COMSTOCK–Twenty years after it all started the Comstock Windmill Festival continues this weekend with an exciting lineup of country music acts.
Event organizer Henry Nuxoll said Brad Paisley was one of the first artists to visit Comstock and that hardly anyone knew his name at the time. Since then, Nuxoll said 25 CMA award winners have performed in the fields of Comstock and that many past acts would now cost a million dollars to bring back today.
“It’s just hard to imagine over the years that we’ve had Kenny Rogers and Randy Travis singing in that pasture the same day, or the Oakridge Boys and Alabama,” Nuxoll said.
Nuxoll loves to hear stories of artists and loyal fans returning to the natural amphitheater over and over again each summer to enjoy a variety of country music styles. He encourages everyone to check out the three-day festival this weekend because “there’s no place like Comstock” according to Nuxoll. He thanked Trotters Inc. and the countless volunteers it takes to make the Comstock Windmill Festival happen.
In an interview with Cassadee Pope, who performs on Friday night at 8 p.m., she said she is looking forward to coming back to Custer County and experiencing some Nebraska hospitality.
Jacob Bryant and his crew have made the drive from Georgia and said he is enjoying the summer traveling around the country. He said he has played in Omaha but is anxious to take in all central Nebraska has to offer. Bryant performs on Saturday at 8 p.m.
Bryant got his start in music with bluegrass thanks to his grandparents, but now utilizes the sounds of country rock with influences of Travis Tritt, Keith Whitley, and Merle Haggard.
“I got the itch for the outlaw country pretty early,” Bryant told KCNI/KBBN.
Having overcome addiction and loss, Bryant tries to be transparent, positive, and help other people get through hard times with some of his songs such as “This Side of Sober” and “Pour Whiskey on My Grave.”
“I try to be as transparent as possible. As long as I stay true to who I was and open and honest about everything going on, the fans would resonate from it,” Bryant said, adding how cool it is knowing how similar people can be due to the situations they have gone through.
KCNI/KBBN also had the opportunity to visit with Phil Vassar who returned to Custer County to perform on Thursday night.
“It’s like I remembered and it’s awesome. It’s a great stage right there in that little holler. Everybody just packs in down there and it’s a lot of fun,” Vassar said.
He said it was a gorgeous day and a great night to perform. He said he appreciates the fans giving him the chance to do what he loves.
“It’s a lot of fun and I’m having a great time. I’m just glad to be back out here again. It’s beautiful and the folks are so nice. You can’t beat Nebraska folks, I tell you that, you just can’t,” Vassar said.
