Big and Rich with Gretchen Wilson - A fun set for Rock the South

****1/3

A little bit of Big and Rich and Gretchen!!!

(Rock the South - Festival - Day 2)

Big and Rich with Gretchen Wilson ****1/3 took over the stage by storm, and wow'd the crowd from the start of the set, with the entire band was Rockin' with immense energy and enthusiasm. Coming on stage to 'Rollin' (The Ballad of Big and Rich)', a track I think you will all know. I think Rock the South, is the perfect festival for Big and Rich. The aesthetics of the festival just suits them, and the fact they have Gretchen Wilson with them today. Has just taken them up to the next level.

And the anticipation for them, before they hit the stage was just simply electrifying. The stage has been set for them to do a great version of 'Comin to your City', and if you live near Rock the South... they have done just that. They don't just play Big and Rich songs, if you are a Gretchen Wilson fan, they you get what you wanted as well. With Gretchen being a special guest, you get her hits 'Here for the Party' and 'Redneck Woman'. Which are most definitely fan favourites.You can see that, when the women in the crowd start dancing to them from start to finish.

Big and Rich brought out an a marine vet as there American hero, thanking all veterans past present and future I think Rock the South is a festival, that embraces American culture, and likes to pay tribute to the armed forces and the flag. For the rest of Big and Rich's set they want to give all fans everything they want, and they do this with medlay's of their hits and songs that they like. This even included covers of Pat Benatar / Chumbawamba / Sir Mix-A-Lot / Eagles / Don McClean / Luke Bryan / Lynyrd Sknyrd, a very strange mix indeed. I think they like to be a little wacky, and keep things interesting.

They also play a full cover of 'I play chicken with a Train' by Cowboy Troy, who is also a member of the Big and Rich band... which is an added bonus. But I think I most enjoyed their version of 'Tubthumping' by Chumbawamba.But I kinda wish we got more actual Big and Rich material, or maybe even a John Rich solo song. I go to a show to see acts do their own original material, so it's a bit diappointing when an act doesn't play much of their own stuff. So I think this for me is the only bad thing, I would say about their set. 

I think John Rich has gone a long way since in was on the Celebrity Apprentice USA with Donald Trump, but what I like is he has never changed. He is still a really fun guy, and when he is with Big Kenny this really comes out. So when their set is finished, everyone is a little sad. I think Big and Rich are the perfect act to book for a festival, I know I will be looking out for their festival apperances in the future to make sure I catch them, and adding Gretchen Wilson into the mix was pure genius.

Review and Photos by Rock-That-Shot Bridget

Big and Rich with Gretchen Wilson - Setlist
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Rollin' (The Ballad of Big and Rich)
Comin' to your City
8th of November
Here for the Party (Gretchen Wilson Song)
Redneck Woman (Gretchen Wilson Song)
I play chicken with the Train (Cowboy Troy Cover)
Cake by the Ocean (DNCE Cover) / Tubthumping (Chumbawamba Cover) / Hit me with your best Shot (Pat Benatar Cover) / American Pie (Don McClean Cover)
Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) / Life in the fast Lane (Eagles Cover) / Baby got Back (Sir Mix-A-Lot Cover) / Shots / Country girl shake it for Me (Luke Bryan Cover) / Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) / Sweet home Alabama (Lynyrd Sknyrd Cover) / Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)

Check Out! the Video for 'Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy) ' Below...