Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush hold an exclusive interview with an American Forces Network Benelux crew before going on stage to perform in a concert at the Sporthal Rumpen in Brunssum, Netherlands, March 13. You can watch the America...
Seventeen-year-old Katie Rae Davis opened a powerhouse evening of country music entertainment at the Sporthal Rumpen, Brunssum, Netherlands, March 13, by singing the U.S. National Anthem and then performed music from her newest album. Recognized by t...
Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers warmed up, no, sizzled-up a crowd of over 1,800 at the Sporthal Rumpen in Brunssum, Netherlands, March 13, where three world class country music performers brought together by three entertainment agencies wowed an audie...
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Auchekia S. Miles, sang the Dutch National Anthem, known as the "Wilhelmus", in Dutch to open the Sugarland concert in the Sporthal Rumpen, Brunssum, Netherlands, March 13, and is seen here with Sugarland's lead singers, Jen...
Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush returned to the stage for a 5-song encore at a concert sponsored by Armed Forces Entertainment, Army Entertainment and Navy Entertainment at the Sporthal Rumpen in Brunssum, Netherlands, March 13. An int...
"Volunteering is what fun is!" -- Air Force Senior Airman Rebecca Pecina (left) and family member Beth Totten were two of over 30 volunteers that helped set-up the staging, lighting and entire concert venue for a concert by Sugarland , Katie Rae Davi...
Jennifer Nettles, lead singer for two-time Grammy Award winning group 'Sugarland' spots a fan and family member and gives away her guitar pick during a concert at the Sporthal Rumpen in Brunssum, Netherlands, March 13. U.S. and NATO service and famil...
Reflecting on all the volunteers and effort that it took to get to show time, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. David O. Andino prepares to introduce three top country music acts brought together by Armed Forces Entertainment, Army Entertainment and Navy Enter...
Little Amina, daughter of Family Member Jill Norris, helps lead a crowd of over1,800 taking pictures of a dazzling performance by Sugarland and two other award winning country music bands at the Sporthal Rumpen in Brunssum, Netherlands, March 13. The...
Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush add a theatrical twist during their performance at the Sporthal Rumpen in Brunssum, Netherlands, March 13. Recent winners of two Grammy Awards, Sugarland was part of an effort by Armed Forces Entertainm...
BRUNSSUM, Netherlands -- A trio of trios led to an awesome performance by Sugarland to over 1,800 captivated U.S. Armed Forces and NATO service and family members admitted free into the Sporthal Rumpen here Friday, March 13.
It was all about "threes" for an historic first - and community volunteers stepped up to help make it happen.
The trios - Armed Forces Entertainment, Army Entertainment and Navy Entertainment joined forces to deliver an energizing performance by three top country music bands to an international tri-border community consisting of military personnel based in Netherlands, Germany and Belgium.
Seventeen-year-old country music prodigy Katie Rae Davis, winner of the Texas Music Association Rising Star Award, kicked off the performance followed by Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers, who exploded on stage in Bruce Springsteen-Tom Petty style. Then Grammy Award winning Sugarland, featuring Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush, brought down the house.
"This concert stands out for me because we've brought together three agencies," said Air Force Lt. Jarod Trujillo of Armed Forces Entertainment. "Teaming up with Army and Navy Entertainment increased the chance for a bigger artist, like Sugarland, so it makes a great thing even better. It'd be great to see more of this," Trujillo said.
With a bigger artist came the buzz throughout the tri-border community. It prompted the local Dutch Town of Brunssum to offer the concert venue and inspired more than 30 volunteers to help set up the staging, lighting, flooring, assist the professional production crew and ready the venue for a professional performance.
"I really sensed a great deal of enthusiasm once the concert was announced. Then came all the phone calls," said U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Timothy Huff. "Working with the production crew was awesome and even they admitted they couldn't pull this off without our 30 volunteers," Huff said.
"We had a good laugh helping set up," said British Royal Navy OR2 Michael Shaw, referring to the camaraderie that quickly forms when faced with a challenge. An hour before the show Shaw said, "If the volunteers hadn't come through we'd still be building the set now."
And paying more for the show, too! At a conservative estimate of Ac'A!15 per hour for two days of work, 30 people would cost over Ac'A!7000 - enough to hire a 40-piece professional Glen Miller band!
"This has been our biggest concert so far this year," said Huff, "and we look forward to hosting a hip hop group in April at the Club 13 on JFC Brunssum, then prepare another concert for the Freedom Fest in July," Huff said.
"Volunteering is what fun is!" said Air Force Senior Airman Rebecca Pecina and family member Beth Totten, nearly in unison. They both were part of the lighting crew who operated spotlights for the entire 3-hour concert.
So, three nations were brought together to see three first-class performances made possible by three entertainment agencies. The reward' "To see all the smiles on all the faces in all the shows," said Navy Entertainment specialist Karen Fritz.
The lead singer for Sugarland, Jennifer Nettles, summed it up well, saying, "Military audiences are so grateful and gracious when someone from home comes to perform for them and they never forget it," adding, "It's important to recognize the sacrifices of all military personnel and families. They're grateful that we're here and we're grateful for what they do."
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. David O. Andino, Chief of NATOs JFC Brunssum Morale Welfare Branch, was the master of ceremonies and supervised the entire production on behalf of the tri-border community. Mesmerized by the awesome talent, Andino easily brought focus to the hospitality of the Town of Brunssum, who provided the concert venue, and to the volunteers that worked hard, yet had lots of fun setting up the show.
"This was our biggest concert yet," said Andino, "and from the food concessions, to escorts, to security staff, to stage production and so much more... our volunteers came through. They really made it happen. When we have concerts in the future, we encourage folks to come out and enjoy the buzz and excitement. It's great."
When the show ended, participants were treated to free CDs of Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers and autographed pictures of Katie Rae Davis. A spectator in line for a CD was overheard saying, "This was a great concert. Sugarland's performance lends a whole lot of credibility to the people in charge of the Grammy Awards. Sugarland was... wow."
Watch the American Forces Network Benelux report by clicking on the link in the "Related Links" box on the right.
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