Deadwood Announces Headliners for Wild Bill Days 2023

Country music royalty Lonestar and Mark Chesnutt will headline Deadwood’s free Wild Bill Days concerts June 15-17, 2023. Wild Bill Days, Deadwood’s annual summer kick-off celebration, includes big name, national artists and the best of regional bands performing free, along with the National Dock Dogs Competition, gold panning on Main Street, a classic car auction and more – a little something for everyone to celebrate summer and Wild Bill Hickok, Deadwood’s most famous gunslinger.

Lonestar will headline the free Main Street Stage on Friday, June 16. The band started their streak of chart-topping country songs in the mid-1990s with “No News,” followed up with “Tequila Talkin’,” "Come Cryin' to Me" and “Everything’s Changed.” The band's quadruple-platinum 1999 album Lonely Grill spawned four No. 1 hits (including the beloved global smash "Amazed") and established Lonestar as music's preeminent pop-country band—a status they'd maintain through the 2000s and beyond, thanks to songs full of energy and heartfelt messages like "What About Now," "Mr. Mom" and “I’m Already There.”  Lonestar has sold more than 10.5 million albums and their 2022 album, entitled “Ten to 1,” and features 10 hits that made it number 1 on the charts.

Mark Chesnutt takes the headline spot on Saturday, June 17. Hailed as one of Country’s true musical treasures and a classic Country singer of the first order. He has 14 number 1 hits, 23 top 10 singles, four platinum albums and five gold records to his credit, and continues to maintain his presence with a hefty tour schedule. He was one of Billboard’s Ten Most-Played artists of the 1990s, with hits like “Bubba Shot the Jukebox,” “I’ll Think of Something,” “Brother Jukebox,” “Blame it on Texas,” “Old Flames Have New Names,” “Old Country,” “I Just Wanted You to Know,” “Going Through the Big D,” and “It Sure is Monday.” The hit “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” was at the top of the charts for four weeks.

The entire Wild Bill Days celebration begins on the evening of Thursday, June 15 with a free concert at Outlaw Square. More bands will be announced in coming days.

Also returning to Wild Bill Days 2023 and providing entertainment throughout the event, DockDogs competitions showcase specially trained retrievers and everyday pets. Man's best friend competes for the title of top dog by jumping from a carpeted platform into a long pool. The entertaining animals try to jump higher and farther, or retrieve faster than their competitors. DockDogs events happen throughout the day on Friday and Saturday, concluding Saturday afternoon with the DockDogs Speed Retrieve Finals at 5 p.m. and the Big Air Finals at 5:30 p.m. All DockDogs competitions take place on upper Historic Main Street in front of the Silverado Casino. To register your dog in the competition, call (330) 241-4975 or email [email protected]. All DockDogs performances are free. 

To kick things off on Saturday, June 18, the Trial of Jack McCall  will be performed on the Main Street Stage. The Trial of Jack McCall has been a main stay in Deadwood since the mid-1920s, making it one of the nation's longest running plays. It is based on the actual trial of Wild Bill's murderer which took place in the mining camp of Deadwood in 1876. This is a family-friendly show performed by the Deadwood Alive reenactors, and is normally held nightly Monday through Saturday, Memorial Day weekend through September for a nominal fee. Watch the Trial of Jack McCall for free during Wild Bill Days in 2023. All Main Street entertainment is free.

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Wild Bill Days Photos
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