Larry Joe Taylor festival moving to Stephenville
By KRISTIN FRANKLIN
Staff Writer / Stephenville Empire Tribune

 One of the biggest Texas music concerts will call Stephenville home in 2003 when the Larry Joe Taylor Texas Music Festival and Chili Cook-off moves from Meridian to Melody Mountain Ranch.

The 14-year-old music festival last year drew a crowd of around 10,000 people.

The event has been held in Meridian for the past four years and event coordinator Clint Wiley said the site was too small to accommodate so many people.

“We had outgrown the location,” Wiley said. “It was starting to get almost dangerous. We talked to the (Melody Mountain Ranch) owners about bringing it here. And Stephenville just has a lot more to offer.”

According to Wiley, the new location will offer more room for performers and campers that attend the four-day concert.

“The Meridian site was only 20 or 30 acres,” Wiley said. “We will have so much more room and more RV hook-ups.”

Wiley said Larry Joe Taylor and his staff members have met with the Chamber of Commerce about the possible benefits of holding such a large event in Stephenville.

“It will be good for Stephenville,” Wiley said. “I think all the hotels will be full. Plus, all of us are from here so we wanted to bring the festival here.”

The 2003 festival will be held April 23 through April 26. A long line-up of singer/songwriters will perform on two stages, including the festival’s namesake.