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KHTS Local Artist Spotlight: Bourbon County

Bourbon County is a high energy country band with rock and roll elements. They are Santa Clarita natives and they draw influences from acclaimed country artists, Brad Paisley and Garth Brooks. 


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 Bourbon County is composed of Tyler Kershaw, lead singer/rhythm guitarist and son of cajun/country legend Doug Kershaw; Kevin Fosmark on lead guitar/back up vocals who is a Musicians Institute graduate; Tim Jimenez on drums who is currently working with Willie Chambers of the famed Chambers Brother; and Tim Hutton on bass and who was the recipient of a 2012 Grammy nomination for one of his recording sessions

Bourbon County, Marie Wise-Hawkins and Suzanne Harper were selected by judges, recruited by KHTS AM 1220,  at the Keyboard Galleria to advance to the local level finals of the Texaco Country Showdown which will be held at the Concerts in the Park event on July 13.

The Texaco Country Showdown is the biggest annual country music talent search that gives country hopefuls an opportunity to gain exposure and stardom.

The contest starts off with local level competitions that are sponsored through local radio stations, including our very own KHTS AM 1220.  One of the three local finalists, including Bourbon County, will advance to the regional finals level competition. 

 The local finals competition of the Texaco Country Showdown is expected to take place at the Concerts in the Park event on July 13. If they win the state-level ‘competition, the contestants are expected to proceed to the regional finals level. If they win the regional finals, they are expected to succeed to the national, televised competition that will be hosted by country sensation and grammy nominee Jewel. Previous local regional winners include Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley.

 “The Texaco Country Showdown is such a good outlet for artist like ourselves and gives such great exposure to such great talented acts who don’t have the proper outlet to get themselves out there,” said lead singer and guitarist Tyler Kershaw. 

 “We’re so excited and privileged to be playing at the Texaco Country Showdown local finals,” said Kershaw. “I think Bourbon County would be such a good vessel for KHTS 1220. We like to have a good time and we show it.”

Kershaw approaches writing music in a very straightforward manner. He believes that, “Good music is music. It can come in many forms and it doesn’t have to be solely country or solely rock and roll. It can be both,” according to his statement. 

Bourbon County’s music features the static energy of rock and roll while still maintaining an authentic country sound. Their hooks are infectious and catchy and features a vivacious edge that distinguishes them from most country acts. Their band motto, “AC/DC with a cowboy hat and kick in the ranglers….” perfectly sums up their rock and roll and country fusion style.

 “If you take out the fiddles of a lot of country songs you’re left with just a simple rock song, ” according to Kershaw’s statement. “We play with that concept.”

“The best compliment I’ve ever received was, ‘if more country bands sounded like you guys, I would actually like country music,” said Kershaw.

What sets Bourbon County apart is they derive their influence for their songwriting from simple, everyday experiences. 

“There’s no one particular thing that motivates me to write a particular song… sometimes it just happens. Like this one time, at a bar, I made the all too popular excuse, ‘the beer made me do it’ and all of sudden I decided to play around with that concept and it became a song. Its one of our favorite songs to date,”  according to his statement.

“The Beer Made Me Do It” is expected to be a song on Bourbon County’s set-list for the Texaco Country Showdown local finals at Central Park. 

Bourbon County’s next performance is the Texaco Country Showdown Local Finals at Central Park on July 13th at 7:30 p.m..  They will have another performance on July 14th at Molly Malones in Los Angeles. 

To listen to Bourbon County’s music, visit www.soundcloud.com/bourboncounty. Visit their twitter page at www.twitter.com/bourboncountyla and facebook page at www.facebook.com/bourboncountyla


Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.


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KHTS Local Artist Spotlight: Bourbon County

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About KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220

As Santa Clarita’s only local radio station, KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220 mixes in a combination of news, traffic, sports, along with your favorite adult contemporary hits by artists such as Rob Thomas, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and Maroon 5. We are vibrant member of the Santa Clarita community. Our broadcast signal reaches all of the Santa Clarita Valley and parts of the high desert communities located in the Antelope Valley. We stream our talk shows over the web, reaching a potentially worldwide audience.