CMA Music Festival is an entertainment bargain.

June 8, 2008

Friday night I went to the CMA Music Festival concert held at LP Field. There were only general admission tickets left, $30 for the privilege of sitting in the upper deck. Still, I thought it was a bargain. We got four-and-a-half hours of concert for that price. Everything from newcomers like Miranda Lambert to superstars like Faith Hill and Keith Urban.

The thing I like best about country music performers is that they respect their audience. The transition between acts never took more than 10 minutes as the roadies hustled equipment on and off the stage. I’ve been to rock concerts where they took an hour to get the next act up.

I think for me the two highlights of the night were Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban. Both put on great shows, and I was especially impressed with Keith Urban. Because he was the closing act, and it was past 11 p.m. by the time he hit the stage. There was flagging energy from the dwindling crowd but Urban managed to rev eveerybody back up.

The one thing I will never understand though is why there aren’t more accidents at these stadiums. Steep stairs and beer do not mix, I saw a lot of people who were quite unsteady as they climbed up and down the stairs.