Country star Rodney Atkins rocks the Fair
Rodney Atkins ended the show with his one of his biggest hits from 2006, “If You’re Going through Hell.” The crowd responded with an enthusiastic standing ovation. The high energy show was a hit with first-time and seasoned concert goers alike.
When it comes to making the Tuscarawas County Fair a success, there is no hurdle too large or too muddy to overcome. Such was the case on Wednesday morning. An unpredicted rain storm, on top of the mud and puddles left over from Monday’s all day rain, left the stage area in poor shape.
“This morning it was solid mud and we went right to work,” said Fair Board Director Doug Wills. “We even had a road grader stuck and that takes a lot.”
Then Atkins’ crew arrived. “Their crew is phenomenal and they made it a lot of fun,” Wills said adding that Atkins and his team were outstanding to work with right from the start.
When Atkin’s took the stage, he immediately started belting out some of his most recognizable hit songs including “Take a Backroad” and “Farmer’s Daughter.” Other Atkins’ hits include “It’s America,” “These are my People,” and “Watching You.”
Adkins’ newest single, “Caught Up in the Country” was one he didn’t expect the audience to singalong with but he was wrong. “It means the world to me that some of you all are singing,” Atkins told the crowd.
After receiving some bad advice when he first started out, Atkins now prefers to try out new songs in his shows. He played a more realistic love song for the crowd which may be included in his next album. “Blue sky and no bills, that ain’t how it works,” Atkins said of how his love song differed from others.
Though most of the concert was filled with his own hits, Atkins showed his love of music by covering “For What It’s Worth” a protest song written by Stephen Stills that was originally released in 1966 by Buffalo Springfield. “I love great songs, it doesn’t matter when they come out,” said Atkins.
Atkins ended the show with his one of his biggest hits from 2006, “If You’re Going through Hell.” The crowd responded with an enthusiastic standing ovation.
The high energy show was a hit with first-time and seasoned concert goers alike.
“It was awesome,” said Scott Huston of Dennison who attended the concert with his neighbor, Aaron Peck. “I was one of the first to get a ticket, I wanted to be as close as possible.” Huston has attended previous concerts at the fair where one of his favorites is singer Neal McCoy and he has traveled to Cleveland to see Garth Brooks.
Huston and Peck were seated center stage in the second row back. “If we got any closer we would be on the stage,” Peck said. “I can’t believe how many of his songs I actually know.”
“We loved it, it was amazing,” said Brandi Cole of New Philadelphia. She and her son, Carson, were the lucky winners of two front seats from WTUZ.
Rodney Atkins is one of Carson’s favorite singers and his favorite song by Atkins is “Take a Backroad.” “I couldn’t believe I won,” said Brandi Cole. “It’s his first concert ever and it’s front row. I hope he doesn’t expect this all the time.”
The Tuscarawas County Fair activities at the grandstand continue with Drag Racing on Thursday; practice begins at 5 p.m. with eliminations starting at 7 p.m. The drag race will include classes for everything including ATV’s and dirt bikes. There is even a Kid’s Division.
Truck and Tractor Pulls will be held on Friday and Saturday evenings and the Demolition Derby will cap off the week at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday.