Country Stampede Recap: Lots of Skin, Lots of Sun, Lots of Live Music

Have you ever been?

I had not. 

The Country Stampede Music & Camping Festival is held just outside of Manhattan, Kansas at Tuttle Creek Reservoir, in a huge grassy area, sort of like a big pasture. Trees are scarce. Shade is in short supply. Sunshine is plentiful. Clothing is negligible. It is sort of like a big ol’ beach party, without the beach, and with cowboy boots in place of beach sandals. Actually, there were a lot of flip flops. But you know, as the day wore on, and muddy spots got trampled, and grassy areas were worn bare, and the daylight in the porta-potties grew dim, it was kind of nice to have on a pair of boots.  It reckoned me back to my cowgirl days, just a bit.

The NSAI tent was at the opposite end of the Stampede grounds from the Main Stage. Thankfully, it was a tent – so we were in the shade. We spent our time playing our songs, or talking up NSAI to interested people, or just sitting there drinking water, staring into space in a semi-trance, due to the heat. I know that at some point, I ate an order of nachos and an order of deep fried pickles with a side of ranch dressing.  The words “what was I thinking??”  do not even begin to express how that worked out for me.

The best part of the day was getting to say hello and reconnect with old friends who stopped by. It definitely made the heat bearable.

During our last set, the remains of the day were weighing on the Stampeders. I learned later that someone jumped on our stage and mooned the crowed but I missed it. Probably because I was being distracted by the guy in our audience who kept pointing to his shorts and yelling what sounded like, “California!, California!” I don’t really know. But I smiled and kind of nodded. Gave him the ol’ thumbs up.

As strains of Toby Keith’s voice singing “I wanna talk about me…” wafted over the Stampede grounds and into the night, we packed up our things and headed East. Back to the city.

Stampeders

Apalling and yet fascinating

fun couple



more Stampeders

next to our tent

A batallion of porta-potties behind our tent

whether you want to see it or not

standard issue bikini and daisy dukes



Country Stampede, Here I Come!

There are 4 of us......

Jim Thomas, Gerry Monks, Rich O’Brien and I will represent the Kansas City chapter of NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International) at the 17^th Annual Country Stampede in Manhattan, Kansas. The Country Stampede is a four-day country music and camping festival held at the end of June. It boasts headliners like Toby Keith, The Band Perry, and Zac Brown Band. Last year’s Stampede had a total attendance of 160,000.

We’re gonna mingle with the countrified masses and we’ll be playing our songs in the NSAI tent at various times throughout the day –  when the major acts are not on stage. You can get the schedule here: http://www.countrystampede.com/Lineup/family_stage.shtml

I’m amazed at how many people have never heard of the Country Stampede. I guess I shouldn’t be – this is KC and I suppose the Country Music faction is smaller here – to the point of almost being non-existent. Back where I come from, everyone knows and almost everyone goes at one time or another. It is for some a rite of passage of sorts.

I must confess I have never been – the stories I heard of people passing out on the ground, peeing in public, and the lobster sunburns on the faces of those who did attend  – that was enough to make me think it just wasn’t worth it. But I was already securely ensconced in adulthood when the first Country Stampede was held. So the thought of 4 days of intense sunshine, humidity, beer, drunks, and being smelly and sweaty just couldn’t sell me, no matter how big the music acts were.

And now, I'm going - not as a reveller, but as a performing songwriter. It’s going to be a great way to get my music out there. Stay tuned…I hope to take pictures.