CLICK & DOUBLE CLICK: INTERNET OFFERS PREVIEW OF SEMO FAIR ENTERTAINMENT (COLUMN 94)

It's our favorite time of year. The SEMO District Fair is in town. Some people in the office aren't quiet as enthusiastic, but if we had the time and money, we'd be at the fair every single day.

Joni: I was there opening night.

Peggy: I'm headed there today. In addition to livestock and carnival rides and great food, the fair brings big-time entertainment to town. Tickets are still available for all grandstand events. You can call (573) 334-9250 or 1-800-455-FAIR.

Joni: You can learn more about each of this year's performers online before you head to the grandstand. Of course, the big draw this year is Willie Nelson. He performs Thursday night.

www.willienelson.comPeggy: This is a big month for Willie Nelson. He was on David Letterman, ABC's "Good Morning America," and "Regis and Kathie Lee." I guess he was promoting his appearance at the district fair.

Joni: Yeah, I'm sure, Peggy. From Cape Girardeau he heads to Tunica, Miss. He has a pretty full concert schedule, which you can read online. You could wait and see him in late November in Las Vegas. Those tickets will be a lot more expensive.

Peggy: He had a new album released in September. Willie says it's his best yet. The album is called "Teatro." What great timing for the fair.

Joni: The album is a mix of Willie sounds, according to one online review. The album is a combination of boot-scooting songs, honky-tonk rhapsodies and a return to the outlaw country Willie pioneered in the 1970s. That's a mouthful.

Peggy: The album features Willie with EmmyLou Harris and Daniel Lanois.

Joni: The site is divided into to sounds, sights, stories, news and friends. Here's a biography of Willie, that says instead of heading to the "elephant boneyard of Branson" Willie is going strong.

Peggy: Willie was born in 1933 in Texas, and his first single came out in 1957, before some of us were born. Here's a note that Willie's battle with the IRS has been settled. Oh good.

Joni: He's been in several films, including "Wag the Dog." He's doing a new film with Woody Harrelson due to be released in December. He doesn't look like he's ready to slow down.

Peggy: Willie's answer to questions of retirement: "All I do is play music and golf. Which one do you want me to give up?" Tough choice. Let's move on to Friday night's entertainer, Kenny Chesney.

www.kchesney.com

Joni: I'll confess. I don't know much about Kenny Chesney, but here's a very cute baby picture. He grew up in Tennessee. He got a guitar while in college and the rest is history.

Peggy: "I Will Stand" is his latest album. It includes a No. 1 hit, "She's Got It All." In another popular cut, Chesney is joined by pals Tracy Lawrence and George Jones in "From Hillbilly Heaven to Honky Tonk Hell."

Joni: That's one thing about country songs: Not only can you understand the words, they're interesting.

Peggy: Not quite sure if you've heard Kenny's songs? All it takes is RealPlayer and you can listen online. Here's "She's Got It All." Sing along, Joni.

Joni: You can find out that Kenny was the top new male vocalist in 1998 for the Academy of Country Music. And you can even hear his acceptance speech, all 1 minute and 27 seconds. What's that song they're playing. I've heard that before.

Peggy: Me too, but I don't know the name. Let's go to the RealAudio files.

Joni: Ah-ha, it's "That's Why I'm Here." All right. We got it. I'm ready to go Friday night.

Peggy: You can also enter Kenny's fan club online. If you are in the fan club, you can get backstage passes, and cameras are welcome backstage. Hurry, Joni just a few days before Kenny appears.

Joni: OK. Let's take a look at Brad Hawkins and Lonestar, scheduled Saturday at the fair.

www.bradhawkins.com

Peggy: Here's this newcomer's site. You can listen to a clip of his newest single, "Come Back To Me Blues." He encourages fans to contact their local radio stations and request his song.

Joni: You can learn more about his band, Del Rio, and hear clips of his songs also. You can also follow along with lyrics for four of his songs. Join in, Peggy?

Peggy: Here's a list of radio stations and e-mail links. They also have a message board and a chat room for real Brad fans.

Joni: Next we'll take a look at the Saturday night headliner, Lonestar.

www.lonestar-band.com

Peggy: Look at this. They are in Dallas, Texas, Sept. 25, the St. Louis Riverport Amphitheater Sept. 26, then Louisville Motor Speedway Sept. 27. So much for life on the road.

Joni: You can read bios about the four members of the band. They're all from Texas. Did you notice there's sort of a Texas thing going on here.

Peggy: I noticed that. Let's checkout the Lonestar news. Richie and Lorie McDonald just had a baby. Richie is the lead vocalist and rhythm guitar player in the band.

Joni: Here's a band member named Keech Rainwater. Wonder if that's his real name? On this site you can join the fan club, you can check out photos from the video of "Everything's Changed," one of their big singles.

Peggy: Here it says all the guys have laptop computers they use on the road. They're a bunch of computer geeks. Cool.

Joni: You can read a typical day for Lonestar. It doesn't sound as glamorous as some people might expect. You can't hear their music, though. They need to work on that. I'm e-mailing my suggestion.

Joni: What's your favorite country music site? E-mail us at click@semissourian.com

See you in Cyberspace.

~Peggy Scott and Joni Adams are members of the Southeast Missourian online staff.