Bucky Covington's summer concert season begins (and an interview link, too--updated...)

Huge thanks to our talented friend Judy Lang for this great shot of Bucky Covington (with Jeff Cease at right) on stage in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Click the photo to see Bucky's tour schedule at BuckyCovington.com.

It's official--country music's summer concert season kickoff (also known as CMA Fest) is happening as we speak. Bucky Covington's fans have plenty of chances to see and hear him and his excellent band while enjoying the sights and sounds of Nashville; if you missed him at Tuesday's Country Weekly Fashion Show and Concert at the Wildhorse Saloon and the Reading, Writing and Rhythm benefit show, you can greet Bucky at the Greased Lightning Fan Fair Hall on Thursday, 6/10. According to his official Facebook, you'll also have a chance to win a signed guitar! Fran at the must-read Buckytown USA blog (bookmark them now!) reports that Bucky will do a Q&A as part of The Country Network's* Skype Lounge at Fan Fair this year--head over to Buckytown for details on how you can be part of the fun.

Of course, any country artist's biggest connection with his or her fans happens from the stage, and Bucky and his band are ready to connect with you at about 2:15 pm on Friday the 11th at the Riverfront Stages--gotta be there! If you're among those of us that won't be able to make it to CMA Fest this year (sigh), you'll be happy to know that Bucky and company hit the road immediately after that show. Their post-CMA tour starts with the First Coast Music Festival in Jacksonville, Florida; gates open at 2 p.m., music and food are available all day, and Bucky takes the stage at approximately 8:40 p.m. Thanks to an kind anonymous commenter for letting us know that the First Coast festival has been rescheduled for Fall 2010. Details as soon as we get them...

The summer tour fun is just beginning, of course! Dates are being added all the time--as always, we're going to strongly recommend bookmarking Bucky's official site and Buckytown USA for updated info. And "A Father's Love (The Only Way He Knew How)", his current hit, is already said to be quite a crowd pleaser and a sing-along live. (Don't know the words? Click here to find out where to request it, and get ready to sing along live and with your radio. Yes, I am sneaky.)

We'll wrap it up with a link to a revealing--and funny--interview you might have missed. Revue magazine's Jamie Linari spoke to Bucky ahead of his upcoming show at the Muskegon Summer Celebration in Michigan on the 27th, and his answers to their questions are intriguing. Enjoy!

Here's a little music to take us out--this performance of "I'll Walk" from Bucky's recent Sioux Falls show is a definite keeper. Many thanks to xxhhheatherrrxx for posting it on YouTube this week. See you on the road!

*Yep, The Country Network; another place to vote for Bucky's "A Father Love" video, when it gets made. Stay tuned...