For the third year in a row, Atlantic Canadians are flocking to beautiful Cavendish PEI to experience the biggest country music party of the summer.
The Cavendish Beach Music Festival opened their gates yesterday to an eager crowd which saw an endless sea of cowboy hats and boots, a custom for country fans.
As I arrived, Deric Ruttan was just hitting the stage to much screaming applause. The thing to remember about these country shows is that everybody loves everybody, theres no such thing as a b-list opening act. Ruttan played through his hits, and even included a cover of Steve Miller Band’s “Rock n’ Me” in his set.
As soon as Deric Ruttan left the stage, more fans began to enter as the wait began for Doc Walker to once again hit the PEI stage.
By 7:40, Doc Walker hit the stage performing to an even larger crowd, performing his array of hits and fresh new material. Many fans cheered their love for him, to which he acknowledged.
Finally, as all the green space filled in, screaming fans, whether sitting or standing, are waiting for 9pm on the dot. Immediately, Trace Adkins hit the stage for the loudest crowd of the night.
Adkins performed many hits, as well as new material. Fans as well as myself enjoyed tunes such as “Whoop a Man’s Ass”, “Marry For Money”, “Brown Chicken, Brown Cow”, “Just Fishin'”, “One in a Million”, and “Dirty White Boy”.
It should be said that the performance of “Ladies Love Country Boys” really stuck out as one of the biggest crowd pleasers of the night.
If you weren’t there, you missed an amazing kickoff to the 2011 Cavendish Beach Music Festival. Not to worry, there is much more where that came from, Johnny Reid hits the stage tonight, Brad Paisley on Saturday, and Toby Keith closes out on Sunday.
Tickets are available in adult and children prices at the gate all weekend.
See you there!