Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Country music artists Pat Green and Hailey Whitters are slated to co-headline Stephen F. Austin State University’s annual Homecoming festivities at 8 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Intramural Fields, located on the corner of Starr Avenue and Wilson Drive.
SFA’s Student Activities Association is hosting the event, which brings thousands of current and former students as well as SFA supporters together in celebration.
“Homecoming brings Lumberjacks old and new to campus to celebrate the one thing we all have in common — our love for SFA,” said Lacey Folsom, Student Engagement director. “The events and competitions hosted throughout the week provide students engaging opportunities to connect with the campus community. SFA Alumni Association events let alumni reconnect with the campus and people who became like family. The bonfire and concert are a special combination of all audiences coming together to celebrate everything SFA.”
Green is a multi-time Grammy-nominated artist credited as one of Texas country’s modern-era founding fathers, according to the singer’s website. His style combines Southwestern country traditions with the rebellious spirit of rock ’n’ roll. Following his self-released debut album, “Dancehall Dreamer,” in 1995, Green has gone on to release multiple studio albums featuring popular songs such as “Carry On,” “Three Days” and the hit “Wave on Wave.”
A San Antonio native, Green was known to frequently perform in Nacogdoches at the popular Jitterbugs venue before it was destroyed in a fire in April 2006.
Whitters is a singer-songwriter who will visit Nacogdoches in the midst of an exciting year in which she has performed on mainstream talk shows such as “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” “The Kelly Clarkson Show” and “The Today Show.” In May, Whitters took home the Academy of Country Music Award for New Female Artist of the Year.
Her 2022 studio album, “Raised,” was named Rolling Stone magazine’s 2022 No. 1 country album of the year. Her single from the album, “Everything She Ain’t,” was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America and debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart earlier this year.
“We are very excited to have Green and Whitters co-headline this year’s Homecoming concert,” said Michael Onuchovsky, Student Engagement coordinator. “They are both remarkable artists who will undoubtedly provide a performance that will be remembered by students, faculty, staff, alumni and Nacogdoches community members. By pairing an experienced artist like Green with one who is bursting onto the country music scene like Whitters, we feel like this will be a concert for everyone to enjoy.”
The added allure of SFA’s centennial year is expected to make this year’s Homecoming one for the record books, Onuchovsky added.
“This year, as SFA celebrates its centennial, the expectation for an exceptional show is higher than ever,” he said. “This has the potential to be the best Homecoming celebration in SFA’s rich history.”
AXEperience, a university-sponsored student organization responsible for preserving and promoting the spirit and traditions of SFA, is preparing to host the trademark Homecoming bonfire; however, they are also monitoring weather and ongoing burn bans to make a determination closer to the date. In the event the bonfire is canceled, the concert will still go on as planned.
Prior to the concert, AXEperience will unveil a unique addition to the festivities in the form of a drone light show that will light the sky with Lumberjack-themed images.
Along with the concert, AXEperience coordinated events that will take place throughout Homecoming week from spirit and tradition-focused student organizations, offices and departments. To view the most up-to-date schedule, visit sfasu.edu/homecoming.
For more information about Homecoming, contact the Office of Student Engagement at (936) 468-3703 or studentengagement@sfasu.edu.
ABOUT STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY
Stephen F. Austin State University, the newest member of The University of Texas System, began a century ago as a teachers’ college in Texas’ oldest town, Nacogdoches. Today, it has grown into a regional institution comprising six colleges — business, education, fine arts, forestry and agriculture, liberal and applied arts, and sciences and mathematics. Accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, SFA enrolls approximately 11,000 students while providing the academic breadth of a state university with the personalized attention of a private school. The main campus encompasses 421 acres that include 36 academic facilities, nine residence halls, and 68 acres of recreational trails that wind through its six gardens. The university offers more than 80 bachelor’s degrees, more than 40 master’s degrees and four doctoral degrees covering more than 120 areas of study. Learn more at sfasu.edu.