Confederate Railroad removed from Du Quoin State Fair lineup

Band was set to perform August 27th

Confederate Railroad has been removed from the Du Quoin State Fair lineup in Southern Illinois next month due to “racial sensitivity concerns.” WSIL-TV reports that the band has been removed from the August 27th headlining concert because of its name.

“While every artists has a right to expression, we believe this decision is in the best interest of serving all of the people in our state,” Fair Manager Josh Gross tells the Pickneyville Press.

The group was set to perform as part of a “90’s Country ReLoaded Day” along with Shenandoah and Restless Heart, who will still perform on August 27th. It was the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s decision to cancel the band’s contract after Rich Miller with Capitol Fax asked whether or not it was appropriate for the band to play a state-owned facility because their name contains the word “Confederate” in it.

Several country artists have spoken out against the decision.

The Oak Ridge Boys’ Joe Bonsall shares, “I have played the Du Quoin Fair many times over the decades … however, I must say that canceling Confederate Railroad JUST because their name is CONFEDERATE RAILROAD is a crock of crap!!! These are good men singing good songs… God please help us all …”

Charlie Daniels shares the same opinion.

“This political correctness thing is totally out of control when a fair cancels the Confederate Railroad band because of their name its giving in to facism, plain and simple and our freedom disappears piece by piece. Sick of it.”

https://twitter.com/search?q=confederate%20railroad&src=typd

“Political Correctness is a form of bullying,” one fan tweets. “It demands compliance to something a majority if people do not agree to or give consent. This band lost its gig because of its name. This is pure bullying.”

Another fan replies, “Ignorant politicians bowing to the mob. Danny Shirley and Confederate Railroad music is not offensive to anyone except the leftists that hate everything that is American.”

The band has yet to issue a statement as of press time.

The country rock group has two platinum albums under their belt and a number of hits, including “Jesus And Mama” and “Daddy Never Was The Cadillac Kind.” Their last album, Lucky To Be Alive, was released in 2016. It featured guest appearances from Willie Nelson, John Anderson, Colt Ford and former NFL coach, Jerry Glanville, on a special 20th Anniversary version of the signature smash, “Trashy Women.”

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com