Mark Chesnutt brought his music, style to Wagon Wheel in Lake Elsinore

Mark Chesnutt headlines Saturday night during the Wagon Wheel Country Music Festival.

Country legend Mark Chesnutt has a frenetic touring schedule these days, but he’s not complaining in the least. When he stops at Lake Elsinore’s Diamond Stadium this weekend to perform during the Wagon Wheel Country Music Festival, don’t expect to see an artist burnt out from the road.

“Aside from trying to follow in the footprint of The Beach Boys, where the surf’s up and the Valley Girls are beautiful, playing Southern California is like a working vacation–and it’s okay to wear my flip flops,” Chesnutt said.

Chesnutt, who has 14 No. 1 hits, 23 Top-10 singles, four Platinum albums and five that have gone Gold, said he looks forward to the Wagon Wheel venue.

“The Wagon Wheel Festival is always a great time,” he said. “The lineup is chock-full of talent each and every year with a good mixture of country styles. The fans are some of the best there is. For me, it’s a great to spend time with old friends and check out some great new music.”

During the Festival, which runs Sept. 18 -20, over 30 country artists are scheduled to perform. Chesnutt hits the stage at 7:15 p.m. Saturday night and said he’ll be fired up for fans.

“I love touring and playing the shows,” he said. “The fans are what it’s all about. I owe my career to them.”

Chesnutt has always paid his fans back. Over the last 20 years he’s toured the world, including recent gigs for troops stationed in Iraq.

“Honky tonkin’ is what I love to do,” he said. ”I’m just blessed that, after all these years, I’m still able to do it.”

Wagon Wheel Festival-goers can expect plenty of honky tonkin’ from Chesnutt Saturday night, including several songs from his most recent album, “Rollin’ With the Flow.”

“I’m so proud of ‘Rollin’ With the Flow,’” he said. ”The label let me record the project and the songs exactly the way I wanted and I’ve been told it’s some of the best Mark Chesnutt yet. That makes me feel really good.”

When asked about an upcoming album, Chesnutt said it’s too early to discuss but the wheels are in motion.

“There are plans in the works, but the details aren’t quite in stone and haven’t been finalized,” he said. “You can probably expect to hear new music early to mid 2010.”

Even with all the heavy touring and a possible album in the works, Chesnutt insists he’s not working all that hard.

“What’s the saying, ‘Find something you love and never work a day in your life …’ I am so lucky to be in this industry and thank God everyday that I am able to do this,” he said. ”As far as time off or a family vacation, we really don’t have anything solid on the books–that’ll have to be after festival season is over.”

Toni McAllister is SWRNN’s lifestyle reporter. You can e-mail her at toni.mcallister@yahoo.com.

Tags: Lake Elsinore, mark chesnutt, SWRNN, wagon wheel

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