The 90th edition of the South Mississippi Fair kicks off Friday at the fairgrounds and, as always, there will be plenty of options for music fans during the nine-day event.

The artists represent a multitude of genres from Contemporary Christian to country to R&B.; There will be familiar faces such as local group CenterTree to newcomers on the scene like TelluRide, a Nashville quartet by way of Washington State.

CenterTree, a Laurel-based Christian band that formed in 2004, is celebrating the debut of its first CD on the Psalm 40 label, entitled “Eagles’ Wings,” which is in stores today. Locally, it will be available at the Baptist Book Store.

“Last year was when things really took off for us,” said Kevin Price, a Waynesboro native and lead singer for CenterTree. “We’ve been working with David Huff out of Atlanta the past few months. Most of the songs we written by us. There are eight originals and two covers.”

Price noted that “Eagles’ Wings,” the CD’s first single is currently being released to Christian radio stations. “We’ve had a good response from it,” he said.

CenterTree, which made its South Mississippi Fair debut last year, also includes Adrienne Whatley, vocals/keyboards; Ben Barr, guitars; Gregg Bailey, vocals/bass guitar; and Chris Whatley, drums.

Price said the group’s fair performance, scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, will be like a church service.

“We want to make it like a church night,” he said. “We’re inviting all of the youth groups and churches to come out that night and enjoy the worship. Then, they can go enjoy the rides and all that stuff afterwards.”

Although three of TelluRide’s four members are from Washington State, the Southern roots are present in their debut album, entitled “Four Square Miles.”

Drummer Brian Smith said TelluRide, named after a Tim McGraw song, has garnered large crowds wherever they have played.

“It’s funny,” he said. ‘What we love about country music is that no matter what state you’re in, even New York City or Jersey, they’re everywhere. Anybody who loves good songs with good lyrics is a country music fan.”

Smith said Laurel is one of many stops on a 38-state tour the group commenced in April.

“People have been coming out to jam out to country music,” he said. “It’s just a cool thing. Our first album was released this winter, and we’re promoting our second single, ‘Stay.’ It’s been a crazy ride this year for us.”

Lead singer Adam Craig, who also plays rhythm guitar, said the members of TelluRide — which also includes his cousin/keyboard player Ryan Jones and South Carolina-native bassist Jimi Hendrix — all contributed to the creative process on the album.

“It was a really unique and exciting process,” Craig said. “Every song on the album but three were written in-house by the group.”

Craig said “Pencil Marks,” a song he co-wrote with Dillon Dixon and Michael Howard, was an idea he had from youth. The song charts Craig’s growth from a young child growing up into adulthood, with pencil marks on the wall measuring his height. The video, directed by Ricky Schroeder, is available on YouTube.com.

“My parents growing up, who today still live in the same house in a very small town that still doesn’t have a stoplight... It was a very normal thing for the whole family to have all these pencil lines and marks on the wall that separated the kitchen from the living room,” he said. “When I moved to Tennessee, I didn’t think it was that widespread as a general concept. It was funny when I met the two other songwriters, we hit it off right off the bat. We all thought it was a good idea for a song.”

Craig said TelluRide enjoys putting on an upbeat show, but has lately added a “kumbaya moment” to their performances.

“We like to go all out, go hard or go home,” he said. “But, one of our biggest themes lately has been the campfire. Brian comes out on a whiskey box (a chaon), we grab our acoustics and all have a kumbaya moment right in the middle of the stage.

“We try to get the fans involved somehow by singing Happy Birthday to the youngest person or oldest person at the show,” Craig added. “We want to help them escape reality for the 60 to 90 minutes we’re playing, just let them relax and have fun.”

Formed only three years ago, TelluRide has already had a wealth of experience, sharing the stage with chart-toppers like LeAnn Rimes and Little Big Town and rock legends Foreigner and REO Speedwagon.

“One of the biggest moments for us was we got a call from the Wild Horse Saloon in Nashville,” Craig said. “The first big opener for us there was a little group called CCR (Creedence Clearwater Revival). They’re such a classic band to be able to share the same stage with those guys and be backstage with them.

“We get so excited to do what we do for a living,” Craig added. “To share the stage with people like that that we listened to on the radio, those are some pretty cool moments.”

In addition to those previously mentioned, performers include Natalie Stovall, Lindsey Lee, Compozitionz, Mustang Sally, Due West and Rick Huckaby (see sidebar for dates and times).

Gates will open at 4 p.m. Friday with admission $5. Free parking is offered at the South Mississippi Fairgrounds, located near Exit 93 off I-59.

For more on the annual event, see Thursday’s edition of the Laurel Leader-Call or visit www.themagnoliacenter.com.