More than 3,000 country music fans descended Tuesday evening on the University of South Carolina Aiken's Convocation Center to enjoy the 11th annual WKXC-FM Guitar Pull benefiting area charities.
As in past years, fans were treated to acoustical performances by some of country's best known entertainers, including Craig Morgan, Joe Nichols, Trace Adkins, Josh Turner and Big Kenny of the duo Big & Rich.
To get fans in the mood, a free outside concert began about 6 p.m., featuring hit recording artist Steve Azar and a band called Jypsi.
Meanwhile, backstage and on custom buses, the artists were talking about their day. Mr. Nichols was talking about how much fun he had playing golf at Augusta Country Club, while Mr. Morgan was talking about how he was in a tree stand hunting early that morning in Ohio.
Soon it was show time, with the artists called out to take their places in chairs lined up across the stage.
For crowd favorite Mr. Adkins, it was his fourth Guitar Pull.
For newcomer band Gloriana, it was the first.
The songs ranged from Mr. Nichols' new one, Gimme That Girl, to Josh Turner doing his classic-gospel hit Long, Black Train.
Mr. Turner led off the evening with both boos and cheers when he told the full-house audience, "I'm a Clemson Tiger fan. My wife is a Georgia Bulldog fan, and nobody cares about the Gamecocks."
He then launched his big hit single, My Man.
To accommodate larger audiences, the Guitar Pull has moved several times since its original site of Sacred Heart Cultural Center.
Past Guitar Pulls were held in the Imperial Theatre and Bell Auditorium before moving to USC Aiken.
Organizers have resisted a move to the even larger James Brown Arena for concern it might lack intimacy.
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Awesome as always!!!
Awesome but I was really surprized at how many people were talking when they artists were trying to sing. It made it hard to hear some of their words because of all the background talking.
poor gamecock fans.