a path in the music industry as a female artist. Hickman radiates wisdom beyond her years, emerging as a strong role model for women everywhere. Her narrative serves as a testament that unwavering determination and a compassionate heart can overcome any obstacle, imprinting a lasting legacy on the country music landscape and propelling her toward a luminous and auspicious future.
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San Antonio native Clay Hollis has been making waves in Texas country since his debut EP in 2017. With two more EPs, a full-length album, and several charting singles under his belt, Clay’s music blends catchy hooks with true country grit. He’s recorded songs written by Nashville heavy-hitters like Jon Pardi, Bart Butler, and Aaron Goodvin. Recent highlights include four new singles: “Blue Collar Prayers,” “Test Drive,” “Beer’s Better on a Boat” (with Jesse Raub Jr.), and “Floatin’ Down the River” (featuring Kevin Fowler). In 2025, Clay will kick off a new chapter with his “Regular Guy” single and tour. Playing over 100 shows a year, when Clay’s not on the road, you’ll find him offshore fishing in the Gulf.
