 "Photo: Matt Binter")
When thinking about Country Stampede, what comes to mind? Is it the picking of a guitar and the twang of country music stars as they sing into their microphones, or is it the thousands of country music fans singing along with their favorite stars?
For me, it's all of the above. I'm not one of those people that only go to Stampede to party: I go for the show.
While I was at Stampede this year, I watched Rodney Atkins and Josh Turner. These two had very different performance styles. Atkins was a very energetic performer who used the stage's catwalk to get the crowd involved, while Turner was more reserved and stayed on the main stage in front of his microphone.
Of those two, I think Atkins put on a better show for the venue. I enjoy watching a performer who interacts with the crowd.
For those who have never been to Stampede, the catwalk extends into the VIP seating section about thirty rows deep. People are able to congregate around it and hold up items for performers to sign.
I remember seeing Neal McCoy pick up a beer from an audience member last year and pound it on stage. I didn't witness anything like that this year, but I have no doubt it happened sometime during the weekend.
Stampede attendees respond to whatever the performer does and thus creates an ideal atmosphere to watch a concert.
People dance, sing and do downright crazy things. If you are a die-hard country fan or even just an average listener, you can appreciate the passion these concertgoers have for music.
It's funny to think that some of the most outrageous Stampeders are going to wake up Monday morning, put on a suit, go to work and sit behind a desk.
Country music is everyman's music. Everyone can relate to country, whether the song's about a lost love, a drunken night, or a boy and his dog. Country Stampede brings all kinds of people together for the love of country music.
People at Stampede interact with each other, with their cut-off shirts, sunburns and bikini tops, without knowing anything about each other other than that they love country music.
This is the second year I have been to Country Stampede, and as long as the same caliber of talent continues to come to Manhattan, I will continue to go.
It's awesome that such a large event with great talent is in our small town. These events often seem to be reserved for cities like Austin, Texas, Dallas, Denver, or even Kansas City, Mo. I would guess most of these artists didn't even know where Manhattan was until they arrived here, and I am sure they were surprised to find so many passionate country music fans gathered in one place.
This event puts Manhattan on the country music map. People continue to come back year after year to hear the music and see the show these entertainers put on.
Country Stampede is a vacation for country music fans everywhere. It's a place for these people to let loose and be who they really are at heart.
Paul Kauffman is a senior in business management. Please send comments to edge@spub.ksu.edu.
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