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It doesn’t get much more country than Maiden Dixie, a rural chick and three instrumentalists, and the four players in the Nathan Hansen Band. They raise the country in its midst at Hammond’s Heartland Days this weekend.

Hammond Heartland Days brings the best of country music in the region to their festival this weekend, triumphing over the scores of rank and file bar bands.
Maiden Dixie begins the musical mastery on Friday night, Aug. 8, and then Nathan Hansen caps it off on Saturday night.
It winds down when they bring country tunes for the second straight night. You can tell a band by their videos. The Nathan Hansen promos feature slickly made videos with close cropped editing, especially of the crowd shots. And the numbers out there cheering are large. The audio plays lots of instrumental breaks of whirring guitars, and well-placed drum fills, backing up vocals that have just the right amount of twang and groove.
The night before it’s Maiden Dixie. The band has more than 100 songs on its set list, and their multiple cover song renditions by bands number 18, and at least five bands chime in at three or more. They also have several originals, and a couple from AC/DC.
You can even message ahead and request a song. One couple went to see a number of bands during their wedding planning process and Maiden Dixie was an easy choice. The duo ended up taking them in three times, and listened to detailed responses to their many questions — at the height of their busy season. The request list was lengthy, and a few surprise numbers even were added.
A bar owner or two copied on being able to meet those requests.
Maiden Dixie is said to be able to accommodate any venue with its diverse set list, which is very helpful at Heartland Days.
That goes double for both a listener during Hudson’s Booster Days, who was working the Drink Ticket booth, and from another band in the stage behind.
Lastly about song selection, a man not a frequent country music listener said he knew the majority of the tunes — even though he usually doesn’t stay out late anymore.
Prior to the country acts, the dance floor under the pavilion is ruled by those spinning records. Friday from 5-8 p.m., go gig to Dr. Groove. Then all day on Saturday, noon to 8 p.m., its the Kar Jackers as the deejay.

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