There are not too many Oklahoma bands which represent America abroad. But Horseshoe Road has just returned from Thailand, a U.S. Embassy sponsored tour, which did exactly that. It is the second such international tour by Horseshoe Road, featuring Kyle Dillingham and Brad Benge, and Dillingham's 15th overseas trip where he often represented Oklahoma's institutions of Higher Education.

During their previous trip abroad, they traveled to Japan and Thailand as the only recorded International Centennial Event. But the U.S. Embassy was more than impressed, it was amazed. Ken Foster, the Cultural Affairs Officer of the U.S. Embassy of Thailand, said, "Once people hear the music of Horseshoe Road they become instant fans of the duo's home state of Oklahoma and their unique style." Having just completed five concerts in Thailand, Kyle Dillingham and Brad Benge were swamped for autographs and requests for their new CD, "Reel-to-Reel".

"Kyle's fantastic fiddling and Brad's galvanizing guitar kept the Thai audiences riveted and amazed by their innovative instrumentals and song arrangements," Foster said.

"We were treated very well," said Dillingham. "We were sometimes met by a marching band, in full uniform, who followed us everywhere we went."

Benge was impressed with their appreciation of the music. "This was the first time an American band had ever performed in four of the five cities we visited. It was great to see their reaction to our music."

One of the highlights of the trip, which commemorated the 175th anniversary of relations between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Thailand, was a live internet discussion between Dillingham and Benge and Ambassador to Thailand, Eric G. John, on the importance and diversity of music in American culture.