Plano's newest music venue in an old familiar location
BY HEATHER DARROW

His fingers dance along the guitar strings and his soulful voice reverberates throughout the room. You are a few feet from the stage. He looks in your direction, and—for a moment—it is as if he is singing just to you.

Welcome to the brand new Courtyard Texas Music Series which will deliver this intimate concert experience with legendary singer-songwriters Radney Foster, Ray Wylie Hubbard and more.

While Foster and Hubbard may frequently perform in venues that can accommodate 1,000 fans, when they share their talents and stories in Plano's Courtyard Theater no more than 325 people will be in attendance.

"There's not a bad seat in the house. It will probably be the most intimate setting they'll see these artists in. This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Joshua Jones, general manager of KHYI 95.3, The Range radio station.

The Courtyard Texas Music Series in conjunction with media partner KHYI will offer concerts every first Thursday of the month from March through November. The nine, 90-minute shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. and feature local artists opening for famous musicians. Radney Foster will kick off the series March 1, and Ray Wylie Hubbard will perform April 5. Tickets are $19 for general admission, $25 for reserved seats. Season tickets are also available.

"Radney Foster is one of the most respected Texans living in Nashville," commented Jones. "He came to prominence in the band Foster and Lloyd. He established himself as a record producer for the Randy Rogers Band. Ray Wylie Hubbard is a Texas country music legend who grew up in Dallas. You mention his name in the same breath as Willie Nelson. He's been discovered by a younger generation, and he's more popular than ever."

Michelle Burdeaux, venue supervisor for Plano Stages, describes the new concert series as Texas Music Americana.

"The Texas music scene is big in this area, so we thought is was a good fit. The space is intimate and beautiful, and it is an opportunity for the artists to talk to the audience, singing songs and telling stories about the songs. The acoustics are excellent. The farthest seat from the stage is about 50 feet, so it is incredibly intimate."

While concert-goers are enjoying the state-of-the-art venue, they will also become part of a new chapter in the historical relevance of the Courtyard Theater. Built in the 1930s as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project, the building was formerly called the Cox gymnasium and housed band performances and athletic events for Plano's only school at the time. In 2001, it was converted into a theater. It housed the Plano Repertory Theater until 2005.

"What hasn't been there is a steady genre for the community to see," explained Burdeaux, "so a group of citizens, including the Haggards, brainstormed to see what it would take to get that here."

Rutledge Haggard attended 12 years of school in the Cox building and served on the school board for 18 years. He was in the first band, playing trombone on the stage in what is now the Courtyard Theater.

"The concert series is important to me because it is a good activity for the city to have. The arts are important to the city. It is a beautiful facility that needs to be put to good use," Rutledge said.

Rodney Haggard agrees. "It's got a nostalgia to it. There are a number of folks who have gone to school there. I am sure several of us got paddled in that room," he said, laughing.

"People will be surprised. They've got some good talent that's coming—good bands people can recognize. It is a quality series that will last quite a while. I think the concert series will give the downtown area a unique experience. We have the restaurants and housing. Now, they can eat and go to a quality show and spend three to four hours downtown."

With a Rolodex chock full of renowned country singers, Jones is eagerly securing the year's lineup to ensure area residents will have an exceptionally memorable experience in downtown Plano.

"The area has some great venues, but there's nothing quite as nice as Courtyard Theater for a singer-songwriter acoustic series. There's nothing in the area that is a sit-down, songwriter-acoustic option. I think it is refreshing that the City of Plano has the ability to do something like this and make it successful."

Visit Planostages.com for more information about the Courtyard Texas Music Series or email michelleb@plano.gov or call Michelle at 972.941.5611.

Radney Foster opens series March 1

You know his work, even if you don't know his name. Radney Foster wrote or co-wrote hits including Dierks Bentley's "Sweet and Wild," Pat Green's "Three Days," Kenny Chesney's "Somebody Take Me Home," the Dixie Chicks' "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams)," and Keith Urban's "Raining on Sunday," to name a few.

His own recorded songs like "Nobody Wins" and "Just Call Me Lonesome," appeal to audiences who appreciate music that strikes a familiar chord.

More intriguing than the man behind these songs are the stories behind them. In a rare opportunity, concert-goers will hear a talented artist perform and also discuss his work in an intimate setting at the inaugural Texas Courtyard Music Series performance on Thursday, March 1.

One more thing you might not know about Radney: "Angel Flight," on his new CD Revival, is a tribute to pilots who bring fallen soldiers home. "...I fly that plane called the Angel Flight / Gotta hero riding with us tonight / Between Heaven and earth you're never alone... /Come on brother I'm taking you home." Proceeds of the song benefit Texas National Guard Family Support.

The second concert at the Courtyard Texas Music Series (Thursday, April 5) will feature Ray Wylie Hubbard.
—Cindy Boykin