Haydon Wiginton has been a household name associated with Spring Ho in recent years. Now, the Texas Tech alum is set to be back again this year to play his music for the crowd.
Wiginton is a name most longtime Lampasans recognize, as both his father Lee Wiginton and his grandfather Ken Wiginton had connections to Badger football, and Ken Wiginton was inducted into the Badger Football Hall of Fame a few years ago.
Haydon played for his dad at Midlothian Heritage before Lee Wiginton became the head coach at Allen High School where he still is today.
Football runs through the veins of that family. Haydon walked on to the Texas Tech football team and just finished his final season as a Red Raider where the team earned a Big 12 championship and a trip to the College Football Playoff.
“I’ve been telling people that even if I do play the Houston Rodeo, I don’t know if it will be as cool as winning the Big 12 championship,” Wiginton said. “I came in as a walkon and everything I had to grind for -- and there were some good memories -- but everything was clawing and scratching to get on the field. In my senior year I played in all 14 games … it’s cool doing something that’s bigger than yourself with your buddies.”
Wiginton was a receiver and special teams player for the Red Raiders.
He said he was writing and playing music while at Texas Tech and playing football, but there really wasn’t any “balancing” to it. He was consumed with football.
“It was pretty much 95% football and 5% music,” the Spring Ho performer said. “… I would just go home at night after practice and meetings and write songs and post them to social media. I was trying to wait until after football to dive all the way into music.”
Now that time has come, and he is diving headfirst into his music career.
Wiginton outlined five goals he wants to accomplish that he keeps as a screensaver on his cell phone. He wants to have a platinum song, sell out Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth, play the Houston Rodeo, play the Grand Ole Opry and play Red Rocks.
He would like to accomplish those goals in the next five years, but Wiginton said if it takes longer than five years that won’t phase him at all. He wants to focus on accomplishing his goals no matter how long it takes, adding that a similar mindset is what took him from a walk-on to becoming an everyday player at Texas Tech. He knows that attitude will help him succeed in music.
“This is month five for me doing music full time … putting projects together so that when I release it I’m able to ride the momentum from that release,” Wiginton said. “I’ve been on tour with Aaron Watson and up through the Midwest, playing shows throughout Texas. I’ve probably played 15 or so shows since football season ended.”
He explained the difference in mindset between being a part of a football team and now doing music, where he is much more on his own.
“It’s a huge adjustment for sure, and the way I’ve had to think of it is it’s not a solo deal … I’m like the head coach of the operation,” Wiginton said. “I have people to take care of, I have a team and a whole lot of people in my corner.”
When talking about Lampasas, Wiginton brought up some memories from his time here as a child.
“I would spend weeks out of the year there going to the golf course with my grandpa,” he said. “He was a marshal there and hanging out at their house and taking trips to the Walmart and eating at Country Kitchen … fishing at Sulphur Creek.
So Lampasas was a special place to me.”
When asked to describe his music for those who may not have heard him play, Wiginton said: “It’s just real music. I’m not really into writing what you think is a hit … I write what I know about, and that’s Texas country.
“I think it’s authentic, I think it’s honest,” Wiginton said. “My biggest influence is Parker McCollum. Love Randy Rogers and Koe Wetzel. Those are kind of my big three.”
Those who want to listen to Wiginton’s music before he comes to play in Lampasas can do so at Spotify, Apple Music or any other format.
He added that Saturday night concert-goers can expect to hear two new songs that have not been released yet. “Left on the Moon” and “Turquoise Rings” are two singles to keep an eye out for.
Without a doubt, Wiginton is excited to be back in Lampasas again, and he said as long as he keeps getting invited, he will make the trip every time.
“Super fired up, and I’ve done it the past two years and am really excited they asked me back again,” he said. “I’m fired up to play with Kolby Cooper.”
Wiginton will open for Cooper at around 8:30 p.m. Saturday night for the street dance, and Cooper will play after him, scheduled around 10:30 p.m.
‘I’m not really into writing what you think is a hit … I write what I know about, and that’s Texas country. I think it’s authentic,
I think it’s honest.”
Singer/songwriter Haydon Wiginton
