By Emily Williams
The Local Yokel Show aired Saturday night on Country 100.5, celebrating the 12th anniversary of the weekly radio program that broadcasts–almost exclusively–local talent.

The show was hosted by founder Ricky Swindle and Johnny Pace who used the WBLE studio for a jam session from 6-8 p.m. The laid back anniversary show aired at night instead of its regular morning time slot.
Co-host was Swindle’s granddaughter Rylan Claire Hughes.

The program was a mixture of storytelling and jokes along with musicians coming in without a set schedule.
Rylan Claire stole the show singing The Judds’ “Grandpa Tell me Bout the Good Ole Days.”
Rylan’s voice and family bond in the room had everyone tearing up.

“Folks! That’s my first born grandchild! That’s my baby! Got me tearin’ up! I ain’t supposed to be over here squalling,” said Swindle as they called more musicians in the room to clear everyone’s eyes.

Pace changed the tone by singing an Elvis song.

The show started with The McGregorys: Delisa McGregory Brown with dad, Steve, on guitar and brother, Danny, on keyboards and Delisa on vocals singing Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”

Harvey Byers covered the Vince Gil song “Bread and Water is Free”

Jason Adams and McGregory performed “You say it best when you say nothing at all.”

Kayla Brower Sergent sang “Coat of Many Colors.” Mark Hendren made his first appearance with, “Lazy Bones.”

Mike Swindle, brother and business partner of the show’s founder, sang “That’s the Way Love Goes”
Ricky Harpole made an appearance singing an original ballad, “No Political Affiliations”

Swindle sang a song he wrote in the ‘90s: “Cold Sober.”

Tony Boyd and Jason Evans performed “Good ole Charlie’s Got the Blues,” then gave a shout out to the late Robert Earl Reed with “Boone County” written by Reed.

“If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t be here. He introduced me to Jason,” Boyd said.

Jim Ellis, his daughter, Molly Ellis and Andrew Hancock performed “Morning Train” in a raw southern blues rock style, with Hancock on keyboard, Jim on guitar and all three on vocals.

Molly sang a beautiful version of  hymn “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior.”

Molly’s used to having her sister, Kate, singing along, but Kate was home sick and could not make it to the show.

Ricky’s brother, Mike came back to sing another song after texts came in requesting Merle Haggard’s “Today I Started Loving You Again.”

Johnny Pace sang a Bruno Mars song, “When I was Your Man.”

The anniversary show was wrapped up with “This Train is Bound for Glory,” with Swindle on vocals, Steve McGregory and Pace on guitar and Danny McGregory on keyboards and Jason Adams singing, “A Night to Remember.”