“How often do you get to have a concert in your back yard,” Austin Graves asks people in south central Kansas and northwest Oklahoma.

Graves is one of the organizers of the Second Annual Southwest Country Fest. The two-day event is Friday and Saturday, Aug. 18–19 at the Barber County Fairgrounds in Hardtner, Kansas.

“Our headliner, Joe Diffee, is the biggest country artist since Martina McBride to come here,” Graves said.

Diffee is a multi-platinum-selling artist and his 2010 bluegrass album “Homecoming” was critically acclaimed. In his upcoming acoustic tour, “Country Unplugged,” Diffee will appear with hit makers Mark Chesnutt and Lorrie Morgan.

His website tells that Diffee's video for his most recent single “Girl Ridin’ Shotgun” features cameo appearances from such superstars as Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Toby Keith, Lee Brice, Tim McGraw and Keith Urban. The video has reportedly amassed well over seven million views on Youtube.

The big event Friday is Battle of the Bands. Graves said organizers had area bands send in audition tapes and they selected six for the Battle of the Bands. Those bands are from throughout the area to Oklahoma City and western Oklahoma.

On Friday the gates to the fairgrounds open at 5 p.m., and Battle of the Bands begins at 6 p.m. The winner has the honor of opening the festival on Saturday. The winner also gets a free three-song recording contract from Castle Row Studios in Oklahoma City.

Other artists performing at the Southwest Country Fest Saturday are Stoney LaRue, Shane Smith and the Saints, Bri Bagwell; and the Adam Capps Band.

Saturday, concert gates open at 3 p.m., with music starting at 4 p.m.

Graves said VIP tickets are available as are general admission tickets. Check out details at ExtremeTix.com. Also check out their Southwest Country Fest FaceBook page.

Besides Graves and his wife Summer, Kyle and Lacie Jacobs and Jim Jacobs are the organizers of Southwest Country Fest.

They invite everyone to come out for great music and good food from vendors serving pizza, burgers, home cooking and Mexican.

“We're offering family fun,” Graves said.