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Thursday,
June 12
Collin
Raye
Sara
Evans
Oak
Ridge Boys
Friday,
June 13
Neal
McCoy
Phil
Vassar
Chris
Cagle
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Crowded
Comstock
By
AMY SCHWEITZER
Hub Staff Writer
COMSTOCK - Despite rain showers on two days of the Comstock Windmill Festival,
organizers say a record number of people attended each day.
"We
had more people this year Thursday than we had last year Thursday and more
Friday than last year Friday," said Henry Nuxoll, co-organizer of the
country music festival.
He estimated 15,000 people were on hand to watch Martina McBride Saturday. He
didn't provide numbers for Thursday and Friday.
Nuxoll attributed the higher attendance Saturday to the quality of music acts.
"There were good acts Thursday and Friday, but today we're in the
phenomenal range," Nuxoll said of Sawyer Brown and McBride. "We're
lucky. It's the biggest compliment to have Martina come back two years in a
row."
Fans stayed and the stars continued playing and even signed autographs in the
rain Saturday. The rain stopped after about a half hour and served to cool
down the evening. It also rained Friday shortly before the main acts were to
come on stage.
The festival wrapped up Sunday.
Colleen Rickard of Kearney, who was watching singer Gary Allen finish his act
in the rain Saturday, said the fact that no one was leaving showed the stamina
of the fans.
"I think it's neat how everybody stuck it out. Hardly anyone left. This
is true country - we adapt," she said.
Rickard, who has been to every Windmill Festival, came this year to work as a
vendor as her husband, Larry, of Tri-City Security headed the security for the
third year in a row.
"(The festival) is amazing. Every year it never ceases to amaze me,"
she said.
Nuxoll said organizers are working on the acts for next year's festival and
are trying to bring Brad Paisley, Brooks and Dunn, Montgomery Gentry and Chris
LeDoux.
Paisley has been at the event every year except this year. The first year of
the Windmill Festival, he was the only Nashville act.
"There isn't any (performer) that has come (to the Windmill Festival)
that hasn't wanted to come back," Nuxoll said.
Dustin Bogue will attest to that.
"This is my fourth time playing here," he said as he took a break
from performing at the beer tent directly opposite of the main stage.
"When Henry called, I was more than willing to drop everything and
come."
Bogue, originally from Iowa, is living in Los Angeles but flew in to Nebraska
for the event. In previous years he has played on the main stage.
"It gets better every year," Bogue said of the festival. "I was
doing this when they were having trouble paying the bills."
-Courtesy
Kearney Hub
June
16, 2003
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Saturday,
June 14
Martina
McBride
Sawyer
Brown
Gary
Allan
Sunday,
June 15
Kenny
Rogers
Randy
Travis
SHeDAISY
Warren
Brothers
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