Encore In Columbia: Tracy Byrd To Perform At Forrest Wood Cup

COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 19, 2008) – As if the prospect of watching the world’s top bass angler win as much as $1 million was not enough to drive fishing fans crazy, FLW Outdoors announced today that multi-platinum recording artist Tracy Byrd will perform a free concert during the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by Castrol. The concert is slated to take place Aug. 17 at 4 p.m., shortly before the day-four weigh-in at the Colonial Center in Columbia, S.C.

Byrd is no newcomer to FLW Outdoors, having performed to a capacity crowd at the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup in Hot Springs, Ark. He gave his first FLW Outdoors concert at the 2003 Wal-Mart Open in Rogers, Ark. An avid angler and hunter, Byrd has even developed his own line of crankbaits that benefit the Special Olympics. “Next to family and music, fishing and hunting are my passions,” he says.

Since signing his first record deal in 1992, Byrd has become one of country music’s core artists. The Texas native has produced smash hits including “Watermelon Crawl,” “The Truth About Men,” “Ten Rounds,” “Lifestyles of the Not So Rich and Famous,” and “Keeper of the Stars,” which was the Academy of Country Music’s Song of the Year in 1996.

Byrd’s current album, “Different Things,” has stayed strong since its release in 2006. The album, his first studio album on his new label, Blind Mule Records, features hits like “Better Places Than This” and “Cheapest Motel.”

The Forrest Wood Cup is bass fishing’s biggest event. Thousands of anglers from more than 40 states, Japan, Australia, Canada, Italy and Spain have been casting for more than a year to earn a trip to the tournament – held on Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C., and for the top 77 professionals and 77 co-anglers in the world, that dream will come true Aug. 14-17 when the sport’s biggest names compete for a $1 million top award.