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Country music returns to Concert Hall with Chris Cagle

Thom Chacon to open show on Halloween night
Thom Chacon to open show on Halloween night

Chris Cagle, known as one of the hardest working performers in country music, takes the stage at the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis College on Saturday, Oct. 31, 2015. Special guest Thom Chacon will open the show at 7:30 p.m.

Chris Cagle's self-proclaimed version of "redneck rock 'n' roll," has been firing up audiences for more than a decade. With professional credits that include two gold albums, two #1 albums and 12 charted songs, Cagle maintains that his priorities in life are "family, ranch, music" - in that order.

Born in DeRidder, La. and raised "all over," Cagle set off for Nashville after enrolling in college in Texas, but finding the pull to pursue music too strong to ignore. Like many young artists, he spent several years working odd jobs in Nashville and scraping up enough cash to record four original songs for a demo tape. Thanks to a couple of chance meetings and the opportunity to be heard by Scott Henricks, he was signed to Virgin Records in 2000. Cagle quickly earned critical and commercial success and attracted a legion of fans that includes industry veterans and country fans alike. Cagle's first #1 hit, "I Breathe In, I Breathe Out," remains a fan favorite.

For a time he bowed out of the industry and retreated to Marietta, Okla. to reconnect with his roots and take back control of his life. There he fulfilled a life-long dream: building his family's home, "Big Horse Ranch," with his own two hands, nail by nail.

In 2012, he rekindled his creative flame with Back In The Saddle, offering his fans a roaring reminder of his rock-infused country roots - music that is relatable, back-roads and familiar while striking a contemporary cord in country music.

As Cagle notes in a press release, "Imagine my music just on the outside of town right where the road turns to the rural route. A dirt road cul-de-sac with trucks all parked in a circle."

View Cagle's music video of "Chicks Dig It" from Back In The Saddle at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB16klLODYk.

Cagle's special guest, Thom Chacon is lauded as "an Americana original" and "one of the most important songwriters of our time." His music reflects a good dose of lifetime experiences, along with the hard-earned wisdom of a man who's paid his dues both on the land and the water.

"Sometimes called the 'Dylan of Durango,' Chacon has a narrative style influenced by Kris Kristofferson, Steve Earle and Townes Van Zandt, among others. He also draws influence from his colorful family history: His second cousin, Bobby Chacon was two-time boxing featherweight champion and his grandfather was deputy sheriff in Silver City, N.M. and part of the posse sent to capture Billy the Kid.

The cinematic nature of Chacon's songs comes not only from spending time as an outdoorsman, but also from a love of movies and vintage television westerns, with a special affection for the films of John Ford and John Wayne. View music videos of Chacon at www.thomchacon.com/video.

Tickets for Chris Cagle, with special guest Thom Chacon are $29, $39 and $49 and are available online at www.durangoconcerts.com, or call 970.247.7657, or visit the ticket office inside the Durango Welcome Center at Eighth Street and Main Avenue in downtown Durango. Ticket Office hours are Monday - Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.