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Rock the Country rocks Poplar Bluff despite storms, heat
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. — Heat and high water came to stop Rock the Country at Brick’s Offroad Park on Friday, June 28 and Saturday, June 29 but the thousands of concert-goers were undeterred. Record rainfall the previous week and a scorching triple-digit heat index presented serious obstacles to the two-day event.
President Steve Halter of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce estimated over 40,000 came to the event. While that number will need to be confirmed by cell-phone data, Halter said, “I would be shocked if it wasn’t 40,000.”
The concert featured acts by big names such as Kid Rock, Hank Williams Jr., Travis Tritt and Jason Aldean, among others. Shane Quick, owner of the concert series, applauded the coordination and fortitude of the staff and guests.
“We just want to thank you guys for being here,” he stated, “I want to give a huge shoutout to our staff here.”
Congressman Jason Smith was in attendance. Between acts, Rep. Smith took to the stage with Butler County Sheriff Mark Dobbs to play an audio message from former President Donald Trump.
“Hello to everyone at Rock the Country in Poplar Bluff, Missouri,” Trump greeted.
He praised Rep. Smith’s work and encouraged the audience to vote in November.
The fans
Quick noted ticketholders traveled from 40 states to Poplar Bluff. Among them were guests Trisha and Trenton Goodman traveled six hours in traffic to make the concert from Cecilia, Kentucky.
“It’s awesome,” Trenton affirmed.
They were most excited to see Kid Rock and have been country music fans their whole lives.
Dawson Chester and his girlfriend Lily Moris came from Pocahontas, Arkansas. They make it a point to come to big music festivals whenever they can.
“It’s really nice,” Chester said, “We’re excited.”
Meanwhile, Garett and April Eggers came from Ironton, Missouri to see Hank Williams Jr. It was their first time at a big concert like Rock the Country.
Amanda Kortey’s friend flew into Nashville from Michigan, and from there they road-tripped in a recreational vehicle to Poplar Bluff.
Kortey said, “It’s honestly a really cool event.”
Fun and struggles
The concert had a number of challenges besides the weather. Michael Millman spent a large sum on VIP tickets but was surprised when he had to wait in line at several points.
“I think if we pay for it, we should get it,” he said, noting the tickets specifically advertised no lines.
He knew acquaintances who attended the concert series in Louisiana who did not have to deal with the same delays though they had the same tickets. Millman hoped next year would be better.
Kortey, who is deaf, commented on the lack of an Americans with Disabilities Act mandated interpreter.
“Someone could make a big deal out of that,” she warned, though she wanted to emphasize she was still enjoying the venue.
Nearly all guests complained parking was poorly organized.
“Getting in was rough,” the Goodmans commented.
“It was nuts,” Kortey remarked.
Regardless, the concert-goers each followed up their complaint with positive impressions of the event itself and the staff. Kortey acknowledged this was the first time Rock the Country was held in Poplar Bluff and was hopeful problems would be ironed out in the future.
“They’ve done a really good job,” she stated.
Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Garcia confirmed the security situation was relatively uneventful.
He clarified there were several heat casualties needing attention from the on-site medical staff. A side-by-side lumbering through the crowd to pick up a guest with heat exhaustion was not an infrequent sight. Long lines formed at the hydration stations to refill water bottles, and many packed into the misting tent to cool off.
For concert-goers who bought their tickets as far in advance as November, canceling was out of the question.
“We’re trying to stay cool,” the Goodman couple joked.
Despite the challenges, audience morale remained high as the crowd danced and sang along whenever possible. Hank Williams Jr. led the crowd in a singalong version of “Family Traditions.”
For the Kid Rock show, the stage lit up with fireworks in the night sky. In between sets, the DJs kept the concert-goers humming with tunes like “Country Roads” and “Sweet Caroline.”
“I want to thank the city of Poplar Bluff,” Quick said, “A lot of people came together to make this happen.”
Halter added, “It was a great event...Overall, I think it was a huge success.”
View the full photo gallery here: https://www.darnews.com/gallery/43851