Not even the threat of a hurricane could hold back the country faithful from this year’s WPOC Weekend in the Country. The annual event, held at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, has been a mainstay for country fans for decades.
This year’s lineup featured a new school of country heavyweights like Brantley Gilbert (below) and Sam Hunt, as well as family favorites like Thompson Square and Parmlee. Newcomers like Maren Morris (above), Kelsea Ballerini, Cam, and Chris Jansen, as well as local favorites LoCash, rounded out this year’s line-up.
The event was a virtual hodge podge of music from the classic country style of Mo Pitney to borderline pop music with a country twist from Kelsea Ballerini. The young pop country sweetheart turned heads with a medley of over the top, pop tunes from artists like ‘N Sync, Backstreet Boys, and Britney Spears. This was sandwiched between her chart topping singles which hooked the country radio crowd instantly. This was also rounded out by some straight forward rock and roll.
I must say it did this old rock guy’s heart good when 20,000 country fans sang along with Thompson Square to a cover of Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer” and again later in the night when the headliner Brantley Gilbert covered Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters.”
Since its inception the event has grown from “Sunday in the Country” now to a full-blown “Weekend in the Country,” offering something for just about everyone in the family. The event brought out local TV and radio celebrities as well as a few Baltimore Ravens players to join in the fun.
Check out some of the sights from this year’s WPOC Weekend in the Country below.
