Country USA has a sweet opening

By Jeff Bollier and Aldrich M. Tan • Of the Northwestern

June 26, 2008

The Sugarland set did not start right on time, but that did not faze big-time Sugarland fan Elyse Schmudlach, 20, of Green Bay.

Instead, Schmudlach, wearing her pink T-shirt from the band’s December concert in Green Bay, danced with her fiancé Shane Bero and bought ice cream, as they waited about 90 minutes for Sugarland to take the stage.

At 10:55 p.m., Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush stepped on the stage and performed the bands’s debut single "Baby Girl" from their first album "Twice the Speed of Life." on the first night of Country USA 2008 at the Ford Festival Park on South Washburn Street at Ripple Avenue.

Schmudlach said Sugarland was worth the wait. It was also her first time at the summer country music festival.

"This is so awesome," Schmudlach said." I am already trying to figure out how to save money for next year’s show."

The set was started late because Nettles's flight was delayed, Dan Liebhauser, CUSA owner and promoter, said. He said he appreciates the patience of the fans.

"It was a really nice and easy attitude tonight," he said.

Liebhauser said he estimates more than 25,000 people came tonight, which is huge for a Wednesday night in northeast Wisconsin.

Sugarland may have been the main draw for festival-goers on Wednesday’s opening night, but many of their fans and just plain music fans alike made sure they arrived right at 3 p.m. when gates opened to get the general admission front row seats staked out.

"It can be tough to get the front row, but today, there’s not quite as many people as usual here," Jeff Alsip, of Baraboo, said as he sat with his wife, Debbie. "(Thursday) will be tougher to get these spots, but we’re definitely glad to be here and like being close."

The view from the front was so good Wednesday that first-time C-USA attendees Pete and Jayne Fitzmaurice, of Appleton, already set their sites on next year.

"We won free tickets for our family members for today and we’re already talking about next year," Jayne Fitzmaurice said. "We think Sugarland’s probably the best show the whole week."

Patty Brings and Sandy Loger, of Cross Plains, couldn’t believe their luck when they found two spots in the front row open after they arrived.

"We just got here early and found good seats," Brings said.

But while it took awhile for the first few rows on the grounds to fill up, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Department Capt. John Matz said the campground did not. Matz said all 3,300 spots in the campground have been sold. He said officials expect about 20,000 to 25,000 fans will stay in the grounds through the weekend.

Officers made two arrests on Wednesday evening, Matz said.

A 24-year-old Green Bay man was arrested on the campground for unruly behavior and refusing to leave the grounds. Officers also arrested an intoxicated 38-year-old woman from Waupaca on the concert grounds for groping men.

The First Aid station remained busy throughout the day, volunteer coordinator Joni Kerwin said. Most of the cases were people with scrapes and bruises.
There was at least one case of heat exhaustion, Kerwin said. She foresees that there will be more cases on Thursday with temperatures reaching the 80s.

Jeff Bollier: (920) 426-6688 or jbollier@thenorthwestern.com and Aldrich Tan: (920) 426-6663 or atan@thenorthwestern.com.