Country music star Luke Bryan croons to the crowd.

“Where my hillbillies at?” called country music star Luke Bryan from the main stage at the Crawford County fairgrounds Tuesday night.

This CMT sensation seemed to have the crowd dancing and laughing along—even before the show started. People were decked to their country nines, wearing cowboy hats and boots, or their own personal creations.

Angela Zorn came dressed in her own custom designed black t-shirt, with Easton Corbin and Luke Bryan’s names on the front and back. A Luke Bryan fan for two years, the 17-year-old from Meadville has had tickets since May, and was celebrating her birthday with her mom.

“Do I,” said Zorn, is her favorite Bryan song, “because it’s the first one I liked.”

Fans of Luke Bryan hold a sign, "Sorority Girls Shake it for Luke."

Before the show, Bryan signed autographs and took photos at a meet and greet. Emily Nottingham of Titusville was thrilled to be at the concert—and meet Bryan.

17-year-olds Emily Notthingham and Brianne Come, Titusville, were thrilled to be at Bryan’s concert. Brianne, however, couldn’t meet the signer in person.

“She couldn’t be there because of soccer practice, so I brought two CDs and he signed them both for us,” Emily said, carrying her signed Luke Bryan swag. “It was really nice.”

Before Bryan bounced on stage, country singer Easton Corbin opened the show, playing crowd favorites like “A Little More Country Than That” and “Roll with It.” Watch Corbin sing “A Little More Country Than That” in our video player.

7,300 seats sold for the concert, and many lined the front row to sing along while taking pictures and video.

Fans gather for a photo at the Luke Bryan concert.

Bryan encouraged the audience to sing and dance along during the performance. During the song “Drunk On You,” Bryan instructed the crowd to fist pump while singing the lyrics “boom, boom” of the chorus. See that video in our player.

Bryan’s biggest hit, “Country Girl (Shake It for Me),” didn’t disappoint either, and Bryan encouraged a little battle of the sexes, seeing who could sing the chorus louder. See Bryan shaking his own thing on stage in our video player.

Tomorrow, Bryan heads to Glen Allen, VA, to play the Innsbrook Pavilion. His third and most recent album, “Tailgates & Tanlines,” debuted at number one on Top Country Albums list.

Check the player on GoCrawfordCounty.com for video of Corbin and Bryan, and our photo galleries for shots from the concert. Were you there? Post your pictures directly to our community photo album. Just click “Submit photos” on the right bar of the main page.

Tiger Maple String Band kicks it up a notch at the Crawford County Music Fest

On the Sprague Farm and Brew Works, little ones twirled before a stage amped with the twang of local folk and bluegrass. Tents dotted the perimeter in front of the tree line, and feel-good summertime vibes were in.

The Crawford County Music Fest brought more than just great music, fun people, and good times together, July 9, but laid the grounds for what may be a new annual Crawford tradition.

“We’re in the business of being people-people,” said Brian Sprague, who founded the Sprague Farm and Brew Works with his wife, Minnie. “Our goal was to put on a nice friendly event, have people come away saying, ‘That was great, and I want to come back again.”

If all goes well, Fest lovers can expect a second event. Originally, a yearly Bluegrass/American roots festival, the Fest ended in 1991 after becoming too expensive to produce. However, after Brian Sprague came to Tom New of WQLN looking for collaboration for an event, New agreed that the time was right to bring new life to the old beloved festival.

This time, all proceeds go to WQLN, helping them further their public broadcasting mission.

“This is the kind of music that’s not being served,” said New about the sound of the festival. “We’ve got a lot of great regional bands.”

Yellow Lady Slipper swag at the band booth at the Crawfrod County Music Fest.

Mentioning Grove City band, Yellow Lady Slipper, he added, “they play all original music. It’s a band that should be shared with people.”

The Fest line up included regional talent Yellow Lady Slipper, from Grove City, Richie Stearns, from Ithaca, N.Y., Tiger Maple String Band, from Edinboro, and Donna the Buffalo, also from Ithaca.

Referring to Stearns, New said, “we probably have the best claw-handled banjo player in America playing for us right now.”

Yellow Lady Slipper drummer Bill Smith approved of the event. “Seems like they’ve covered all their bases, good brew, shade, nice vibe, being out in the country, good sound system,” he said.

One group of seven friends, who camped out early to claim their “perfect” spot, is making plans for next year.

“(We are) already talking about coming back next year,” said Maggie Jablonski, who drove from Linesville.  “We’re going to perfect this, we’ve got a list of things to remember for next time.”

***

Find this in print July 15!

