Thursday news: Indiana State Fair photos, chartgazing and more...

Bucky Covington concentrates during a sound check for his show at the Indiana State Fair, 8/15; photo by the very kind Buckaholic, who shares more of her fantastic concert shots in her Flickr photoset. Thanks, Buckaholic! Bucky Covington's debut CD is in stores now, and his music video is available for online viewing at CMT.com and Yahoo Music. You can buy Bucky's album at Amazon, Best Buy , iTunes, WalMart Music and Target, hear the full version of his single "A Different World" at CMT and GAC, or enjoy samples of songs from the CD at Bucky's official MySpace. An autographed copy of Bucky Covington can be ordered while supplies last at his official site or via his official fan club.

(Edited to add a link to Buckaholic's wild and funny recap at Bucky's CMT board--enjoy!)

It's rare that we get links to three beautiful sets of concert photos in one day--but we sure love when it happens. Buckaholic very kindly sent this link to her lovely Flickr photoset from Wednesday night's Indiana State Fair show--be sure to check out her wonderful shots of Bucky, Shaun, Don (a.k.a. Ducky) and one of the best Rocky Covington portraits we've seen yet. Many thanks to Pizzi, Happydays and Buckaholic (links go to galleries, y'all) for sharing the fun!

If you'd like to share the fun of Bucky's very first hit single with your fellow radio listeners and cable watchers, it's easy--keep requesting "A Different World" at your favorite local and streaming country stations, vote for Bucky at GAC's Top Twenty Country Countdown and CMT's Top Twenty Countdown, and call up your favorite syndicated country radio shows tonight, too. Bucky's tenacious debut song is still holding on strong at #6 on both the Mediabase weighted and Top 500 charts this morning, with no bullets. The current Radio & Records/BDS country singles chart is up and available; Bucky's gracing the #6 spot there for the second week in a row.

Bucky's radio triumphs are also part of this USA Today "Idol Chatter" post by Ken Barnes--in it, he traces the paths of the ex-Idol singers on the airwaves, and he has this to say about Bucky's debut smash (listed at #23 on his all-Idols, all-time radio hit list): "A Different World, Bucky Covington (31.5 million [peak number of audience impressions in a week], No. 38) (outside chance of beating that figure in coming weeks)"

We think there's much more than an outside chance. Can Bucky snag that official Top Five spot on the R&R chart before his follow-up hit begins to climb next month? This would be the sweetest gift we could give to Bucky for giving us "A Different World"--and it's a fun goal to shoot for. Come on into comments and let's talk it over...

In the meantime, the tour continues at full speed--and there have been so many questions about venues, tickets and details that a Concert Roundup with lots of links was a natural next step. (We love those questions, by the way--the more live-music fans enjoying a Bucky Covington show or two, the better!) I'll be linking the Roundup in the sidebar later today, and September's information will be posted as soon as possible. But for now, here are the quick details on Bucky's upcoming Milwaukee Zoo date:

Friday, 08/17/2007, 8:00 p.m.
Milwaukee AlaCarte at the Zoo
10001 West Blue Mound Road,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53226

Website: http://www.milwaukeezoo.org/
Ticket info: "All musical entertainment is free with regular admission." Admission rates for the 2007 a la Carte are as follows:

Adults: $10.50
Juniors (ages 3 to 12): $7.50
Children (ages 2 and under): FREE
Seniors (ages 60 and older): $9.50
Parking: $9

Directions: Available at the Zoo's site.
Other info: Food tickets and Zoo attractions can be purchased for an additional charge. Advanced/reduced single admission tickets also are available at Tri City National Banks through 8/19.


More news coming later--see you soon. Have a beautiful Thursday!