By CJ Vetter
BUDA - As the last live musical performance in the series, Buda Arts in the Park presented Tennessee Whiskey, a Chris Stapleton tribute band, at the Buda Amphitheater on July 22. Numerous people came out to listen to country music and enjoy the park’s amenities.
Delores Torres plays with her children on a tire wheel at Buda City Park.
The four-man band played hit songs such as their namesake, Tennessee Whiskey, and other hard-rocking country hits. The main singer, Chadwick Cook, formed the band alongside Christian Sly, Clay Wise and Tull Rea after all of them took a liking to the music of Stapleton. Cook also looked similar to the country music star. This helped inspire the band’s creation.
“I had to be homeschooled because my mama would drop me off at school, and I would just grab my backpack, walk home and play guitar,” Cook said. “When I started this band, I wondered if I was a jerk to think I could pull [making a tribute band] off. But my friends said ‘if anybody could pull this off, you can.”
Even after Cook was injured during a car accident, severely damaging his hands, he continued to perform – with the mindset that the show must go on. He had to re-learn how to play the guitar.
“I’m a Chris Stapleton fan, and they were really rocking out up there. They’ve been playing most of the good stuff too,” said Jo Hall, an attendee at the concert. “He even kinda looks like [Chris Stapleton].”
In addition to the live music, the Buda City Park was also open, offering a beach volleyball court, a playground and a splash pad for children to enjoy. Also in a surprise visit, a nearby resident even brought his horses out to listen to the music.
“I’ve been living on a bluff above Onion Creek for about 30 years, and I’ve got a ranch right over there,” said Bryan Chandler. “When they’re really jamming out real good, it fires me up to saddle my horses and indulge in a little Texas fun.”
Buda Arts in the Park will conclude its series with a final showing of “The Goonies” on July 29. For information, visit www.budaamphitheater.com/artsinthepark.
