Rimes Concert Highlights Freedom Festival
By Christina Knauss
Grammy-winning country star LeAnn Rimes played to a packed house at Freestyle Music Park on Saturday night, Sept. 12, as part of the Grand Strand Freedom Festival '09.
Park workers estimated the crowd at between 2,000 and 2,500. Fans ranging from children to senior citizens got to hear a wide variety of Rimes' hits, ranging from her first 1996 hit single "Blue" to her later pop hits such as "How Do I Live." She also added more raucous tunes such as "Nothin' Better to Do," as well as brand new material such as "Better Off."
Rimes selected Freestyle's Stars Amphitheatre as the kickoff venue for her current world tour, and she didn't hold anything back during the performance. She took the stage looking like a mix of high fashion and her Mississippi roots, combining short, tight denim cutoffs with trendy high heels. Rimes' first-class band backed her up with styles that ran the gamut from country-rock to pop and more down-home, bluegrass-tinged country.
Rimes spent a lot of time talking to the enthusiastic crowd, jokingly complaining about the humidity and encouraging people to follow their dreams and work to overcome heartbreak.
Before singing the title track of her 2007 album "Family," she shouted jokingly, "Admit you have a dysfunctional family and you're part of it!"
At song's end, she responded to audience claps and whoops with "Myrtle Beach, you guys are my family now!"
Other musicians who performed during the day included Jeffery Allan Edward, Billy Joe Royal and perpetual Grand Strand country favorite Charlie Floyd.
Rimes' show was the headline event of a weekend that combined patriotic remembrance with a wide variety of activities that appealed to everyone from classical music fans to families with toddlers.
The Freedom Festival was organized by Business Owners Organized to Support Tourism (BOOST) and other sponsors, and was meant as a memorial for the victims, families and first responders of 9/11 as well as a celebration of the men and women who have served and are serving in the Armed Forces.
Guests of honor for the weekend's events were members of Operation First Response, an organization that supports wounded veterans and their families, especially those affected by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The festival started Sept. 11 with a celebration at La Belle Amie Vineyard in Little River, featuring "A Concert for America" by the Long Bay Symphony. The audience heard presentations by Silver Star recipients Sean Bennett and Sgt. Daniel Jens.
Later that night, a special "Wounded Heroes Party" was held at Studebaker's night club in Myrtle Beach.
On Sept. 12, the day kicked off with a special Patriot Parade on the park grounds.
Veterans from Operation First Response, as well as Myrtle Beach area veterans from World War II and other conflicts rode in cars in the parade, which also featured high school bands from Carolina Forest, North Myrtle Beach, Aynor, Loris and Conway. Other local parade participants included members of the patriotic motorcycle group Rolling Thunder, the North Myrtle Beach Fire Department and the Knights of Columbus.
During the weekend, the wounded veterans and their families from Operation First Response were acknowledged several times, and most of them sat together in seats near the front at the Rimes concert.
Organizers hope to make the Freedom Festival an annual event.
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