Mark Powell and Lariat

“The family that plays together, stays together”.  The core of Mark Powell and Lariat is family.  Mark and his brother John, along with their father Bishop make original dancehall music defined by fiddles, steels and creative lyrics, all while entertaining all types of crowds.

With three albums and four dance compilation albums since 2005, Mark Powell and Lariat has become one of the top dancehall bands in the state and has been named the nation’s best Texas swing sand by the International Dancers Association.

Mark and John have been performing with their father for nearly their entire lives. In 1985 following a performance at the Charles Stenholm Fun Day, Texas Monthly Magazine described them as “a very talented family trio”; Mark and John were only 5 and 7 years old. Mark, who has been a songwriter and entertainer for over 17 years, pursued country music songwriting full time in Nashville in 2004-2006. This led to a record offer in affiliation with Universal South. Lariat is also one of the few elite to be sponsored by Resistol.

Mark Powell and Lariat PhotoMark Powell and Lariat have played with, alongside, and opened for Merle Haggard, Tracy Bird, Johnny Lee, Red Stegall, Mac Davis, Asleep at the Wheel, and Michael Martin Murphey, just to name a few. They have headlined and supported countless large music events in the southern U.S. such as Texas Motor Speedway, Coors Corporate Fest, The Fort Worth Stock Show, Royal Caribbean Country Music Cruise, Grapefest, Ruidoso Cowboy Symposium and Powell’s own Outlaws & Legends Music Fest.

Mark Powell & Lariat is true western swing n’ honky tonk – the kind of music that has made Texas dance halls famous. As one of the original dance hall bands, they have been successful in the pursuit of bringing real country music back into the spotlight.

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