LAWTON – Last year when Apache Casino Hotel’s Lee Bayless was scheduling artists to perform, he recalls having second thoughts as news of a rapidly spread- ing virus began to dominate headlines.
Acknowledging hard work and sacrifices many frontline medical workers (and those in related fields) have made over the past 15 months, Bayless said the casino wanted to give back by giving away free tickets for 600 people to see Little Texas perform Friday night.
Bayless said that while masks are still required by all on Apache Casino Hotel property, social distancing rules have been discontinued.
“We saw that the COVID numbers were dropping and vaccination rates were rising in the state and made our decision that way,” Bayless said.
A second night has been added for the general public on Saturday, June 5. Both Friday and Saturday shows start at 8 p.m. They are both for adults 21 and older.
Little Texas, the multiple award-winning country-rock group that got started in the early 1990s, was part of a new, vibrant class of country musicians played over the airwaves. Little Texas also benefited from this on-air exposure, landing number one hits with “God Blessed Texas,” “What Might Have Been” and “My Love.” The Arlington, Texas, quartet, which started in the mid-1980s, also contributed a cover of “Peaceful Easy Feeling” on the mega-selling Eagles covers album Common Thread: The Songs of The Eagles in 1993.
While country radio has moved in a different direction, Little Texas still draws big crowds. Bassist Duane Propes Del Gray, a founding member of the Nashville-based band, said they are excited to be back on the road and returning to the “red dirt country” of Oklahoma.
“You’re going to get an energized band and a high energy show that will hopefully leave you exhausted by the end because the crowd is 90 percent of our show,” Propes told Southwest Ledger.
Bayless researched casino patrons when deciding what artists to bring to Apache Casino Hotel. Artists who made it big between the ’70s and ’90s seemed to dominate, he said. Many acts that had been scheduled for 2020, were able to return in 2021. Interestingly, very few ticketholders asked for refunds due to the new concert dates, noted Bayless. “The casino does not tack on extra fees on ticket prices,” he said. “A $30 ticket is straight up $30.”
Bayless did mention that the casino will host its “Heroes of America” fireworks show, adding, “We’re excited about seeing the general public again.”
For more details, go to apachecasinohotel.com.