Fans begin filling grounds for Country Stampede

NASHVILLE, TN - JUNE 06: Toby Keith performs onstage at the 2012 CMT Music awards at the Bridgestone Arena on June 6, 2012 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Photographer: Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Regular Photo Size

Posted: 06/20/2012

By: Associated Press

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - Music fans have begun pitching their tents in north-central Kansas for the annual Country Stampede.

The four-day festival opens Thursday at Tuttle Creek Lake State Park north of Manhattan. Thursday night's headliners include Luke Bryan. Other top acts include Travis Tritt and the Zac Brown Band on Friday night, Toby Keith on Saturday night and The Band Perry on Sunday night.

It's Keith's first appearance at the Stampede since 2002, and his fans include Tim Scott, who serves in the Army National Guard. Scott tells The Manhattan Mercury ( http://bit.ly/vgMsIO ) he appreciates what Keith does for the military.

Brad Atha, of Hutchinson, says he's looking forward to hearing two of Tritt's biggest hits -- "T-R-O-U-B-L-E" and "It's a Great Day to be Alive."

The Stampede has been drawing about 150,000 fans each year.

------

Information from: The Manhattan Mercury, http://www.themercury.com