Major entertainment events, some with a decided West Tennessee flavor, headline the 10th Annual Tennessee Soybean Festival, Sept. 2-7. The festival is sponsored in part by the city of Martin and UTM.

• Chris Cagle, whose self-titled sophomore album debuted this spring at #1 on Billboard’s Country Album Chart, will headline a jam-packed country show set for 8 p.m., Sept. 3, at Skyhawk Arena on the UT Martin campus.

Appearing with Cagle are Craig Morgan and Steven Whitson. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $20 for reserved seating. They can be purchased at the Boling University Center Information Desk; Five Seasons Men’s Shop in Union City; The Leader Store in Fulton, Ky.; Davis-Kidd Booksellers in Jackson; McElhiney’s in McKenzie; or by calling 731-587-7757. Credit cards will be accepted, and proceeds will benefit the Martin Recreational Complex Soccer Pavilion.

Cagle, known as a blue-collar, working class country singer, witnessed his first album Play It Loud turn gold and watched as each successive single met with great success: “My Love Goes On and On” landing in the Top 15, “Laredo” cracking the Top 5 and “I Breathe In, I Breathe Out” topping the country singles charts. The lead single “What A Beautiful Day” from his new album Chris Cagle has already reached the Top 10.

Morgan, who was recently featured in Country Weekly magazine, also has two albums under his belt. His critically praised, self-titled debut album earned chart success with “Something to Write Home About” and “Paradise.” The former Army paratrooper has performed at the Grand Ole Opry, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at last year’s Toyota Gator Bowl and has performed for the USO. His second album I Love It debuted at #12 on the Billboard Country Albums chart, and his first single “Almost Home” reached the Top 5.

Also set to appear is Steven Whitson, winner of the first West Tennessee Idol competition. The contest, sponsored by WYN-106.9 of Jackson, Tenn., was held earlier this year. The Trimble native defeated more than 200 other entertainers and was the only contestant to win a standing ovation in the final round of competition at the Old Hickory Mall in Jackson. As competition winner, Whitson opened for the Rascal Flatts and Gary Allan concert in Jackson’s Oman Arena.

The concert is being sponsored by the Martin Rotary Club and the UTM Student Activities Council.

• A free Beatles act concert is set for 8 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 4, and is sponsored by UTM.

The group, 1964 The Tribute, has been hailed by critics and fans alike as the most authentic and endearing Beatles tribute in the world. The Tribute will take listeners on a musical journey to an era in rock history that will live in all hearts forever.

The Tribute has been featured on such nationally televised programs as “Entertainment Tonight,” “PM Magazine,” CNN, The USA Network, and The Nashville Network. They have toured throughout the world performing at major concert venues, as well as fairs, festivals, colleges, corporate events and conventions. They were voted “Best Major Concert Act” and “Best Contemporary Act” by the readers of Campus Activities Today Magazine. The Tribute was also voted “Contemporary Music Artists of the Year” by the National Association for Campus Activities and “Campus Entertainers of the Year” by the Canadian Association for Campus Activities. Masters of their crafts, The Tribute spent years researching the Fab Four: from the Beatles’ boots, vintage outfits and Vox amplifiers to the mannerisms, spoken voice and unmistakable harmonies, they have captured the thrill of seeing the Beatles live in concert to musical and visual perfection.

• The Soul Shockers take the stage in downtown Martin at 9:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 5.

The name says it all - The Soul Shockers will shock your soul and have you dancing. The group, which hails from Memphis, consists of Jerry Braxton Askew, lead vocalist; Allen Averyhart on saxophone and vocals; Jeffrey Rogers on drums and vocals; Mitchell Stokes on lead guitar and vocals; and Keith Hamilton on bass.

The band showcases Wilson Pickett, Tyrone Davis and Jackie Wilson standards, as well as music by Nelly and other hip-hop artists and are applauded for their high energy and impressive performance of the songs they play to perfection. The eclectic song list, which spans several decades, includes everything from Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” and Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” to Usher’s “U Make Me Wanna” and Ricky Martin’s “Livin’ La Vida Loca”.

• The Animal Band will play three performances: 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 5; and 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 6. The concert is sponsored by the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Union City.

The Animal Band has an 11-year track record of providing exciting family entertainment for festivals throughout North America. The band’s stage is packed with fun props and the group is renowned for their fast paced audience participation. Kids will sing, laugh and dance while adults remember what it was like to be a kid when The Animal Band takes the stage.

• Country music stars Jessica Andrews and Marcel will perform a free concert at 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6, at the main entertainment stage in downtown Martin on Lindell Street. The concert is sponsored by First Citizens National Bank.

Andrews, considered one of country music’s brightest stars, saw her debut album Who I Am enter the Billboard 200 at No. 22 on the Billboard 200, certified gold a month after its release and scored her first No.1 single with “Who I Am.” Since then, the big-voiced Huntingdon, Tenn., native has won the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Female Vocalist and shared the stage with the likes of Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and Trisha Yearwood. Her new album Now features the infectiously assertive single, “There’s More to Me Than You,” and the playful, upbeat “Good Time.”

Opening for Andrews will be boyfriend Marcel, whose debut record You, Me, and the Windshield was released earlier this year. The former Memphis hockey player was featured in ads and television programs before hitting it big on the music scene with his first single “Country Rock Star” in 2002. His current single, “Tennessee,” is starting to gain momentum on the radio while being a video on Country Music Television and Great American Country TV stations. Marcel and Andrews teamed up for the break-up ballad “I Won’t Hold You Down” off his album.

Concert goers are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs for all concerts in the downtown area.

Complete festival information is available on the Web at http://www.tnsoybeanfestival.org.