Confederate Railroad Booking at Winneshiek County Fair Sparks Local Backlash

Without local news, all we have are rumors. Keep facts alive — give now. DECORAH — The Winneshiek County Fairgrounds announced Monday that the country band Confederate Railroad will perform at this year's Winneshiek County Fair in July, prompting backlash on social media and criticism from local advocacy groups. The announcement was made March 30 in a social media post and an update to the fairgrounds' website. Confederate Railroad is listed alongside headliner Travis Denning and artist Kayley Green as part of the fair's entertainment lineup. Confederate Railroad is a Southern country-rock band founded in 1987 and based in Marietta, Georgia. The group rose to prominence in the early 1990s with its self-titled debut album, which produced top-five country hits including "Jesus and Mama" and "Queen of Memphis." Their song "Trashy Women," recorded with Waylon Jennings, earned a Grammy Award nomination. Though their radio presence declined after the 1990s, the group has remained active as a touring act, often performing at fairs and festivals. Shortly after Monday's announcement, criticism emerged online, with some community members raising concerns about the band's name and imagery, including the use of the Confederate flag. In a statement released following the announcement, the advocacy group Iowa 50501 called for the band's removal from the event. "The 50501 Iowa Coalition stands firm in its belief that all people, of every race, are equal," the statement said. "Confederate Railroad has faced scrutiny in the past by other county fairs and organizations for its use of the Confederate flag as its logo and in its name." The band's name and logo draw on Civil War imagery, including a locomotive adorned with Confederate flags. Critics have argued the imagery is racially divisive. However, lead singer Danny Shirley has publicly defended the band's name and imagery, saying it reflects Southern heritage rather than an endorsement of racism. Shirley, who was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and has led Confederate Railroad since its formation in 1987, said the group has no plans to change its name despite past event cancellations tied to the controversy. He and the band have cited fan support and their long history in country music in defending their branding. "All these people who have stood up for us … and especially now, with us being under fire … there's no way I'd ever change the name of the band," he said. "That'd just be a kick in the gut to anyone who ever bought a record by us." The band's self‑titled debut album went double‑platinum, and it won the Academy of Country Music's Best New Group award in 1993. Image used for Confederate Railroad's self-titled album, released April 28, 1992. The image includes a locomotive adorned with two confederate flags. Past cancellations Controversy over the band has led to cancellations in the past. In 2019, the Ulster County Fair in New York canceled a scheduled performance, saying that showcasing symbols of division and racism conflicted with its family-friendly values. That same year, officials in Illinois removed the band from the Du Quoin State Fair lineup, citing concerns about using state resources to promote imagery associated with racism. Supporters of those decisions have argued that allowing the band to perform at public events can be seen as endorsing a "symbol of treason against the United States," while others, including members of the band, have defended the name and criticized such cancellations, emphasizing that the issue is tied to the name and imagery alone, rather than the band's music or intentions. Shirley has previously said he will not apologize for being proud of his Southern background and has expressed disappointment when shows were canceled over the controversy. "We were taught that flag means you like the part of the country you come from. And like I've said in other statements, I will not apologize for liking the South." he stated. Local reactions Iowa 50501 said allowing the band to perform at the Winneshiek County Fair would send the wrong message for an event promoted as family-friendly. "Allowing Confederate Railroad to play at the Winneshiek County fair asserts that the glorification of the confederacy, and therefore slavery, is acceptable," the statement said. "This event has been marketed as a 'great family and community event.' It should not be, and is not, acceptable to pay homage to some of the greatest atrocities in our country's history and tell folks to bring their children, our future generations, to it." The group urged fair organizers to reconsider the booking. "We demand that Confederate Railroad be removed from the programming at the Winneshiek County fair," the statement said. "It would be a detriment to this community to allow them to perform. We feel the future of this community is more important than revenue and implore the Fair Board to do what's right." A second local advocacy group, Decorah Community for Immigrant Rights (DCIR), also issued a statement condemning the booking. "Decorah Community for Immigrant Rights (DCIR) is deeply disappointed and disgusted by the choice to book Confederate Railroad for the Winneshiek County Fair," the group said. "Our County Fair should be a place where every member of this community feels welcome and this choice ensures that is not possible for many community members." The group said Confederate imagery carries lasting harm. "Confederate symbolism is inseparable from a legacy of racism, slavery, and the institutionalized brutalization of Black Americans," the statement said. "It is also inseparable from a broader history of white supremacy that continues to threaten immigrant communities and communities of color today." DCIR also pointed to prior controversies involving the band and questioned the use of public funds tied to the fair. "Since 2019, county fairs across the country have dropped this band for exactly this reason," the group said. "And with county supervisors having just increased public funding of the fair by 25%, we believe the community deserves to know what those dollars are being used to promote." The organization also called for the band to be removed from the lineup. "We ask that Confederate Railroad be removed from the July 18 lineup, and that the Winneshiek County Agricultural Association make future decisions with genuine respect for every member of this community," the statement said. As of publication, the Winneshiek County Fair Board has not responded to requests for comment regarding the criticism or whether it plans to make any changes to the lineup. The Winneshiek County Fair, held annually in Decorah, is promoted as a community event featuring entertainment, exhibits and activities for families. Get the inside scoop! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and receive local news, expert analysis, and stories that matter most—straight to your inbox.