Looking for photos and video? Check back soon to see more from the Crawford County Music Fest. I’ll be posting photos and video soon.

My wandering feet will take me south to Meadville this Saturday for two events: Second Saturday Community Market and Music Fest.

Fruit creation made at Meadville's Second Saturday Community Market.

1) Second Saturday Community Market.

I had fun at last month’s Market in June. It was my first month back stateside and my first week back on the job, and the fair was a welcome piece of Americana to ease me back into the swing of good ole’ neighborly-ness. All booths and vendors are local, offering local food (fresh, baked and prepared), crafts, artwork, and other unique goods.

Entertainment was local, too, with performers from the greater NWPA area. Last month’s “Healthy Living” theme had the Kid’s Corner making edible faces. Anyone know what’s up for “Creative Process?”

If I get a chance to stop by, ask me to take your picture for GoCrawfordCounty.com. Check out last month’s photos here, and my blog post.

2) Crawford County Music Fest

Never have I ever…. been to Sprague Farm & Brew Works. And I think it’s about time. After good hearsay and a trip to their webpage, I’m excited to drop on by the rustic microbrewery to experience the Crawford County Music Fest.

Branded as a mini-woodstock by presenters WQLN, the Fest aims to be the Phoenix reborn from WQLN’s 1970′s annual Bluegrass/American Roots music festival. I’ll be wandering around, gathering photos and video from the event. Flash a smile, do a little dance, and you might just see yourself on GoCrawfordCounty.com.

Check out contributor Tom New’s article for the line up and more information on Music Fest.

Are you going to the Second Saturday Community Market or Crawford County Music Fest? Be sure to say hi! Submit your own pictures and video on GoCrawfordCounty.com.

Practicing "Coronation Scene" from the opera Boris Godunov by Modest Mussorgsky

Vacation may mean lounging beachside for some, but for those attending Band Camp for Adult Musicians at Allegheny College, it means devoting one week to their love of music.

“They are working from 8 to 8:30, 12 hour days. I don’t think I’d do that at 37, let alone 67,” said Amiee Reash, Camp Director and Adjunct Instructor if Music at Allegheny. “But this is their vacation for many.” Campers either stay on-campus or in bed and breakfasts around the area, going out with friends after a long days’ rehearsal.

According to Reash, band camp “is essentially a gathering of highly dedicated, highly committed amateur musicians.” Gathering musicians from across the States, and even two from Australia, the camp allows musicians to devote time to both full-ensemble and small-ensemble work.

“We have jazz band, a Dixieland band, anything you want,” said Reash.

Conductor Tim Foley, in his sixth year at the camp, says it’s working with a dedicated group of musicians that make the experience rewarding.

“Some of them have been playing music the majority of their lives their lives, and some of them have just started three, four, five years ago. But they all love music,” said Foley, “We really enjoy the interaction with the music and the interaction from each other.”

Farris and Raskin coordinate their outfits each day for camp.

Campers make friends for life here, returning each year to share in their camaraderie. Saxophonists Dianne Farris, from Tennessee, and Julie Raskin, from Maryland, share something else unique in common—their outfits! From head to toe—earrings to socks—they come coordinated.

Farris vented good-naturedly that no one had noticed their socks from the day before—adorned with fuzzy ducks! They have attended for 20 and 21 years, respectively.

“Not only is it a good chance to play good music with good conductors, but it’s a good chance to meet people and then carry on friendships all those years,” said Raskin. “These are people who understand you, they’re musicians, too.

Denise Deerson, from Melbourne, Australia, is a two-year returnee. She said she heard about the camp from a fellow Australian band camp friend.

“I said, ‘That’s a good excuse for traveling,’” said Deerson, after her first year. “So much fun, such a lovely trombone group that we had, great roommates, just a terrific experience, fabulous conductor, great band, everything good.”

The band meets for two one-week sessions in June each summer, and concludes with an evening performance on the last Friday.

***

Check GoCrawfordCounty.com July 8, to see it in print! Check out more photos on GoCrawfordCounty.com in “Community Photos.”

French horns add their sound to "Coronation Scene" from the opera Boris Godunov.

Out and about in Meadville this week, I got a chance to to pop my head into Shafer Auditorium at Allegheny College. Inside, over 60 musicians from the region, across the country, and even two from Australia, joined onstage for the College’s Band Camp for Adult Musicians.

Check our photo gallery for more shots from the week!

Were you at the camp? What are your favorite camp experiences?

Have you heard them play? What were your favorite pieces?

Check out this article by GoCrawford contributor John Flemming about their Gala concert tomorrow night.