Mark Chestnutt, Clay Walker, the Mystixz, and Texas Reign are on tonight!

 Mark Chesnutt really likes Rio Grande Valley audiences.

"Aw, they’re wild, man," said the country western singer who will perform today at Wink’s Saloon Grill and Rodeo, 10700 FM 1421.

Chesnutt, who has 23 top ten singles and four platinum albums, has performed in the Valley before — and at Wink’s.

"They’re great," said the 46-year-old Beaumont native. "They’re not ashamed to have a good time. I’ve always liked playing down there and the crowds are always real nice to us and they like to honky tonk."

Chesnutt, 46, will be one of four performers at WinkStock, an outdoor concert for families to enjoy live entertainment at an affordable cost, said Wink Garza, owner of Wink’s Saloon Grill and Rodeo. Team roping will begin at noon, and children can enjoy the bouncers and other activities.

The music begins at 5 p.m. with a performance by The Mystixz, a Harlingen-based group that will play classic rock of the 1960s and 70s. Texas Reign, a country-western band, will follow, and Mark Chesnutt will perform at 8:30 p.m. Clay Walker will perform at 10:30 p.m.

Garza remembers the last time Chesnutt performed at his place.

"That was Aug. 22, of last year," Garza said. "Man, the turnout was great. We had sold the tickets at $100 a piece inside the club and we had a pretty good turnout."

Chesnutt met Garza last year while playing at Sombrero Fest.

"He took us over to his place there for dinner," Chesnutt remembered. "We hit it off, got to be good friends, enjoyed each other’s company, and I loved his place."

Garza remembers the meeting.

"I volunteered my restaurant to feed him and his band," Garza said. "He invited me on his bus afterwards and we had a couple of drinks and we came up with the idea of coming to play at the place. So that’s how we met."

Chesnutt, a native of Beaumont, draws his influences from such legendary greats as Hank Williams Sr. (and Jr.), George Jones, Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, and Willie Nelson. He’s known for performing a more traditional style of country music.

"I still listen to all that stuff every day," he said. "That’s what I’ve done; that’s where my heart is. I’ve always loved it, and I grew up singin’ in the honky tonks of Southeast Texas. It’s always been a big part of my life. I was real fortunate to be able to come out when I did, when that type of music was in style again. So I stick with it. That’s what everybody expects of me, anyway."

He’s looking forward to playing at Wink’s again.

"Wink has a honky tonk, a unique honky tonk, a beautiful place," he said. "Besides the food being just great, the crowds are always fantastic."

The crowds, he said, are just good all over Texas.

"You just can’t beat Texas," he said. "If it were up to me, I would concentrate mainly on Texas because I live here. Of course, I’m way up on the southeast end of it, but I’ve always loved playing in Texas and, you know, like I said, the people really appreciate live music. It seems they appreciate live music in Texas better than any other state I’ve found."

Garza hopes to make Winkstock a yearly event.

WHAT: Winkstock

WHAT IS IT: An outdoor concert featuring Mark Chestnutt, Clay Walker, the Mystixz, and Texas Reign

WHEN: Oct. 24, 2009

TIME: Team roping begins at noon, music begins at 5 p.m.

WHERE: Wink’s Saloon Grill and Rodeo

10700 FM 1421

Brownsville, Texas

COST: $20 advance tickets

$25 at the door

$400 for VIP tables with eight chairs

TICKETS: Can be purchased online at www.winkssaloon.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 399-9465