Uncle Si and the Sicotics to perform at Fayette County Fair
Submitted
Above, Uncle Si & The Sicotics (Bridgette Tatum (left) and Marsha Robertson) will perform at the Fayette County Fair this year.
Above, Uncle Si & The Sicotics (Bridgette Tatum (left) and Marsha Robertson) will perform at the Fayette County Fair this year.
Rachel Basinger
Above, Uncle Si & The Sicotics (Bridgette Tatum (left) and Marsha Robertson) will perform at the Fayette County Fair this year.
The popular television series, “Duck Dynasty” may no longer be on television, but local residents will have a chance to get their fill of Uncle Si when his band “Uncle Si and the Sicotics” makes its way to the Fayette County Fair.
The band is made up of Robertson, his daughter-in-law Marsha Robertson and musician Bridgette Tatum, who wrote Jason Aldean’s hit, “She’s Country.”
Marsha Robertson said it was God and his “wonderful sense of humor” who brought the band together.
“Si and I were playing a charity event in Nashville two years ago, and the lady running the show asked Bridgette (Tatum) if she would be able to join the show, but she already had a plane ticket and plans to head to South Carolina to visit family.
That lady was persistent, however, and several attempts later, Tatum agreed to join the show. The Robertsons and Tatum got along great and when Tatum heard about their plans to go out on the road with their show, she said she would like to hang out with them at one of their venues if it ever worked out.
“And then I said, you know what would be fun — if you played with us,” Si Robertson said.
And today, two years later, their shows that they’ve performed include their own songs, which they’ve co-written, and a lot of crazy fun.
“If you mix Jerry Reed, Roger Miller, Ray Stevens and a rapper, and then add in some George Jones and Merle Haggard and throw it all in a big cauldron and then mix it real good, that’s our show,” Si Robertson said.
Tatum agreed, but added that a straight jacket and some rubber chickens complete the show.
“Marsha and Bridgette really never know what to expect when we go on stage,” Si Robertson said. “It just depends on what kind of mood I’m in when I show up. That determines what’s going to happen on stage. I’m very good at improv.”
At 70 years old, Si Robertson said he’d much rather be doing this than kicking back and relaxing in the usual retirement years.
“Phil’s (Robertson) oldest son Al (Robertson) told me I inspired him,” Si Robertson said. “He said, ‘you just turned 70, and you’re starting a new career — that’s impressive! You should pick up your Social Security check, go home and sit in your rocking chair.”
“But I don’t want to retire,” Si Robertson said. “I’m going to go out on the road and make music and have fun doing it. A lot of people think I’m crazy for what I’m doing, but I’m having the time of my life. I’m surrounded by beautiful women, and we’re having fun singing.”
Tatum said this is really their first full season into touring, and they will do 20 to 25 shows heading into the fall.
“We’ll take a break over the holidays and then kick up again,” she said.
Marsha Robertson said the best thing about touring is meeting all of their fans and interacting with them, but that comes at the price of leaving her family behind.
“The hardest part for me is having to leave and them not being able to attend the shows because it’s so far away and most of the time they have school.”
Tatum is known for leaving it all out on the stage, so she said, with a laugh, that going back to her room is one of the best parts, after exhaustion sets in from putting her all into each performance.
Si Robertson said touring is not an easy task.
“This is one of the most challenging and best things I’ve ever done,” he said. “With Duck Dynasty, I didn’t have to do anything but show up and be myself. With the band, I’ve actually got to work.
“I spend four days a week with a voice coach, singing, practicing timing and all this other stuff, and trying to learn how to play a guitar. So, I’m actually really working my tail off,” Si Robertson said.
He added that the company makes it worth it.
“I done adopted Miss Bridgette Tatum — she won’t admit to it, and she aint surrendered to it yet, and Marsha married my son, so she’s already part of my family,” Si Robertson said. “That’s really the best part of it — doing something you really love and doing it with someone who loves it also.”
Tatum noted with a laugh that Si Robertson does not have any adoption papers on her yet.
The trio will take to the Lady Luck Stage at 7 p.m. Aug. 4, along with special guest Jon Langston who recently released his music video for “When It Comes to Loving You.”