History/Awards
In 2004, Allie Billings and Katie Townsend (a long time friend) began jamming and learning together. They jammed, performed, and worked together side-by-side at gigs so much that they decided to call themselves the Texas Twin Fiddlers. After the name didn't take off, they changed it to the Bonnie Blue Belles and catered to the Southern crowd.
Later that year, when the Belles had been together for a few months, they competed in the 2004 Lemon's Barbecue Talent Show. On round 1, they placed 1st, and in the final round, 3rd over all.
In 2006, the Belles, still playing together, were awarded the Stone Mountain Music Award for best recreation of old Southern music by the SCV. They received a small trophy.
The same year, they were invited to play at "Frontier Days" in Breckenridge, Texas. They were also invited to play for the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin, Texas. They played at the Billy the Kid Day & Classic Car Show in Hico, Texas and at the 26th Annual Comanche County Powwow in Comanche, Texas.
Funnily enough, when they were on a road trip in 2006, they were asked to perform while eating at a small cafe in Mississippi. While there, they played at many odd and random places, such as Denny's and on the boat across the Mississippi River.
Somewhere along their musical journey, the Belles changed their name yet again to Crossbows Music.*
Alaska State Fair Fiddle Contest
1st (Champion) overall
AWARDS:
Stone Mountain Music Award (2006) Presented by the Sons of Confederate Veterans to Crossbows Music at the 2006 SCV Christmas Dinner
Up & Coming Artist of the Year Nominee to Allie Billings from Southern Heritage Music Awards (2007)
Allie and Katie Townsend were nominated for the New Album of the Year (2007)
Alaska State Fair Fiddle Overall Grand Champion to Allie Billings (2008)
ALLIE'S RANDOM ACHIEVEMENTS:
1 Chair 2nd Violin, Sinfonia (UAA) (2009)
1 Chair 2nd Violin, Sinfonia (University of Alaska Anchorage chamber orchestra) (2008)
2nd Chair 2nd Violin, Sinfonia (UAA chamber orchestra) (2008)
Concertmaster, Tarleton State Strings (TSU [Stephenville, Texas] community orchestra) (2007)
1st Chair 2nd Violin, Tarleton State Strings (2007)
SCHOLARSHIPS:
Randy Elmore Fiddle Camp full scholarship (2006)
*CROSSBOWS MUSIC IS NO LONGER ACTIVE
Previous Performances
Sons of Confederate Veterans State Convention, Mesquite, TX (2005)
Southern Heritage Ball, (during intermission) Monroe, LA (2004)
Covenant Cotillion Ball in Weatherford, TX (only Allie) (2006)
Battlefield Inn in Vicksburg, Mississippi. (2005)
Dairy Queen, Brownwood, TX. (2006)
Hico City Park, Hico, TX. (2004-2006)
Main St., Hico, TX. (2005)
Sons of Confederate Veterans Southern Christmas Party, Blue Moon Cafe in De Leon, TX. (2005)
Mesquite Championship Rodeo, Mesquite, TX (2005)
Liberty Festival, Kerville, TX (2004)
Constitution Party Convention, Liberty Hill, TX (2005)
State Constitution Party Meeting, Washington on the Brazos, Tx (2006)
Pearl Jam Session, Pearl, Tx (2006)
Leauge of the South Meeting, Austin, Tx (2004)
Dulcimer Festival - Stage/Jamming, Glen Rose, TX (2005)
