Grand Prix of Long Beach’s second day closes out with all-star country jam

Cowboy hats, boots and shiny belt buckles:

Country music made its way to the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach this year.

The Grand Prix’s second day closed out the same way it always does, with the Saturday night concert. But this time, the traditional rock music made way for a first-time country music experience, with stars Eddie Montgomery, Gretchen Wilson, David Lee Murphy and the band Sixwire taking to the stage.

After a full day of racing fun, hundreds of people – many of whom are country fans and race lovers – made their way to the Terrace Theater’s plaza for the “all-star jam,” which began at 6:30 p.m. and was free for Grand Prix ticket holders. The crowd turned into cowboys and cowgirls for the night, doing the do-si-do and hollering their praise at the country stars.

“I’m so excited that it’s country music this year,” said Kandice Aguirre, from Anaheim, who was ready to dance along to songs in her cowboy boots. “We have the sun out, the weather is good, I’m with good company, so it’s going to be a good time.”

The vast majority of Saturday night concerts have featured pop rock, alternative and classic rock, including bringing together multiple artists to perform on stage, like Kings of Chaos in 2023. But this year, officials wanted to try something different to complement other country-themed events recently popping up in Long Beach, such as the Coastal Country Jam and Boots In the Park.

Wilson, a Grammy Award-winning artist known for chart-toppers such as “Redneck Woman” and “Here for the Party,” shared the spotlight with Eddie Montgomery. He’s from the legendary duo Montgomery Gentry, famed for hits such as “My Town” and “Something to Be Proud Of.” Singer-songwriter David Lee Murphy, known for songs such as “Dust on the Bottle” and “Party Crowd,” joined them on the stage.

The “all-star jam,” was backed by the band Sixwire, which includes guitarist Steve Madile, bassist John Howard, drummer Chuck Tilley, keyboardist Steve Hornbeak and guitarist/vocalist Andy Childs.

The concert overlapped with the final motorsports event of the day — drifting — but many racing fans still couldn’t resist the allure of the concert.

“There’s a drift practice going on but I’d rather be here, and I build cars for a living, so this is a really big deal,” said Michael Navarete, from Los Angeles. “I like country music. It has become more mainstream these past few years.”

Fans were excited to see the country music stars collaborate – but they were especially thrilled to listen to Wilson.

Long Beach locals Jen Roper and Lawrence Reinhart, for example, made their way to the Grand Prix for the concert — just to see Wilson perform.

“We came for the concert,” Reinhart said.

Both friends were looking forward to hearing her perform hits “Here for the Party” and “Redneck Woman.”

The concertgoers were not disappointed.

The crowd danced, sang and jammed along to country hits as the sun set and drifting cars skidded on the track.

Sixwire got the party started with a fitting song for the Grand Prix — Rascal Flatts’ “Life is a Highway.”

After the opening number, Murphy was the first solo artist to take the stage. The crowd sang along as he belted out his songs, including “Living in Fast Forward” and “Big Green Tractor.”

“Thank you for the California hospitality,” Murphy said to the crowd.

He was excited, Murphy said, to performing alongside friends Montgomery and Wilson.

And the crowd was excited to see them together — singing the second day of the Grand Prix of Long Beach to a close.