The “House Band” to Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. One hour prior to the main dinner and show, guests are seated in a “Carriage Room” where they view an opening act. Each location has a different opening act; in Tennessee, there is a live band, Mountain Ruckus, playing bluegrass and country music. Some members of Mountain Ruckus have included Gary “Biscuit” Davis who was Dolly Parton’s band leader and produced her cd’s The Grass Is Blue and Live and Well, and Youtube Celebrity Kata Hay.

At show time, all guests are escorted into the arena, where the Dixie Stampede dinner and show begins. Although the attraction bears her name, Parton doesn’t appear in person.  The performance is essentially a modern-day Wild West revue, pitting sections of the audience against each other in a good-natured way as “the South” and “the North” battle to win various horse riding competitions. Parton sings her Native American hit “Sha-Kon-O-Hey!” during the performance.  Each location features a show with 32 horses, dozens of cast members, pig races, and chickens. Seating varies by location. There are Quarter Horse and Palomino breeds plus Appaloosa and Paint breeds.  Parton’s musical number known as “Color Me America” is the finale. After the show, everyone exits through a souvenir shop. Outside the complex is the Horse Walk, where visitors can meet the animal stars of the show, as well as their keepers.

This two CD compilation has been hand signed in a variety of inks by Bill Young, Gary Davis and Matt Varhola.