Fiesta Days headliner Dylan Scott stays true to Louisiana roots despite growing fame

Despite a nearly sold out tour and growing fanbase, Dylan Scott never really strays far from his rural Louisiana roots.

They’re evident in his music, especially in his recent hit “Nothing to Do Town.” Released last year, the song pays tribute to his hometown, with lyrics like, “We ain’t got a lot, but we sure do a lot with the little bit that we got.”

Scott filmed the song’s video in his hometown of Bastrop, Louisiana.

“Nobody even knew we were coming, which was really cool,” said the country artist, who went from up-and-coming with a debut single in 2013 to an iHeartRadio Best New Country Artist nominee in 2019 with hits such as “My Girl” and “Hooked.”

“That evening, I got some buddies together and we did some mud riding to show kind of what we did growing up in a short 3-minute music video,” he said. “The town really appreciated it.”

These days, he’s getting appreciation from every town – big and small – he stops by.

Next up is McHenry, where he’ll headline Fiesta Days’ Music Fest Weekend at Petersen Park.

Scott will perform at 9:15 p.m. on Friday at the 71st annual festival known as one of the largest festivals in Illinois.

Fiesta Days spans 11 days with food, family fun, music and entertainment throughout McHenry.

General admission tickets to Music Fest Friday featuring Scott cost $15 and include the live music, as well as entrance to the park, beer tent and food vendors. VIP tickets cost $25 for access to the music, beer tent and food vendors along with an assigned seat in an exclusive area next to the stage, a dedicated VIP bar and “deluxe” flushing portable toilets.

VIP Premier tickets cost $50 and include all of the amenities of VIP Seating, as well as a seat in the first two rows next to the stage. For tickets and information, visit mchenryfiestadays.com.

Scott has gone from traveling from town-to-town in a van entertaining crowds as small as 50 people to drawing thousands. He has performed up to 200 shows a year as he worked hard to fulfill his dream.

“It’s crazy, to be honest with you,” he said of his success. “This is exactly what I always dreamed and hoped for, to hop on a tour bus and play music. I’m very blessed and grateful to do what I do.”

That said, he’s determined to keep it real.

“With my music and who I am, I try not to forget where I came from,” he said.

His wife, Blair, once his high school sweetheart, and young son, Beckett, help him do that. Together since they were 15 years old, the couple is expecting another child. Blair is the inspiration behind Scott’s chart-topping “My Girl” from his self-titled album released in 2016. The album debuted at No. 5 on the Top Country Albums chart.

“[My family] makes it easy to stay true to who I am,” he said.

Blair, along with Scott’s father, Scotty Robinson, who once played guitar in late country artist Freddy Fender’s band, actually appear in his “Nothing to Do Town” video.

Because of his father’s country music roots, his life revolved around music at home and church.

“I grew up on old-school country music, and Keith Whitley, he was like Elvis to me,” Scott said.

His admiration for the legend inspired his latest project, a seven-song EP of Whitley covers called “An Old Memory.” The EP is scheduled for release Aug. 16 via Curb Records and features Scott’s take on some of Whitley’s best-loved classics, such as “WhenYou Say Nothing at All,” “Don’t Close Your Eyes,” “I’m Over You” and “Ten Feet Away.”

Two of the EP’s songs – “Between an Old Memory and Me” and “Tell Lorrie I Loved Her ” – feature guest vocals from Lorrie Morgan, who was married to Whitley at the time of his death. Their son, Jesse Keith Whitley, contributes background vocals on “I’m Over You.”

Scott counts country music artist Tim McGraw, also from Louisiana, as another big influence.

“That’s kind of like my dream collaboration,” he said.

Among Scott’s future projects are an upcoming Christmas album, as well as plans for a new album in 2020.

But, for now, he said he’s all about entertaining his fans and, hopefully, making new ones.

“I like to come out with a good bit of energy,” he said. “I like to be real personable, let people just know me. Hopefully, they smile and dance and laugh and forget about the work week and what’s going on in their lives and just have a good time.”