Spotlight On The 2011 Craven Country
Jamboree Story & Photos By Glen R.
Forrester
The 2011 Craven
Country Jamboree was held July 14-17, 2011.
Intense rains flooded the grounds this year making it look like
the event would not happen, but by moving the campsite to a hill and
leaving the stage and grandstands at the original site it became a
reality.
On Thursday night in the beer gardens, the festival fired up with
Sawyer Brown, a good start up band for the festival. Williams and
Ree, the weekend hosts, opened the festival on Friday and introduced
Sarah Beth Keeley, a Calgary home artist. Neal McCoy, a guy that
worked for Charlie Pride for years, thought he could go on his own
and he was right. Neal puts on a show that you will never forget! He
had the crowd standing and singing with him, what a show! John
Montgomery went on in the afternoon. He is a brother of Eddie
Montgomery of Montgomery Gentry. He played most of his fifteen
number one hits and a lot of great songs as well. Ronnie Dunn of
Brooks and Dunn, is another dual that went on his own. Ronnie's
voice is out of this world, when he sang his latest number one
"Bleed Red" it was unreal. Doc Walker, a Manitoba band came on in
the evening another good Canadian band. To finish the day John Reid,
a Scottish singer/songwriter now a Canadian. Performed with a lot of
energy and excitement, similar to a Las Vegas show.
On Saturday in the early afternoon, Casey James came on. He is a
Texas guy that brought a little of Texas to Saskatchewan. Ryan
Laird, a Canadian from the east, sang like he is from Nashville but
a true Canadian. Mel Tillis a legend of country music, was funny and
sang songs that everyone knew. Xtreme Muzik Tour with Big and Rich
(Big Kenny and John Rich), Gretchen Wilson and Cowboy Troy, sang
together and also as sols. John Rich and Big Kenny started the Muzik
Mafia Club. Gretchen Wilson was found in a bar, bar tending, and
Cowboy Troy was a shoe sales man in Dallas. What a mix of music!
Sugarland ended the night, with Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush.
They are a dual that shakes the crowd with a range of depth in their
voices.
Sunday, Tracy Lawrence went on stage in mid afternoon. This guy
that has hits after hits like "Sticks and Stones, Can't Break It To
My Heart" and on and on. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band a class act, sang
songs like "Fishin' In The Dark and Mr. Bojangles". Uncle Kracker
(Matt Shafer) came on just before super. In his early years he
performed as the DJ in Kid Rock's Twisted Brown Tucker Band. He
knows how to entertain the crowd with rock and country blend at the
right time. Darius Rucker is a successful African-American country
singer that is following in Charley Pride footsteps. Darius sang his
heart out, with the crowd getting into his songs like "I Got Notin".
To end the Jamboree was Rascal Flatts, (Gary, Joe Don and Jay). The
grounds were full to the max and the crowd was having a good time
with the trio singing their great songs. They know how to grab the
crowd with their music and singing.
I want to thank everyone back stage, for everything they did to
make this article and pictures possible.
 The
Roys touring bus |
 Glen
Forrester & Neal McCoy |
 Casey James (American Idol) |
 Big
& Rich |
 Sugarland |
 Sugarland |
 Backstage with Big Kenny & friends |
 2011
Craven Country Jamboree
|
 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
|
 Rascal Flatts
|
 Williams &
Ree
|
 Neal
McCoy |
 Neal
McCoy |
 Neal
McCoy |
 John Michael
Montgomery |
 John Michael
Montgomery |
 Craven Country
Jamboree Banner |
 Ronnie
Dunn
|
 Ronnie
Dunn
|
 Ronnie
Dunn |
 Ronnie
Dunn
|
 2011 Craven
Country Jamboree
|
 Mel
Tillis |
 Mel
Tillis
|
 Gretchen
Wilson
|
 Gretchen
Wilson |
 Big &
Rich
|
 Big &
Rich
|
 Tracy
Lawrence
|
 Tracy
Lawrence
|
 2011 Craven
Country Jamboree |
 Nitty Gritty
Dirt Band member
|
 Nitty Gritty
Dirt Band member |
 Nitty Gritty
Dirt Band member |
 Nitty Gritty
Dirt Band member |
 Darius
Rucker |
 Darius
Rucker |
 Rascal Flatts
member |
 Rascal Flatts
member |
 Rascal Flatts
member |
|
|
|
|
Thanks For The Music! |