Willie Nelson, Alison Krauss start concert series
www.desototimes.com
By Bob Bakken
SOUTHAVEN – Fans of country music had a perfect night to enjoy legendary artist Willie Nelson and Family and the country bluegrass talents of Alison Krauss and Union Station, who opened Green Machine Entertainment’s summer concert series at the Snowden Grove Amphitheater Thursday night.
The performances of Krauss and Nelson, along with opening act Kacey Musgraves and held before a large and appreciative audience at the outdoor venue, came after afternoon rains had cooled and made more comfortable a June evening.
It was the start of the ninth year for top entertainment to grace the Snowden Grove stage.
Krauss made note of the storms that went through the area in her opening comments Thursday night.
“It was like we were watching the Weather Channel,” Krauss said. “And it was live!”
Union Station banjo player Ronnie Black also connected the day’s weather as he performed “Rain, Please Go Away” as part of their set.
The concert offered different styles of country music to enjoy, from the bluegrass sounds of Krauss and Union Station, to the signature country sounds of Nelson, the singer-songwriter-activist who is also an author, poet and actor.
Nelson played his set with a huge Texas state flag hanging from the back of the stage to show his Texas roots.
“Willie Nelson, I have been a fan of his all my life,” said Beth Lovorn of Olive Branch. “I’d love to hear ‘Georgia (On My Mind).'”
Nelson made sure he got in as many songs as he could during his set, opening up with a steady rendition of tunes with little to stop it beyond a brief introduction of others on stage, all while the music kept going.
His opening medley included “Good Hearted Woman,” which got his fans to sing along, to other notables, such as “Crazy.”
Krauss chose to take moments to introduce and then spotlight each member of Union Station as their set went on.
Guitarist Jerry Douglas got an extra response as he related that he had married a girl from Memphis and his daughter was attending Ole Miss, a statement which brought cheers and a “Hotty Toddy” chant from a section of Ole Miss seniors he acknowledged.
Other songs performed by Krauss and Union Station Thursday night included “Restless,” their cover of the Shenandoah hit “Ghost In This House,” “Dixie,” and the 2002 hit, “When You Say Nothing At All.”
The amphitheater setting at Snowden Grove is one that attracted fans like McKelvie to come out and enjoy country “under the stars.”
“I have come to several concerts here, actually,” she said. “I like that you can sit out here on the grass and still see everything like you were sitting down in front.”
The classic rock group Boston, with special guests Night Ranger, will be the next performance in the series at Snowden Grove. They take the stage on June 15 at 7 p.m.
Bob Bakken is a staff writer for the DeSoto Times-Tribune. Contact Bob at sports@desototimestribune.com or call 662-429-6397, Ext. 240.