103.5 WEZL’s Party in the Park was halfway over after Week One with Love and Theft, Natalie Stovall and the Drive, and Katie Armiger and Week Two with Eric Paslay, The Swon Brothers, and Danielle Howle.
Week Three has the musical stylings of Jana Kramer, Charlie Worsham, and local McKenna Andrews. I saw Jana at Party in the Park two years ago. She really does love coming to Charleston. Thanks to a dear friend I got to see Charlie last year during a guitar pull at Kenny Gate V before the Kenny Chesney concert in Columbia. That cutie’s got some pure talent! Week Three started off with a bang. As Stephanie (owner of GotCountryOnline.com) and I were walking into the venue we ran smack into Charlie and Jana before they started interviews. That started the night off great as we got to chat with them for a few moments.
Last night, I had a very special honorary correspondent with me, Miss Maddie. We danced, we cartwheeled, she got to take pictures with all the artists, and she even got to hold Charlie’s guitar for him!
The first act was local musician McKenna Andrews, she won an opening spot during a WEZL competition at Awendaw Green. I’m surprised I hadn’t heard of McKenna sooner. According to her bio, she’s already accomplished a lot for a 17 year old. We snagged a copy of her newly released 3-song EP (stay tuned for an album review)! After only one song, we were swept away to the M&G with Charlie and Jana, but I liked what I heard. She’s got a voice on her! I’m excited to see what the future holds for McKenna Andrews and I can’t wait to check out her EP.
I was super excited when Charlie Worsham was announced as a Party in the Park artist. He had put out his debut album since I last saw him and I was looking forward to hearing some of those songs live. He plays a mean guitar. I could just listen to him pickin’ for hours. Charlie played some of his own stuff like “Could It Be“, “Want Me Too, Young To See“, and “Rubberband“, along with covers like “Friends in Low Places“. I took my eyes off the stage for a few minutes but screams brought my attention back when I noticed Charlie sitting on the end of the stage with a crowd of fans around him. It was such a great way to interact with the fans! I love how humble and fun he is.
Jana Kramer was a fireball on the Party in the Park stage! Her stage presence was rockin’ from the moment she appeared. Early on she found a guy in the crowd to tease, whom she called “Abercrombie” (pictured here). Finally someone yelled to bring him on stage so she did and she made him dance. I’m pretty sure it was the highlight of his year. But she broke his heart soon after when she dumped him for someone else in the crowd she dedicated “Whiskey” too. And she called out a third guy for knowing her character on One Tree Hill. Other songs she sang included ‘One of the Boys” and her newly released single “Love“, which I made it through without crying!
Jana was absolutely entertaining, from her jokes to her dance moves. The biggest thing I loved about her though is that she introduced herself to every single fan in the Meet & Greet. Jana Kramer! Of course we know who you are! But she made you feel like you’re just meeting any ol’ ordinary person.
There’s only one more week of Party in the Park! Join us on June 24th for Craig Campbell, Chasin’ Crazy, and local group The Brady Smith Band. Music starts at 6PM but make sure to get there early for a good spot. You can check with 103.5 WEZL for more details!
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