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The Brazos Valley will see a familiar face at Chilifest 2009.
Robert Earl Keen will headline the April 3-4 event. The country singer will be joined by Chilifest regulars Pat Green, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Stoney Larue and Austin band Reckless Kelly. Keen last played at the outdoor festival in 2006.
"I was trying to find someone who everyone could relate to," Chilifest board Chairman David Towery said. "I've always liked [Keen]. He's an Aggie; he writes songs about Aggies. I was just hoping it wasn't too soon to bring him back."
The event, now in its 19th year, includes a chili cook-off and a concert that primarily features Texas country artists. Chilifest was started by a Texas A&M University fraternity and was initially geared primarily toward students. More than 35,000 country music fans attended the 2008 event, organizers said. The agency that organizes the event was incorporated as a nonprofit in 1999.
Since its inception, Chilifest has given more than $1 million to Brazos Valley charities, including the Burleson County Go-Texan Association, Boys and Girls Clubs of Brazos Valley, the Snook Volunteer Fire Department, Hospice Brazos Valley and Aggie Carpool. Chilifest 2008 generated enough income that the organization donated more than $220,000 to charities, Towery said.
Keen was in the class of 1978 at Texas A&M University, where he and future music star Lyle Lovett were neighbors. Keen later moved to Austin and eventually began his music career. He has released more than a dozen albums in the past two decades and is well-known for his song The Party Never Ends.
Chilifest tickets, which are $30 in advance and $35 at the gate, will be available at several locations in Bryan and College Station: Catalena Hatters, Callaway Villas, CC Creations, Aggieland Outfitters, Inspirations, Loupot's bookstores and Raising Cane's.
Registration for the chili cook-off starts Feb. 27 at Callaway Villas.
