Charlie Daniels Band in Denton

Skipper · August 28, 2016

The smell of fried turkey legs, warm canned beer and sweaty mud-coated bulls were lingering in the air from nine nights of the North Texas State Fair and Rodeo. Screams from the spinning, dropping and twinkling rides collided with the live bands on stage. The energy of excited rodeo fans radiated through the crowds regardless of the Texas summer sun. On the last night, August 27th, the Budweiser stage lit up for none other than the American country-bluegrass-southern rock multi-instrumentalist, lyricist and singer, Charlie Daniels. And the tight crowd at his feet wound for over a hundred feet just to watch him pull music from his fiddle.

At 79, Charlie Daniels jumped out on stage and contributed to the energy of the rowdy crowd. From the first instant his bow hit the fiddle to the brief moments following his exit, he kept his audience engaged. There was variety in his setlist, from his classic hits like the Devil Went Down to Georgia to his latest album like Tangled Up in Blue. He was proud to tour for the album Off the Grid which had been released in April of this year. Nothing of the show fell short of familiar and fun.

The crowd shouted along to the lyrics and tapped their boots. Each person was shoulder to shoulder with one another for the duration of the concert which made dancing near impossible. The pavement was radiating heat, but that did not turn away the cheering fans. Most had been standing on their feet for an hour or two just to stand near the stage. Phones were popping up to get videos and photos of Charlie Daniels from the moment he stepped out. The momentum of the crowd carried through the show.

Daniels did not have a hard time keeping the crowd’s attention. Though there was a rodeo on one side of the fair and lines to board the rides, the sound of his fiddle kept the crowd building until the show was over. People would trickle down from the rodeo bleachers to catch the glimpse of Daniels playing. It was an entertaining show, full of nostalgia and excitement. Not before long, the sound of his band shrouded the sounds of the fair, stealing the attention for the duration of the show. Many people had been to pop-up fairs before and seen a rodeo, but they would not miss out on the opportunity to see Daniels play.

Even mothers with teary-eyed children ready for bed stood firmly to watch Daniels until the very end. Nothing stopped his fans from seeing the show, even if that meant bumping bodies with complete strangers. The crowd was so thick and dense that hardly any movement was achievable. Nobody could wave their way in or out of that crowd. Everyone was heel to toe with one another, trying to get as much out the experience as possible. And finding where the crowd ended was tiresome, since it was backed up for over a hundred feet. On the edge of the crowd, people were still taking pictures and maneuvering their heads to see Daniels.

Charlie Daniels was the perfect ending to nine days of old fashioned Texas rodeo and tradition. For the duration of the fair, attendees got to enjoy livestock shows, local barbecue, carnival rides, local contests, rodeos and live music. Having Daniels wrap up the night with his enthusiasm and passion made it a memorable night. Locals and visitors, both domestic and international, got a good taste of what it feels like to be a Texan. It was an experience that everyone who left was glad they had.