Burleson native and Texas Country music sensation Casey Donahew has been named the headliner for this year’s Early Pioneer Days, slated for Sep. 16 and 17.

Donahew has been performing across the state for more than a decade and has released four albums (independently) and his latest CD, “Double Wide Dream” has been highly touted by music critics. Donahew became hooked on country music after watching Garth Brooks change the landscape of music concerts. Although he was a fan of country music from a young age, Donahew did not try his hand at instruments and song writing until his days at a student on the campus of Texas A&M University. According to Donahew’s Web site, it was during those college those days that he discovered Pat Green.

“Pat Green was really the guy who started it all for me in college. He just did a great job connecting with fans, and later on when we started playing, we really tried to mirror how he did that. He was one of those guys who I thought was a great entertainer, and really told stories that people wanted to hear and could relate to, and I think that’s what made him so popular.”

After transferring to the University of Texas at Arlington, Donahew began traveling with now-wife Melinda to attend concerts by Green, Randy Rogers and Cross Canadian Ragweed. These experiences led Donahew to acquire a gig at the Thirsty Armadillo, a bar in Fort Worth.

Abilene band Callahan Divide will be the opening act for the September 17 concert. Tickets for the concerts, to be held at Early City Park, will go on sale August 1.