Cactus Country performing at the Fiesta Oyster Bake Festival at St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas on April 2, 2022. (Photo: Ralph Arvesen)
Cactus Country has been performing in South Texas and the Hill Country for over 25 years. They perform at many festivals, conventions, private parties, and trail rides, in addition to performing regularly at the Tejas Rodeo, Quihi Gun Club, Falls City Community Center, Texas Pride BBQ, Max's Roadhouse, Goofy's Bar & Grille, The Den (La Vernia), 5D Steakhouse & many others.
They have been featured with many Nashville stars including Jon Conlee, Midland, Restless Heart, Jana Kramer, Rick Trevino, Gary Allan, Tracy Lawrence, Tracy Byrd, Charlie Daniels Band, Chris LeDoux, Clint Black, Johnny Lee, Moe Bandy, Doug Supernaw, and even the Dixie Chicks before they became famous! They have also performed with Tejano stars Roberto Pulido, Jay Perez, Raulito Navaira, and Patsy Torres (winner of 2021 Tejano Album of the year), as well as Grammy award winner David Lee Garza. The above pic is at a Patsy Cline show at the Uvalde Grand Opera Theater with Patsy Torres.
The band has performed on the Main Stage of the State Fair of Texas and traveled internationally, playing in Costa Rica, Central America. They are regular performers at the annual San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo, as well as the Fiesta Oyster Bake.
Original members Brenda Dlugosh (vocals, keyboards) and Tony Franckowiak (pedal steel, backup vocals, lead guitar) are a wife/husband combo. Regina Matthews is a fiddling sensation who won 9 Texas Fiddling championships. Versatile drummer Adam Arevales has toured with Tejano artists Emilio & Shelly Lares. Veteran bass player and vocalist Eric Scott has toured the USA and spent time playing in Alaska. The group has a vast amount of experience and styles of music.
With strong male and female lead vocalists and three backup singers, the band can perform a variety of music including the latest C&W hits, traditional country, oldies, classic rock-n-roll, & even some Tejano hits. This diversity surprises many and allows Cactus Country to please a wide range of audiences.
Fiesta Oyster Bake
106 years and counting. For a third of San Antonio’s history, the Oyster Bake has been part of the fabric of the community. What started as a St. Mary’s University alumni gathering with a handful of people in 1916 on the banks of the San Antonio river downtown has grown to a premier Fiesta San Antonio event with over 70,000 patrons and more than 7,000 volunteers.
The Oyster Bake truly is a party with a purpose. 100% of the proceeds raised during the Oyster Bake goes directly back to the students of St. Mary’s University. By attending the Oyster Bake, you are helping further the education of students and help in their growth as future community leaders. Over the years your patronage has directly contributed millions of dollars in student scholarships and university programs and for this we can simply say, thank you.
And in case you were wondering, over the two days of Oyster Bake we go through 100,000 oysters and 32,000 chicken on a sticks with jalapeno!
Cactus Country
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Fiesta Oyster Bake
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Photos by Ralph Arvesen
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