Swampstock Article With Martina Quote

Thousands swarm to Swampstock
October 8, 2006
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By Stacy Temple
[email protected]

RAYVILLE "" Thousands of country music fans swarmed here Saturday to "get down on the farm" with Richland Parish native Tim McGraw.

McGraw, his wife Faith Hill and several of their musical friends played softball and entertained the crowd with country tunes at Swampstock.


The concert was held in Rayville beside the Tim McGraw Sports Complex. It benefits the local baseball league and other charities in Richland Parish.

Fans came from as far as Florida and Michigan to hear McGraw sing chart-topping hits.

Randy and Stacey LaPreze, of Stanwood, Mich., joined Club Super Soul, a fan club for McGraw and Hill, which travels around the U.S. to attend concerts.

"I started listening to country music in the early 1990s," Stacey LaPreze said. "I have been a fan of his since he released 'Indian Outlaw.' We love their music, but beyond that, they are just good people.

"I have no problem having a Tim McGraw or Faith Hill CD in front of my little girl."

The couple flew into Monroe on Friday and enjoyed Louisiana cuisine with other club members and watched the concert from a special section close to the stage.

Also performing at Swampstock were Hot Apple Pie, the Warren Brothers and Martina McBride.

Hill thanked the crowd for coming to the charity benefit and told them she and her husband appreciate their support of children in Richland Parish.

"I don't really know how to go about saying thank you for coming out, but just look around at the fruits of your labor," Hill said. "It always make your heart feel bigger to do something for others."

Hill opened her set with her tune "Mississippi Girl," the first song released from her 2005 CD, "Fireflies."

Ashley Southern and Jasmine Castillo, both University of Louisiana at Monroe students, said they come to Swampstock every year to hear good music close to Monroe.

"We came to see Martina McBride," Southern said. "We try to come every year because you buy one ticket and get to see a lot of different performers, so it's worth the money."

McBride has played at Swampstock for four years and said she enjoys the celebrity ballgame.

"The ballgame was crazy," McBride said. "Of course, I haven't ran since the last time I was here. We are glad to be here and glad Tim and Faith invited us back."

Many concert goers endured sunburn during the day, but temperatures cooled down in the low 60s later that night.

When Tim McGraw bounded on stage to begin his segment with his hit, "Real Good Man," the crowd went wild.

McGraw sang music from early in his career and his latest release, "My Little Girl."

That song is featured on the movie soundtrack for "Flicka." The movie opens in theaters later this month and stars McGraw.

McGraw could not be reached for comment at the event, but a member of his staff said after the concert that he and band members were leaving Rayville quickly in order to make it to another performance.

Charlie Linker of Pensecola, Fla., came to the concert with several friends. The guys were working construction near Alexandria and secured a hotel room in Monroe to attend the event.

"Parking was horrendous, and the location wasn't very clear," Linker said. "But we came to see Faith Hill. We met up with friends here just to listen to music in a country setting."

I was there, Martina stole the show. everyone's been talking about it. She was amazing!!! I go to see her, but always stay to see Faith and Tim. But she's so good they should have her last, because people honestly start to leave when Martina's show is over, not kidding. She did a few songs from Timeless, plus stand by your man, and all of her other great hits. My favorite song is A broken wing, the way she sings it, it just goes right through you and you get chills! It's the 3rd time I've seen her, and she just gets better each time.

Just wanted to say what a wonderful show it was, nad if she's there next year, I'll be there.

That's awesome! Way to go Martina!

Martina was fabulous as always. I disagree about her stealing the show. It is Tim and Faiths event and they all did a GREAT job. I am not sure where you were sitting but we were up front and no one left by us after Martina.

I agree with you all. Martina was awesome. She started the party....She came out looking beautiful as usual. I had waited all day since 6:30 in the am for her to take the stage and for Faith and Tim to follow. Those three were the show. They were worth waiting through the bad to get to the best. I was on the 5th row, if you could call it that, and it was almost dead center the stage. She had the place rocking and cheering when she entered the stage. I got some great shots, but I haven't decided how I am going to be able to post them for everyone to see them yet.

