Alan Jackson performs Friday night at Riverbend. He was the headliner for Friday night.Cowboy hats and boots were the fashion du jour at Riverbend on Friday as massive crowds gathered to hear country superstar Alan Jackson, the festival’s second-to-last headliner and its most expensive booking ever.
Jackson’s fans packed the festival in what appeared to be the largest numbers seen this year. In addition to the nightly crowd saturating the Coca-Cola Lawn, a long line also developed outside the main entrance on Chestnut Street to purchase single-night tickets.
“This is the only night we were going to come, except for Faith and Family Night,” said Preston Bell, who was waiting in line with his wife at about 7 p.m. “I’ve seen him [Jackson] three or four times. He doesn’t jump around; singing is enough.”
Prior to the start of the festival, Friends of the Festival talent and production coordinator Dixie Fuller said he anticipated both Riverbend and its attendees would get their money’s worth from Jackson, who he cited along with Brad Paisley as one of the only remaining “true blue country artists out there.”
“Just from the look of the stage, he brought all the bells and buttons,” Fuller said in anticipation of the headliner. “It’s going to be a darn good country show. We’re tickled to death to have him.