Tritt a hit
Fans filed into Credit Union Place to see two-time Grammy winner Travis Tritt perform his country hits on the weekend.
Lifelong fans decked in checkered shirts, cowboy hats and boots waited to see twotime Grammy winner Travis Tritt perform.
A growing line of excited fans stretched from the lobby to the parking lot outside Credit Union Place Saturday evening. Among those patiently waiting were Tammy Curtis and Brenda Ellsworth from Summerside.
“I am too excited, and he has to sign my Alan Jackson hat,” said Curtis, who came with her best friend Ellsworth. “And ‘Help Me Hold On’ is my favourite song because it just relates to life itself.”
“Help Me Hold On” is a ballad of a failing relationship and was the first No. 1 hit in the United States and Canada for the Georgia native.
“Tritt’s music influences include southern rock, blues and gospel to create songs that have stamped him on the list with some of North America’s biggest stars.
“We have approximately 2,200 people in tonight,” said the event co-ordinator Robbie Rankin.
“We would like to call it a sold-out show so it’s a successful night altogether and it certainly helps put the city on the map.”
Rankin continued, “This is a chance for many people to see a star that they grew up watching on television, and people from P.E.I. don’t get the opportunity to see the big names all the time like they do in the bigger cities, so if we can bring them here then we love to do that.” Tanya Eldershaw, from Souris, who came dressed in a checkered shirt and hat, says Tritt stands the test of time.
“I am very excited to be here and I saw Travis Tritt eight years ago in Moncton, and he puts on the best concert I’ve ever seen, and I’m expecting this to be even bigger and better,” she said.
“I love all his songs but ‘Here’s a Quarter’ is my favourite because it was more like a drinking song back in the day.”
This year Credit Union Place, that’s hosted a wealth of talent, celebrates its 10th anniversary. “We’ve had lots of big names over the years,” said Rankin. “For Summerside to pull this off it’s quite an accomplishment.”