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Venue delights Lambert crowd

Concert-goers thrilled by intimate setting, lack of travel to see country star

By Rachel Foor 5 min read

Thousands of country music fans piled into Peoples Natural Gas Field to see Miranda Lambert in concert, but none perhaps as dedicated as the four Huntingdon residents who secured their spots right in front of the stage as soon as the gates opened at 5:30 on Friday afternoon.

"We've been planning this since we knew she was coming," Nichole Benson said.

She was there with daughter Kaci Benson, friend Rachelle Kinert and Rachelle's daughter, Sophia Kinert.

"I was like 'stop what you're doing, we're getting tickets,'" Rachelle said.

The group purchased VIP packages, Benson said, and arrived at the venue two hours early to make sure they got to the barrier.

"We're hardcore," Benson said.

Their fandom was clear for everyone to see as they were decked out in custom baseball jerseys with "Lambert" and the number one emblazoned on the back. One arm of the jersey sported an Altoona Curve patch while the other had a baseball with wings, in honor of Rachelle's mother, who was a big Lambert fan.

The Bensons and Rachelle have seen Lambert multiple times, Benson said. Kinert even traveled to Ohio for a Lambert concert to celebrate her 30th birthday.

But it was Sophia's first time seeing the country star.

"I've been determined to get them (Sophia and Kaci) up front," Kinert said.

Benson and Kinert were glad that the concert was "so close" as well.

"I also like that it's a smaller, more personal venue," Kinert said.

Although not at the barrier, Don Cartwright, his fiancee Buffy Kruis and her two children Cooper and Jayde made it onto the grass for the concert.

Houtzdale residents and big Lambert fans, Cartwright and Kruis said it was their first time seeing her in concert.

"This is actually the first concert I've been to since I saw KISS in the '70s," Cartwright said.

When asked what it was about Lambert that made him break his hiatus, Cartwright said that he and Kruis were getting married on June 20.

"She bought the tickets," Cartwright said. "They were a present. I wasn't going to say no."

The couple plans to spend the rest of the weekend working out wedding details.

"It's a pleasant break in the wedding planning," Cartwright said of the concert.

Busy buying T-shirts just inside the field's main entrance were Brittany Fetter, her daughter, Olivia Fetter and friend Madeline Leonardis of Bedford County. The trio were "super excited" to see Lambert, with this being Brittany's first time seeing her live.

"It's really convenient and close to home," Brittany said.

They had gotten bleacher seats as they were close to the stage, she added, and felt that it would be easier to get in and out of Altoona after the show, as compared to a bigger city like Pittsburgh.

"When she found out she was going to be here, (Olivia) was like 'I want to see her mom!'" Brittany said with a laugh.

"I just said, 'heck yeah!'" Leonardis added.

Waiting in line to enter the venue with her husband Jim, Kathy Jones of Coalport said she's been a big fan of Lambert for a long time.

"It's a good concert close in town," Kathy said. "We didn't have to drive hours and hours."

Kathy said they haven't been to many concerts and she had to drag Jim along.

"I told him he had to come," Kathy said, laughing.

DuBois residents Jessica Deasey and her two daughters were also waiting in line, eager to see Lambert for the first time.

"We're really happy to come and that the concert was so close," Deasey said.

Far from her first concert, Deasey said she has seen Cher, Def Leppard and John Cougar Mellencamp live.

Outside the venue, prior to the gates opening, Pittsburgh residents Renee, Morgan, Jackie and Stephanie, who declined to provide their last names, were busy holding a small tailgate.

Renee said they usually have to go to Burgettstown, on the other side of the city, to see Lambert and other acts.

"I've actually never been here and it is so cute and scenic and clean," Jackie said. "I like how the field is down in a valley."

The group said they saw Lambert at PNC Park and Heinz Field, with Morgan adding that they're "excited to see her in a smaller, more intimate setting."

"This is a much calmer crowd than we're used to," Jackie said.

They had been in the parking lot since about 4:30 p.m., but would have gotten there earlier if they hadn't had to come from work.

Jackie said she lives more than two hours away, but traveling to Altoona was "worth it" as she's been a fan for at least 15 years.

"Tell her to give a shout out to her Pittsburgh tailgaters," Jackie said with a laugh.

Mirror Staff Writer Rachel Foor is at 814-946-7458.

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