Country music stomps into town

Related story: Country music drought is over

Sights and sounds: Country Barnstormin' multi-media gallery

By ALYSA PHILLIPS, Gazette Intern

Monday, July 10, 2000 --  (NORTHAMPTON) - Thousands of boot-clad feet kept time with local and nationally-acclaimed country stars at the area's first Country Barnstormin' Concert at the Northampton Airport Saturday.

Concert promoter Tony Long estimated 7,500 country fans from all over the east coast attended the event, which featured Nashville stars Rhett Akins, The Wilkinsons, Lee Roy Parnell, and Toby Keith on his 39th birthday.

"We've got people that flew in from South Carolina and Canada to buy their tickets," Long said.

Although most fans admitted they were there to hear Toby Keith sing "How do you like me now," dedicated country enthusiasts spread blankets on the grass and clapped, stomped and swayed all afternoon to local talent including Flaps Down, The Lonesome Brothers, The Don Campbell Band and Cottonwood.

During the nearly 11-hour concert, listeners enjoyed a variety of country sounds from blues to twang to a hip-hop beat that had everyone on their feet.

Redneck jokes and lots of beer added the finishing touches to the country concert.

Organizers called the concert a success and said they would likely plan for another one next year.

From conversations during the day it was clear that country fans are loyal to their music and to each other.

"The people I've met through country music, and the stars ... Everyone is like family," said Michelle Prendergast, from Easthampton, who arrived at the concert early enough to stake out a spot front and center.

Debbie Scott, from Ashfield, agreed, "The only two kinds of music we listen to are country and western," she said.

Scott's only complaint is that there are not many local country concerts to choose from.

Country concerts are rare in the area only because Nashville talent is so expensive, not because there is lack of interest, said Glenn Cardinal, co-owner of the country music station WPVQ, which helped sponsor the concert.

"Country music is as mainstream as rock 'n' roll, blues, jazz and classical. It's about time country came to Northampton," Cardinal said.