I didn't care for tim's performance at all, but faith's was great. This is a martina's board and I'm a big fan of Martina, so I like to brag about my favorite singer, because she is the best, to me! I've seen her 3 times there.

By the way, I was sitting toward the back and I did see alot of people leave.. I'm not saying everyone did.

The show was awesome

there was not a BAD act there at all

the line up was

Catherine Rainey (Tim's cousin)
Redneck Rockstars (a new group changing their name to Halfway to Hazzard)
Hot Apple Pie
Lori McKenna
the Warren Bros.(softball heros)
Martina McBride
Faith Hill
Tim McGraw

a very entertaining softball game and 6+ hours of concerts


now most know I am a huge Martina fan and she was the best for me but it was TIM & Faith's crowd no doubt

Everyone put on a great show

the new group I think you will hear a lot from and Lori has a new album coming out that Tim is co-producing

Only negative things I have to say is there should have been signs starting when you got off the freeway telling you where to go
And somewhere it should have told you to bring a chair for the concert

Keith I had no trouble getting a great seat for ball game and still working my way to about row 8 for the show- of course I was not with a group so it was easier to find a place for one

John McBride played in the ball game and well and did quite good. Martina was cute but looked a little out of place with a right handed glove Would love to see her try to throw with her right hand if she had gotten the ball, but JDM has a heck of an arm.

Great time had by most- I personaly loved the NO ALCOHOL enviroment
go if you get a chance - you won't get that much Bang for your buck anywhere

a few pics later when I find the charger for my camera

Believe me I am a big Martina fan also, thats why I am here. And it is great to brag about her. I think the three of them were all awesome though. Don't really think that anyone of them stole the show. I'm just surprised you saw alot of people leave. I know alot went out and in because you were allowed to go out to your cars and such. I know we did a few times.

Anyone have pictures of both the concert and the game?

I know this is going to sound silly, but there was drinking out there I'm afraid. My brother got hit in the parking lot at the swampstock by a drunk driver, the guy hit him and then took off, had 6 witnesses Rayville police had to go after him. So there were some drinking out there I'm afraid, the cops said they were sneaking it in.

But getting back to the concert, it was a good show.. I just felt Tim could have did a few more of his songs, and I'm a little disappointed to see them have to rush off somewhere else and not do an interview. I was also hoping to hear more of him and Faith sing together, they didn't even sing like we never loved at all and that was out this year. I felt it could have been just a bit more effort on their part, but i just dont want to be bashed for my opinion on here. because I do think it was a good show all in all. I didn't care for the earlier performances though, mainly Lori. Her music was kinda on the depressing side.

everyone gets their own opinion- no one bashing

and while you may have wanted more songs from Tim or Tim and Faith together no one can say they did not get thier 30 bucks worth-- 6+ hours of concert + a ball game- where else can you get that much for your money

any drinking was done in the parking lot and yes I know some kept going out to thier vehicle to drink they just could not seem to have a good time sober
but over 90% of the crowd was stone cold sober

Loris music is sort of depressing but I think she is amazing. This was the first time Faith sang a full set at SS that I have attended so I was happy. Also the first time I heard them duet. (I started going 4 years ago). So I was pretty happy about the length, etc. As for the drinking it was going on in the parking lots but not inside.

Yes, it's the first time I've heard her sing most of her hits too, so I was glad about that I agree. I went in 2004 and had a good time, but Faith's performance was better this time and I think martina just gets better each time she performs.

I know the last time there was alot of drinking going on and even tim was drinking on stage. But I didn't see much of it this year, except an older man did walk passed us nearly passed out from drinking, almost fell over me, but he was the only one I saw inside that was drinking, was just going by what cops told us about them sneaking it in though. I'm glad it wasn't much drinking going on, because it leads to no good at stuff like that.

I wonder if they will have it next year and who might be there? I would have loved for Sugarland to come with them, it was rumored for a while our radio station said. They would have got the crowd going before Martina came out, I believe. The others were struggling to get people in the mood, unfortunatly. Hot apple pie didn't do a bad job though, I liked most of their songs.